!3 Mercedes CLS550 4M vs 13 BMW 655ix gr. coupe

First, I am not a troll and have been a member of this site for many years. I have owned four Bimmers in the past but have been driving MB since 2010 and 2011.

I was shopping the new 650ix grand sport 4 dr. It is a super looking car. The only competitive comparable was the MB CLS550. I priced out two equally equipped cars. The Bimmer came in at 119K and the Mercedes at 93K. These are Canadian prices. The cars had the same equipment but the BMW had 43hp more. The dealer told me he can change the tuning chip on the CLS with the SL that has the same engine and increase the hp to 429 leaving only 16hp difference. Even though I preferred the BMW,I could not justify the extra 25K.

My question is this. Did I make a mistake???

PS I love my CLS and since I did not drive either car before buying, I assume both are great cars.

I've never heard of a dealer just offering to swap out a chip... For about 3200(with dec. discount) bucks you could have upped the 650 with dinan to 511hp and 580.

The S,SL,and the CLS all have the same engine but MB in their wisdom wanted to make a difference on the more expensive models. I am aware that there are other tuners that can bring the HP to over 500hp and 500lbs of torque.

The hp was not my primary goal in either car. The 402hp with 443lbs of torque is quite adequate in the CLS.

You posted this here why?

In any event, I have long since said that the 6 GC is pretty overpriced. In the US, the price of a fairly well loaded 640i GC is the same as a slightly lesser equipped CLS 63 AMG.

This makes sense how?

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

You posted this here why?

In any event, I have long since said that the 6 GC is pretty overpriced. In the US, the price of a fairly well loaded 640i GC is the same as a slightly lesser equipped CLS 63 AMG.

This makes sense how?

Exactly my point.

6GC is rubbish compared with an M5.

By yourself a real ultimate driving machine, not just a luxury car that looks like one.

my .02 with Mercedes-Benz. Horrible build quality. Horrible service. The people are nice, but techs and staff do nothing to fix a complaint. Build quality is a seriuos issue in my book. I had two W121 E350's and nothing ut pure problems.

bmw IMO offers a much better product. on the MB forums you have guys having to rip open their own interiors to fix rattles and squeaks with foam, sticky tape, and probably bubble gum. MB is using some materials that have heavy-offgassing which may be irritating to some people.

BMW makes a good product. I've had my share of problems with them and dumped a car in a heartbeat. But of all the Germans....BMW seems to offer the best quality. My service has been excellent.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

You posted this here why?

In any event, I have long since said that the 6 GC is pretty overpriced. In the US, the price of a fairly well loaded 640i GC is the same as a slightly lesser equipped CLS 63 AMG.

This makes sense how?

Agree. I don't get the Gran Coupe pricing at all, and it is not even available with some features that are commonly bought on 5 series cars such as soft close doors. I like the car, but I could never bring myself to buy one over a 5 series.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

Agree. I don't get the Gran Coupe pricing at all, and it is not even available with some features that are commonly bought on 5 series cars such as soft close doors. I like the car, but I could never bring myself to buy one over a 5 series.

But the 6 GC has features the 2013 5 series doesn't, like 4-zone climate control (unless you get a 5 GT or 5 AH) and an actual exhaust note. It also has a bigger iDrive screen and a bigger engine (650 vs. 550). It looks better inside and out and handles better. And although it doesn't actually slide open, the moon roof is significantly larger (I liked this, too).

But 4-zone is something I really wanted. I considered a 6 GC because of it. The wife nixed it because of price (25K difference between the builds I wanted). Overall I would say the 6 GC is a better car, but not 25K better. Probably 10-12K better IMO. I would have purchased one if that was the difference.

So I guess your point is well taken feature differences aside. Clearly the biggest thing you are paying for when buying a 6 GC is exclusivity. I'm not quite there yet :-)

-Corey

Originally Posted by cordoor

But the 6 GC has features the 2013 5 series doesn't, like 4-zone climate control (unless you get a 5 GT or 5 AH) and an actual exhaust note. It also has a bigger iDrive screen and a bigger engine (650 vs. 550). It looks better inside and out and handles better. And although it doesn't actually slide open, the moon roof is significantly larger (I liked this, too).

But 4-zone is something I really wanted. I considered a 6 GC because of it. The wife nixed it because of price (25K difference between the builds I wanted). Overall I would say the 6 GC is a better car, but not 25K better. Probably 10-12K better IMO. I would have purchased one if that was the difference.

So I guess your point is well taken feature differences aside. Clearly the biggest thing you are paying for when buying a 6 GC is exclusivity. I'm not quite there yet :-)

-Corey

It has a bigger iDrive Screen? The one in my F10 is pretty big. What size is in the GC?

Originally Posted by petee1997

My question is this. Did I make a mistake???

PS I love my CLS and since I did not drive either car before buying, I assume both are great cars.

I gotta ask - why spend $100K on a new car without test driving?

And if you are the type of guy who spends $100K on a car without test driving, why would you care if someone on bimmerfest thought you make a mistake?

Originally Posted by 5Xwen

I gotta ask - why spend $100K on a new car without test driving?

And if you are the type of guy who spends $100K on a car without test driving, why would you care if someone on bimmerfest thought you make a mistake?

I have never test driven a car before buying. As far as what you think? I just wanted to know if anyone agreed with me that the 650 was poor value.

Originally Posted by petee1997

I have never test driven a car before buying. As far as what you think? I just wanted to know if anyone agreed with me that the 650 was poor value.

Yes, unless you are test driving car, Honda Civic has much better value than both of them!

Originally Posted by petee1997

I have never test driven a car before buying. As far as what you think? I just wanted to know if anyone agreed with me that the 650 was poor value.

I used to love CLS design. Still like it, though..
But my wife disapproved Mercedes based on the average drivers age.
So 550xi.

I really love 650 design. 2 doors IMHO better than 4, but both are terrific.
Anyway, in the 100K price there are no other thoughts - only M5.
If you don't need to drive this car every day (in the snow storm or icing rain, I mean) - then RWD would be totally fine.

Originally Posted by petee1997

I have never test driven a car before buying.

I am assuming that you are a guy - if not, please accept my apologies for the following question...

...did you sleep with your wife before marrying her?

I'm at the dealer now doing dinan

Originally Posted by 5Xwen

I am assuming that you are a guy - if not, please accept my apologies for the following question...

...did you sleep with your wife before marrying her?

LOL. I don't know how "test driving" girls has anything to do with test driving cars, but funny question nonetheless.

I test drive all my cars before buying.

I did not "test drive" any girl before marrying my wife (and I have not "traded her in" for an "upgrade" either). She does need an oil change from time to time...

-Corey

Originally Posted by cordoor

LOL. I don't know how "test driving" girls has anything to do with test driving cars, but funny question nonetheless.

I test drive all my cars before buying.

I did not "test drive" any girl before marrying my wife (and I have not "traded her in" for an "upgrade" either). She does need an oil change from time to time...

-Corey

I try and test drive every weekend I continue to be dissatisfied with customer relations

Originally Posted by cordoor

But the 6 GC has features the 2013 5 series doesn't, like 4-zone climate control (unless you get a 5 GT or 5 AH) and an actual exhaust note. It also has a bigger iDrive screen and a bigger engine (650 vs. 550). It looks better inside and out and handles better. And although it doesn't actually slide open, the moon roof is significantly larger (I liked this, too).

But 4-zone is something I really wanted. I considered a 6 GC because of it. The wife nixed it because of price (25K difference between the builds I wanted). Overall I would say the 6 GC is a better car, but not 25K better. Probably 10-12K better IMO. I would have purchased one if that was the difference.

So I guess your point is well taken feature differences aside. Clearly the biggest thing you are paying for when buying a 6 GC is exclusivity. I'm not quite there yet :-)

-Corey

My 2012 550 has four zone climate control.

Originally Posted by jjsC6

My 2012 550 has four zone climate control.

Sure... rub it in ;-)

(Not available on 2013)

I did not need the test drive because I knew both cars would be great with the advantage to the BMW. I was trading a 2011 E350 4M so both cars were an upgrade. The AMG and the M5 were non starters since I live in snow country(Canada).

As far a quality and reliability is concerned MB is as good as any of them since 2010. I traded two BMW's on two E350's in 2010 and 2011. I had one small warranty claim for a door lock on the 2010 and nothing on the 2011. At best, BMW could only match that.

My question still stands. Who would pay 25K more for two similarly equipped 655 IX Gran Sport vs a CLS? Not many replies addressed the question.

Originally Posted by petee1997

My question still stands. Who would pay 25K more for two similarly equipped 655 IX Gran Sport vs a CLS? Not many replies addressed the question.

Why don't you ask in the 6 Series Gran Coupe Forum.

Maybe they test drove it and liked it better.

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=168

Originally Posted by petee1997

First, I am not a troll and have been a member of this site for many years. I have owned four Bimmers in the past but have been driving MB since 2010 and 2011.

I was shopping the new 650ix grand sport 4 dr. It is a super looking car. The only competitive comparable was the MB CLS550. I priced out two equally equipped cars. The Bimmer came in at 119K and the Mercedes at 93K. These are Canadian prices. The cars had the same equipment but the BMW had 43hp more. The dealer told me he can change the tuning chip on the CLS with the SL that has the same engine and increase the hp to 429 leaving only 16hp difference. Even though I preferred the BMW,I could not justify the extra 25K.

My question is this. Did I make a mistake???

PS I love my CLS and since I did not drive either car before buying, I assume both are great cars.

Mercedes, at least in Canada are cheaper through the most of the comparable lines I found. I don't think you made a mistake at all. It's a good car.

I get the price difference, but I find the CLS so blah.... Yes the GC is over priced, but so is be CLS. How about an A7?

I couldn't imagine driving an CLS for more than a week. If you need 4 wheel drive then go 550ix or an Audi.

Originally Posted by cordoor

?.. It also has a bigger iDrive screen and a bigger engine (650 vs. 550).


-Corey

Huh? Explain please...