Certified Benz & Beemer Compares 2016 BMW 6 SERIES VS 2015 Mercedes S-Class Near Phoenix, AZ

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, daytime running lights, rearview cameras, available all wheel drive, crash mitigating brakes, night vision systems, lane departure warning systems, blind spot warning systems and around view monitors.

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’ 2015 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 6th in initial quality, above the industry average. With 12 more problems per 100 vehicles, Mercedes is ranked 14th.

As tested in Motor Trend the M6 is faster than the S65 AMG Coupe (automatics tested):

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:

The 6 Series stops shorter than the S-Class Coupe:

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.

The M6 Coupe executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver quicker than the S65 AMG Coupe (24.4 seconds @ .83 average G’s vs. 24.9 seconds @ .82 average G’s).

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 M6 is 5.2 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.

Insurance will cost less for the 6 Series owner. The Complete Car Cost Guide estimates that insurance for the 6 Series will cost $1940 less than the S-Class Coupe over a five-year period.

The 6 Series will cost the buyer less in the long run because of its superior resale value. The Intellichoice estimates that the 6 Series will retain 39.99% to 41% of its original price after five years, while the S-Class Coupe only retains 33.4% to 34.17%.

Intellichoice estimates that five-year ownership costs (depreciation, financing, insurance, fuel, fees, repairs and maintenance) for the BMW 6 Series will be $55485 to $112091 less than for the Mercedes S-Class Coupe.

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 6 Series first among midsize premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The S-Class Coupe isn’t in the top three.