Verdict
The Mercedes-Benz EQE is RM12,912 cheaper at RM379,888, yet brings a 90.6-kWh battery, quoted 669-km range and 170-kW DC charging, making it the more rational long-distance EV choice if charging access suits your routine. Its RM305 annual road tax also undercuts the BMW 3 Series M’s RM2,125 sharply. The BMW counters with 387 hp, all-wheel drive and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time, 2.0 seconds quicker than the EQE, plus a 50-litre-larger boot. Buy it for pace; buy the EQE for EV range and lower running taxes.
3 Series M
Pick the BMW 3 Series M if a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h sprint, all-wheel drive and a 480-litre boot matter more than EV range and road-tax savings.
EQE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz EQE if you want 669 km of quoted EV range, 170-kW DC charging, RM305 annual road tax and a four-year manufacturer warranty.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series M RM392,800; Mercedes-Benz EQE RM379,888.
- Performance: BMW 0-100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and 250 km/h; EQE 6.4 seconds and 210 km/h.
- Powertrain: BMW 387 hp/500 Nm 2,998-cc turbo inline-six with all-wheel drive; EQE 288 hp/565 Nm single motor with rear-wheel drive.
- Energy and tax: BMW has a 59-litre petrol tank and RM2,125 yearly road tax; EQE has a 90.6-kWh battery, 669-km range and RM305 road tax.
- Size and luggage: BMW is 4,714 mm long with a 2,851-mm wheelbase and 480-litre boot; EQE is 4,946 mm long with a 3,120-mm wheelbase and 430-litre boot.
- Warranty: BMW gets two years manufacturer warranty; EQE gets four years plus a 10-year/250,000-km EV battery warranty.
3 Series M
- 387 hp, all-wheel drive and a 4.4-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 480-litre boot is 50 litres larger.
- Sunroof, 40:20:40 rear seat split and 19-inch wheels.
- RM12,912 dearer and annual road tax is RM1,820 higher.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty trails the EQE’s four years.
- Six airbags versus the EQE’s nine, and no rear side airbags listed.
EQE
- 90.6-kWh battery, 669-km quoted range and up to 170-kW DC charging.
- RM305 annual road tax and RM12,912 lower purchase price.
- Nine airbags, rear-wheel steering and a four-year manufacturer warranty.
- 6.4-second 0-100 km/h time is 2.0 seconds behind the BMW.
- 430-litre boot is 50 litres smaller.
- At 2,355 kg, it is 555 kg heavier, and it has no sunroof.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM392,800 | RM379,888✓ |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,125 | RM305✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 32-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 2,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 387 hp at 5,800 rpm | — |
| Torque | 500 Nm at 1,900 rpm | — |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore × Stroke | 82 mm × 94.6 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 10.2 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 288 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 565 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 90.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 669 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 22 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 170.0 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | Rear Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 4.4 seconds✓ | 6.4 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h✓ | 210 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,714 mm | 4,946 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,961 mm |
| Height | 1,440 mm | 1,510 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 3,120 mm |
| Weight | 1,800 kg | 2,355 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 430 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/40R19 | 255/45R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 255/35R19 | 255/45R19 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 Run-flat | Bridgestone Turanza T005 |
| 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 | 19" AMG Five-twin-spoke Light-alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 19" M Double-spoke style 792 M Bicolour Jet Black | 19" AMG Five-twin-spoke Light-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 | Comfort Suspension, Rear Wheel Steering |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 9 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side, Driver's Knee) |
| 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 Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| 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, Heated |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 60:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Rear AC Vents | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| 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 |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | Sunroof Shade | — |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 12.8" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D Surround Sound System |
| 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 | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, 360-degree Monitor | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| 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 | Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 10-year/250,000-km Warranty for EV Battery |
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 & EQE for sale
3 Series M vs EQE FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series M or Mercedes-Benz EQE better?
The EQE is the better ownership-led choice: it costs less, has 669 km of quoted range and RM305 road tax. The BMW is better for outright pace, reaching 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds versus 6.4 seconds, and has the larger boot.
What is the price difference?
The BMW 3 Series M costs RM392,800, while the Mercedes-Benz EQE costs RM379,888. The EQE is RM12,912 cheaper.
Which one is cheaper to tax each year?
The Mercedes-Benz EQE is far cheaper for annual road tax at RM305, compared with RM2,125 for the BMW 3 Series M. That is an RM1,820 yearly difference.
