The first BMW 5 Series went into production back in 1972, while the first Mercedes-Benz to be marketed as an E-Class was the W124 in 1993, although Merc’s executive line of sedans goes back far further than that. Essentially, these two brands have been producing executive sedans for ages, and that experience is reflected in today’s 5 Series and E-Class.
Both sedans are barely recognizable when parked alongside their early predecessors. They’re a lot larger, filled with technology, and on another planet in terms of performance. But how do these modern execs compare today, decades after the fierce rivalry was established? Here are three differences between the 2026 BMW 5 Series and 2026 Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
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