Car Shopping (Merc vs BMW)

[Andrew R]

I'm an 18-year old trying to get into a nice car and I'm currently thinking about either an e43 amg or a 2020 540i. Currently I'm leaning towards the e43 because it's faster and I think has a nicer interior but the insurance would be cheaper at least a little on the 540 and the 540 is newer and known to have a more reliable engine. I've got about 80% + of the cost of the car to pay for it and I'm doing well for myself so unless the insurance is outrageously different it shouldn't be a problem. Is there any major problems I should know of on either cars? I've tried to do my research but y'all know better than me. Is there another car I should look into for the same price range and car type? I'm looking to get into a 2018+ sporty car either a coupe or sedan preferably.

[e30 4 life!]

Drive a tuned 540, you won't want the e43

[Brandoch]

What are you going to do with the fastest car? Tracking it?

[Bc2005]

Unless you need more space, why a 540 and not an M340i? Same engine and transmission in a smaller body, and I think it’s even rated at a higher horsepower. G20 BMW (2018 on) has an outstanding engine that responds well to tuning. Stock M340i does 0-60 in about 4 seconds, and top speed is 155 MPH, but it still gets 32 MPG on a highway drive.

Don’t forget about Texas’s crazy insurance rates. I now live in the DC area, and IIRC, my insurance dropped by at least 30% when I moved here from San Antonio. Texas rates make no sense.

[pbonsalb]

Definitely check insurance rates for cars you are considering. Teenage males and late model luxury and sports cars usually means a high premium.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Definitely check insurance rates for cars you are considering. Teenage males and late model luxury and sports cars usually means a high premium.

I agree, the OP might be in for a dose of insurance shock!

[whofelt]

Originally Posted by Brandoch

What are you going to do with the fastest car? Tracking it?

0-60 from the freeway entrance

[Andrew R]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

Definitely check insurance rates for cars you are considering. Teenage males and late model luxury and sports cars usually means a high premium.

Yeah I know it's going to be stupid but i really don't care as long as it aint more than like 1k/month. I don't have any tickets or accidents so surely not more than 1k for the type of car i'm looking at. Maybe I'm stupid but I have friends that are the same age as me get quoted 1k/month on a camaro ss and he has multiple tickets and a not at fault accident on his record.

[ctcarbonari]

Originally Posted by Bc2005

Unless you need more space, why a 540 and not an M340i? Same engine and transmission in a smaller body, and I think it’s even rated at a higher horsepower. G20 BMW (2018 on) has an outstanding engine that responds well to tuning. Stock M340i does 0-60 in about 4 seconds, and top speed is 155 MPH, but it still gets 32 MPG on a highway drive.

Don’t forget about Texas’s crazy insurance rates. I now live in the DC area, and IIRC, my insurance dropped by at least 30% when I moved here from San Antonio. Texas rates make no sense.

+1 to checking out the M340i.

It's not for me as a DD, as I'm old and prefer a bit more comfort+space+luxury so a 5 series is about as small as I'd like to go. However, if I couldn't have a true M3 then that M340i is for sure what I'd like to own as a second ride.

Good Luck!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Andrew R

Yeah I know it's going to be stupid but i really don't care as long as it aint more than like 1k/month. I don't have any tickets or accidents so surely not more than 1k for the type of car i'm looking at. Maybe I'm stupid but I have friends that are the same age as me get quoted 1k/month on a camaro ss and he has multiple tickets and a not at fault accident on his record.

I can’t speak for you but I would rather put spend my money on a car and not paying for an additional amount on my insurance if I can avoid it. 😉

[UPSROD]

I want a '51 Merc!

[eleven11]

You're 18, so I don't understand why you're looking at that size/class of car, unless for a business purpose. Either way, BMW over Merc for most options. As others have suggested, M340 all day over a 5 series. Finally, anything close to $1000/month for insurance is a terrible decision - that's $60000 in 5 years. Left alone in a simple Index Fund, that will be worth around $400,000 before you're 50 years old.

[Swen6]

I had a Mercedes and hated the gear selector being where your wiper stalk should be.

At the risk of being judgemental...and the UK having different ages for driving etc, here at 18 you would have been driving for at best a year and to look at cars with 300bhp would be asking for trouble.

Take care and drive safe whatever you choose

[JD_BMW]

There are good choices from both camps, like a C200 Edition 1 AMG actually has the hardware a much higher class Mercedes has.

Though, you certainly don't need the highest and the fastest options. It doesn't make much sense for everyday usage, you could get something like a 530 and that would be more than fast enough.

[pdxgardener]

+1 to everyone saying it's a bad financial decision, and to invest instead.

I wouldn't go for an E class. It's a boat and all of the AMGs except E63 are more about status than driving. The skidpad numbers are a pretty good way to compare: E43 0.92g vs E63 1.01g. (G80 scores 1.03 - 1.06 based on specs.) The AMGs without hand-built engines (not 45, 55, 63, 65) are a lot less sporty, not like BMW.

If you go with MB, the CLA 45 is a very good deal. The M139 engine is under-rated because people just see 4 cylinders / 2L and ignore that MB put that same engine in the C63 S E at to 469 HP stock. Its skidpad is 0.99g. I had a GLA 45 and it was pretty great except being too tall (0.97g, now discontinued).

Don't forget the maintenance costs. My first car at 21 was a ten year old Audi. In the first two years I had to replace brakes, tires and a timing belt. I spent nearly the purchase price on maintenance and was staring down a likely transmission issue. I traded it in for a Prius for a few years and paid off my student loans early.

[Efthreeoh]

At 18, get a Honda and save the money. A near current luxoboat 5-Series for your age group is not a good look. Everyone will think it's your dad's car. Now, an E28 that you are wrenching on, that'd be appropriate.

[eugenebmw]

Look up the post "Crashed my g82...help". Learn the mistakes of what the OP did.

[TallGibbs]

Originally Posted by Andrew R

I'm an 18-year old trying to get into a nice car and I'm currently thinking about either an e43 amg or a 2020 540i. Currently I'm leaning towards the e43 because it's faster and I think has a nicer interior but the insurance would be cheaper at least a little on the 540 and the 540 is newer and known to have a more reliable engine. I've got about 80% + of the cost of the car to pay for it and I'm doing well for myself so unless the insurance is outrageously different it shouldn't be a problem. Is there any major problems I should know of on either cars? I've tried to do my research but y'all know better than me. Is there another car I should look into for the same price range and car type? I'm looking to get into a 2018+ sporty car either a coupe or sedan preferably.

To make it easier to find the post that eugenebmw referenced: here is the link
https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/s....php?t=2130230

The idea of spending even over $500 per month on your insurance is absolutely crazy. Invest your money and when you are 35 you will be able to buy yourself a WAY nicer car. A little bit of restraint in your younger years will pay huge dividends as you continue to age (mature/gain wisdom).

[Mavus]

go test drive 540 and 340. stay away from benz

[David70]

Guessing roughly $40k car plus OP ok with up to $1k a month in insurance, OP must be rich.

I'm happy at 18 I decided on my short/medium/long term goals and this program didn't fit in any plan.

[pbonsalb]

At about 18, I started trying to make the cars I could afford into the Porsche 911 Turbo that I wanted. Spent a lot of money, but had some fun and eventually learned how to be a pretty good DIYer.

The OP seems more interested in status of a BMW or Mercedes than learning about and working on cars and he appears to have a lot more money than I did so he is in a different category. It could be he already has a retirement plan through family wealth and does not need to save and wait to buy the things he wants.

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by pbonsalb

At about 18, I started trying to make the cars I could afford into the Porsche 911 Turbo that I wanted. Spent a lot of money, but had some fun and eventually learned how to be a pretty good DIYer.

The OP seems more interested in status of a BMW or Mercedes than learning about and working on cars and he appears to have a lot more money than I did so he is in a different category. It could be he already has a retirement plan through family wealth and does not need to save and wait to buy the things he wants.

Same here, when I was 18, I drove Civic, Corolla and I am so happy to be the owner with very little baggage behind. Spent the money on filling up, keeping driving on the roads to become a good driver and not getting kill being stupid.