Showdown

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THE BABY BENZ OR

BEEMER E30?

Mercedes and BMW go head-to-head in an epic battle of timeless classics.

Words by Stephen Mbuthi

Mercedes wanted a compact saloon, codenamed baby Benz as it would be the smallest car they’d ever made and the Mercedes 190 was unveiled in November 1982.

It is a bit arrogant to claim that you make the best car in the world, but Mercedes does exactly that in the slogan “The Best or Nothing!” Nothing being the collective term for all other car brands. You’d have no reason to not believe them too as they’ve been making cars the longest and the Mercedes S Class is widely regarded to be the pinnacle of what a car could ever be. They also happen to have been dominating the Formula One championship for five years now and they don’t seem to be letting go any time soon. What this means, in simple terms, is if you want to buy a car, presumably the best option should be adorned with the three pointed star.

But BMW disagree, as they claim in their mantra, to make the “Ultimate driving machine.” BMW are almost as old as Mercedes and are their only true natural rivals. They compete model for model with the only discrepancy being that Mercedes make commercial vehicles and BMW don’t and while BMW have their two wheeled Motorrad division and Mercedes don’t.

As impressive as their contemporary overengineered rolling masterpieces are, the best example of the two auto giants going head to head would take you back to the 80s, the golden era of motoring purity, when the cars were designed with passion so deep you felt it every time you changed gears or turned the steering wheel.

Mercedes wanted a compact saloon, codenamed baby Benz as it would be the smallest car they’d ever made and the Mercedes 190 was unveiled in November 1982. Mercedes then decided that they wanted to enter the WRC and proceeded to pour investment into the W201 project to the tune of 4 billion dollars in today’s money.

The result was a car powered by a 16v 2.3 litre Cosworth engine which, in August of 1983, tore apart the rulebook. To prove their cars, Mercedes took three slightly modified examples to the Nardo racetrack in Italy on a 50,000km test. Six drivers averaged 240Km/h for eight days with the cars pitting for a refuel and driver change every two and a half hours. In total 243 stops were made. The mechanics changed every 14 hours and had to do a pitstop every 50 minutes. After 201 hours, 39 minutes and 43 seconds, two of the cars had clocked up 50,000 km with an average speed of 247 Km/h and the 190 2.3-16 set three new world records and nine international class records. They were finally ready for the rally stages of the world but that was not to be as Audi’s four wheel drive Quattro rendered everything else obsolete.

Instead Mercedes decided to enter the 190 into the DTM, where they were to meet with BMW’s E30.

Although the E30 was first shown to the public in 1982, it had been under development since 1976. Its predecessor,

8.

the E21, had embarrassed BMW by its wonky suspension, which meant that people actively avoided driving the ultimate driving machine. Understandably BMW were determined to salvage their reputation.

Full disclosure: I have a BMW E30, a 1989 318 rusty example with the 1800cc M10 engine. The day I bought it was the day my heart switched brands. Mercedes are unbeatable when it comes to making a statement and no wonder most world leaders use an S Class as their daily. I would too if I ever became president, but more importantly, I’d still have my E30 for when I want to open my own door and sit behind the driver’s seat.

When you drive the 190 you feel it’s a Mercedes through and through and that’s because it’s an exceptional machine, but when you drive the Beemer you feel like you are in a sensual dance with a deeply desirable woman. The music is right, heartbeat and engine revs in sync and every step instinctively surefooted. Even in factory standard suspension you feel the car wants to dance and let’s not argue about this, the E30 is and will always be prettier than the 190.

I was supposed to have a head to head review of the two but I’ve driven a few examples of both and my advice to you, if you’re contemplating either, is to go with whatever your heart wants. It’s like Arsenal and Manchester United, it’s either or. And since bragging rights are important in the classic car scene, or any scene for that matter, let’s look at their racing history.

Both took part in DTM – or Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters, or in English the German Touring Car Masters where they brought their bare knuckle track brawler versions.

The Mercedes had an AMG Power Pack fitted to the 2.5-liter engine with a full SLS suspension and an air bending body kit. The engine was good for some 235hp and 254 Nm of torque and red-lined at 7,700 RPM. The E30 M3, codenamed Sport Evolution model, came with a naturally aspirated 2.5-liter engine known as the S14 churning out 238 hpand 240 Nm of torque. It too had an aggressive body kit.

But more importantly the road going homologation Mercedes had been on sale while the E30 was under development and BMW could easily have gotten hold of a few 190s and seen how to best them. It definitely appeared so on the racetrack where the E30 came off the victor with 48 wins to the 42 that the 190 managed. Mind you Audi also had a car in the mix, with a V8 but it was more a condiment to the contest rather than a main player, so we shall not mention them.

Both cars are handsome in classic timeless way. Both, if well restored and maintained, will only appreciate in value and both have pedigree. If you want a classic German saloon, either will do. Only personal preference matters when choosing a classic - and I made my choice.

The music is right, heartbeat and engine revs in sync and every step instinctively surefooted. Even in factory standard suspension you feel the car wants to dance and let’s not argue about this, the E30 is and will always be prettier than the 190.