Mercedes - Benz C W202 vs. BMW E36

Updated: 29 Nov 2024

Hi guys, need a little advice here. What do you think is better for the same prize Mercedes - Benz W202 180C or BMW 318i???

Comments

BMW 318i, more beautiful I try :)

Hmmmmmmm that’s difficult but I would say the Bmw but only by a small margin and the fact that the Mercedes might be an automatic

Both are manuals.

W202 is a car for elderly people
If 318 pick at least 318is which is faster than 6 cylinder 320i

I thought that the difference between 318i and 318is is only that 318is is coupe or cabrion with sport suspension. I was wrong?

Drive them. The merc is more of a comfortable bathtub filled with milk and honey. The bmw is like a sporty boat on a sand ocean. I mean the bmw is comfy but a little sporty the merc is really just veeerrrryyy comfy and spongy driving.

Yeah these were my thoughts… BMW is sporty and Merc comfy… I prefer BMW in this moment.

I have owned both W202 C180 and E36 318i.
I would take the E36 no doubt, the chairs in the C180 are a real back-killer and not at all as fun to drive as the E36.
Though the M40B18 is not a good engine, the C180 engine is much more reliable.

Thanks. So it is choice between good car for driving and reliable car which is not so good in other aspects, right?

The early e36 has an belt driven m40 it can do lots of kms with the right and regular check ups but if i were you i would chose the 318is because it has more power and it’s a chain driven engine with very good reputation
If you take a fl e36 you also have a m43 less powerfull but also chain driven and a very wel reputation

If you want something slow and comfy, take the Merc. If slow only would do, then take the 318i. :)
(Seriously, I’d pick the Merc for multiple reasons, but if you really fancy the E36, get a proper one with a six-pot engine.)

Six-pot engine is out of my resources. The thing is that I found really nice 318i. There are of course some 318is available but these are not in such a good condition and are little bit more expensive. But thanks for all your informations :)