Vs AutoBild: BMW F10 5-series vs. Audi A6 vs. Mercedes W212 E-Class (photo comparison)

[Nicks]

The problem with E-class, the car really need AMG-package to look good. Without it the design is average.

bmw guys keep repeating it like some mantra



and just do not recognize the obvious

 

[Merc1]

Yep the 5 has it, this is a no excuse, no apology, no explanation needed, good looking BMW. That is what I was trying to tell EnI back in the day, good design doesn't need a single word of explanation, not one. Just look at it.

BMW has my utmost respect and desire with this one and if I wanted a 4-door (yes a new car is in my future in about 12-13 months) a 535i would be the first car I look at.



M

 

[Nicks]

good design doesn't need a single word of explanation, not one. Just look at it.

how da hell do you "explain" design?

 

[Giannis]

how da hell do you "explain" design?

This way:

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[Tarek]

The problem with E-class, the car really need AMG-package to look good. Without it the design is average. The car looks strange in certain angles.

Hell no.Dude have u seen the Avantgarde E with standard 18 rims? looks sensational and without the AMG kit.

 

[DblPen]

“Perfection is achieved perfection not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away” – Antoine de Saint-Exupery

You cant take nothing away from 5 series, however, i could from e class or a6

 

[klier]

bmw guys keep repeating it like some mantra

[pic]

and just do not recognize the obvious

Stop with the 'BMW boys' nonsense please. I hardly even see the difference between this E and an AMG version. This one looks beautiful, and indeed does not need the AMG pack.

 

[MBFanToDeath]

Listen to me...I am Nostradamus and I see...Thread locked! lol

 

[K-A]

All 3 are at the top of their game. The E is the only one that excites me though. It has a very dynamic personality, looks wise. Sometime it looks downright exotic, badass, and mean, sometimes it looks conservative, understated, business. Sometimes it stands out, and sometimes it blends in. I think the complexities of the design, that make it awkward in some pictures and photographs, certainly are key players into how much this car just changes character so suddenly.

The 5'er is beautiful, but if I owned one, I find that the design might bore me after a while. I love elegant designs, but theirs some bloat-ness to the 5, that sometimes turns me a tad off to it. Not to mention the front end is a weak point IMO, which NEEDS the M-Pack to look interesting, whilst IMO the M-Pack looks a bit awkward sometimes. When I see the E next to the 5, I usually really appreciate the Benzes approach (as I always have); more confident, security-inspiring, evil "don't f with me" grin, luxurious, etc.

What the 5 has that the E doesn't, is a design that you don't have to "get", or figure out, or experience IRL, or warm up to. It isn't as progressive, but it doesn't need to be, and that's the beauty of it. It is fully modern, but classic in a not-really-trying sense. The E is very classic, but in the sense that it has a lot of styling cues to evoke the old Benzes, and classic character. Good thing is, the E ACTUALLY has the soul of the old Benzes.

The Audi is great, but I think the front is a joke, that will age terribly fast, and ages the rest of the car (too crazy looking, makes the sides and back look downright bland).

I'd say, my picks are: E, and the A6 and 5'er will sit in a tie right now.

If I were buying between the 5 and A6, the A6 would have to really win me over, as the 5'er has a design I know makes me appreciate and drool over in real life, and I prefer the BMW brand, heritage, and personal-cache over the Audi one.

 

[GTA45E]

Wow, I just went through the entire thread. Some of you guys really crack me up! I sometimes have to hide myself reading these posts in public because people look at me wondering what the heck I`m laughing at on the net! i`m very serious!


Aside from that...

I have to admit, I enjoy seeing the new W212 E-Klasse on the road more than I do the F10 lately. Don't know what is - photos don't come near in doing the new E justice. I think it looks effing fantastic in real life in metallic shades of grey in particular.

I have to agree.. I have great respect for all three of these cars. The new 5er in the metal is nice but in light colors it gets a little dull looking from the rear doors on back. You should opt for darker colors on this car. The rear end still reminds me of an Infiniti.

The Audi is growing on me the more I look at it.. I still don`t like the rear from spot on. It`s very dull back there.

The E-Class still gets my vote. Yes it looks far better in the metal. Photos really don`t do this car justice. (It`s the same with the with the E coupe as well)
Btw did I mension that the E-Class sales are very strong here where I live!! I see more of the new E-Class here than the Caddy CTS.

 

[ZicZachZo]

I'm going out on a limb here and say quite proudly that I love the design of the new A6. It's at once dynamic and restrained. Not to mention the interior just blows the other two sedans out of the water. I question the comments that the A6 will look dated quite soon. I tend to think the opposite and would say the E class is going to age poorer than the rest. Its lines are borderline harsh in some cases. The new A6 carries Audi's design philosophy (though some of you would hesitate to call it a philosophy) well ahead. I think what I like most about it is that is looks current and new without shouting at you. As for the Bimmer. It's very pretty and is one of the better executed BMWs in recent memory. But I still find it rather boring compared to the previous generation car that had everyone talking, good and bad.

 

[K-A]

I'm going out on a limb here and say quite proudly that I love the design of the new A6. It's at once dynamic and restrained. Not to mention the interior just blows the other two sedans out of the water. I question the comments that the A6 will look dated quite soon. I tend to think the opposite and would say the E class is going to age poorer than the rest. Its lines are borderline harsh in some cases. The new A6 carries Audi's design philosophy (though some of you would hesitate to call it a philosophy) well ahead. I think what I like most about it is that is looks current and new without shouting at you. As for the Bimmer. It's very pretty and is one of the better executed BMWs in recent memory. But I still find it rather boring compared to the previous generation car that had everyone talking, good and bad.

I actually think the A6's interior appears the least inviting in the trio. It is the most avant-garde, but I think that it works against a car like this to some degree, as it appears kind of cold. M-B brought back their "Welcome Home" motif with the E-Class, and I feel the interior does provide for that warm and secure ambiance.

Also, there were article texts posted elsewhere, stating that the Audi's interior used some "cold" and cheap materials, surprisingly. I was predicting for this to happen, as the latest Audi's have been doing just that, and VW as well is using HORRENDOUSLY cheap materials inside some of the newest VW's (Jetta). I feel it might be a new trend for VAG's non very-upmarket cars.

 

[K-A]

Just want to say that I saw my first lightly "modded" F10 today (or should I say, my first "enthusiast owned F10 today). It was white, and simply had some black tints, and maybe some side marker tweaks (just some simple "clean-up" mods). Enough to keep the OEM grace, but bring out the design. I didn't even pay attention to whether it had the M-Pack (which isn't that beautiful to me, as it takes an elegant and graceful car, and makes it look kind of mismatched with a darth vader body kit, but it's obviously much more captivating in an aggressive sense, and I'd choose an F10 with it regardless), but at the very least, it had the Sport Pack.

It looked gorgeous. The extra black effect, and clean-ups made it look much larger, and more alluring than the normal bland-ified F10's I usually see on the road.

The car definitely has beauty, and it's not a popping-smoke effect, it's a subtle beauty that you have to really study a bit to really appreciate. That's the best kind IMO. I think the W212 is certainly more beautiful, dynamic, and captivating, jab for jab, but the F10 is a damn nice car!

 

[Human]

I actually think the A6's interior appears the least inviting in the trio. It is the most avant-garde, but I think that it works against a car like this to some degree, as it appears kind of cold. M-B brought back their "Welcome Home" motif with the E-Class, and I feel the interior does provide for that warm and secure ambiance.

Also, there were article texts posted elsewhere, stating that the Audi's interior used some "cold" and cheap materials, surprisingly. I was predicting for this to happen, as the latest Audi's have been doing just that, and VW as well is using HORRENDOUSLY cheap materials inside some of the newest VW's (Jetta). I feel it might be a new trend for VAG's non very-upmarket cars.

I respect what I preach: "In the eye of the beholder" but honestly, the A6's dash is really uninspiring and IMO would've categorized it in a lower segment i.e. A4. I cannot comment on perceived quality until I have sat in the car.

The dash is a mix of Audi with 'old' as in E90 BMW influences in the center stack that clashes with a non-Audi like design theme overall. Also cold and without 'that Germanic' feel on what I can see from the pics - TOTALLY not Audi. Here BMW gained back 'that Germanic' feel I felt lost in the previous generation 5er. The E-class 'screams' solid!

Hyundai / KIA said that they will match VAG (VW) for perceived quality within the next 3-5 years - as you mentioned K-A, I agree that VW's of late has slipped with perceived quality and it's good news for the Koreans - they can catch-up within their next financial year

 

[Morrison]

I like MB very much but damn this 5er looks so good. In those shots 5er looks very very good, it`s hard to pick the E. E needed the AMG pack and the black colour. But the 5er with M packet on black is on my top 5 actual good looking cars. Easily. 5er I think always looked better than the E. E appears with one year ahead of the 5er and he stays on top only that period. I think only at the exterior design. E always smashed at quality and interior design the 5er, except the w210 vs E39. E39 is one of the most beautiful and gorgeous from all the points of view in the whole car history.