Which is cheaper, the BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class is typically cheaper to buy used in South Africa. See the full price comparison table above for exact estimates.

Which holds its value better, the BMW 3 Series or the Mercedes-Benz C-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz C-Class depreciates more slowly over 5 years based on our estimates.

BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz C-Class: Which Should You Buy?

A side-by-side comparison of price, depreciation, specifications and known issues to help you decide between the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class in the South African market.

BMW 3 Series

8.3

Strong Buy—Near-New Efficiency & Handling

Mercedes-Benz C-Class

8.1

Highly recommended for disciplined buyers

Mercedes-Benz C-Class is the more affordable option to buy used.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class holds its value better over 5 years.

	BMW 3 Series	Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Est. Retail Price	R750k	R620k
Est. Trade Price	R680k	R540k
Annual Sales (SA)	~3,200	~2,100
5yr Depreciation	38%	32%
RideReport Score	8.3	8.1
Engine	3.0L Twin-Turbo Diesel I6	2.0L turbodiesel inline-4 (OM 654)
Power	210 kW @ 4,000 rpm	220 hp @ 3,800 rpm
Transmission	8-speed Automatic Steptronic	9-speed automatic dual-clutch (9G-DCT)
Fuel consumption	5.8–6.2 L/100 km (real-world SA highway)	4.5–4.9 L/100 km (WLTP mixed)
Known issues	3	3

Full BMW 3 Series guide →Full Mercedes-Benz C-Class guide →

All information is either scraped, searched from live sources or AI training data. It is intended as a general research guide only and may not represent actual transaction values for a specific vehicle. RideReport is not a licensed valuations provider.