Compare the2023 BMW 5 Series SedanVS 2023 Mercedes E-Class Sedan

The BMW 5 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 5 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.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 5 Series Sedan has standard Cross Traffic Warning, helping the driver avoid collisions. Mercedes charges extra for Rear Cross-Traffic Alert on the E-Class Sedan.

Both the 5 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, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, driver alert monitors and available all wheel drive.

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

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 5 Series Sedan 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 E-Class Sedan.

A reliable vehicle saves its owner time, money and trouble. Nobody wants to be stranded or have to be without a vehicle while it’s being repaired. Consumer Reports rates the 5 Series Sedan’s reliability 24 points higher than the E-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 5 Series Sedan second among midsize premium cars in their 2022 Initial Quality Study. The E-Class Sedan was rated third.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in initial quality. With 24 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is rated below average.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2022 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 above average in long-term dependability. With 5 more problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, Mercedes is rated below average.

From surveys of all its subscribers, Consumer Reports’ January 2023 Auto Issue reports that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes vehicles. Consumer Reports ranks BMW third in overall reliability. Mercedes is ranked 24th.

The 5 Series Sedan has more powerful engines than the E-Class Sedan:

On the EPA test cycle the 5 Series Sedan gets better mileage than the E-Class Sedan:

Regardless of its engine, regenerative brakes improve the 5 Series Sedan’s fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. Mercedes only offers a regenerative brake system on the E-Class Sedan 450.

The 5 Series Sedan’s launch control uses engine electronics to hold engine RPM’s precisely in order to provide the most stable and rapid acceleration possible, using all of the available traction. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer launch control.

For better stopping power the 5 Series Sedan’s brake rotors are larger than those on the E-Class Sedan:

The 5 Series Sedan stops much shorter than the E-Class Sedan:

The 5 Series Sedan’s optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the E 350 Sedan’s optional 40 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 5 Series Sedan offers optional 20-inch wheels. The E-Class Sedan’s largest wheels are only 19-inches.

The 5 Series Sedan offers an optional space-saver spare tire so you can replace a flat tire and drive to have the flat repaired or replaced. A spare tire isn’t available on the E-Class Sedan; it requires you to depend on its run-flat tires, which limits mileage and speed before they are repaired. If a run-flat is damaged beyond repair by a road hazard your vehicle will have to be towed.

The 5 Series Sedan 540i/M550i offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The M550i offers an available adjustable active suspension system, which counteracts cornering forces actively, limiting body roll and improving handling and stability. Mercedes doesn’t offer an active suspension on the E-Class Sedan.

For a smoother ride and more stable handling, the 5 Series Sedan’s wheelbase is 1.4 inches longer than on the E-Class Sedan (117.1 inches vs. 115.7 inches).

The M550i xDrive handles at .92 G’s, while the E 450 4MATIC Sedan pulls only .83 G’s of cornering force in a Motor Trend skidpad test.

The M550i xDrive executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.3 seconds quicker than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan (24.9 seconds @ .77 average G’s vs. 26.2 seconds @ .69 average G’s).

The front grille of the 5 Series Sedan uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

As tested by Car and Driver, the interior of the 540i is quieter than the E 450 4MATIC Sedan:

The 5 Series Sedan has 1.5 inches more front headroom, .9 inches more front shoulder room and .3 inches more rear legroom than the E-Class Sedan.

The 5 Series Sedan has a larger trunk than the E-Class Sedan (14 vs. 13.1 cubic feet).

A low lift-over trunk design makes loading and unloading the 5 Series Sedan easier. The 5 Series Sedan’s trunk lift-over height is 26.2 inches, while the E-Class Sedan’s liftover is 27.7 inches.

J.D. Power and Associates surveys of service recipients show that BMW service is better than Mercedes. J.D. Power ranks BMW 7th in service department satisfaction (above the industry average). With a 17% lower rating, Mercedes is ranked 18th.

A power rear sunshade and manual rear side window sunshades are optional in the 5 Series Sedan to help block heat and glare for the rear passengers. The E-Class Sedan doesn’t offer rear side window sunshades.

The 5 Series Sedan’s available Parking Assistant Plus can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote Control Parking will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The E-Class Sedan’s automatic parking system does not offer parking by remote control.

Insurance will cost less for the 5 Series Sedan owner. The Car Book by Jack Gillis rates the 5 Series Sedan with a number “1” insurance rate while the E-Class Sedan is rated higher at a number “5” rate.

According to The Car Book by Jack Gillis, the 5 Series Sedan is less expensive to operate than the E-Class Sedan because it costs $454 less to do the manufacturer’s suggested maintenance for 50,000 miles. Typical repairs cost much less on the 5 Series Sedan than the E-Class Sedan, including $54 less for a water pump, $63 less for a muffler, $238 less for a starter, $91 less for fuel injection and $179 less for a power steering pump.

Consumer Reports® recommends the BMW 5 Series Sedan, based on reliability, safety and performance. The Mercedes E-Class Sedan isn't recommended.

The BMW 5 Series outsold the Mercedes E-Class/CLS by 11% during 2022.