i have the choice to claim some company car tax i have narrowed choice down to BMW X5 [range topper] or Mercedes M-Class ML500

bmw is better built not as ugly more reliable and better saling car.the merc is not reliable and poor after sales and dealer backup.look at the new landrover disco or the range rover lot better then they used to be.the merc has just been replaced with they cliam better and the bmw have a new model coming soon

neither,, they're both crap (unless you're a drug dealer),, get a volvo xc90

Both cars benefit from great engines, great interiors and every mod con needed for modern day driving. At the end of the day it comes down to the brand. Are you a BMW or Mercedes kind of guy? If you believe the marketing: Are you a successfully, dynamic individual or understated and bling?

Sales for both companies are soaring in the UK up 8% up and 11% year on year (BMW, Mercedes).

One point to consider though: JD Power publish a reliability and satisfaction report yearly. Mercedes have plummeted recently. Build quality and reliability has fallen. The previous ML was diabolical in all aspects. The new one is seriously put together and warranty claims are low, but it really hasn't been around long enough to break! The X5 has been through all its teething problems and is now very reliable...

Hope this helps.

Go for the BMW. After all, it is the Ultimate Driving Machine.

both good (i rode and had both) but BMW

they are both great cars, you have to test them drive yourself to see which you are comfortable with. But dont expect the ML or X5 to do well after you hit 100,000 kms.

go for the bmw unless u want to land on ur roof if u hit a rat in the road. why dont u push ar luck and go for porche

If you like driving grandfather style choose stay with the merc
It doesn't drive to bad, but in the standard engine selection (i've tried them all except the AMG) they just can't get the pick up this heavy frame needs
as for the BMW believe me I have driven about every commercial vehicle that's on the road today (I work for a major rental company) except the super sports cars. and the 5 series BMW is still my favorite; even in the 525 the engine is agressive enough to have some fun 530 and 545 are even better(for really agressive engines try the latest 3 series). But the greatest feature of the 5 series has to be the chassis; you can try about every sharp turn you know and go twice your regular speed and this little baby still won't protest. I have personally taken extremely sharp turns at over 100 kph and have turned this baby on the German autobahn at over 200 kph and it has never given me the slightestt hint of protest. Mercedes can't even approach the stiffnes this car has. I'm eagerly awaiting the new version of the E series to see if they have finally put in their adaptive suspension from the S series