Verdict
These are two very different answers to a high-budget Malaysian garage. The M3 Touring’s 523 hp and 650 Nm cut the 0-100 km/h time to 3.6 seconds, 2.5 seconds ahead of the GLS, while its 500-litre boot is 145 litres larger. The GLS counters with seven seats, a 90-litre tank and AIRMATIC air suspension. Its RM101,088 premium buys passenger capacity and rear-cabin equipment rather than speed; its annual road tax is also RM475 lower. Choose by passenger count, not badge.
M3 Touring
Pick the BMW M3 Touring if you want 523 hp, a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h sprint and a 500-litre boot in a five-seat wagon.
GLS
Pick the Mercedes-Benz GLS if you need seven seats, a 90-litre fuel tank and air-suspended luxury-SUV accommodation.
Key differences
- Price: BMW M3 Touring RM898,800; Mercedes-Benz GLS RM999,888.
- Performance: BMW has 523 hp, 650 Nm and does 0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds; Mercedes has 362 hp, 500 Nm and takes 6.1 seconds.
- Seating and boot space: BMW has 5 seats and a 500-litre boot; Mercedes has 7 seats and a 355-litre boot.
- Size and weight: BMW is 4,801 mm long and 1,925 kg; Mercedes is 5,207 mm long and 2,385 kg.
- Fuel tank: BMW carries 59 litres; Mercedes carries 90 litres.
- Suspension: BMW uses Adaptive M Suspension; Mercedes gets AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping.
M3 Touring
- 523 hp and 650 Nm with a 3.6-second 0-100 km/h time.
- 500-litre boot, 145 litres more than the GLS.
- 460 kg lighter than the GLS.
- Five seats versus the GLS’s seven.
- 59-litre fuel tank versus 90 litres.
- No panoramic sunroof or powered rear window shades.
GLS
- Seven seats with a sliding second row and split-folding third row.
- AIRMATIC air suspension with adaptive damping.
- Rear entertainment with two 11.6-inch monitors, plus a panoramic sunroof.
- RM101,088 more expensive than the M3 Touring.
- 6.1-second 0-100 km/h time versus 3.6 seconds.
- 355-litre boot is 145 litres smaller than the BMW’s.
| Price & overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Price | RM898,800✓ | RM999,888 |
| Body type | Wagon | SUV |
| Segment | Compact Executive | Luxury |
| Assembly | CBU | CBU |
| Ownership | ||
| Road tax / year | RM2,113 | RM1,638✓ |
| Powertrain | ||
| Engine Tech | 24-valve DOHC with Twin Turbochargers, Direct Injection and Variable Valve Timing and Lift | 24-valve DOHC with direct fuel injection, twin turbochargers and variable valve timing |
| Capacity | 2,993 cc | 2,999 cc |
| Horsepower | 523 hp at 6,250 rpm✓ | 362 hp at 5,500 rpm |
| Torque | 650 Nm at 2,750 rpm✓ | 500 Nm at 1,600 rpm |
| Cylinder Arrangement | Inline 6 | Inline 6 |
| Fuel | Petrol | Petrol |
| Bore × Stroke | — | 83 mm × 92.4 mm |
| Compression Ratio | — | 10.5 |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Transmission | Conventional Automatic | Conventional Automatic |
| Transmission Name | 8-Speed Steptronic Sport Transmission | 9G-Tronic |
| Gears | 8 | 9 |
| Transmission Manufacturer | ZF | Mercedes-Benz |
| Driveline | All Wheel Drive | All Wheel Drive |
| Performance & Efficiency | ||
| 0-100 km/h | 3.6 seconds✓ | 6.1 seconds |
| Top Speed | 250 km/h | 250 km/h |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 4,801 mm | 5,207 mm |
| Width | 1,903 mm | 2,157 mm |
| Height | 1,446 mm | 1,823 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,857 mm | 3,135 mm |
| Weight | 1,925 kg | 2,385 kg |
| Fuel Tank | 59 litres | 90 litres |
| Doors | 5 | 5 |
| Seats | 5 | 7 |
| Boot Space | 500 litres✓ | 355 litres |
| Front Tyre | 275/35R19 | 285/45R22 |
| Rear Tyre | 295/30R20 | 285/45R22 |
| Spare Tyre | Tyre Repair Kit | — |
| Factory Tyres | Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S | Continental PremiumContact 6 |
| Chassis | ||
| Assembly | Germany (CBU) | United States (CBU) |
| Front Suspension | Double Wishbones | Double Wishbones with Air Suspension |
| Rear Suspension | Multi-link | Multi-Link with Air Suspension |
| Front Wheels | 19" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Rear Wheels | 20" Double Spoke Style 825 M Bicolour | 22" AMG Multi-Spoke Light Alloy |
| Steering | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) | Rack and Pinion (Electric Power Steering) |
| Chassis Notes | Adaptive M Suspension, M Sport Differential | AIRMATIC with Adaptive Damping System (ADS PLUS) |
| 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 | Manual for Rear Doors |
| Seat Belts | 5 Three-point | 7 Three-point |
| Blind Spot Info System | ✓ | ✓ |
| ISOFIX | Available on Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats | Available for Two Outer Rear Passenger Seats |
| Autonomous Braking System | Yes | Yes, PRE-SAFE Brake, Full Auto Brake |
| 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 | Multibeam LED Projector |
| 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 | Power Adjustable Front Sports Seats with Memory Function and Adjustable Lumbar |
| Rear Seats | 40:20:40 Split-folding | 40:20:40 Split-Folding and Sliding 2nd Row, 50:50 Split-Folding 3rd Row |
| Front Air-con | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control with Air Balance Perfume System and Ioniser |
| Rear Air-con | Single-zone Automatic Climate Control | Dual-zone Automatic Climate Control System |
| Sunroof | — | Panoramic, Front Tilt and Slide |
| Power Sockets | 1 Front, 1 Wireless Charger, 2 USB-C Front, 2 USB-C Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row, 1 Boot |
| Interior Lighting | Map Lights and Ambient Lights | Map Lights and Active Ambient Lights (64 Colours) |
| Cup Holders | 2 Front, 2 Rear | 2 Front, 2 Middle Row, 2 Last Row |
| Sun Shade | — | Powered Rear Door Window Shades |
| Audio | 14.9" BMW Curved Display Live Cockpit Professional, 16-Speaker Harman Kardon Sound System | 12.3" MBUX, COMAND Controller, Touchpad, Burmester Sound System with 13 Speakers (590W) and rear seat individual entertainment system, including two 11.6-inch monitors with wireless headphones, rear center armrest control/USB/audio interface |
| Convenience | ||
| Power Windows | Four Windows, Auto Up and Down with Anti-Pinch | Four Windows, Auto Up & 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 with Steering Assist and Stop and Go |
| Tiptronic | ✓ | — |
| Paddle Shift | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Audio Control | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Tilt | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering Telescopic | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electric Steering Adjustment | — | ✓ |
| Boot Operation | Powered Boot | Powered Boot, with Contactless Operation |
| Parking Sensor Front | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Parking Sensor Rear | 6 Sensors | 6 Sensors |
| Reverse Camera | Yes, with 360-degree Camera | Yes, 360-degree View Monitor |
| Auto Parking | Yes | Yes, for Parallel and Perpendicular Parking |
| Folding Wing Mirrors | ✓ | ✓ |
| Bluetooth | ✓ | ✓ |
| Navigation | ✓ | ✓ |
| Head-up Display | ✓ | ✓ |
| Power Door | — | Soft Close Function, All Doors |
| Hill Start Assist | ✓ | ✓ |
| Instrument Cluster | Full LCD Monitor | Full LCD Monitor |
| Parking Brake | Electronic | Electronic |
| Convenience Notes | — | MBUX Interior Assistant, Qi Wireless Charger |
| Warranty | ||
| Warranty Mileage Manufacturer | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Warranty Mileage Extended | Unlimited | — |
| Warranty Manufacturer | 2 years | 4 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 & GLS for sale
M3 Touring vs GLS FAQ
Is the BMW M3 Touring or Mercedes-Benz GLS better?
The BMW M3 Touring is better for outright pace and boot space, with 523 hp, 650 Nm and a 500-litre boot. The Mercedes-Benz GLS is better when seven seats, air suspension and rear-passenger amenities are non-negotiable.
What is the price difference?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS costs RM101,088 more than the BMW M3 Touring.
Which one is better for carrying a large family?
The Mercedes-Benz GLS is the clear choice: it has seven seats, a sliding 40:20:40 second row and a 50:50 split-folding third row. The BMW M3 Touring has five seats.
