2017 Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG vs 2018 BMW M550i Comparison Review
The BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class have been completely overhauled for this year, and if you didn’t think the regular versions were sporty enough, but don't want the full-on hardcore M or AMG experience, these two luxury sedans offer a good middle ground.
The 2017 BMW M550i xDrive and the Mercedes-Benz E43 AMG 4Matic are two sportier versions of the comfortable, very tech forward luxury sedans we all know and love. And while you might be thinking that these two can’t be direct competitors because the BMW has a V8 and the Mercedes has a V6, the pricing for these to sedans is pretty much even, so that’s why we’re testing them together. They’re natural competitors that offer the full luxury of their regular models but a bit of sportiness without going over the top.
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Mercedes should've kept this as E450 and made an E55 AMG with a V8 to compete with the M550i
I think they already did that over 10years ago.
@@andywheeler2645 🤙🏻😂
AMG badge sells the car more
A 4.4 liter V8 with 456hp and a 0-60 of 3.8 seconds is "a bit of sportiness without going over the top"? Okay, lady.
Anton Smirnov makes me scary to think what will new m5 be capable of.. We're talking supercar performance in a family sized sedan.. Crazy man
No it won't truth be told. If you look at BMW models M cars only have slightly better times than their strongest "regualr" models, it's all about dynamics in M cars.
Domagoj Avramek They advertise it at 3.4 but usualy BMW underestimates its cars.
Domagoj Avramek M5 has been doing that for 3 decades.
Anton Smirnov try out a tune of the 43 and 450 engine...fucking crazy numbers
The V8 is just better it's more rare these days as well.
zerocool801 so c63 > m3/4? Since the c63 has a v8 it automatically wins right?
Dirty Dan It loses because it's a homely compact Mercedes, E loses because it looks like a C.
You’re visits to the gas station will not be rare however...
@@davejohnson9792 You shouldn't care about that with those cars.
and it will be rare to see a BMW V8 make it past the warranty since bmw has never made a good V8 😅😅😅
I think this time the m550i wins. V8 man.
GL HF so c63 > m3/4? Since the c63 has a v8 it automatically wins right?
Dirty Dan yes it’s a much nicer car! I still prefer the E92 M3 over the current gen M3/4, sounds much nicer.
Dirty Dan It wins @ chewing up tires.
Daniel Sadjadian It's a V8!
I think the overall package of the beamer wins this round....and I'm a merc guy.
Test drove both. Bought M550i xdrive. They are very similar under normal driving. Once you put it in sport mode there is no contest. Beemer wins.
Beemer is very good looking on the outside. Better than the mercedes. But i puke on the inside of the beemer. What a ugly and old interior. Mercedes hands down wins there.
@@appel1800 but the merc has trash build quality, creeks all the way
Solid review, and I love that you were clear about WHY you chose the winner you did-- I'll be cross-shopping these two cars (and a couple others) in a few months, and I'm leaning towards the Bimmer because I think this might be my last chance to get an insane V8 like that. (I suspect the next time I'm shopping I'll wind up going electric, and never going back.) Again, great review. Thanks!
I think you're right about once you go electric you may never go back. If only because you'll get used to the extra money in your pocket that you're not spending on gasoline. And these cars do use a lot of costly premium fuel.
This reviwer's voice gets on my nerves. With that being said, I would pick the BMW Too.
are we not getting the m550i in uk?
BMW M550i definitely beat Mercedes
"Like a BOSS" I totally enjoyed this review! Made me laugh
Thank you for this review. I decided to buy an E43 over the 550 or the 540
I hate that most of AutoGuides comparison reviews put so much stock into the weight of the vehicle or a minor stat like one of the vehicles having a slightly better weight distribution. Seems you guys always attribute better handling or worse to some easy difference you can pinpoint on the speck sheets comparing the vehicles. These are both very well thought out vehicles that despite differences on paper have advanced suspension, near perfect weight distribution and the BMW makes up for its heavier weight with much more hp and torque. Driving mildly or even spirited on the streets you are not going to detect the weight differences. I highly doubt the BMW is plowing into corners. Jodi is likely feeling BMW's famously weighted steering and pedals than the actual weight of the vehicle. 200lb heavier is like having a passenger in the car. It is not the magical thing making the car worse or better. love the reviews but wish less attention was given to the on paper differences. It sometimes feels like the speck sheet steers your perception of the car. .
Kevin Alan Yea I think that as well and I love BMWs heavy steering just makes me feel like I'm connected to the road.
When I first drove a BMW it felt very odd to me like the car was heavy. After a bit of seat time I quickly came to the same conclusion as you. BMW's just bite back at you so you never have a feeling a vagueness or disconnection. every BMW I have driven has that same sensation. Smaller drivers like myself it is defiantly more noticeable especially if you are coming from another vehicle.
The BMW these days all drive a bit lazy and heavy in terms of steering and throttle response, unless you really push it (very) hard. But then realistically most of our drives are at most 7/10, where the BMW just may not be that much more enjoyable.
You made my day haha. That's exactly what I wanted to say lol
I'm big Mercedes fan , but honestly the bmw 5 series does look miles better from the outside , interior wise the merc is the winner , the previous generation e class looked much better than the current gen
oday abukaf no the e class lokks both sporty and elegant whereas the BMW is only sporty. So I disgatre bmw does not look miles better. I respect your opinion though
Hasan Al-habbobi And I respect your opinion too brother , peace .
Hasan Al-habbobi bro get a life ahahha the e43 is shit in comaprison
Love ur honesty
+Stefan Cupovic "e43 is shit in comparison" which is why it won this video right? "bro get a life" After you!
Nice watch. Can you do a review on it?
Why didn't we get a 0-60 time for the BMW but we did for the E43? For 0-60 times, is Autoguide using launch control for models that have it? Through a blurb about if it has it or not would be appreciated! For the E43 - the interior is essentially a port of existing interiors from the S or indirectly the C43 (which was inspired by the S) so it new and fresh? Not to say I don't I love the interior of the S and the C-450/C43 and it looks good in the E43 but It would be nice to see Mercedes differentiate some of their model interiors more. Oh and those screens.. ugh, they look like they're tacked on Ipads. Why are the bezels so big? They look like tablets from 10 years ago.
They could do more to differentiate the exteriors of their sedans, too... They all have highly similar shapes and lines, to the point of me getting the E and C class mixed up sometimes.
I agree 100%, the tablets look extremely ancient. And I can't tell the difference between the S, the C and the E. They all look exactly the same. So much for the dumbass merc fanboy talking-point about all BMWs looking the same. hahaha
I find it hard to disagree with you even though I want to, because I HATE all black interiors. I think they hide the design language of an interior rather than emphasize it. I have no idea why so many people like all black interiors. The truth is, the BMW interior is very nice (as you said) but because it doesn't shout at you but instead it is subtle, you have to avoid too much black so that it doesn't hide the lines. I've seen individual-line interiors on the new 7 series that make it look way better than the s-class interior.
V6 vs V8, you know what anyone would choose :D. BMW looks very very nice. The E43 is beautifull too but it should have the 4.0 V8 then was on par with the BMW. Cool cars though ;)
That would overlap with E63. I would say it would be as glorious as V8 if it is equipped with the l6 engine
I think I'd go for the E43. The interior is what sells it and the AMG pkg gives it a sporty yet classy exterior. 4.5 secs is quick enough off the line. Mercedes also tends to lean toward comfort in terms of ride quality. Some prefer that along with its lighter weight for precise handling.
Nice Rolex Jodi. Looks new? As for the review, I was entertained... Thank you.
V8 all the way. No replacement for displacement.
I love her reviews
0-60 3.7-3.9 sec for the bmw. For the money, bmw all day any day.
Macias1000000 Acceleration is not the only measure of a car! How about the design, the refinement, quality, durability, and finally branding. Mercedes represents style and class, BMW represents pretentiousness and ignorance!
Praetorius Yeah, of course not. They should have not compared apples with bananas in the first place... Tell me, the e class owner, merc is class and style and I'll tell you don't have a clue. Maybe, just maybe the new model of the e class has been improved, however, from what I can see, owning w212, it's a shitty rattlebox and the mercedes brand is being used to sell shit to people, who are too busy looking at the image of the brand. I own a 13 year old bmw e61 and 1.5 year old e class, so I have a direct comparison, and have a guess which one I prefer... merc could not possibly clean bm's shoes in most aspects you've listed...
Macias1000000 Let's just for the sake of the argument say that I don't know what I'm talking about. Well she does, and she makes all your arguments void!
Praetorius How naive, ;-)))... So, a general test, not the owners opinion that actually lives with the car you're talking about, does it for you. What you are not realising is that your judgement has already been influenced and it is biased without having physically tested the subjects. Logical sentences have been 'put' in your head and you'll stick to them like you would to your guns, and whenever 'your' opinion is questioned, you can legitimately reach to the your source and back up your opinion with that. Neither it is clever or inteligent to be floating without solid fundamentals amongst people who actually know what they are talking about. Yeah, competence has been replaced by perception of an image. Pretty dim way of making choices if you asked me...
Macias1000000 You think you're only one driving a car? You should really rethink what you know and what you think!
BMW for me
If the BMW had the dynamic handling package... which would you get?
This time around M550i take my money.
Nice watch :>
Both cars are beautiful. But if u want the smile on ur face to last longer M550i will do.
Give the price as tested too!?
Nearly $100K and no standard driver technology packages? Mercedes-Benz still nickel and diming luxury car buyers even at this price point.
J High They saved $ reusing their C-Class design.
+Dan Cowan First of all they don't look the same they look SIMILAR. Second of all they don't look similar to every other merc. its only between the e and c class. Because even though they undoubtly share similar design language they are stillll very much distinguishable. If you couldn't already tell by the massive size difference.....S class has a completely different grill to the c and e class. S class has three curve headlights, e class 2 and c class one respectively. S class has three tail lights whereas e and c class have two. Not to mention their interiors are night and day difference apart....and the s class also has a lot more chrome and more depth to its proportions and body work (and more carvings for its lights). They also have different front and rear diffuses from each other. So yes they undeniably share similar design language with each other however they are still very much distinguishable. And frankly there is nothing wrong with this kind of design philosophy as sales suggest. Audi, porsche and bmw do this too. You could argue that 5 series looks like mini 7 series or that audi a3 looks like a4 with different lights. or that panemera looks like 4 door 911. This kind of design language strengthens brand identity and it keeps customers to the company......for example.....say you are wanting to buy the e class but it looks completly different to the c class and you don't like the c class....you might in that case give up the e class's better interior and go for the c class if not go for another car company all together. So this allows you to not have to make such large sacrifices. Furthermore these cars are not supposed to be flashy. They are meant to be under the radar....hence the concept of stealth wealth, so by looking similar to each other it helps them to blend in and thus achieve that concept. So overall its not as much as you are over exaggerating it and its not a bad thing as you seem to imply it to be. QUIT TALKING BS
BMW M550i all day everyday. If you want confort and luxury you can always buy an S550 not an e43 with a V6. V8>V6.
Bunglebonks "boring" really depends on everyone's opinion. I find the new E63 very bad ass but M550 vs E43 for the same money, i'm sorry but BMW all the way.
Bunglebonks you are high on AMG my friend. But you are totally free to be AMG fanatic, i respect that.
Bunglebonks amg product are pretty nice but remember the 43s aren't real amg but the BMW looked the same for 10 years .....
Thats too big and not as fun to drive as the more sporty and agile e43. Some people want whats in between... The c and s class. Not to mention that rather than getting a base s class you will be able to fully option e class for the same price. By your logic then why get the m550i when you can always buy the m770i not an m550i with a v8 V12>v8
TheGbizaille so c63 > m3/4? Since the c63 has a v8 it automatically wins right?
i think the looks of the m550i puts the e43 to shame when they stand next to eachother
Fearzzy clearly you are a BMW fuck boy. Shocked that a tool would choose a bimmer
Blake Swan calm down, i'm not a fan of either of these cars, but if i had to go with one i'd go with the bimmer yes
Fearzzy Just look at that Interior from BMW.. SUCH A PIECE of SHIT 😂
Fearzzy try the E63 oh wait..
Yo you sleep man, bmws are known for their driving.
Why are you using Mr.JWWs music?
I love my 2017 E63 Wagon with enhanced computer timing from AMG. I push 672 hp at the wheels . Do a story on the power of the Wagons.
That bmw with a tune is insane
Mercedes should make an E560 with the 469HP 4.0 BITURBO V8 that they put in the new S560. That would be a much better competitor for the M550i.
E classe for me always
Both are beautiful but I'd go with the E43.
Imma have to 🎸 that 550 in da purest form!!!😜
If wanted speed I would've stayed with my 340i. Chose a combo of speed and luxury bought the 2018 E 43 AMG on the aftermarket with 14 k miles
You made the video good ,You really didn't pick one,I like driving like a boss so I'm going BMW for sure ,I need that speed wish it was louder for 8 banger though,I'll have to see if I can add to it make it louder,the starting I'll deal with. I'll make it nible,lol
BMW 4.4 Twin-turbo V8 is very common for overheating. Buy only with the I6 engine like M540 to save trouble
Eurocharged tune for the e43 and 450 are fucking crazy. One tune the car blows the doors off my c63
On 2018 it's m5 vs e63 Btw nice reviewer
Actually a really good match up
The rival of the e43 is the 540i though
yeah no, no it's not. God these comments are the absolute dumbest.
Enes Özben lol, and the real rival of the S65 is the i3
Its not the e43 is the best non true amg version of the Benz, just like M550i is the best before the M. Its Mercedes fault of not giving it a V8. 540i is not a performance variant of the 5 series.
She did a great job! Why so many people thumbed down?
E43 for me!!
BMW for me too
Im a mercedes fan and my dad has the new e300. But honestly id take the bmw for that v8
yeah this is light years better than the E300. I have an E43. I test drove the BMW, and immediately left and got the Benz. NOT CLOSE.
Ur a mercedes fan and you choose bmw because v8?....ur not a mercedes fan believe me
Oh, and the sound system isn't close, either. Burmester really outdid themselves, this time, wow!
This comparison apes AutoGuide's Genesis G80 Sport vs. BMW 540i comparison. Basically said the same thing. The Genesis was more powerful, but the BMW was the better car. They are consistent. Faster is not better.
Nissan TitanWarrior well put. I would take the G80 over both when considering price. Not a fan of current BMWs in the least
Blake Swan 2 are V6. 1 V8.
Any lady that reviews a car, I Like!
I test drove both, and I know own the Benz. It wasn't really close, either. The benz handles SO MUCH better, it's ridiculous. The V8 is awesome, but that's where the edges in the BMW end. Exterior styling is really about preference, and they are close, but the interior is not close. The Benz interior is stunning, and you just get the feeling that the Benz is a generation ahead of the BMW. The dual 12" flat screens are pure sex. Don't get me wrong, the BMW is a great car, but for me, the Mercedes really does feel like a much more expensive and advanced car.
I completely agree with you.People who say BMW is better have never drove a Mercedes E class i guess.The look of the new 5 series is cool,but not better than E-Class.It looks just too plain.After all you pay so much money and you expect something more showy.43 is great combination of elegance and sportiness which BMW can't compete with.
Mee too 😍😍
The BMW looks better on the outside and has a stronger engine, but other than that the Benz has the advantage. The E43 does indeed drive better than the M550ix on twisty roads. However, a more fair comparison of handling would be with the 540ix. The extra weight of the two cylinders in the front of the M550ix buys you power, but costs you in handling. It's a trade-off. If you prefer the better handling, you can go with the 540ix which has similar performance to the E43. If you don't need AWD, you can even go with the 540i which would handle even better.
In as much as I envy the power on the beamer I'll still go for E43 It's more reliable Excellent exterior The interior is just hotter than the Kardashians The beamer is good tho But Merc for me
Nice review! To choose one in this segment the M550i is the one! You can also get the Dynamic handling package on the 550i which will reduce body roll during cornering, stiffens the suspension and improves steering handling!
Wanderfeal!
You should have compared the 540i with the e43 that's more common ground
Possibly lack straight cold magnitude relieve screen cry recover surprising
Does the Benz have a better interior, yes. But the exterior of the 550 looks like it's price. The e-class looks like an overly expensive c-class
I'll take both please
BMW confuses me. Is the M550 a true "M" or would we expect an M5? I thought the E43 AMG is a true AMG model. Is there another version to expect? I suppose there could be an E43s.
there's already a fair amount of information about the new m5.
The e43 has way more tech i know because I got one
Bmw is best😎😎
am taking that mercedes
Ouch what happened to the ultimate driving machine?
The M550 is much more rewarding to drive. It's the perfect mixed of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde. It's smooth and tamed in comfort in sport the exhaust wakes up and hold on for dear life
530i would be way more than enough for me. I guess in America those huge fuel consumption aren't too big of a problem, but in Europe they definitely are. Also, in Italy where I live now, there is a tax known as the "superbill" which makes you pay 20 euroes for every kW of power above 185kW (240HP). That means a 300HP car will cost you 1500€ a year more, in taxes. A 360HP car would cost you 3000€ a year Korea and so on.
You can see that she doesn't like Bmw overall I'm actually quite neutral when it's about cars but I saw another review with the 7 series against the new Porsche panamera and she said that bmw's tech (massage/very adjustable seats/etc.) are "over the top" Lady, the 7 series isn't just a luxury car, is it ? Lmao
The e class should've of had tuned down version of their e 63 engine. V6s just don't cut it
She said what? Everyone who's ever driven a BMW against a Merc knows for a fact that BMW has always been a better "Drivers Car" compared to a Merc... Yes I'm a Beemer Fanboy...but I also love Mercs... But honestly, she's got it wrong...
The reviewer kept repeating the same points over and over, e.g. the Merc is 200lbs lighter and the BMW is more cumbersome in the corners (which is actually the opposite of what I've read in 5-series v E-Class comparisons elsewhere). So not a particularly informative review.
I disagree completely about the Benz being the drivers car in this case, also the wind noise reduction is better in the BMW. I own one and have driven both. And the power is just bonkers compared to the Benz. But it is your opinion. I would say test both if you are in the market for one. The only reason I would pick the Benz is because there is an estate version. Hence why I am sadly leaving my m550i for an E63s
Nice kermit watch!
Fantastic AMG
I still dont know why everyone likes that new E-Class Screen. Drive that car for some days or weeks and it will get so annoying. The graphics are antique and ugly and the positioning of the screen is not thought about for a second. BMW's positioning is way better, you can still control everything in the car even when driving 250 km/h. Thats impossible in an E-Class unless you have suicidal tendencies. That said, i drove an E350d for roughly four month and i now own an BMW 530d xdrive since june. The merc cant beat the 5 series in a single aspect, thats true for the M and AMG cars as well. Get the adaptive damper Control and the BMW rides even more smoothly and comfortable than the E-Class.
roger jander you're right on. Our opinions are not shared by many, but when I test drove the e class with the po3 tech package that screen was so out of place, it seemed forced. The e class interior is amazing, everything is curved and round, the speakers the accent lighting the vents the infotainment controls the seats the dashboard, it's all so round and curvy it's why I think it looks so nice, no square lines anywhere until boom, the 25 inch piece of squared rectangular glass in the middle of the console. Wtf? They needed to curve it to match the rest, it's very odd and out of place, it was an afterthought with the design. Also not having a touch screen in 2017 is a crime, 25 inches of lcd screen and I can't touch it any where. Such a disappointment.
E43 best!
Damn chica make a choice
For me..it's the BMW. I'm "older" than the spunky reviewer and prefer the V8 over the V6. If the M.B. came in the E400 4matic as they are in Canada, I'd take it! But we in the states cannot get a proper sports sedan from M.B. without the added cost of the AMG badging! I guess M.B. is willing to ignore the people who can afford it's vehicles. Instead, they are more interested in the young and Lease interested types the younger folks are into doing theses days. Hmm..does that mean that the cars being made today are not as well built as they used to be?
E43 AMG for the win
BMW is the best
Yes indeed my friend💙🖤
Update the M550 is now 523HP. This is not even close in terms of AMG vs M cars! The BMW was already faster than an M5 in this variant let alone the new BMW 550.
The presenter clearly is not a driver and should not be extending her opinion on cumbersome and other things she says . What does she know about twisties? What does she know about driving dynamics?
Tom Razmologov iam shoking when she said the e43 is better in corner but in fact the m550i is better by mile it got more grip faster response and better weight distribution
She is not the only reviewer who says the e43 handles better...unless you have test driven both how can you disagree with her
Its mercedes-amg e43
I honestly hear more wind noise in the Mercedes and less in the BMW because that v8 compliments the microphones mic
You are fake news!
@@softroseforyou7457 indeed
It really comes down to luxury or performance. Id go with the E43, Cant be Mercedes on Luxury and the interior. M550i is a beast though
The opening remarks are wrong. The E43 IS an AMG. It's not the 4-liter 600+ HP AMG E63, but it's still an AMG. If they wanted to test a non-AMG E, they'd have to use the E 300.
I'll take the M-B over the BMW. And - nice Submariner!
How can you not "go over the top" with sportyness
Merc, for sure! But that nonsense touch control on top of the rotating knob could just not exist.
Mercedes always the best!!
For the first time this is a legitimate comparison so hats off to Mercedes finally, but it's still BMW for me thanks
Mercedes all the way!!
Its amazing how basic some of the ideas of this review are. Yes we all know these $80k cars are "good great amazing cool exciting fast". But can u go in depth into a idea? Like for ex: "this engines idle nvh level is low because....."
This comparison will be more some what apple to apple comparison, if the AMG E63 with actual V8 used instead of E43 that have V6. This comparison acquaint to apple to oranges from where i am viewing. The AMG E43 is the baby AMG you can not compare it to a full blown V8 car.
The regular non amg 550 bi turbo is faster than a 43 amg
BMW M550i all the way, if i see that car in my mirror coming fast, i gonna want to move away fast, its more aggressive and sporty looking than the benz. The E43 has more luxury and elegance to it, suited for a girl or businessman who likes to relax. The E63 is in another category, its a beast with elegance, true mob car :D
Im sory mercedes e class am a hig fan but jist this time bmw have killed it
the bmw m550i has better driving experience than the merc,sheer driving pleasure,NOT the merc
I HEARD ROAD NOISE WHILE SHE SAID THERE IS NO ROAD NOISE IN MERCEDES.. WTF
It should have been e 63 amg s vs m5
the bmw always get that agressive look just perfect they know what tney doing
The review was good but the Mercedes has no chance in front of that Xdrive V8