Your gut call...

[Klackamas]

Benz E350 4matic sedan automatic (with Premium Package 2) or BMW 535i xDrive automatic (with comparable packages)?

Money for similar equipment is no problem.

Which?

[cawimmer430]

What model is the E350 4Matic? W211 or W212?

[Klackamas]

U.S. 2012 Model.  I hope that answers the question.   

Don't get down in the weeds too much.

[SVT666]

535i

[CALL_911]

BMW

[cawimmer430]

U.S. 2012 Model.

W212 then.

It depends what you're looking for. I've ridden in the new F10 5er and my dad has a W212 E-Class. Both are great cars. I found the F10 5er to be slightly less spacious inside than the E-Class overall, but I thought it has the better seats (more comfortable).

My father has the W212 E350 CGI Sport (RWD). This is a European-only model that has the "old" 3.5-l V6 with direct injection and 292-horsepower instead of 272-hp. So far, good car. Reliable, comfortable, very good on gas (far more economical than my BMW 118i!!!) - great long-distance cruiser. My parents are currently traveling all over Europe in it. Ours has the AMG package and suspension, so it's a bit sportier and handles much better than a standard Sport model. Great car to drive at night since the Xenon lights turn night into day and ours also has the swiveling headlights feature - very helpful and cool for night driving.

MB recently upgraded their V6 to a 306-hp version. Are you looking at that model or an "older" 265-hp model?

[2o6]

Benz.

[CJ]

Mercedes every day of the week.

[Raza]

I don't really like either, so I'll go with the better looking one.  Umm......

I guess that's the Mercedes.  Why no A6?

[thewizard16]

E Class I suppose.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Audi

[omicron]

Both need to be optioned up the wazoo before they stop looking like taxis. Um, er......

......used E63.

[sportyaccordy]

I think I liked the BMW better at the car show.

Really neither though. I would hold out for the AWD XF. It's coming

[mzziaz]

I would have gotten the bimmer

[MexicoCityM3]

In that class it'd be between a sports package m-sport 535i or an XF Jag.

[Hachee]

Gut would say BMW, but I've yet to drive either.  My neighbor has a new 535i, with 6 speed manual and sport package, and it's about as nice as you can get.  But I've got a few friends with E's - one's a 350 and the other is a 550 (both 4matics) - and I have to say, they were much more impressive than I expected.  Very solid, like Mercedes of old.  I still don't love the looks, nor the column shifter.  I'd want to drive both, and the A6, before deciding.

[Submariner]

E-350 in dark colors with a sport package. 

[GoCougs]

535 all the way, and based solely on styling.

[Cookie Monster]

BMW

[Eye of the Tiger]

E-350 in dark colors with a sport package. 

Powerstroke?

[Submariner]

Powerstroke?

Yeah, Mercedes just upgraded their best selling mid-size sedan with a new towing package and for the first time ever, dual rear wheels.  Now it can make the best of it's 800 lb. ft of torque. 

[NomisR]

AWD?  Why not go with Audi?

[68_427]

Mercedes.

However I think you should take a look at the A6, and XF likke others have mentioned.  The A6 has been regarded as best in class sincne the new 5 series has been released, and with the XF you get a standard V8 and the best interior of the segment, IMO.

[Vinsanity]

I second the idea that if you're getting AWD, get an A6. The A6 is arguably the best-looking car in its class already; it has an in-person presence that I like to call "subtly striking". Throw in the more favorable driving dynamics, and your preference for AWD, and the choice should be clear.

[2o6]

I hate the new A6.


Then again, I also dislike the 5-series and E-class as well.

[hounddog]

535xi

Better handling, better gas mileage (slightly), better performance.

I assume, better price as well.  (I have not looked them up, but suspect this to be the case)

[Onslaught]

Walk

[Klackamas]

Yea, this thread is like random in all directions.

I guess my parents need to take a look at the A6 too.

They both have good looks, but the concern is the engineering. The column shifter on the MB is shit as stated by someone earlier.
The freakin' iDrive wheel interface on both is not easy for a 70 year old to learn. WTF are the Germans doing with interiors these days?
They're making their ergonomics worse than anyone, and that takes some doing. Hey earth to Stuttgart & Munich. Wake up!

She's German, so her car has to be German and it's time to upgrade from her 1999  C190 or maybe it's a C230 Kompressor. I can't remember.

I keep telling her the VW cc is a very nice on the eyes, the wallet and the controls are far better that the Benz or the BMW.
Hard controls for climate and radio appeal to me. These mouse/menu driven interfaces for everything are really crap.  

So I wonder how long it will take for BMW to F up the three series also.

[MexicoCityM3]

the bmw has manual controls for the a/c and radio. the current version of idrive is good, not a big deal anymore even for a 70 year old

[68_427]

So I wonder how long it will take for BMW to F up the three series also.

Well the new chassis codes are F...