BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class – Price showdown

The BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are the go-to choice for many South Africans who want a luxury sedan.

Both German manufacturers are known for their high-quality cars which offer smooth rides, sleek designs, and more than enough power to get you to their often-electronically-limited top speed.

This luxury and power is priced accordingly, and starting prices for the 3 Series and C-Class are well over R600,000.

Additionally, this does not include the extras you may want to add to your vehicle – such as driver assistance packages, upgraded interiors, or sport-focussed add-ons.

To see exactly how much it costs to make a BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz C-Class yours, we have provided a pricing breakdown below for the cars.

We have also highlighted additional extras you can add on – along with their pricing.

Pricing was taken from Mercedes-Benz and BMW’s South African websites at the time of writing, and special models – such as M and AMG designations – were not included.

The 3 Series

The entry-level BMW 3 Series is the cheapest option on offer overall, but it must be noted that BMW splits their 3 Series models into different lines.

BMW offers Standard, Sport, and M Sport lines, with the Sport and M Sport cars offering additional features as standard – and are priced higher than the Standard line models.

For example, the 320i Standard is priced at R693,800, while the Sport version is R717,400 and the M Sport version is R739,200.

The pricing below is therefore for the 3 Series Standard line.

BMW also offers more variety in terms of 3 Series models compared to Mercedes-Benz and its C-Class range – with three petrol and two diesel options available.

In terms of after-sales service, all new BMWs in South Africa include a 5-year/100,000km motor plan – which covers covers all service, maintenance, and repairs resulting from normal wear and tear, excluding tyres and fuel.

Model	Engine	Power	Price
318i	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	115kW	R661,100
320i	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	135kW	R693,800
330i	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	190kW	R736,500
320d	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	140kW	R737,200
330d	3.0l / 6-Cylinder	195kW	R829,200

The C-Class

The C-Class is the pricier of the two cars in terms of the entry-level model.

While the BMW 318i starts at R661,100, the cheapest C-Class on offer is the C 180 – which retails for R717,000.

The next model in the line-up is the C 200, which retails for R750,000, after which the first and only diesel option is available – the C 220 d.

Mercedes-Benz has priced the C 220 d at R806,000, which puts it in between the 320d and 330d from BMW.

The top-of-the-range “standard” C-Class is then the C 300. This features a 2.0-litre engine which produces 190kW and 370Nm of torque.

In total, Mercedes-Benz offers the standard C-Class in three petrol and one diesel option.

Mercedes-Benz stated on its website that their new cars come with a 5-year/100,000km maintenance plan.

Model	Engine	Power	Price
C 180	1.5l / 4-Cylinder	115kW	R717,000
C 200	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	150kW	R750,000
C 220 d	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	143kW	R806,000
C 300	2.0l / 4-Cylinder	190kW	R885,000