Verdict
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM898,800 to the Mercedes-Benz CLE’s RM518,888, a RM379,912 gap that buys a huge performance advantage: 523 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds versus 255 hp, 400 Nm and 6.2 seconds. It is also the family-use choice, with five seats, five doors and a 500-litre boot. The CLE is 49 mm longer, yet its coupe body has four seats and 460 litres. For Malaysian running costs, the CLE’s RM380 annual road tax is far easier to stomach than RM2,113, and its four-year factory warranty beats BMW’s two years.
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if 523 hp, a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time and five-seat wagon practicality matter more than RM379,912 and higher road tax.
Pick the Mercedes-Benz CLE if you want the far lower entry cost, RM380 annual road tax, four-year warranty and coupe format.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 Touring RM898,800; Mercedes-Benz CLE RM518,888.
- Performance: BMW M3 Touring 523 hp, 650 Nm and 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds; Mercedes-Benz CLE 255 hp, 400 Nm and 6.2 seconds.
- Annual road tax: BMW M3 Touring RM2,113; Mercedes-Benz CLE RM380.
- Practicality: BMW M3 Touring has five doors, five seats and a 500-litre boot; Mercedes-Benz CLE has two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot.
- Warranty: BMW M3 Touring gets two years manufacturer warranty; Mercedes-Benz CLE gets four years.
- Powertrain: BMW M3 Touring has a 2,993 cc inline-six; Mercedes-Benz CLE has a 1,999 cc inline-four plus one 23 hp, 205 Nm motor.
M3 Touring
- 523 hp and 650 Nm with a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- Five seats, five doors and a 500-litre boot.
- Adaptive M Suspension and M Sport Differential.
- RM379,912 more expensive, with RM2,113 annual road tax versus RM380.
- Two-year manufacturer warranty versus four years.
CLE
- RM379,912 lower purchase price and RM380 annual road tax.
- Four-year manufacturer warranty.
- Panoramic glass roof and heated, ventilated front seats.
- 255 hp, 400 Nm and 6.2-second 0-100 km/h performance trail the BMW substantially.
- Two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot are less practical than the BMW’s wagon layout.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM898,800 | RM518,888✓ |
| Body type | Wagon | Coupe |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Compact Executive |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM380✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 16-valve DOHC, Turbocharged with Direct Fuel Injection and Variable Valve Timing |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 1,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 523 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 255 hp at 5,800 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ | 400 Nm at 2,000 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 4 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol Hybrid/REV |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Number of Motors | — | 1 |
| Motor Horsepower | — | 23 hp |
| Motor Torque | — | 205 Nm |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz (Daimler AG) |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 seconds✓ | 6.2 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,801 mm | 4,850 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 1,860 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,428 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 2,865 mm |
| Weight | 1,925 kg | — |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 66 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 2 |
| Seats | 5 | 4 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres✓ | 460 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 245/40R19 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 275/35R19 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | N/A, Tyre Repair Kit |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 3 Run-flat |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | Germany (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Multi-link |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-link |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 19" AMG Multi-spoke Alloys |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential | — |
| Safety | ||
| Airbags | 6 (Driver and Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain) | 7 (Driver and Front Passenger, Front Side, Front and Rear Curtain, Centre Airbag) |
| ABS/EBD | ✓ | ✓ |
| Stability Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Alarm | ✓ | ✓ |
| Immobilizer | ✓ | ✓ |
| Airbag Disable Function | ✓ | ✓ |
| Child Safety Lock | Manual for Rear Doors | — |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 4 Three-point with Illumination and Front Belt Feeder |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Rear 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 | Driver and Passenger Powered Seats with Memory Settings, Heating & Ventilation |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 60:40 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 |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic Glass Roof |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 1 Front, 2 Front USB, 2 Rear USB, 1 Wireless Charger |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights & Ambient Lighting |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Rear |
| Sun Shade | — | Sunroof Shade |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 11.9" Touchscreen Mercedes-Benz User Experience (MBUX) with Voice Control, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and 17-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 | Contactless Opening |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree Camera |
| Auto Parking | Yes | 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 | Unlimited |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 years✓ |
| Warranty Extended | 3 years✓ | 2 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 & CLE for sale
M3 Touring vs CLE FAQ
Is the BMW M3 Touring or Mercedes-Benz CLE better?
The BMW M3 Touring is better for outright pace and carrying people or luggage, with 523 hp, five seats and a 500-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz CLE is the more rational financial choice, with much lower road tax and a longer factory warranty.
What is the price difference?
The BMW M3 Touring costs RM379,912 more than the Mercedes-Benz CLE.
Which is more practical for a family?
The BMW M3 Touring is clearly more practical: it has five doors, five seats, a 500-litre boot and 40:20:40 split-folding rear seats. The Mercedes-Benz CLE has two doors, four seats and a 460-litre boot.
