When descending a steep, off-road slope, the 6 Series’ standard xDrive allows you to creep down safely. The S-Class Coupe doesn’t offer xDrive.
Both the 6 Series and the S-Class Coupe have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, driver and front passenger knee airbags, side-impact head airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding and available all wheel drive.
The 6 Series’ corrosion warranty is 8 years and unlimited miles longer than the S-Class Coupe’s (12/unlimited vs. 4/50,000).
BMW pays for scheduled maintenance on the 6 Series for 4 years and 50,000 miles. BMW will pay for oil changes, lubrication and any other required maintenance. Mercedes doesn’t pay scheduled maintenance for the S-Class Coupe.
There are over 12 percent more BMW dealers than there are Mercedes dealers, which makes it easier should you ever need service under the 6 Series’ warranty.
J.D. Power and Associates rated the 6 Series third among midsize premium sporty cars in their 2013 Initial Quality Study. The S-Class Coupe isn’t in the top three in its category.
J.D. Power and Associates’ 2014 Initial Quality Study of new car owners surveyed provide the statistics that show that BMW vehicles are better in initial quality than Mercedes vehicles. J.D. Power ranks BMW 8th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 7 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 13th.
Regenerative brakes improve the 6 Series’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The S-Class Coupe doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.
For better stopping power the M6 Carbon Brakes’ front brake rotors are larger than those on the S-Class Coupe:
M6 Carbon Brakes |
S550 Coupe |
S63/65 Coupe |
|
Front Rotors |
16.1 inches |
14.6 inches |
15.4 inches |
Rear Rotors |
15.6 inches |
14.2 inches |
14.2 inches |
For better traction, the M6’s tires are larger than the largest tires available on the S-Class Coupe (F:265/40R19 & R:295/35R19 vs. F:255/40R20 & R:285/35R20).
The 6 Series’ optional 245/35R20 front and 275/30R20 rear tires provide better handling because they have a lower 35 series front and 30 series rear profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the S-Class Coupe’s optional 40 series front and 35 series rear tires.
Changing a flat tire near traffic can be dangerous and inconvenient. The run-flat tires standard on the 6 Series can be driven up to 50 miles without any air pressure, allowing you to drive to a service station for a repair. Run-flat tires aren’t available on some tire packages on the S-Class Coupe.
For better maneuverability, the 6 Series’ turning circle is .6 feet tighter than the S63 AMG Coupe 4MATIC’s (38.4 feet vs. 39 feet). The 6 Series’ turning circle is 2 feet tighter than the S65 AMG Coupe’s (38.4 feet vs. 40.4 feet).
The BMW 6 Series may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs about 300 to 700 pounds less than the Mercedes S-Class Coupe.
The 6 Series is 5.1 inches shorter than the S-Class Coupe, making the 6 Series easier to handle, maneuver and park in tight spaces.
The 6 Series Coupe has 2.9 inches more front headroom and .4 inches more front legroom than the S-Class Coupe.
The 6 Series Coupe has a much larger trunk than the S-Class Coupe (13 vs. 10.4 cubic feet).
In poor weather, headlights can lose their effectiveness as grime builds up on their lenses. This can reduce visibility without the driver realizing. The 6 Series has standard headlight washers to keep headlight output high. The S-Class Coupe doesn’t offer headlight washers.
The BMW 6 Series outsold the Mercedes S-Class Coupe by almost 32 to one during the 2014 model year.
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