Re: Mercedes vs. BMW
I have 2002 BMW 530i that I had put 50K miles in 2 years so was out of warranty. No issues during this period. In fact no issues for 4 years till 2006 when I had about 110K miles on it. Went to dealer for regular oil change when they ripped me to change water pump that cost me about $1K including oil change.
Regular maintenance include brakes and tires once a year (if you put 20K+ miles) that can cost about $2K. BMW dealers don't change pads alone, have to be rotors and pads per manufacturer's recommendation.
Then I had to spend about $1500 on check engine light issue that required various parts and labor.
Even if you have warranty, be prepared to spend about $2000 per year for normal maintenance (wear and tear) if you drive a lot. These cars can last you 5 years easily with no mechanical issues.