It was more like 7 seconds for the touring. The manual saloon did it in 6,2. However, as with the 528's intake, the 540 was exhaust "crippled" to keep power down (likely for insurance matters). So unlike most n/a cars, an exhaust upgrade would take you from 286hp to 330-340hp alone.
@@Krezo200 Well it's only internet facts; but the M60B44 has exactly the same hp figure as the M60B40 (and 3.0 M3), despite almost half a liter bigger displacement. As with M50B25/28, which only differed by 1hp but where the latter could gain ~15-20hp by an intake swap, it doesn't sound unreal. They could as well make over 286hp stock (A6 4.2 made 300hp, S6 340hp)
@@miljororforsprakpartiet290 yes i know what you mean, currently i own my bmw machines nr 13 and 14, i just wanted to stay a bit more realistic, i had a m62 as well, the 4.4 liter is underrated with 286, absolutely correct and with one or two changes it can gain a lot, like the old m52, they are underrated from factory they say, i saw some b25 with 190 hp and some b28 with 200+ hp, amazing engines
@@abelucious nice joke. F10 murders e60 and e39 and e34 in every single aspect. It faster, its more luxirous. I bet you are one of those old is gold guys. Let me tell you last month a g20 bmw 320i smoked an e39 525i easily hahahaha. My f10 530d would smoke both tho hahaha
@@creatineenjoyer7345 Currently I have an e60 535xi , 6 speed manual with stage 2 hybrid turbos and full bolt on and custom tune , I have 500 wheel horsepower, I’m willing to send you a video to prove it , show me what kind of weak F10 you drive if you even have one , don’t be all talk , let’s compare cars .
The E39 Touring is a much more attractive car than the current model IMO. The 4.4 V8, especially with the 6-speed manual, is a real sleeper especially when de-badged. Looks identical to a 520i but will do 0-60 in 6 seconds and sounds glorious while doing it. Yes please! :-D
The Mercedes is still on the road and is very well built and interior is built to last and still in great condition. The bias in this video is overwhelming
While they are excellently engineered, brilliant cars, i have to disagree on that they are reliable today. As a owner of a E420, it has all kinds of issues, horn doesnt work, AC stopped working randomly, radio shuts off randomly, gearbox sometimes gets stuck in overdrive so i cant accelerate past whatever speed it decides (never dangerously slow fortunately), all electric safety systems are broken. In general its a erratic car and a electrical mess. However, i got it for nearly nothing, and when its in the right mood, its pretty fast. However, if i could get one in perfect condition for that price, i would do it 10/10 times, but at the end of the day its a 1996 (mine) luxury car, with loads of stuff that will break after 25 or so years. And pouring $10000 into making everything work just isnt worth it. Mind that the previous owner fixed a lot of issues, still here i am with a barely functional car, he proved to me that its not really worth it to play whack-a-mole with these cars. Still i dont regret it, its spectacular and sounds great.
Not according to the MOT history which expired in Aug 2010. It's not been registered on the road in the UK since. Recorded mileage was 196,000 The BMW failed it's MOT in 2015 with rust in the inner sills and suspension mounts and has likely been scrapped or kept for parts. Recorded mileage 122,000 which was low for a 17-year-old car. At the end of the day both turned out to rust buckets in areas where roads are salted in winter. My own 2000 BMW 530i Touring was scrapped a while back with 168,000 miles
same here! I first bought the 5er 15 years ago and it made me never want buy a BMW since, reliability was abysmal and parts are unnecessarily expensive, like 2x what the equivalent MB part would cost. After the 5er, I bought a 2001 W210 wagon and I still have that car to this day because it's been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have since bought several other MB E-Classes, though none have been quite as reliable as my W210.
@@Uninfluenceable i think w211 can beat reliable? i had a 270cdi and a e500 in w211 chassis owned e270 for 2 years and e500 for one year no issues to them both
@@joebloggs4191 it all comes down to what model year you had. My 210 was an 2001, which was the penultimate year for that body. I'm sure if I had the early pre facelift, especially with the inline 6 instead of the v6, those I heard were total turds the first 2 model years. This pretty much applies to all german cars but MB especially, if you buy the last 2 years you'll have one of the most reliable cars ever. Buy the first 2 models years and you're a beta tester.
I would take either of these over their modern-day counterparts every day of the week. Then again, I'd take a 6-speed 540i over most cars in general...
@@justarandomguy3969 maybe because of the climate of country you live, where I live (Azerbaijan) those w210s are all you see. Beautiful, Comfortable, Reliable what else would you need in a car ?
I would take the E430 anyday, it may look bad cus its a elegance or classic but my E230 Avantgarde still gets all the people looking at it. Now i dont see people looking at a 5 series like they look at mine 👍
We've owned variants of the 5 Series, E Class and A6 from that generation, and I personally favor the BMW. I still hold onto my 2000 Audi A6 2.8 Quattro, but the BMW would've been my choice had it been my money back in the day. The Merc is nevertheless an excellent car, but everything about it was just a tad bit dated. I think my A6 draws a fairly nice balance, but power from the 2.8L V6 is very lacking. Even so, the 4.2L V8 felt a bit less peppy than the Merc and BMW options at the time anyway.
+Bouabda Abdelbaset If I'm being honest, I'd rather be dealing with the maintenance on a BMW over a Merc. Mercedes' reputation has only been declining over the past two decades, and their cars aren't as reliable as most of their other German competitors. I believe that costs would be fairly similar for ownership and maintenance on a BMW and Benz, but they will both also be fairly expensive either way. And from my experience you're going to be more likely to find a BMW without significant issues than you are finding an E Class of this generation without significant issues. Those are just my experiences, but hey, hopefully it helps you out.
Sorry, but today BMW still looks gorgeous, but the mercy looks a bit like a granny car. The engineering pedigree of a Mercedes is obviously amazing, but it's aged horribly.
GhettoMist mercs of that era were granny cars. No point denying it but that means that used mercs are in better condition when you want one used. And sometimes you don't even want to drive fast.
Can't agree less with the first argument. Tons and tons of wind/road noise from my e39 touring's trunk, and it still seems standard for wagons in general.
The E39 was the best BMW 5-Series ever, up through the present day. It was stylish, nimble and beautiful, inside and out. It's a shame that BMW screwed up the successor E60 so badly. The Mercedes is an Ok car, but Mercedes had started scaling back on build and engineering quality with this model, and it proved to be very troublesome, with numerous rust and mechanical issues. Easy win for the BMW.
i owned a silver W210 1997 E280 sedan recently, nice ride, greate engine and transmisson, but after many years it needed too many things to maintaining and rust is also a big problem, but my had no rust at all at the body, but it had a serious rust problem on the spring dome, so be very careful if you buy one of those
they're nice cars so long as you always approach them from the back. that can be a bit of a nuisance, but it's bearable. however i must say that the v6 3.2 lacks a bit of punch. leaves that tiny extra bit to be desired. the w124 with m104 feels better (but it might not be faster in absolute terms).
BBS split rim style 5 - or BBS RC090. They are like jewelry when clean and cost a fortune new! They're also very lightweight compared to standard cast alloy wheels.
ok , so it's 2016 and I wouldn't be ashamed to drive around in the 5 series ! but the style of the merc is terrible !!! omg !!! i just can't look at it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Those rims are absolutely terrible though. Swap them for some AMG monoblocks or go all the way with a w210 e55 with the AMG bodywork and its quite a nice looking car.
I have a Avantgarde E430 and it is a far nicer experiance to go long distance than my sisters 540 although over short distance the 540 is more fun I enjoy both of them. This presentor is biased straight from the outset. just my 2 pence worth :-)
The Mercedes looks horrible, even back then.. compared to the 5 series which is an absolutely stunning car in every aspect, I have an Oxford green with sand beige interior 5 series and it is better in every way than almost every new car on the market... they’re the last car that bmw built that was of great quality.
Problem is the BMW will eventually (albeit 10 years later) snap it's timing chain guides, definitely drip oil all over your drive, rust on the sills, tailgate and rear arches and need a range of engine sensors replaced. Plus owning one in 2021 when petrol is 140p a litre makes it very expensive to run. Brand new in 1997 though, when fuel was 60p a litre, owning this car must have been a dream come true. The SE never matched the Sport for looks however.
How much payed u bmw for this?because you do the same commercial to bmw when you compare it with a6 W210 have navigation too why not choose a model with navigation and full option because you are afraid u lose for sure Mercedes made a car for safe the passenger not to kill it More luxurious more confortable more safety is Mercedes,where is the think where bmw is better than Merc u corupt ?
Yes and no. You could order navigation up from 1998. I found it in the price list. I do drive a 1998 S210 E430 and a BMW 325i. Both cars are realy good. BUT: like he said, my Mercedes is the best if you want to drive fast from A to B with 5 People AND have a complete Engine with Gearbox attached AND the luggage in the Trunk, it will be a great trip and everybody in that car will be happy. OTHERWISE: if you want to drive aggressive and egiale on the country side road my E30 325i is just the best for that. Thats why i hate modern cars. You don't get a luxary crouiser or a speedy car anymore. Only hybrids that aren't as good as the old ones used to be. Until then, i keep on driving my 440.000km old Mercedes E430 while most BMW E39 540i had been killed by their bad automatic transmission that are known not to last over 200km or 10 years... YM2C
I love estates and wish we had more of them but there is a fine line between estate car and a hearse....... And the funeral parlour shot at the end doesn't help...... There was only one choice in this for me...... Sorry if u bought the hearse....
mercedes is a better build quality with better quality materials for the seats and interior components ... fewer plastic parts in the MB than the BMW. If you're a DIY'er the MB is much easier to work on IMO having worked on both my sons' cars for routine oil changes, spark plug replacement, brake pad replacement and drive belt replacement. BMW parts are comparably priced to MB parts, and perhaps more expensive
I'm sorry to say that, but that is actually wrong, the quality of an E39 is far better than this old rosty MB. BMW parts are as expensive as MB parts but both cars have a huge amount of quality aftermarket parts. Ordering in Germany will save you lots of money.
The S210 is rusty yes, but it realy has the bette interrior quality than the E39. Both care are great and will last long if you keep maintaining them. My S210 E430 hast 440.000km done with the first Engine and Gearbox and it looks like new from the Inside.
@Martin Gård Well you're wrong about that since the E39 5 Series won most reviews at that time for having a better blend of comfort and driving dynamics...... a bit like the current 5 series v the E Class.
@@kgfgfg1 Both cars of that era had excellent quality interiors, there wasn't much of a difference as far as quality goes, it's a shame now that Merc chooses style over substance. The current Mercs interiors are great to look at but are lacking a little in the quality department whereas the latest 5 series has a much better quality interior but not so exciting to look at!
Mercedes-Benz seats were/are firm for a reason. Soft seating is tiring and does not support your body properly. I've done many, many miles in w210 and w202 and I always got out of the car well rested, unlike in French cars, for instance, where you sink into the seats. Also, Mercedes-Benz has/had a lot of gadgets, you just need to read the manual to appreciate them. For instance, in the car in this test there is the 4 air cabin filters option flickable by the press of the button. Something Tesla boasts about these days. There is also sun sensor to control the climate inside the car automatically depending on the sun position and much more. Lastly, ''tv screens'' age the worst. That E39's Tv was outdated in just 5 years after you bought it.
As I run through cars I have owned - as the 90s timeline goes I had mostly diesel versions of the german trio - such as W124 250D, W210 220 CDI, E34 525i, E39 525d and Audi A6 C4 2.5 TDI - I came to a conclusion that each generation varies the W124 was for me unbeatable car in quality and driving comfort compared to E34 which was still a classic BMW but the W124 was the still pointing out that Mercedes-Benz was the King of the 80s... However the quality of W210 was downgraded when speaking of materials, yet still elegant, silent and comfortable for a highway cruiser. A bit wobbly when compared to older W124 but more spacious. The E39 was excellent quality and joyride but for sleek cruising on the highway it never got to the W210 in terms of silence and comfort - it always felt like I was in a wrestling ring after 1000 km of driving (nor did E60). At this point I thought there were two sides of the ring I had to choose but then I found Audi A6 C4 which was absolutely best from both worlds mixed in one body. Very comfortable spacious and silent, but still good driving, however with the C5 I think that Audi went beyond their horizon.... And today - none of this marks is individual and all of them are trying to be hybrids of everyone - just like new BMWs are desperately trying to be Mercedes and Mercedes trying to be BMW and they starting to lose what they were good for...
funny how these two completely switched, in terms of philosophy. nowadays Mercedes is the technology leader between the German giants, while BMW is more conservative
Give me the E39 (a bit biased as I bought a 528i Touring last week), those oval headlights on the Merc are downright repulsive! I'd be more inclined to take a Merc over an E39 if it had been the previous model W124 Estate.
The common verdict with BMWs vs Mercs is that the BMW is the sporty one and the Merc is the luxurious one. In the case of the e39... nope. The e39 completely dicked the merc and the audio on sportiness AND luxury... and every other area come to think of it.
I want to say just one thing - BMW v8 engines are notoriously unreliable and leaky, while m113 in that benz is absolutely indestructible tank that will run for 300-400k miles. That's all I have to say
Staggering how out of touch this reviewer was even back then, the Mercedes is a better drive having owned both but this guy is just hilarious, I think there's a video where he bought a Chrysler voyager with his own money once ...clueless
this is the only generation where bmw looks better than mercedes, those frogeyes ruined the w210 series, the prodecessor w211 is much better (2002) so are the previous mercs, but great c ars nonetheless.
Bmw is for those who want to drive the ultimate driving machine. Can't remember when they weren't in the top 10 list of car and driver. 1. Better handling 2. Faster.....P.S. My Grandfather drives a Benz.
yes in your bmw dreams mercedes is always faster bmw has not supersport cars and hypersportcars look on youtube mercedes vs bmw race videos mercedes wins the 80% of the races;) yes in our appartment we have 3 old people 60+ and all of them drives bmw ;) not forget my friend the richest guys drives mercedes not bmw look in dubai to example a lot of sls, slr s-class, cls, cl drives multimillionair arab guys ;)
blockthis08 You know everyone says to stick to what your elders say;) Older people went through a lot of things in their life and they must know better.There's a reason why he chose the Benz
0-60 in just over 6 seconds in an estate car from 1998?! That's amazing
It was more like 7 seconds for the touring. The manual saloon did it in 6,2. However, as with the 528's intake, the 540 was exhaust "crippled" to keep power down (likely for insurance matters). So unlike most n/a cars, an exhaust upgrade would take you from 286hp to 330-340hp alone.
@@miljororforsprakpartiet290 lol
I wouldnt go THAT far
Maybe ~300ish but not 330 dayum
@@Krezo200 Well it's only internet facts; but the M60B44 has exactly the same hp figure as the M60B40 (and 3.0 M3), despite almost half a liter bigger displacement. As with M50B25/28, which only differed by 1hp but where the latter could gain ~15-20hp by an intake swap, it doesn't sound unreal. They could as well make over 286hp stock (A6 4.2 made 300hp, S6 340hp)
@@miljororforsprakpartiet290 yes i know what you mean, currently i own my bmw machines nr 13 and 14, i just wanted to stay a bit more realistic, i had a m62 as well, the 4.4 liter is underrated with 286, absolutely correct and with one or two changes it can gain a lot, like the old m52, they are underrated from factory they say, i saw some b25 with 190 hp and some b28 with 200+ hp, amazing engines
E39 540i 6 speed sedan is one of the most rounded sport sedans ever built, and that's why I own one.
same but steptronic
ever built? How about no. F10 smokes it in every department
@@creatineenjoyer7345 It doesn't even come close to the 540's driving experience , the F10 is the worst 5 series ever made .
@@abelucious nice joke. F10 murders e60 and e39 and e34 in every single aspect. It faster, its more luxirous. I bet you are one of those old is gold guys. Let me tell you last month a g20 bmw 320i smoked an e39 525i easily hahahaha. My f10 530d would smoke both tho hahaha
@@creatineenjoyer7345 Currently I have an e60 535xi , 6 speed manual with stage 2 hybrid turbos and full bolt on and custom tune , I have 500 wheel horsepower, I’m willing to send you a video to prove it , show me what kind of weak F10 you drive if you even have one , don’t be all talk , let’s compare cars .
Did anyone in the 90s have a jacket that fitted them
Shiiit, sounds like me sometimes in my early 20's
the fitted jacket came back after the 2000s
That 5 Series is gorgeous
E39 still looks good, even today in 2019 i would happy to own and drive E39.
Both cars are almost 20yrs old, yet the BMW looks new...timeless beauty
The E39 Touring is a much more attractive car than the current model IMO. The 4.4 V8, especially with the 6-speed manual, is a real sleeper especially when de-badged. Looks identical to a 520i but will do 0-60 in 6 seconds and sounds glorious while doing it. Yes please! :-D
I have both. In the long run the Benz is built better with better materials. But the BMW is more fun to drive in the short term.
That BMW is so cool....even now...still a great car!
The Mercedes is still on the road and is very well built and interior is built to last and still in great condition. The bias in this video is overwhelming
aged like sheit tho.. and the e39 interior is solid as hell!
While they are excellently engineered, brilliant cars, i have to disagree on that they are reliable today. As a owner of a E420, it has all kinds of issues, horn doesnt work, AC stopped working randomly, radio shuts off randomly, gearbox sometimes gets stuck in overdrive so i cant accelerate past whatever speed it decides (never dangerously slow fortunately), all electric safety systems are broken. In general its a erratic car and a electrical mess. However, i got it for nearly nothing, and when its in the right mood, its pretty fast. However, if i could get one in perfect condition for that price, i would do it 10/10 times, but at the end of the day its a 1996 (mine) luxury car, with loads of stuff that will break after 25 or so years. And pouring $10000 into making everything work just isnt worth it. Mind that the previous owner fixed a lot of issues, still here i am with a barely functional car, he proved to me that its not really worth it to play whack-a-mole with these cars. Still i dont regret it, its spectacular and sounds great.
@@sakariaskarlsson634 so because you bought a beat up old E420 all are shit? You’re full of it, mine has 120000kms on it and ride likes a charm
No these years of Mercedes were total rot boxes they were on an economy drive and the quality was terrible
Not according to the MOT history which expired in Aug 2010. It's not been registered on the road in the UK since. Recorded mileage was 196,000
The BMW failed it's MOT in 2015 with rust in the inner sills and suspension mounts and has likely been scrapped or kept for parts. Recorded mileage 122,000 which was low for a 17-year-old car.
At the end of the day both turned out to rust buckets in areas where roads are salted in winter. My own 2000 BMW 530i Touring was scrapped a while back with 168,000 miles
Dream cars...nothing like it is now on the market
Having owned both, the Mercedes is far more reliable, classier ,and much more comfortable.
BMW has a better interior, handles slightly better.
petrared100 and looks a lot better but the BMWs image is a lot worse in my opinion
same here! I first bought the 5er 15 years ago and it made me never want buy a BMW since, reliability was abysmal and parts are unnecessarily expensive, like 2x what the equivalent MB part would cost. After the 5er, I bought a 2001 W210 wagon and I still have that car to this day because it's been the most reliable car I have ever owned. I have since bought several other MB E-Classes, though none have been quite as reliable as my W210.
@@Uninfluenceable i think w211 can beat reliable? i had a 270cdi and a e500 in w211 chassis owned e270 for 2 years and e500 for one year no issues to them both
I've had both too and am of the opposite opinion to you.
@@joebloggs4191 it all comes down to what model year you had. My 210 was an 2001, which was the penultimate year for that body. I'm sure if I had the early pre facelift, especially with the inline 6 instead of the v6, those I heard were total turds the first 2 model years.
This pretty much applies to all german cars but MB especially, if you buy the last 2 years you'll have one of the most reliable cars ever. Buy the first 2 models years and you're a beta tester.
I would take either of these over their modern-day counterparts every day of the week. Then again, I'd take a 6-speed 540i over most cars in general...
oh yes, 6speed 540i would be super, unfortunately these times are over
540i is king
"So, the BMW's excellent. Sadly, I didn't get to drive the Mercedes as it had rusted away".
Mean as hell😂😂😂😂
BMW still looks sporty and sexy but You can't see this BMW on road but Mercedes (which are 20 years+ old) still on the roads and stone-like
I try to take care of my 530i even though it does cost money to keep up maintanence and repairs on an 18 year old car
the mercedes have a horrible problem with rust so i really doubt there are any out there. my e39 is roadworthy though
@@justarandomguy3969 maybe because of the climate of country you live, where I live (Azerbaijan) those w210s are all you see. Beautiful, Comfortable, Reliable what else would you need in a car ?
I would take the E430 anyday, it may look bad cus its a elegance or classic but my E230 Avantgarde still gets all the people looking at it. Now i dont see people looking at a 5 series like they look at mine 👍
We've owned variants of the 5 Series, E Class and A6 from that generation, and I personally favor the BMW.
I still hold onto my 2000 Audi A6 2.8 Quattro, but the BMW would've been my choice had it been my money back in the day. The Merc is nevertheless an excellent car, but everything about it was just a tad bit dated. I think my A6 draws a fairly nice balance, but power from the 2.8L V6 is very lacking. Even so, the 4.2L V8 felt a bit less peppy than the Merc and BMW options at the time anyway.
+Bouabda Abdelbaset If I'm being honest, I'd rather be dealing with the maintenance on a BMW over a Merc. Mercedes' reputation has only been declining over the past two decades, and their cars aren't as reliable as most of their other German competitors.
I believe that costs would be fairly similar for ownership and maintenance on a BMW and Benz, but they will both also be fairly expensive either way.
And from my experience you're going to be more likely to find a BMW without significant issues than you are finding an E Class of this generation without significant issues.
Those are just my experiences, but hey, hopefully it helps you out.
That's the base interior package on this s210 The premium class has sat nav and much more.
How much better has the BMW aged!
Sorry, but today BMW still looks gorgeous, but the mercy looks a bit like a granny car. The engineering pedigree of a Mercedes is obviously amazing, but it's aged horribly.
GhettoMist mercs of that era were granny cars. No point denying it but that means that used mercs are in better condition when you want one used. And sometimes you don't even want to drive fast.
Especially the E39 M Sport version still looks gorgeous and relatively modern.
The good thing is the E430 is still a solid car today. My friends is more reliable than any newer car my family owned
hmm i find e39 looks more normal then 210 when merc have even more elegance and more futuristic look bmw is sportier for sure
Both great Cars... u want more comfort? Take the Mercedes
U want sport? Take the bmw
Can't agree less with the first argument. Tons and tons of wind/road noise from my e39 touring's trunk, and it still seems standard for wagons in general.
The E39 was the best BMW 5-Series ever, up through the present day. It was stylish, nimble and beautiful, inside and out. It's a shame that BMW screwed up the successor E60 so badly. The Mercedes is an Ok car, but Mercedes had started scaling back on build and engineering quality with this model, and it proved to be very troublesome, with numerous rust and mechanical issues. Easy win for the BMW.
The E60 was a great car to drive
The F10 was a great looking car
The E39 is the last 5 that was both of these things.
i owned a silver W210 1997 E280 sedan recently, nice ride, greate engine and transmisson, but after many years it needed too many things to maintaining and rust is also a big problem, but my had no rust at all at the body, but it had a serious rust problem on the spring dome, so be very careful if you buy one of those
"... it's far bigger in the back..." You have my attention
Give me the Merc any day, my 2002 3.2 W210 moves, sounds, holds the road, & gives a great feeling when driving
Agreed!!!
they're nice cars so long as you always approach them from the back.
that can be a bit of a nuisance, but it's bearable.
however i must say that the v6 3.2 lacks a bit of punch. leaves that tiny extra bit to be desired. the w124 with m104 feels better (but it might not be faster in absolute terms).
Paul Johnston
And 2 years later it's rusty as fuck.
@@quirksandfeatures3215 The only real problem with those cars 😄
@@jetstream454 And the handling and performance! Mercs back in those days were old man's cars
The beemer aged well
you could bypass the off function on the television on the bmw and make it work while on the move
The TV comes with Teletext? You can't even get that on a brand new car these days.
What is the name of the alloys on this 5 series? I want these on my 540i or my 750i. So beautiful and classy!
BBS split rim style 5 - or BBS RC090. They are like jewelry when clean and cost a fortune new! They're also very lightweight compared to standard cast alloy wheels.
Beethoven’s Symphony in E flat goes very well with such classy cars!
ok , so it's 2016 and I wouldn't be ashamed to drive around in the 5 series ! but the style of the merc is terrible !!! omg !!! i just can't look at it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
+Andrei Arama Since 99 it looks good
Those rims are absolutely terrible though. Swap them for some AMG monoblocks or go all the way with a w210 e55 with the AMG bodywork and its quite a nice looking car.
VonGutenburgen Steinenhoffer exactly
bmw bring mechanic with you while you styling! benz style classy even 2016 sorry
but its better car 100x times
The merc is hideous... the bmw is classic and timeless, as well as beautiful. Except for those nasty wheels on this model
what style are those wheels on the bmw? Anyone knows?
I have a Avantgarde E430 and it is a far nicer experiance to go long distance than my sisters 540 although over short distance the 540 is more fun I enjoy both of them. This presentor is biased straight from the outset. just my 2 pence worth :-)
All reviews of these two cars have preferred the 5 series to the Mercedes, so are they all biased?
That Merc looks old and rather boring.
Oi pin head those cars where good 2000 but now the newer shaped ones look better
***** because white never do anything wrong
***** what about Hiroshima
***** and white's dont?
+Kings mario ???? whats dudes problem, anyway I have 54oi 98 faster than all 540i that car was well ahead of its time performance wise
Aspen Silver looks damn good. I should know, i own an Aspen E39. oh yeah and there are videos of it on my channel.
I love Daihatsu
BMW for life!
The merc needs the amg rims
sorry but that w210 is VERY poor version...
😆
Yes looks like classic or elegance
The Mercedes looks horrible, even back then.. compared to the 5 series which is an absolutely stunning car in every aspect, I have an Oxford green with sand beige interior 5 series and it is better in every way than almost every new car on the market... they’re the last car that bmw built that was of great quality.
Gentlemans colour combo that!
Problem is the BMW will eventually (albeit 10 years later) snap it's timing chain guides, definitely drip oil all over your drive, rust on the sills, tailgate and rear arches and need a range of engine sensors replaced. Plus owning one in 2021 when petrol is 140p a litre makes it very expensive to run. Brand new in 1997 though, when fuel was 60p a litre, owning this car must have been a dream come true. The SE never matched the Sport for looks however.
laughs in 25 year old e39 that hasnt had any of these problems
BMW FTMFW! Again!
The Mercedes is definitely more durable although the BMW looks miles better.
How much payed u bmw for this?because you do the same commercial to bmw when you compare it with a6
W210 have navigation too why not choose a model with navigation and full option because you are afraid u lose for sure
Mercedes made a car for safe the passenger not to kill it
More luxurious more confortable more safety is Mercedes,where is the think where bmw is better than Merc u corupt ?
+Adrian Stefan its wasnt in 1998.
Yes and no. You could order navigation up from 1998. I found it in the price list. I do drive a 1998 S210 E430 and a BMW 325i. Both cars are realy good. BUT: like he said, my Mercedes is the best if you want to drive fast from A to B with 5 People AND have a complete Engine with Gearbox attached AND the luggage in the Trunk, it will be a great trip and everybody in that car will be happy. OTHERWISE: if you want to drive aggressive and egiale on the country side road my E30 325i is just the best for that. Thats why i hate modern cars. You don't get a luxary crouiser or a speedy car anymore. Only hybrids that aren't as good as the old ones used to be. Until then, i keep on driving my 440.000km old Mercedes E430 while most BMW E39 540i had been killed by their bad automatic transmission that are known not to last over 200km or 10 years... YM2C
@@ronq1774 mercedes is always better than bmw. in quality
oooh Teletext! :-D
Both of them are ugly when in wagons but are art when they are sedans
Honestly
I love estates and wish we had more of them but there is a fine line between estate car and a hearse....... And the funeral parlour shot at the end doesn't help...... There was only one choice in this for me...... Sorry if u bought the hearse....
mercedes is a better build quality with better quality materials for the seats and interior components ... fewer plastic parts in the MB than the BMW. If you're a DIY'er the MB is much easier to work on IMO having worked on both my sons' cars for routine oil changes, spark plug replacement, brake pad replacement and drive belt replacement. BMW parts are comparably priced to MB parts, and perhaps more expensive
I'm sorry to say that, but that is actually wrong, the quality of an E39 is far better than this old rosty MB. BMW parts are as expensive as MB parts but both cars have a huge amount of quality aftermarket parts. Ordering in Germany will save you lots of money.
The S210 is rusty yes, but it realy has the bette interrior quality than the E39. Both care are great and will last long if you keep maintaining them. My S210 E430 hast 440.000km done with the first Engine and Gearbox and it looks like new from the Inside.
I totally agree!!
@Martin Gård Well you're wrong about that since the E39 5 Series won most reviews at that time for having a better blend of comfort and driving dynamics...... a bit like the current 5 series v the E Class.
@@kgfgfg1 Both cars of that era had excellent quality interiors, there wasn't much of a difference as far as quality goes, it's a shame now that Merc chooses style over substance. The current Mercs interiors are great to look at but are lacking a little in the quality department whereas the latest 5 series has a much better quality interior but not so exciting to look at!
The Mercedes w210 is the best!
💜bmw 5 series.
this gen of e class was great to drive wash them regularly and they wont rust
didnt like the silly foot operated parking brake though
Good choice! :D
Mercedes-Benz seats were/are firm for a reason. Soft seating is tiring and does not support your body properly. I've done many, many miles in w210 and w202 and I always got out of the car well rested, unlike in French cars, for instance, where you sink into the seats. Also, Mercedes-Benz has/had a lot of gadgets, you just need to read the manual to appreciate them. For instance, in the car in this test there is the 4 air cabin filters option flickable by the press of the button. Something Tesla boasts about these days. There is also sun sensor to control the climate inside the car automatically depending on the sun position and much more. Lastly, ''tv screens'' age the worst. That E39's Tv was outdated in just 5 years after you bought it.
As I run through cars I have owned - as the 90s timeline goes I had mostly diesel versions of the german trio - such as W124 250D, W210 220 CDI, E34 525i, E39 525d and Audi A6 C4 2.5 TDI - I came to a conclusion that each generation varies
the W124 was for me unbeatable car in quality and driving comfort compared to E34 which was still a classic BMW but the W124 was the still pointing out that Mercedes-Benz was the King of the 80s...
However the quality of W210 was downgraded when speaking of materials, yet still elegant, silent and comfortable for a highway cruiser. A bit wobbly when compared to older W124 but more spacious.
The E39 was excellent quality and joyride but for sleek cruising on the highway it never got to the W210 in terms of silence and comfort - it always felt like I was in a wrestling ring after 1000 km of driving (nor did E60).
At this point I thought there were two sides of the ring I had to choose but then I found Audi A6 C4 which was absolutely best from both worlds mixed in one body. Very comfortable spacious and silent, but still good driving, however with the C5 I think that Audi went beyond their horizon....
And today - none of this marks is individual and all of them are trying to be hybrids of everyone - just like new BMWs are desperately trying to be Mercedes and Mercedes trying to be BMW and they starting to lose what they were good for...
Mercedes Comfort 👍
This generation is the only one where i think bmw beats the merc. Before and after the w210 i would take a merc anytime over a bmw
funny how these two completely switched, in terms of philosophy. nowadays Mercedes is the technology leader between the German giants, while BMW is more conservative
Give me the E39 (a bit biased as I bought a 528i Touring last week), those oval headlights on the Merc are downright repulsive! I'd be more inclined to take a Merc over an E39 if it had been the previous model W124 Estate.
those mercedes will last forever
The common verdict with BMWs vs Mercs is that the BMW is the sporty one and the Merc is the luxurious one.
In the case of the e39... nope. The e39 completely dicked the merc and the audio on sportiness AND luxury... and every other area come to think of it.
I want to say just one thing - BMW v8 engines are notoriously unreliable and leaky, while m113 in that benz is absolutely indestructible tank that will run for 300-400k miles. That's all I have to say
My 430 has more than 300 hp but it's not a wagon
jep
E-klass lasts forever! so low reved
Why would reluctance for a semi automatic gearbox be a bad thing? They’re awful!
Fast forward 20 years… Mercedes still running BMW overheated and leaked fluids till it Died
BMW 5 series: Built in Teletext!
Merc for seriuse driving car havy duty and road holding machine difrent not for fantasy inside like bmw im use w126 still like new feel
عالی
Mercedes failed woefully in the design of the W210. It looks like something from the 1960s. Such a shame.
Holy crap i can’t believe they have dared to even compare these two! The E39 is a MILLION TIMES BETTER!
All BMWs are broken because of all the extras, Mercedes benz are still going strong
This guy is biased!!!#TeamBenz #MercedesMan
I AGREE!! Plus. The BMW interior will fall apart quickly compared to a Mercedes-benz.
#BrabusBenz
Staggering how out of touch this reviewer was even back then, the Mercedes is a better drive having owned both but this guy is just hilarious, I think there's a video where he bought a Chrysler voyager with his own money once ...clueless
The Merc looks like a Hippo with piles.
50k pound in 1998. ouch.
Mercedes in my mind is much better
the interior looks old like from the 90's
Because they are
That Mercedes will be a steaming pile of rust now unfortunately
Lmao and the beamer will have fallen apart on its own
this is the only generation where bmw looks better than mercedes, those frogeyes ruined the w210 series, the prodecessor w211 is much better (2002) so are the previous mercs, but great c ars nonetheless.
cockshield
exactly
The Mercedes looks so outdated compared to the BMW
The E430 has to be on the top 10 of the ugliest cars ever produced.
318عالی
gana BMW
What a stupid comment on your part. Most cars come equipped with AC & leather seats.
All great and all but 2 piles junk compared to a Lexus, any Lexus.
worst review ever XD
this Chanel is always biased
Mercedes looks much better and is more powerfull and comfortable and the important think is it is a Benz, bmw is for guys they cannot afford a benz ;)
Bmw is for those who want to drive the ultimate driving machine. Can't remember when they weren't in the top 10 list of car and driver. 1. Better handling 2. Faster.....P.S. My Grandfather drives a Benz.
yes in your bmw dreams mercedes is always faster bmw has not supersport cars and hypersportcars look on youtube mercedes vs bmw race videos mercedes wins the 80% of the races;) yes in our appartment we have 3 old people 60+ and all of them drives bmw ;) not forget my friend the richest guys drives mercedes not bmw look in dubai to example a lot of sls, slr s-class, cls, cl drives multimillionair arab guys ;)
your grandfather know the bmw sucks thats why he drive a benz he has not enough time for repairs in carstation he needs quality ;)
blockthis08 You know everyone says to stick to what your elders say;) Older people went through a lot of things in their life and they must know better.There's a reason why he chose the Benz
The Mercedes looks better? do you have eyes?
The Best or Nothing
I will take the Nothing 540i then.