Verdict
The BMW 3 Series at RM267,800 is the rational compact executive choice: its 480-litre boot is 50 litres larger, it weighs 950 kg less and annual road tax is RM379. The RM649,888 Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE delivers a radically different electric brief, with 617 hp, 950 Nm, a 3.5-second sprint and 527 km of range, but its RM1,640 road tax and much larger 4,946-mm body matter. Choose the EQE only if its pace, charging and executive-car scale are central to the purchase.
3 Series
Pick the BMW 3 Series if you want the lighter, smaller sedan with a bigger boot and far lower purchase and annual road-tax costs.
AMG EQE
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE if you need 617 hp, 950 Nm, 527 km EV range and 200 kW DC charging.
Key differences
- Price: BMW 3 Series RM267,800; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE RM649,888.
- Power and torque: BMW 3 Series 184 hp and 300 Nm; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 617 hp and 950 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3 Series 7.4 seconds; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 3.5 seconds.
- Length and wheelbase: BMW 3 Series 4,709 mm and 2,851 mm; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 4,946 mm and 3,120 mm.
- Kerb weight: BMW 3 Series 1,590 kg; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 2,540 kg.
- Boot space: BMW 3 Series 480 litres; Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE 430 litres.
3 Series
- 480-litre boot, 50 litres larger than the EQE's.
- 950 kg lighter than the AMG EQE.
- Blind-spot information system and 40:20:40 rear seat folding.
- 184 hp and 300 Nm fall well short of the EQE's 617 hp and 950 Nm.
- 7.4-second 0-100 km/h time is 3.9 seconds slower.
- Single-zone rear climate control versus the EQE's dual-zone rear system.
AMG EQE
- 617 hp, 950 Nm and a 3.5-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 90.6-kWh battery, 527 km range and 200 kW DC charging.
- AIRMATIC air suspension, adaptive cruise control with steering assist and a 360-degree camera.
- Costs RM382,088 more than the BMW 3 Series.
- Annual road tax is RM1,640, against RM379 for the BMW.
- 430-litre boot is 50 litres smaller, while kerb weight is 950 kg higher.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM267,800✓ | RM649,888 |
| Body type | Sedan | Sedan |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Executive |
| Assembly | CKD | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM379✓ | RM1,640 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 16-valve DOHC direct injection with twin-scroll turbocharger, variable valve timing | 400V architecture |
| Capacity | 1,998 cc | — |
| Horsepower | 184 hp | — |
| Torque | 300 Nm | — |
| Fuel | Petrol | Electric |
| Bore | 82 mm | — |
| Compression Ratio | 11 | — |
| Number of Motors | — | 2 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 617 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 950 Nm |
| Battery Capacity | — | 90.6 kWh |
| EV Range | — | 527 km |
| Charging Rate (AC) | — | 11.0 kW |
| Charging Rate (DC) | — | 200 kW |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Single Ratio Automatic |
| Transmission Name | Steptronic Sport | — |
| Gears | 8 | — |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | Rear Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 7.4 seconds | 3.5 seconds✓ |
| Top Speed | 235 km/h✓ | 220 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,709 mm | 4,946 mm |
| Width | 1,827 mm | 1,961 mm |
| Height | 1,435 mm | 1,510 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,851 mm | 3,120 mm |
| Weight | 1,590 kg | 2,540 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | — |
| Doors | 4 | 4 |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Boot Space | 480 litres✓ | 430 litres |
| Front Tyre | 225/45R18 | 265/35R21 |
| Rear Tyre | 225/45R18 | 295/30R21 |
| Spare Tyre | — | Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Hankook Ventus s1 Evo 3 | Bridgestone Turanza T005 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Malaysia (CKD) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 18" V-spoke Style 780 Bicolour Alloys | 21" AMG Multi-spoke Light-alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | — | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS Plus) |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain | Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Rear Side, Driver's Knee |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | — | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 5 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | — |
| ISOFIX | Available on 2 Outer Rear Seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes, with Pedestrian Detection (5 km/h to 80 km/h) | Yes, with Pedestrian and Cyclist Detection (up to 130 km/h) and Evasive Steering Assist (up to 108 km/h) |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | — |
| Seatbelt Reminder | All Seats | All Seats |
| Safety Notes | — | Pre-Safe, Pre-Safe Impulse Side |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | LED Projectors with High beam Assistant | Adaptive LED Projector with Matrix High Beam (Digital Light with Projection Function) |
| Taillamps | Full LED | LED Combination |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | — |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Memory Function | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Heating and Memory Functions |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-Folding | 40:20:40 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Centre Armrest, 1 Rear, 1 Boot | 1 Front, 6 Front USB-C |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 18-speaker Bowers & Wilkins Sound System | 17.7" OLED Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Augmented Reality Navigation; 12.3" OLED Touchscreen for Front Passenger; 15-speaker, 710-watt Burmester 3D Surround Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation with Proximity Lock/Unlock | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | — |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Passive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Remote Control Activation | Powered with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes | Yes, with 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking, with Reversing Assist | Yes |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | — |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | Front MBUX Interior Assistant, Fingerprint Scanner, Front Qi Wireless Charger, Front Wireless Headset |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 5 years | — |
| Warranty Notes | — | 10-year/250,000-km Warranty for EV Battery |
Specs shown for the selected variant of each car. ✓ marks the better figure where lower/higher is objectively better. Road tax: West Malaysia, private registration.
Used 3 Series & AMG EQE for sale
3 Series vs AMG EQE FAQ
Is the BMW 3 Series or Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE better?
The BMW 3 Series is the better buy for lower outlay, lower road tax and a larger boot. The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE is better if electric range, extreme acceleration, all-wheel drive and high-rate DC charging matter more.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE costs RM382,088 more than the BMW 3 Series.
Which car is quicker?
The Mercedes-Benz AMG EQE is much quicker, reaching 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds versus 7.4 seconds for the BMW 3 Series. Its 617 hp and 950 Nm also exceed the BMW's 184 hp and 300 Nm.
