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2019+ BMW 3 AND 4-SERIES FORUMS (G2x Generation) General G20 Sedan / G22 Coupe / G26 Gran Coupe Discussions 2020 BMW M340i vs 2020 Mercedes-AMG C43

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      02-21-2019, 04:07 PM   #1
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2020 BMW M340i vs 2020 Mercedes-AMG C43

I'm sure this is crossing some of your mind's out there including me. BMW's online build/configurator isn’t available yet so this thread may be premature, but what are your thoughts?

Based on my research, the AMG C43 is more expensive but really looks it's price. It's nice how some details are stand alone options such as their version of a digital cockpit or guage cluster and ventilated seats. While the Mercedes has no free maintenance and will obviously be more expensive to own, what do you think of this car vs the M340i?

Obviously, there is no drive comparison yet. But, please share your opinion based off what you read or know regarding the M340i vs the Mercedes C43 AMG (if you drove it or saw it or experienced owning it but are just reading BMW forums. HA)

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      02-21-2019, 04:58 PM   #2
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Since they're both automatic now, I'd go with the one that’s cheaper to lease.

Ready...set...go...
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      02-21-2019, 05:27 PM   #3
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I will say, I haven't driven a C43, but have heard from friends and read/watched many reviews which state the car drives really well, but is ruined by it way too stiff suspension and ride, I think motortrend said it was very close to the Jag XE which is a great driving car as well. I do also really like the inside and out of the Mercedes, but I find that the sedans tend to look more luxury than sport, but to some thats not a bad thing. I think for this model the "M Performance" and "AMG Line" the BMW makes a more convincing looking Sports Sedan. Maintenance is annoying in that it isn't free, but like myself and many other German car owners, leasing tends to be very common. Should be very interesting to see how they compare when available to drive.
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      02-21-2019, 05:46 PM   #4
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C43 all the way, still a better interior than the G30 I feel. That real wood waterfall center console looks timeless. Is the refreshed C43 equipped with the new 48V mild hybrid system, or is that the E43?
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      02-21-2019, 08:14 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ecaedus View Post
Is the refreshed C43 equipped with the new 48V mild hybrid system, or is that the E43?
That’s the new E53 which the E43 was retired in favor of. The C-Class is still the C43. The *53 vehicles have the 48V mild hybrid system paired with the turbocharged I6 plus an electric supercharger. The *43 vehicles still have the turbocharged V6.

Very confusing, but once you get the hang of it they'll change the numbers again.
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      02-22-2019, 01:47 PM   #6
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Both are great cars will be great in their own way!
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      02-23-2019, 03:01 PM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ecaedus View Post
C43 all the way, still a better interior than the G30 I feel. That real wood waterfall center console looks timeless. Is the refreshed C43 equipped with the new 48V mild hybrid system, or is that the E43?
When you sit in a Mercedes and look past the chintz to the actual material quality it soon stops looking like a quality product, Mercs are all style over substance in the main which is the opposite of what they used to be back the in day.
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      02-26-2019, 12:16 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
When you sit in a Mercedes and look past the chintz to the actual material quality it soon stops looking like a quality product, Mercs are all style over substance in the main which is the opposite of what they used to be back the in day.
Well, entry lvl cars have never been known to use real quality materials, i mean, at least given its competition, sitting in one for the first time leaves a very good first impression compared to sitting in other cars of the same category.
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      02-26-2019, 12:58 PM   #9
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C platform has better interior material than the F3X series, and it "looks" better. Switch gear is also better. I haven't seen the G2X, but I would hope G2X is now better.

Audi, has always been excellent with the switch gear and tasty interior styling. However, that all went down the drain with the touch screens and LCDs.
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      02-26-2019, 02:42 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
When you sit in a Mercedes and look past the chintz to the actual material quality it soon stops looking like a quality product, Mercs are all style over substance in the main which is the opposite of what they used to be back the in day.
I feel their newer models have improved on this but [aside from S-class] are still a notch below competitors in quality.

In Mercs you'll find plastics in places competitors do not have them. Not to mention every car that's not an AMG or S-class is shipped to the dealers with stupid MB-Tex. This is really just a reflection of the Merc clientele, who clearly value the perception of image over real quality materials.

BMW, Audi, and Porsche are built to a higher standard.
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      02-26-2019, 02:54 PM   #11
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Originally Posted by openwheelracing View Post
C platform has better interior material than the F3X series, and it "looks" better. Switch gear is also better. I haven't seen the G2X, but I would hope G2X is now better.

Audi, has always been excellent with the switch gear and tasty interior styling. However, that all went down the drain with the touch screens and LCDs.
When I got my F3X, I did not even drive the C Class.
The interior quality is good. But I cannot look at those ugly circular vents all day. The rear look (especially tail lights) is quite awkward as well. They fixed it now on the coupe with a nice horizontal tail lights. Possibly the next gen will have better design inside and outside.
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      02-26-2019, 04:31 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ecaedus View Post
Well, entry lvl cars have never been known to use real quality materials, i mean, at least given its competition, sitting in one for the first time leaves a very good first impression compared to sitting in other cars of the same category.
OK, what I meant by my post I guess you've just proved, initial impressions...the "shiny bits" that attract the magpies but it dulls very quickly.

I was in a 3 year old A45AMG at a friends used car dealership the other day, the interior could only be described as nasty, so cheap I was shocked it reminded of a Japanese car from the 90s so hard and brittle were the plastics including the seat covers, I then jumped into a 3 year old M140i which was far better in terms of quality everything had stood the test of time and it felt and looked like new.
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      02-26-2019, 08:47 PM   #13
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We all know A class is subpar and universally hated but the star sells. Can't really judge based on A.class impressions.

C and E are almost from the same parts bin. S class is still benchmark.
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      02-27-2019, 10:57 AM   #14
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I was at the autoshow alone and went from the C43 wagon directly to the G20 and the G20 has a better interior hands down, that's not even a question for me. Problem is they sell the C43 wagon in Canada now and probably no G20 M340i wagon... so it's M340i sedan vs C43 wagon for me (M2C if I have an early mid life crisis...). The M340i will be faster with more tech and I suspect less expensive to lease...for the same pmt I would probably try the C43 just because I like the idea of a fast wagon.
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      02-27-2019, 03:17 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wills2 View Post
OK, what I meant by post I guess you've just proved, initial impressions...the "shiny bits" that attract the magpies but it dulls very quickly.

I was in a 3 year old A45AMG
dude the old A class is the crappiest of the crap in all MB cars, definitely not on the same level of the current C class, bottom of the barrel, it's no better than rental grade honestly. The new A class however, looks a LOT better.
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      02-27-2019, 10:54 PM   #16
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Some fun comments.
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      02-27-2019, 11:58 PM   #17
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The C43 is STIFF, even in comfort.
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      02-28-2019, 04:08 AM   #18
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Stiffer than bmw?
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      02-28-2019, 02:07 PM   #19
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Stiffer than bmw?
Yes very very stiff, I mean you know its a problem when even Car and Driver who's all about performance has to complain about it in a whole paragraph of your review. I've only driven the C43 w/ 19' rims (no 18's on the lot) and I definitely noticed how every bump was felt in the cabin. I can deal with the stiffness, but it is a little unusual to pair a brand like Mercedes and a stiff ride together, its kind of ironic.

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      02-28-2019, 02:28 PM   #20
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I don't know why they put 35 profile on the rear tires of bmws and mercedes models with staggered setup. I feel the ride could be slightly improved keeping it consistent at 40 profile all the way around on staggered wheels. Can anyone explain the science or reason they do 40 in front and 35 in rear?

But, even with 40 profile, I'm going to assume that the suspension is just that stiff. I love the look of low profile wheels but have always said I wouldn't go lower than 40 profile on any tire. When the time comes for me to buy a car, I would swap the tires and get 40 profile all the way around on staggered wheels unless someone can tell me what the logic is behind this setup.
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      02-28-2019, 03:01 PM   #21
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Quote:
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I don't know why they put 35 profile on the rear tires of bmws and mercedes models with staggered setup. I feel the ride could be slightly improved keeping it consistent at 40 profile all the way around on staggered wheels. Can anyone explain the science or reason they do 40 in front and 35 in rear?

But, even with 40 profile, I'm going to assume that the suspension is just that stiff. I love the look of low profile wheels but have always said I wouldn't go lower than 40 profile on any tire. When the time comes for me to buy a car, I would swap the tires and get 40 profile all the way around on staggered wheels unless someone can tell me what the logic is behind this setup.
225/40-19 and 255/35-19 roughly have the same diameter. If you switch to 255/40-19 in the rear, it would have a bigger diameter and would cause problems if you have xDrive and your speedo would be more than 3% faster.
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      02-28-2019, 03:10 PM   #22
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I guess I'm a little lost how this can affect with the tire is the same profile and both are still 19 inch wheels. The only difference would be the width of the tires at that moment.

Also, this would screw up xdrive but not RWD?
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