I'm having difficulty with this 'the base car is the same price but once I add the same options its £11k more' thing. It doesn't seem right to me that there is such a difference an I suspect your spec comparison is not quite like with like.
Can you give us an example of some of the things where the BMW equivalent is considerably more expensive than the Mercedes alternative?
A good example is the B&O stereo - this is not simply the 'upgraded stereo', that is normally the Harmon Kardon system (but is currently unavailable due to the supply issues). The B&O has always existed as an ultra premium nobody-ever-picks-it option way above HK and isn't therefore just the alternative to the Burmeister system in the Mercedes.
I was comparing the Burmester to the HK not the b&0. Plus since you can’t have the b&o stereo on its own anymore it’s now a £5650 option
prime example or extra cost difference.
take the premium plus option on the merc for £4250.
this adds
panoramic sunroof - £2,400 on the bmw as you can’t have the normal £1600 in the U.K.
Driver assistance package - only as part (main part) or the tech plus package on bmw which costs £3995. Take off £1695 that the hud and gesture package costs and you have £2300
Air balance package - only as part of comfort plus package on bmw so no idea of single cost and useless in both cars anyway
Multi function steering wheel in nappa leather - part of msport package? Or standard on the bmw?
Burmester upgraded stereo - £995 I think on bmw when you could sill get HK
22” alloys upgrade from 21” on the premium, wider on the rear - another minimum£695 on the bmw after you have gone to 21” on the pro pack
comfort entry package - hard to tell as you have to add the full comfort package on the bmw as you can’t add this by yourself anymore.
so ignoring comfort entry you are looking at Least £6400 for the same options. Pretty much the same all the way through the options list, everything on the bmw costs the odd few hundred quid more but all adds up when speccing up a highly specked car. Even paint is £100 more on the bmw and £500 more for the special colours. I think that’s why bmw priced the base model so close to mercs car so they could suck you in on the extras.
other things help that adaptive led headlights, tinted rear glass, 360 cameras are standard across the merc range and would all cost extra on the x45 and quite a lot esp if they end up being bundled in packages with things you don’t want. Like I really want lumbar adjustable comfy seats and comfort access entry but don’t really want heated cup holders and armrests and heated rear seats but would have to spend £2400 to get the two items I do want.
so yes you do end up with a bmw much higher species than the merc as it will have things like the hud which you can’t get on the merc but your final price will be massively more. The fully loaded merc comes in at £75,695 in met paint and tow bar.
if I try and spec up the 45e to the same price you don’t get many options ticked hence why my two bmw specs are £78k and they are both making compromises and missing things on the merc spec.
it’s even worse if you compare it to the Touareg R which starts at £72k but comes with masses of equipment.With every single option ticked on that car you get to similar price as merc even with soft close doors etc. Price goes through the roof on the x5 with all those gadgets ticked.
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