Compare the2022 BMW M3VS 2021 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

The M3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The M3 has a standard PostCrash iBrake, which automatically applies the brakes in the event of a crash to help prevent secondary collisions and prevent further injuries. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a post collision braking system: in the event of a collision that triggers the airbags, more collisions are possible without the protection of airbags that may have already deployed.

The M3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the M3 has a standard cross-path warning system, which uses sensors in the rear bumper to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side, helping the driver avoid collisions. Cross-path warning costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Both the M3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, plastic fuel tanks, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The M3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG C-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2020 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 18th in initial quality. With 26 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 30th.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2021 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 10th in reliability, above the industry average. With 14 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 15th.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2021 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW 8 places higher in reliability than Mercedes.

The M3 has more powerful engines than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

As tested in Motor Trend the M3 Competition is faster than the AMG C 63 S Sedan 4.0 turbo V8 (automatics tested):

Both the M3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have a standard automatic start/stop engine feature to stop unnecessary fuel waste and pollution at stop lights and heavy traffic. All M3s have a standard disable switch for the system, so a driver can keep the engine from shutting off when the vehicle stops temporarily.

For better stopping power the M3’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG C-Class Sedan:

The M3 stops much shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:225/45R18 & R:245/40R18). The M3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:245/40R18 & R:265/40R18).

The M3’s standard 275/40R18 front and 285/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C 43 Sedan’s standard 45 series front and 40 series rear tires. The M3’s optional 285/30R20 rear tires have a lower 30 series profile than the AMG C 63 Sedan’s optional 35 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 has standard 19-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C 63 Sedan. The M3’s optional 20-inch rear wheels are larger than the 19-inch wheels optional on the AMG C 63 Sedan.

For better handling and stability, the track (width between the wheels) on the M3 is .5 inches wider in the front and 2.1 inches wider in the rear than the average track on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The M3’s front to rear weight distribution is more even (52.9% to 47.1%) than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s (56.3% to 43.7%). This gives the M3 more stable handling and braking.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the AMG C 43 Sedan pulls only .93 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M3 has 5 cubic feet more passenger volume than the AMG C-Class Sedan (95 vs. 90).

The M3 has 2 inches more front headroom, .7 inches more front shoulder room, .6 inches more rear headroom and .4 inches more rear legroom than the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The M3 has a larger trunk than the AMG C Sedan (13 vs. 12.6 cubic feet).

Pulling a handle automatically lowers the M3’s rear seats, to make changing between passengers and cargo easier. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer automatic folding seats.

Both the M3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The M3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG C-Class Sedan.

On extremely cold winter days, the M3’s optional heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.