Verdict
At RM392,800, the BMW 3 Series M costs RM51,088 less than the RM443,888 Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class, yet reaches 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds against 4.6 seconds while matching 500 Nm and a 250 km/h top speed. Its 480-litre boot and 59-litre tank also suit longer Malaysian trips better. The Mercedes counters with 402 hp, a 14 hp mild-hybrid motor, a four-year warranty and RM380 annual road tax, versus 387 hp, two years and RM2,125 for the BMW. The BMW is the sharper numbers-led buy; the Mercedes makes sense for warranty cover and lower annual tax.
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if you want the quicker 4.4-second sprint, a larger 480-litre boot and RM51,088 left in your pocket.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class if you prioritise its 402 hp mild-hybrid powertrain, four-year warranty and much lower RM380 annual road tax.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class RM443,888.
- Performance: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp and 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class 402 hp and 4.6 seconds.
- Powertrain: BMW 3 Series M has a 2,998 cc petrol engine; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class has a 1,999 cc mild-hybrid petrol engine with a 14 hp motor.
- Practicality: BMW 3 Series M has a 480-litre boot and 59-litre tank; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class has a 455-litre boot and 50-litre tank.
- Warranty and road tax: BMW 3 Series M gets two years and RM2,125 per year; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class gets four years and RM380 per year.
- Parking assistance: BMW 3 Series M has automatic parallel and perpendicular parking with reversing assist; Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class has no auto-parking…
3 Series M
- Quicker 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time
- 480-litre boot and 59-litre fuel tank
- Auto parking with reversing assist
- 387 hp is 15 hp down on the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class
- Two-year warranty versus four years
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM380
AMG C-Class
- 402 hp with a 14 hp mild-hybrid motor
- Four-year unlimited-mileage warranty
- Digital Light LED headlamps and a panoramic glass roof
- RM51,088 higher purchase price
- 4.6-second 0-100 km/h time versus 4.4 seconds
- 455-litre boot and 50-litre tank trail the BMW's 480 litres and 59 litres
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800✓ | RM443,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CKD |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM380✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing, Mild Hybrid Assist |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp | 402 hp✓ |
| Torque | 500 Nm | 500 Nm |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore | 82 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 14 hp |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | AMG Speedshift MCT 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 4.6 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,751 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,820 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,437 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 455 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 265/35R19 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Continental SportContact 7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Malaysia (CKD) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Double Wishbones |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 19" Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 19" Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Assist) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | AMG Ride Control - Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Driver Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available for 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available on Outer Two Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Digital Light LED Projector |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function and Bolster Adjustment | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Sunroof | Yes | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 4x Front USB-C, 1x Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Panoramic Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 15-speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & Down with Anti-pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Contactless Opening, Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | Tyre Pressure Monitoring System | — |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 3 Series M & AMG C-Class for sale
3 Series M vs AMG C-Class FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class better?
The BMW 3 Series M is the better performance-and-practicality choice: it is quicker to 100 km/h, has a larger boot and costs less. Choose the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class for its higher power output, four-year warranty and far lower road tax.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class costs RM51,088 more than the BMW 3 Series M.
Which car is faster?
The BMW 3 Series M is faster from 0-100 km/h, taking 4.4 seconds against the Mercedes-Benz AMG C-Class' 4.6 seconds. Both have 500 Nm of torque and a 250 km/h top speed.
