Analyst Predicts: BMW Or Mercedes Will Need To Merge With Someone Within 24 Months

Let MB and Nissan merge

ChuckG37

Er Nissan is pretty muched on by Renault, sooo, it would by Renault doin the buyin.

on = owned, rats.

Nissan is good making V-6 engines and MB is good at V-8 and desiels engines...
aslo MB have dealerhips al over the world, more than Infiniti and Nissan

It's unlikely they'll loose independence should they merge with some other car makers.

BMW and Daimler-Benz are very innovative and technically advanced companies. It's more likely then for them to merge with manufacturers of cheaper and less sophisticated cars to reuse their technology and increase return on investment.

VW AG is doing just so. They own Audi to compete as a premium brand but a lot of the same technology is sold in VWs, Skodas and Seats. BMW and MB exist in premium world only and find it much harder to keep up.

...i'll put my money on M-B...

I'm betting that BMW will merge with the chinese carmaker Shuanghuan - since they're both already building similar versions of the X5.. ;).

LOL

I think BMW would ruin their reputation as an independent company and I think a merge would definitley put a damper on that warranty they offer for their new cars with maintenance included. If BMW Survived this long w/o a merger I think they will do fine in years to come.

Chuck, wtf are you smoking? Your fanboyism is as bad as the Lexus/Toyota crowd.... Look at MB's AMG engines, or BMW's twin-turbo I6 and Diesel engines and tell me that those don't rival the VQ.

That's exactly what I thought too, BimmerMike46.

VQ probably has no rival in V6 class, but they definitely need to work on NVH, maybe using direct injection? I always feel there's some linkage not worked out between engine and tranny in my G.

I haven't sampled the new 7 speed AUTO, but I really wish dual clutch is an option for 370Z.

ChuckG37

Then why does the automotive press and wards deem BMW BMW's twin-turbo I6. It's a benchmark to just one?

BMW's I-6 is pretty good, but I don't see much pride in putting twin turbo on it. I always wonder what kind of I-6 HONDA can come up with.

In the V6 segment, I'm very impressed w/ Lexus's 3.5 one. I personally prefer that to VQ35.

For the first time since Ward's 10-Best Engines report came out, Nissan VQ is NOT on the list!
As usual, VW owns 20% of the list with a pair of 4-cylinder engines, and BMW owns 20% of the list with a pair of 6-cylinder engines, and ALL the Japanese manufacturers combined own 20% of the list.
Those are the facts.
Interpret them as you wish.

If we ignore chuck, maybe then will he go away!

How about Mercedes/Zonda and BMW/Volvo as a possibility?

Mercedes and Zonda are practically already partners. Zonda uses their engines.

@theoptimisticpessimist -

The BMW Twin-turbo I6 is nice but nissan's RB25DET had those same figures in 1998.

Not quite

RB25DET - twin-cam turbo (T28 Turbo) (245 to 250 hp and 319 N•m) (235 FPT)

Source Wikipedia

3.0-liter, 300-horsepower, dual overhead cam (DOHC), inline 24-valve 6-cylinder engine with aluminum engine block, twin-turbo technology, piezo direct injection, and Double-VANOS steplessly variable valve timing

Source BMW USA

Don't quote BMW USA. Those are the shi**iest specs ever. The big issue with BMW's specs are that they use wheel hp/trq specs for the 335, and use engine hp/trq specs for the m3. Make up your fu**ing mind already BMW. You either spec one or the other; not both.

BimmerMike46: I like that posibility...Imagine...that could be a big hit over the Japanese or the American Manufacturers....

Sorry, but you just can't compare the engineering capabilities of MB and Nissan!
MB spends billions and billions more on R&D than Nissan.

This analyst hasn't thought things through properly - with more demand for smaller, fuel efficient cars, Mercedes-Benz has it covered with Smart, and BMW with Mini.

I highly doubt that I will see a day when the news says "BMW CLOSES DOWN" or "MERCEDES CLOSES DOWN". Honestly, there is no problem at the moment.

BMW and Volvo for sure there is now way they are going to the chinese or maybe Mercedes and Volvo and BMW and Saab?

Every economy crisis brings back the mergers talks.
BMW, Honda and Ford were the closest.

http://www.cbc.ca/money/story/1999/01/06/automerger990106.html

the Luxury Toyota should buy AMG lol

My forecast:
BMW: Worst case, in REALLY bad times, BMW would scale back to an engine company, supplying growing companies in Asia with engines that are beyond their dreams in performance and technology. That would let them ride out the storm until they get back into cars.

MB: With a combination of impeccable engineering, plus the world's most loyal customer base, Mercedes isn't going anywhere. Its too bad they are so polite, otherwise they'd tell these doom-sayers to go f*** themselves!!!

@theoptimisticpessimist

Those are the spec's of the 1993/97 RB25DET without the NEO head. The NEO version make's 280BHP on paper, but in real life its closer to 300BHP.

Where the BMW engine excel over the others is the torque curve. 300 from 1400 rpms all the way to 5000 rpms. Drive one you be impressed.

Maybe BMW and Mercedes should merge within each other, isn't that a good idea? Luxurious cars with excellent performance. Damn I would like to see that happening.

But the two brands would loose all of their passion. The people who started BMW and Mercedes-Benz would turn in their graves if this ever happened.

I guess that won't happen as they are the biggest rivals.
They just don't fit together

Since I'm blissful the domestics will once again reign supreme,

Mercedes + Hyundai
AMG + Nissan
BMW + VW
M + Honda