The BMW 3 Series Sedan has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags helps prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.
The 3 Series Sedan 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 E-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 3 Series Sedan’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 E-Class Sedan.
Both the 3 Series Sedan and the E-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors, available all wheel drive, blind spot warning systems, rear parking sensors and rear cross-path warning.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does 35 MPH front crash tests on new vehicles. In this test, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:
|
3 Series Sedan |
E-Class Sedan |
|
Driver |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
4 Stars |
HIC |
145 |
190 |
Neck Injury Risk |
23% |
30% |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
201/230 lbs. |
387/481 lbs. |
|
Passenger |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Neck Compression |
74 lbs. |
113 lbs. |
Leg Forces (l/r) |
200/338 lbs. |
257/308 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration does side impact tests on new vehicles. In this test, which crashes the vehicle into a flat barrier at 38.5 MPH and into a post at 20 MPH, results indicate that the BMW 3 Series Sedan is safer than the Mercedes E-Class Sedan:
|
3 Series Sedan |
E-Class Sedan |
|
Front Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
107 |
132 |
Chest Movement |
.8 inches |
1.1 inches |
|
Rear Seat |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
Hip Force |
532 lbs. |
594 lbs. |
|
Into Pole |
|
STARS |
5 Stars |
5 Stars |
HIC |
270 |
326 |
Spine Acceleration |
39 G’s |
43 G’s |
Hip Force |
544 lbs. |
836 lbs. |
New test not comparable to pre-2011 test results. More stars = Better. Lower test results = Better.
For its top level performance in IIHS driver and passenger-side small overlap frontal, moderate overlap frontal, side impact, roof strength and head restraint tests, its standard vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention system, its standard vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention system, and its available headlight’s “Good” rating, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the 3 Series Sedan the rating of “Top Safety Pick” for 2021, a rating granted to only 145 vehicles tested by the IIHS. The E-Class Sedan has not been fully tested, yet.