Verdict
The BMW M3 Touring is the harder-charging family choice: its 523 hp and 650 Nm deliver 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds, while five seats and a 500-litre boot make its wagon body genuinely useful. The Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE costs RM722,888 against the BMW’s RM898,800, a RM175,912 saving, yet still brings all-wheel drive, 443 hp, a 20-hp motor and seven airbags. For Malaysian buyers needing rear access and luggage room, the BMW earns its extra outlay; choose the CLE for the cheaper two-door AMG route.
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if you need five seats, a 500-litre boot and the quicker 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE if you want to save RM175,912, prefer a two-door coupe and want seven airbags plus Digital Light Matrix LEDs.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 Touring RM898,800; Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE RM722,888.
- Power and torque: BMW 523 hp and 650 Nm; Mercedes-Benz 443 hp and 560 Nm.
- 0-100 km/h: BMW 3.6 seconds; Mercedes-Benz 4.2 seconds.
- Body and seating: BMW five-door wagon with five seats; Mercedes-Benz two-door coupe with four seats.
- Boot space: BMW 500 litres; Mercedes-Benz 420 litres.
- Airbags: BMW six; Mercedes-Benz seven.
M3 Touring
- 523 hp and 650 Nm with a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Five doors, five seats and a 500-litre boot.
- 40:20:40 rear split-folding seats and rear single-zone climate control.
- Costs RM175,912 more.
- Has six airbags to the Mercedes-Benz’s seven.
- Uses a 59-litre fuel tank versus 65 litres.
AMG CLE
- RM175,912 cheaper to buy.
- Seven airbags and Digital Light Matrix LED headlamps.
- 15-speaker Burmester audio and electrically adjustable steering.
- Slower 0-100 km/h time of 4.2 seconds versus 3.6 seconds.
- Only two doors and four seats, against the BMW’s five doors and five seats.
- 420-litre boot is 80 litres smaller.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM898,800 | RM722,888✓ |
| Body type | Wagon | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113✓ | RM2,128 |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 24-valve DOHC, Turbochaged with Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 523 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 443 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ | 560 Nm at 560 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 20 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 205 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Dual-clutch Automatic (Wet) |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission | AMG Speedshift TCT 9G automatic transmission |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 seconds✓ | 4.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,801 mm | 4,853 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 2,042 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,434 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,875 mm |
| Weight | 1,925 kg | 2,000 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 65 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres✓ | 420 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 265/35R20 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 295/30R20 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Continental SportContact 7 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 20" AMG Y-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 20" AMG Y-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential | AMG Ride Control Suspension with Adaptive Dampers |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Passenger, Driver's Knee, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes |
| Lane-keeping Assist | Steering Correction | Steering Correction |
| Collision Warning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seatbelt Reminder | For All Seats | All Seats |
| Lighting | ||
| Headlamps | Adaptive LED Projectors with High Beam Assist | Digital Light Matrix LEDs |
| Taillamps | Full LED | Full LED |
| LED Daytime Running Lights | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rear Foglamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Wing Mirror Turn Indicators | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cabin | ||
| Front Seats | Power Adjustable Front Seats with Driver's Side Memory Function | Powered Front Seats with Memory Function |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 50:50 Split-folding |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-Zone Automatic Climate Control |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Rear AC Vents |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 USB-C Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Rear |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Ambient Lights |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 15-speaker Burmester Sound System |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Two Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch |
| Engine Start | Keyless Push Button | Keyless Push Button |
| Locks | Keyless Operation | Keyless Operation |
| Auto Start/Stop | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Headlamps | ✓ | ✓ |
| Auto Wipers | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control | Adaptive Cruise Control |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, with 360 Surround View Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | — |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 2 years |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years | — |
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 M3 Touring & AMG CLE for sale
M3 Touring vs AMG CLE FAQ
Is the BMW M3 Touring or Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE better?
The BMW M3 Touring is better if performance and passenger-carrying ability matter most, with 523 hp, 3.6-second sprinting, five seats and a 500-litre boot. The AMG CLE is the better buy for a lower purchase price, coupe body and seven airbags.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM175,912 more than the Mercedes-Benz AMG CLE. That gap brings 80 hp more, 90 Nm more torque, a 0.6-second quicker 0-100 km/h time, an extra seat and 80 litres more boot space.
Which has the more useful cabin?
The BMW M3 Touring does. It has five doors, five seats, 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats, rear single-zone climate control and a 500-litre boot. The AMG CLE has two doors, four seats, 50:50 folding and 420 litres of luggage space.
