In a C300 vs 530i rental, you are not picking on price. At Dud Rents both cost $200 a day, both seat five and both run a 2.0L turbo four. Take the C300 if you want the nicer cabin and a car that is easy to park downtown. Take the 530i if you want the bigger, calmer highway car for a run between West Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
That's the short answer. The rest of this guide shows how the two compare, how a weekend counts, and how to plan one from Friday to Sunday.
How do the C300 and 530i compare side by side?
Here are the two cars as they sit in the Dud Rents fleet today.
| Mercedes-Benz C300 AMG | BMW 530i | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Price per day | $200 | $200 |
| Refundable deposit | $500 | $500 |
| Engine | 2.0L turbo inline-4 with 48-volt mild hybrid | 2.0L turbo inline-4 |
| Horsepower | 255 hp | 248 hp |
| Seats | 5 | 5 |
| Class | Compact luxury sedan | Midsize executive sedan |
| Cabin highlights | MBUX voice control, panoramic sunroof, 64-color ambient lighting | Leather throughout, Live Cockpit display, comfort access keyless entry |
| Ride and tech | Wireless charging and CarPlay, quiet ride | Driving assistant with lane keeping, quiet highway ride |
| Best for | Date nights, downtown, photos with the roof open | Highway runs, business trips, four adults |
Seven horsepower between them is nothing you will feel. What you will feel is the size and the cabin.
Which one is better for a night out in West Palm Beach?
The C300. It's the smaller car, so parking near Clematis Street or the waterfront is easier. At night the 64-color ambient lighting does a lot of work. Open the panoramic sunroof on the drive over and the car feels like part of the plan.
The C300 also has history. The C-Class traces back to the 190E of 1982, and this one pairs its turbo four with a 48-volt mild hybrid boost. It feels smooth from a stop, which is nice in weekend traffic.
Which one is better for a trip to Fort Lauderdale?
The 530i. It's a size up, and on I-95 that shows. The ride is quiet and settled, and lane keeping takes some of the work out of a long run down to Las Olas or the beach. If you have four adults and bags, the 530i is the more comfortable pick.
It's also the car people pick most here. In Dud Rents booking records, the 530i is the most booked car in the fleet, with 54 of 423 bookings.
Does one cost more than the other?
No. Both are $200 a day and both carry the same $500 refundable deposit. So the choice comes down to how you'll use the car, not your budget.
How does a weekend count at Dud Rents?
Take the car Friday and bring it back Sunday, and that counts as two days. Each day includes 100 to 150 miles, so a weekend gives you 200 to 300 miles. A night out in West Palm Beach uses very little of that. A round trip to Fort Lauderdale fits too, but add it up first if Miami is also on the list.
How do I plan a C300 or 530i weekend? 7 steps
1. Pick the car by the plan, not the badge
Staying local and going out at night? Book the C300. Driving to Fort Lauderdale or carrying four people? Book the 530i. If you can't decide, pick the one that is open on your dates. Both are on the fleet page.
2. Book early in the week
Friday and Saturday are the busiest start days, and the 530i is the most booked car we have. Check the calendar on Monday or Tuesday. Changes and cancellations need 48 hours' notice, so a Friday pickup is locked in by Wednesday.
3. Have your license and insurance ready
You need to be 18 or older with a valid license and full coverage insurance. Drivers under 21 pay an underage fee, and we go over it before you book. Send a photo of your policy ahead of time and we'll check it.
4. Sort out payment
If you pay by card, the card should be in your name, the same name as the booking.
5. Choose pickup or delivery
Pickup is the simple option. If you're at a hotel or an Airbnb, ask for delivery. We serve West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Lake Worth and Miami. See the West Palm Beach page and the Fort Lauderdale page for each area.
6. Drive it like it's yours
Only the renter drives. No smoking in the car. If it comes back smelling of smoke, a cleaning fee applies. Tolls and parking tickets are on the renter.
7. Bring it back full and clean
Return it with a full tank, the same as you got it. Take your own photos at return. Then your deposit hold is released.
What should I check before I drive off?
Two minutes at handover saves you trouble on Sunday.
- License and insurance card or policy photo in hand.
- Photos of every side of the car, wheels included.
- Fuel level (full) and the mileage written down.
- Phone paired and navigation set before you leave.
- In the C300, try the sunroof and the ambient light settings.
- In the 530i, check that lane keeping is set the way you like it.
- Return time and place confirmed by text.
What does each car feel like on a real weekend?
C300: the West Palm Beach weekend
Friday, pick it up after work and go to dinner downtown. Saturday, cross the bridge to Worth Avenue, then take A1A along the water with the roof open. Sunday, brunch and return. You'll use a small part of your miles, and the cabin is the best part of the trip.
530i: the West Palm to Fort Lauderdale weekend
Friday, pick it up in West Palm Beach. Saturday, take I-95 south to Fort Lauderdale for the day, with friends in the back who actually have room. Sunday, drive back calm and return. This is where the bigger car earns its spot.
Business trip with a dinner after
Both work. The 530i reads more executive at a meeting. The C300 reads sharper at dinner. Since the price is the same, pick the one that matches the part of the day you care most about.
Should I look at something else instead?
If you want people to hear you arrive, these two are the wrong cars. They are quiet on purpose. For more sound, look at the Mercedes-Benz C43 AMG or the BMW M3 Competition. For more than five people, the Cadillac Escalade seats seven. Every car and its open dates are on the fleet page.
Fun fact: the 5 Series of 1972 was the first BMW to use the numbered Series names every BMW has carried since. Five decades on, it's still the one people pick most here.
Ready to choose? See the Mercedes C300 rental page or the BMW 530i rental page.
Frequently asked questions
Is the C300 or the 530i better for a weekend rental?
For a local weekend in West Palm Beach, the C300 is easier to park and has the nicer cabin. For a drive to Fort Lauderdale or four adults, the 530i is bigger and calmer on the highway.
Which is faster, the C300 or the 530i?
They are very close. Both use a 2.0L turbo four, with 255 hp in the C300 and 248 hp in the 530i. You will not feel much difference on the road.
How many miles do I get on a weekend rental?
Each day includes 100 to 150 miles. A Friday to Sunday rental counts as two days, so you get 200 to 300 miles for the weekend.
How old do I need to be to rent a C300 or 530i?
You need to be 18 or older with a valid license and full coverage insurance. Drivers under 21 pay an underage fee, and we go over it before you book.
Can I smoke in the rental?
No. Smoking is not allowed in any Dud Rents car. If the car comes back smelling of smoke, a cleaning fee applies.