Richard,
It does depend which class you want, they are quite distinct beasts.
Marklin make the V200 or in modern terms the 220 class, the front is a little more raked back and they have large windows in the bodyside.
MBW make the V200.1 or in modern terms the 221 class, the front is heavier and more bullish with the windscreens further forward and they have different body side grills and smaller windows.
From what I can gather, the MBW has more modern tooling, only being two years old, the Marklin one is much older but still very very good. Marklin is Marklin and you know what your getting, MBW are the new boys on the block and I've read a few issues with drives, much like the Heljan issues, but like Heljan, MBW are often quick to correct and assist.
MBW comes without sound or with ESU Loksound so you know their digital protocol is going to work with what ever we have, I think Marklin modern examples will do the same but there may have to be work arounds. Personally which ever one I get I'm going to pay the extra and drop in a ESU XL anyway....if it doesn't already have it fitted, so the possible Marklin digital issues for me are a non starter.
I have seen some Marklin V200 with ESU sound on Ebay recently, so others are probably thinking the same, or have bought non sound units and added it afterward.
The other issue is your chosen era and details on the engines. Basically you have two eras, Eph III and Eph IV and there's one detail that is important. As built the engines had raised polished strips for the nose V and bodyside beading and the beading around the base of the body. Only the MBW model has this on, this is correct for Eph III or engines with V200 numbers, or V200.1
Around 1974-76 this strip was removed, probably as a corrosion preventative measure so in Eph IV the strip was painted. However, there were some engines that carried the beading strip way up into the 80's and possibly until scrapping but I've not begun to fine detail which locos and what dates yet.
The MBW model comes with beading, the Marklin is painted, therefore Marklin in V numbers is strictly not authentic, except maybe a few that had the strip removed before being renumbered, I've not found any images yet to confirm that, but there may have been some. The MBW allows for V numbers and some later Eph numbers, so covers a greater authentic time range.
If your not bothered by that detail then don't worry.
Finally, if you want to really look one of these over, check Becasse, he has done several MBW and Marklin models, all look great when weathered.
Fine
BECASSE WEATHERING: Feine, Fette V. Die V200.1 von Fine Models.
MBW
BECASSE WEATHERING: Die V200 von MBW in 0: das zweite Wirtschaftswunder.
Marklin
BECASSE WEATHERING: Die V200 Ein wunderschönes Wirtschaftswunder.
Finding engines with 220 or 221 numbers is hard, it's more popular to find V200 and V200.1 on Ebay. As far as I can see, Marklin only do two 220 numbers, one in red and one in beige/blue, this latter one worked into Denmark in 81, the red one did not so that'd have to be a renumber.
MBW are cheaper, usually in the £450-500 range, Marklin go for £550-700 or higher.
Visually, they both look very good and authentic, drive wise I suspect modern incarnations of the Marklin model maybe better, I've no proof or own either but Marklin is Marklin with a proven track record.
I doubt you'd be upset by either if I'm honest
I think KM1 or KISS might do a V200 and a company called Fine do as well, but given how good the other two look, I get the feeling your paying for the name and perhaps a better drive train.
