Mercedes vs. BMW- Which is Cheaper to Maintain?

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Both Mercedes-Benz and BMW are manufacturers of premium segment cars. This is why they are also among the most expensive car brands in the world.

If there is one thing common among all expensive brands it is their high costs of ownership. Mercedes vs BMW maintenance cost has always been a hot topic among car enthusiasts.

Since both brands have a similar target audience. It will be interesting to see how this comparison of Mercedes vs BMW maintenance cost pans out.

Is BMW Cheaper than Mercedes-Benz in Maintenance?

BWM isn’t cheaper than Mercedes-Benz in Maintenance. In fact, BMW is the most expensive car brand to maintain. And guess who is right after BWM on that list, it’s Mercedes-Benz. Where a BMW will cost you around $1,780 per annum to maintain, a Mercedes-Benz would sum up at $1,290.

From the above stats, you can see that Mercedes-Benz isn’t a cheap brand to maintain, but the maintenance cost of BMW is at a different level. Both brands hailing from Germany offer a certain level of class and luxury, but it does come at a price.

If you are looking to purchase either of these brands, then be prepared to bear heavy running costs as well.

Also read: 3 Cheapest Mercedes to Maintain (+ Costs)

BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Purchase Price

The average purchase price of a BWM is $62,853. Similarly, a Mercedes-Benz would initially cost you $72,025. Based upon the MSRP of the most common models of each brand, we have calculated these average purchase prices.

The overview and initial prices of models upon which we have based our average prices are presented below:

  1. Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. BMW 3-Series

Mercedes-Benz C-Class has the most futuristic exterior design. It was highly praised for its bold and curvaceous looks. Like other Mercedes, it also offered plenty of features. The comfort and safety of this car were unlike any other car of the similar segment.

Initial Selling Price: $42,650

Also read: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Running Costs (1, 3, 5 Years)

BMW 3-Series has been a true competitor to Mercedes C-Class. Both cars fall in the luxury sedan category. BMW 3-Series matched the C-Class in every aspect whether it be a classy exterior or soothing interior. Both cars seemed to have done it right.

Initial Selling Price: $42,245

  1. Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. BMW 1-Series

Mercedes-Benz A-Class was a fine attempt by the company in the subcompact sedan category. It was equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo engine capable of churning out 188 hp. The styling of this car followed the signature designs of Mercedes-Benz.

Initial Selling Price: $34,700

BMW 1-Series was not quite a hit in the market. Maybe it didn’t get enough attention. Though, everything seemed perfect about this car. It had an overpowered engine that could produce 320 hp @ 317 Nm torque. These were highly impressive figures for a subcompact sedan.

Initial Selling Price: $44,475

  1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs. BMW 7-Series

Mercedes-Benz S-Class has often been viewed as a status symbol. Among the executives of different companies, S-Class is immensely popular. Its hefty price tag is well justified by its softer than ever suspension. The ride in this luxury feels like a royal experience.

Initial Selling Price: $110,850

BMW 7-Series is one of the most expensive cars in the BMW lineup. This car is worthy of all the praise as it had an overly serene cabin and smooth handling. Though we expect the comfort level of a car from this segment to be slightly better.

Initial Selling Price: $87,795

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  1. Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. BMW X7

Mercedes-Benz GLS has been the S-Class of SUVs. It is a top-of-the-line SUV with high-tech connectivity features. The car had ample cabin space and a uniquely designed exterior. It ticks marked the basic requirements of a 3-rowed luxury SUV. It came with a huge V8 engine that could produce 483 hp.

Initial Selling Price: $99,900

BMW X7 is a true sports utility vehicle. It shows great resolve while off-roading. The delivery of power is extremely smooth. This BMW is quick and agile. The cabin and cargo space in BMW X7 are on the lower side. But the smaller size helped in keeping the curb weight down. Hence, enhancing the performance and pick.

Initial Selling Price: $75,895

BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Insurance

Luxury brands are costlier to insure, especially German ones. The average insurance cost of a BMW is $2,314 for one year. Similarly, the average annual insurance cost of Mercedes-Benz is $2,210. We can see that the insurance cost for both brands is almost the same.

  1. Mercedes-Benz C-Class vs. BMW 3-Series

The average insurance cost of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class for one year is $1,633. On the other hand, it will cost you about $1,907 to insure your BMW 3-Series over the same period. Both rates are slightly above the market average. But we can see that in this category of luxury sedans, BMW is more expensive to insure.

  1. Mercedes-Benz A-Class vs. BMW 1-Series

Mercedes-Benz A-Class will cost around $1,828 in insurance per year. And less popular BMW 1-Series will cost you only $1,614 for insurance. So, in the segment of subcompact sedans, BMW has an edge over Mercedes-Benz.

Also read: 3 Cheapest to Maintain BMW Models (& Costs)

  1. Mercedes-Benz S-Class vs. BMW 7-Series

The insurance of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in all its glory will cost you $2,878 per year. This is about $1,000 above the average insurance premium of a sedan. BMW 7-Series isn’t far behind either. Its insurance cost is estimated at $2,861 per year.

  1. Mercedes-Benz GLS vs. BMW X7

The annual insurance cost of Mercedes-Benz GLS will come at $2,502. However, the insurance of the BMW X7 for a year will cost you $2,877. Both cars lie in the similar segment but have a considerable difference between insurance rates.

BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Maintenance

Following is a comparison between the rates of the common maintenance items for BMW and Mercedes-Benz:

Maintenance BMWMercedes-Benz
Oil Change$175$184
Air Filter$105$95
Transmission Fluid$467$328
Brake Pads$600$368
Spark Plugs$467$487
Clutch Plates$2,800$1,600
Ignition Coil$184$170
Water Pump$850$866

From the above table, we can conclude that the maintenance rates of BMW and Mercedes-Benz are somewhat similar. But in certain cases like clutch plates and brake pads, BMW will cost you 2x more as compared to a Mercedes-Benz.

BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: Repairs

BMW Most Common Repairs

Following are the 5 most common repairs found in BMW:

  1. Water Pump Failure
  2. Oil Leakage
  3. Faulty Electronics
  4. Fuel Pump Issue
  5. Dead Batteries

  1. Water Pump Failure

Cooling system failures are pretty common among BMW cars. The water pump was the weakest link in this cooling chain. It would suddenly fail, causing the car to overheat at times. The cost of replacing a faulty water pump is $850.

  1. Oil Leakage

Oil leakage from underneath the engine was found in BMW cars. Sometimes it was just due to the loose oil filter or oil reservoir bolts. But at times it was due to the leakage in engine gaskets. In which case, it costs $1,550 to repair this issue of leakage.

  1. Faulty Electronics

German cars are known for having complex electrical systems. BMW cars are no different. If you are buying one then be prepared to face slow climbing windows, non-functional horns, and flickering headlights. Repairing such issues could easily cost you between $400 to $1,200.

Also read: BMW vs Mercedes: (Depreciation Comparison)

  1. Fuel Pump Issue

A fuel pump is responsible for the delivery of fuel from the tank to the combustion chamber. Which is the heart and soul of the engine cycle. Due to weak fuel pumps, BMW cars often faced the issue of reduced acceleration and low power. The replacement cost of a fuel pump in BMW is $894.

  1. Dead Batteries

Another problem related to the electrical system was dead batteries. BMW cars would drain your batteries sooner than anticipated. Maybe it was due to fancy functions and features in them that run on voltage. It would cost $500 to replace the battery in a BMW.

Mercedes-Benz Most Common Repairs

Following are the 5 most common repairs found in Mercedes Benz:

  1. Air Suspension Failure
  2. Oil Leaks
  3. Engine Misfires
  4. Braking Problems
  5. High Emissions

  1. Air Suspension Failure

Suspension failure in a premium segment car is the worst nightmare. It compromised your ride quality and comfort level. Air suspension in working conditions is a blessing, but many disliked it for its tendency to fail. It would cost you at least $5,000 to repair it.

  1. Oil Leaks

It seems like oil leaks are getting to even the best of German cars. Mercedes-Benz also had to face this issue. It could get really nasty if oil pressure sensors were not working fine. As it can lead to a seized engine as well. The cost of repairing this issue is between $220 and $1,800.

  1. Engine Misfires

Poor sealing of engine heads could result in misfiring. Several other reasons can cause this too. But repairing this issue of engine misfires will cost you between $400 and $1,000.

  1. Braking Problems

The brake pads in Mercedes-Benz were reported to wear out very soon. You would have to replace them every 10,000 miles or so. The cost of this replacement would come to about $350.

  1. High Emissions

The failed catalytic converter in several Mercedes-Benz cars would lead towards higher emission rates. The cost of repairing a faulty catalytic converter is $1,650.

BMW vs. Mercedes-Benz: What are the Overall Costs?

The overall cost of owning a BWM for a year will be $66,947 and the monthly running cost will be $342. Hence, for a period of 3 years, BMW will cost you $12,282 and after 5 years you would have spent $20,470 on it.

If we were to breakdown the overall costs of purchasing and owning a BMW, then it would look like this:

  1. Average cost of initial purchase: $62,853
  2. Average insurance cost: $2,314
  3. Average maintenance cost: $1,780

Overall Cost: $66,947

On the other hand, the overall cost of owning a Mercedes-Benz for one year comes to $72,025. You would have to bear an expense of $291 per month. For 3 years this cost will amount to $10,500 and for 5 years you will bear $17,500.

Similarly, for Mercedes-Benz the overall costs will be distributed as per following:

  1. Average cost of initial purchase: $72,025
  2. Average insurance cost: $2,210
  3. Average maintenance cost: $1,290

Overall Cost: $75,525

References:

lifehacker.com, savvy.com.au, scrperformance.com, whocanfixmycar.com, motorbiscuit.com, quora.com, caranddriver.com, unitedbmw.com, repairpal.com, mrclutchnw.com, autoguru.com.au, mercedesmedic.com, motor1.com, caredge.com, hotcars.com, finder.com, costhack.com