Loading the interactive terminal…
BMW 3 Series vs Mercedes-Benz E-Class: 5-year value retention (59% vs 59%), resale value, and cost of ownership head-to-head. Mercedes-Benz E-Class holds its value better.
On five-year value retention the Mercedes-Benz E-Class comes out ahead, holding about 59% of its value versus 59% for the BMW 3 Series. Over the first five years the Mercedes-Benz E-Class loses roughly $25,944 while the BMW 3 Series loses about $19,523 — a gap near $-6421.
First-year drop is the biggest factor: the Mercedes-Benz E-Class sheds about 4% in year one versus 6% for the BMW 3 Series. If you buy used, the steeper early drop is what the original owner absorbs.