Verdict
At RM392,800, the BMW 3 Series M costs RM99,912 more than the RM292,888 Mercedes-Benz C-Class, but its 387 hp, 500 Nm inline-six, all-wheel drive and 4.4-second sprint make the performance case emphatically. The C-Class counters with a 20 hp/200 Nm motor, a 6.6 L/100 km rating and RM90 annual road tax against RM2,125. It is also 150 kg lighter, yet the BMW gets a 480-litre boot, 19-inch wheels, adaptive M suspension and a head-up display. Malaysian buyers must decide if the extra pace and hardware justify the tax burden.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if 387 hp, 500 Nm, all-wheel drive and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time matter more than a RM99,912 saving.
C-Class
Pick the Mercedes-Benz C-Class if you want the RM292,888 entry price, RM90 annual road tax and a 6.6 L/100 km fuel-consumption rating.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM292,888.
- Power and torque: BMW 3 Series M 387 hp and 500 Nm; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 201 hp and 300 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3 Series M 4.4 seconds; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 7.3 seconds.
- Annual road tax: BMW 3 Series M RM2,125; Mercedes-Benz C-Class RM90.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series M 480 litres; Mercedes-Benz C-Class 455 litres.
- Airbags: BMW 3 Series M six; Mercedes-Benz C-Class seven.
3 Series M
- 387 hp and 500 Nm from a 2,998 cc inline-six
- All-wheel drive, adaptive M suspension and M Sport differential
- 19-inch wheels, head-up display and 480-litre boot
- RM99,912 more expensive
- RM2,125 annual road tax versus RM90
- Six airbags versus seven
C-Class
- 6.6 L/100 km rated economy with a 20 hp, 200 Nm motor
- RM99,912 lower purchase price and RM90 annual road tax
- Seven airbags, powered hands-free boot and rear sun shades
- 201 hp and 300 Nm trail the BMW's 387 hp and 500 Nm
- 7.3-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.9 seconds slower
- Passive cruise control and no head-up display
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800 | RM292,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM90✓ |
| 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 |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | 1,496 cc |
| Horsepower | 387 hp at 5,800 rpm✓ | 201 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm✓ | 300 Nm at 1,800 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | 78 mm × 78.3 mm |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 20 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 200 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | 9G-TRONIC |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 7.3 seconds |
| Rated Economy | — | 6.6 L/100 km |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 246 km/h |
| Co2 | — | 151 g/km |
| 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 | 1,650 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 50 litres |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 455 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 225/45R18 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 245/40R18 |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Pirelli Cinturato P7 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link |
| Front Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 18" 5-spoke 2-tone Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, Variable Sport Steering, M Sport Differential | Agility Control Suspension |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's 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 for 2 Outer Rear Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes (7 to 250 km/h), with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (7 to 80 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | For All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Blind Spot Collision Prevention, Rear Cross Traffic Collision Prevention, Active Bonnet |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | LED Projector with Auto High Beam |
| 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 | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| 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 |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Rear Vents |
| Sunroof | Yes | — |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 4 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | Powered Rear Sun Shade, Manual Rear Door Window Sun Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.4" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 8 Speakers |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and 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 | Passive Cruise Control |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes, Parallel and Perpendicular |
| 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 | Auto-dimming Mirrors, Qi Wireless Charger, Fingerprint Scanner |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years✓ | 2 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 & C-Class for sale
3 Series M vs C-Class FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Mercedes-Benz C-Class better?
The BMW 3 Series M is the stronger choice for outright performance, with 387 hp, all-wheel drive and 4.4-second acceleration to 100 km/h. The Mercedes-Benz C-Class makes more sense for lower purchase cost, RM90 road tax and its 6.6 L/100 km rating.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series M costs RM99,912 more than the Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
Which has lower annual road tax?
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has far lower annual road tax at RM90, compared with RM2,125 for the BMW 3 Series M.
