Compare the2025 BMW M3VS 2025 Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan

The BMW M3 has standard driver and front passenger side knee airbags mounted low on the dashboard. These airbags help prevent the driver and front passenger from sliding under their seatbelts or the main frontal airbags; this keeps them better positioned during a collision for maximum protection. Knee airbags also help keep the legs from striking the dashboard, preventing knee and leg injuries in the case of a serious frontal collision. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a front passenger side knee airbag.

The M3 has standard Active Head Restraints, which use a specially designed headrest to protect the driver and front passenger from whiplash. During a rear-end collision, the Active Head Restraints system moves the headrests forward to prevent neck and spine injuries. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a whiplash protection system.

The M3’s standard lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. A lane departure warning system costs extra on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

Both the M3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, crash mitigating brakes, post-collision automatic braking systems, daytime running lights, blind spot warning systems, rearview cameras, rear cross-path warning, driver alert monitors and available around view monitors.

The M3’s corrosion warranty is 7 years longer than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s (12 vs. 5 years).

BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the M3 for 3 years and 36,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, air filter replacements, cabin filter replacement, brake fluid replacement, inspections, and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the AMG C-Class Sedan.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2024 survey of the owners of three-year-old vehicles provides the long-term dependability statistics that show that BMW vehicles are more reliable than Mercedes With 28 fewer problems per 100 vehicles in the first three years of ownership, J.D. Power ranks BMW higher than Mercedes.

As tested in Car and Driver the M3 Competition is faster than the AMG C 63 S E (automatics tested):

For better stopping power the M3’s standard brake rotors are larger than those on the AMG C-Class Sedan:

The M3 stops shorter than the AMG C-Class Sedan:

For better traction, the M3 has larger tires than the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. 245/45R18). The M3’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the AMG C-Class Sedan (F:275/40R18 & R:285/35R19 vs. F:265/35R20 & R:275/35R20).

The M3’s standard 275/40R18 front and 285/35R19 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 40 series front and 35 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the AMG C-Class Sedan’s standard 45 series tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the M3 has standard 19-inch rear wheels. Smaller 18-inch wheels are standard on the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The M3 Competition handles at 1.03 G’s, while the AMG C 43 pulls only .92 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The M3 Competition executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 1.1 seconds quicker than the AMG C 43 (23.8 seconds @ .85 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .76 average G’s).

The BMW M3 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 350 to 750 pounds less than the Mercedes AMG C-Class Sedan.

Because it has more passenger and cargo room, the EPA rates the M3 a Mid-size car, while the AMG C-Class Sedan is rated a Compact.

The M3 has a much larger trunk than the AMG C-Class Sedan (16.9 vs. 11.6 cubic feet).

Laser headlights, optional on the M3, produce their light by firing blue lasers through phosphorus, a process that uses one-half the power of the AMG C-Class Sedan’s LED headlights. Laser headlights can have double the range of LEDs with a much smaller surface area.

Both the M3 and the AMG C-Class Sedan have standard heated front seats. The M3 also offers optional heated rear seats to keep those passengers extremely comfortable in the winter. Heated rear seats aren’t available in the AMG C-Class Sedan.

The M3 is available in both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations. The AMG C-Class Sedan doesn’t offer a two-wheel drive configuration.