Entry level test: BMW 5-Series Vs Mercedes E-Class - specifications

  BMW 520d SE Mercedes E220 CDI SE
On the road price/total as tested £27,430/£30,955 £27,375/£31,745
Residual value (after 3yrs/30,000) £12,289/44.8% £12,428/45.4%
Annual tax liability std/higher rate £987/£1,975 £985/£1,971
Annual fuel cost (12k/20k miles) £1,393/£2,321 £1,808/£3,013
Ins. grp./quote/road tax band/cost 33/£539/E/£120 33/£562/E/£120
Cost of 1st/2nd/3rd service £685 (5yrs/60k) £249/£349/£249
Length/wheelbase 4,841/2,888mm 4,868/2,874mm
Height/width 1,468/1,846mm 1,470/1,854mm
Engine 4cyl in-line/1,995cc 4cyl in-line/2,143cc
Peak power 175/4,000 bhp/rpm 168/4,000 bhp/rpm
Peak torque 350/1,750 Nm/rpm 400/1,400 Nm/rpm
Transmission Six-spd man/rwd Six-spd man/rwd
Fuel tank capacity/spare wheel 70 litres/run-flats 59 litres/sp. saver
Boot capacity 520 litres 540 litres
Kerbweight/payload/towing weight 1,585/465/1,800kg 1,735/535/1,900kg
Turning circle/drag coefficient N/A/0.28Cd 11.3 metres/0.25Cd
Basic warranty (miles)/recovery 3yrs (unltd)/3yrs 3yrs (unltd)/4yrs
Service intervals/UK dealers Variable miles/154 15,000 miles/136
Driver Power manufacturer/dealer pos. 8th (09)/12th (08) 9th (09)/14th (08)
Euro NCAP: Adult/child/ped./points 4/4/1/N/A N/A
0-60/30-70mph 8.3/7.7 secs 8.4/8.3 secs
30-50 in 3rd/4th 3.6/5.9 secs 3.5 secs^
50-70 in 5th/6th 6.8/9.9 secs 4.8 secs^
Top speed/rpm at 70mph 144mph/2,000rpm 143mph/2,000rpm
Braking 70-0/60-0/30-0mph 47.7/34.6/8.8m 50.1/36.4/9.3m
Noise levels outside/idle/30/70mph 67/44/57/67dB 61/42/57/67dB
Auto Express economy/range 41.4mpg/637 miles 31.9mpg/414 miles^
Govt urban/extra-urban/combined 43.5/65.7/55.4mpg 40.9/64.2/53.3mpg
Actual/claimed CO2/tax bracket 183/136g/km/18% 237/139g/km/18%
Airbags/Isofix/parking sensors Six/yes/yes Eight/yes/yes
Auto box/stability/cruise control £1,465/yes/yes £1,458/yes/yes
Climate ctrl/leather/heated seats £580/£1,340/£295 Yes/no/yes
Met paint/xenon lights/keyless go £625/£785/no £607/no/no
Sat-nav/MP3 connection/Bluetooth £350*/£200/£525 £1,150/yes/yes

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