Vs BMW F10 5-series vs. Mercedes W212 E-Class (photo comparison)

[K-A]

Well K-A, for me, the W211 (while very nice-looking), is very un-MBish. It's soft, refined, feminine, and far from sturdy. This is not what I want from an MB.

All those soft Mbs might look good and easy-on-the-eyes and all, they do not represent the brand's values at all.

This is why I agree with the move taken with the 204 and 212! An MB should above all inspire trust, not elegance. A 123 or 126 is hardly refined, and was not inspiring love at first sight. It's only now that people rediscover the greatness of the design, how well it ages, how nicely it was proportioned.

And I don't get the criticism either. The car doesn't look like an alien, it doesn't look that revolutionary, it doesn't feat that many lines. To me it's just a nice-looking typical Mercedes, with maybe a dose of sexyness and agresison added to the receipt.

I really like the design of the W212, and believe me I see many of them and with many wheels and colours.

I on the contrary always hated those soft, fragile, rounded cars of the Schrempp/Pfeiffer era. So ungerman, so untypical, so un-Mercedes.

I dunno, different strokes I guess. I just don't see much classic M-B in the 212 personally, those lines, etc. don't really draw back to any classic. I see a lot more Japanese and American influence, and I definitely hold on to the theory that M-B was doing that purposely to try and inspire "modern day confidence" after the quality debacle of the recent cars (in todays world, Japanese = dependable, we can debate that all we want as enthusiasts, but Joe and Jane absolutely see it that way).

I'm of a newer Gen, and I find the 211 embodies what I personally like from M-B, nice, understated and timeless designs, and super refined interior (I agree, the 80's cars weren't refined inside, however the 211 vibe really is my favorite from them). When I look at the pre-80's M-B's, the lines, etc. I see the 211 as being a great modern and smoothed out interpretation of the brands styling history, with a more "soft", non angular, rounded, and refined look to it.

The 212 to me is full of lines, however maybe it's because I'm used to that "monolithic" value of great M-B designs, the 212 is very much not monolithic. It's not a horrible looking car, but to be honest, it reminds me of a lot of cars and design approaches I've never cared for, and if it didn't have an M-B badge, I wouldn't even pay it any attention.

ALL that said, I will say, I'm finally started to accept the car, truly this time (as I keep thinking that), I will never find it to be one of my favorite M-B designs, and even if I bought it one day, you best believe I wouldn't fool myself into calling it a "beautiful" design, which is what I consider the 211 to be. But I "get it" it's a tough as nails car (hopefully). I don't hate it, but it will always be a stylistic let-down to me from M-B.

About the 204, I've driven so many of them, and yes they are strong as hell, but very cheap inside, just no refinement, etc. Also I find it to be a little influenced by Asian and American manufacturers style wise.

 

[K-A]

I guess M-B just grabbed me with the softer, more classic designs and the soft and refined interiors. Now that they are going back to that 80's all around "harder" vibe, I think I'm going to have to work toward my next step to fill my desires, Rolls or Bentley.

 

[Sunny]

Well K-A, for me, the W211 (while very nice-looking), is very un-MBish. It's soft, refined, feminine, and far from sturdy. This is not what I want from an MB.

All those soft Mbs might look good and easy-on-the-eyes and all, they do not represent the brand's values at all.

This is why I agree with the move taken with the 204 and 212! An MB should above all inspire trust, not elegance. A 123 or 126 is hardly refined, and was not inspiring love at first sight. It's only now that people rediscover the greatness of the design, how well it ages, how nicely it was proportioned.

And I don't get the criticism either. The car doesn't look like an alien, it doesn't look that revolutionary, it doesn't feat that many lines. To me it's just a nice-looking typical Mercedes, with maybe a dose of sexyness and agresison added to the receipt.

I really like the design of the W212, and believe me I see many of them and with many wheels and colours.

I on the contrary always hated those soft, fragile, rounded cars of the Schrempp/Pfeiffer era. So ungerman, so untypical, so un-Mercedes.

Weather a Mercedes is supposed to rounded and beautiful vs boxy and understated depends on how back you go in Mercedes history. Yea w123 (we had one when I was a kid) and w126 belonged to the boxy and understated school. But if you go back even more they were all elegant and beautiful and 'love at first sight' kind of cars. It is only in the 70s and 80s it took that 'boxy' form factor along with rest of the cars all over the world (and in late 80s I fell for BMW, cause I think they did the 'box' better).

Having said all that I definitely prefer W212 ro W211 except for the very concocted and artificial looking pontoon thing they threw in their as an after thought.

 

[K-A]

Weather a Mercedes is supposed to rounded and beautiful vs boxy and understated depends on how back you go in Mercedes history. Yea w123 (we had one when I was a kid) and w126 belonged to the boxy and understated school. But if you go back even more they were all elegant and beautiful and 'love at first sight' kind of cars. It is only in the 70s and 80s it took that 'boxy' form factor along with rest of the cars all over the world (and in late 80s I fell for BMW, cause I think they did the 'box' better).

Having said all that I definitely prefer W212 ro W211 except for the very concocted and artificial looking pontoon thing they threw in their as an after thought.

Exactly and true. The 211 reminds me far more of what pieces of M-B history and modern history I've loved. I love the 80's cars too, but not as much as some of the other gens. My favorite M-B is the '71 280 SE (well, one favorite of many), and the lines of the 211 to me harken back those ages of M-B far more-so than the computer-esque, cartoon-ified front ended, and super sharp cut 212.

 

[rider]

Hands down the 5 series. However I've never seen the new E-Class look so boring! The ones I've seen on the road are much sportier looking.

 

[Platzdaturbo]

yup, my vote goes to the f10 5 as well

 

[MBhmjs220]

i have never liked the w211 infact i hated it! until the facelift, its true that Mercedes design is changing from ''clean elegant lines to angler and sharp lines'' but that doesn't make the w212 worst looking car than the w211 (at least in my book)
but when it comes to the interior you get the feeling that the w211 was more expensive (with the right interior color) but that doesn't necessarily means that the quality of the materials that were used in the w211 is higher and i also prefer the w212 interior i find it simple and elegant. well thats just my opinion


oh, i almost forgot lol, my vote goes for the E-class.
although they are both unique in almost every aspect i think the interior of the E- class is more simple and easy to use rather than the busy interior of the Bmw 5er

 

[K-A]

i have never liked the w211 infact i hated it! until the facelift, its true that Mercedes design is changing from ''clean elegant lines to angler and sharp lines'' but that doesn't make the w212 worst looking car than the w211 (at least in my book)
but when it comes to the interior you get the feeling that the w211 was more expensive (with the right interior color) but that doesn't necessarily means that the quality of the materials that were used in the w211 is higher and i also prefer the w212 interior i find it simple and elegant. well thats just my opinion


oh, i almost forgot lol, my vote goes for the E-class.
although they are both unique in almost every aspect i think the interior of the E- class is more simple and easy to use rather than the busy interior of the Bmw 5er

That's a good way to put it. We can all debate what feels "quality" to us, be it the harder, sturdier materials, or the softer, carpeted, etc. materials. We can debate the feelings of different plastics, etc. Basically, that's what I was trying to get across, the 211's interior feels more "expensive" to me, it gives me the feeling that I'm in a more expensive car, more-so than the 212's, which feels cool/modern, solid, and has big wood slabs, but doesn't give me as much a refined/sense of occasion feeling.

 

[coolraoul]

I agree that the W211 felt more refined. Softer, in terms of design as in terms of materials. The whole gave a very cosy impression.
The W212 is colder, harder. Design, but materials as well: plastics are less soft, bit less refined in their visual and tactile appearance.

In terms of feeling, I loved the interior of the W211, but it also left me with an impression of lightness that I didn't quite like. The controls felt a bit light sometimes, some areas felt a bit hollow, overall it left the impression of a refined, cosy, comfortable car, but no impresison of sturdyness.

The W212 is not as cosy, this is clear. It's not as elegant, not as refined, but it truly felt built like a tank. The dash, the controls, the materials, everything feels very strong, very durable, while very upscale nonetheless. Just not as refined as previously.

In fact, the interior reflects the exterior, on both cars. The 211 is soft, easy, slightly feminine. The 212 is strong, masculine, sturdy. A vault.

I do understand that one can be disapponted by the 212. I'm not, I really like it, although I admit the outside is not flawless: looks a bit contrived sometimes, a bit overdesigned.

As far as the F10 goes, well: the outside is a bit bland for me, at least in pics. But very pretty indeed. However, I do not like the interior: the integrated screen makes the whole dash way too massive, and sloping towards the passenger's side, which I don't like at all. It's also very complex, too complicated.

It's really down to everyone's preference between those two excellent cars. I think they're closer than ever.

The e39 was clearly superior to the W210, the W211 had the upper hand compared to the e60, here we have to wait for proper tests but it seems they're extremely close from each other.

 

[K-A]

I agree that the W211 felt more refined. Softer, in terms of design as in terms of materials. The whole gave a very cosy impression.
The W212 is colder, harder. Design, but materials as well: plastics are less soft, bit less refined in their visual and tactile appearance.

In terms of feeling, I loved the interior of the W211, but it also left me with an impression of lightness that I didn't quite like. The controls felt a bit light sometimes, some areas felt a bit hollow, overall it left the impression of a refined, cosy, comfortable car, but no impresison of sturdyness.

The W212 is not as cosy, this is clear. It's not as elegant, not as refined, but it truly felt built like a tank. The dash, the controls, the materials, everything feels very strong, very durable, while very upscale nonetheless. Just not as refined as previously.

In fact, the interior reflects the exterior, on both cars. The 211 is soft, easy, slightly feminine. The 212 is strong, masculine, sturdy. A vault.

I do understand that one can be disapponted by the 212. I'm not, I really like it, although I admit the outside is not flawless: looks a bit contrived sometimes, a bit overdesigned.

As far as the F10 goes, well: the outside is a bit bland for me, at least in pics. But very pretty indeed. However, I do not like the interior: the integrated screen makes the whole dash way too massive, and sloping towards the passenger's side, which I don't like at all. It's also very complex, too complicated.

It's really down to everyone's preference between those two excellent cars. I think they're closer than ever.

The e39 was clearly superior to the W210, the W211 had the upper hand compared to the e60, here we have to wait for proper tests but it seems they're extremely close from each other.

Nailed it, perfectly put.

The interiors of both E's tell you their story, as do their exteriors, i.e, if you study and feel around the cars, you know what they're supposed to evoke and convey.

 

[Merc1]

I just hope Mercedes isn't going that way for the new S-Class. Sturdy is one thing, but it has to be elegant and inviting also, in an S-Class that is. As much as I loved the W126, I don't want a new version, nor do I want other W140. The W220 was pretty, but a POS. I want an evolution of the W221.


M

 

[K-A]

Agreed. Right now, if you sit in an S-Class, then sit in a new E-Class, or C-Class, it's a world of difference in terms of materials. The S retains that *WARMTH*, and elegance, which are the biggest factors that separate it, obviously this is due to many factors. When I sit in a 221 and 212 back to back, the first thing that hit me, is how much more relaxed and serene I feel in the S. My environment affects me highly, so the harder and colder materials in the 212 weren't allowing me an ultimate relaxed feeling.

I will be madly upset if they cost cut/robustify some materials in the S. For a car of that level, materials have to be built to last obviously, but they have to be pretty, soft, and elegant too, just like the 221.

BTW, with the financial troubles M-B are going through right now (major), wouldn't you think they don't have the funds to really go above and beyond in the attention to detail dept? Hope not. Although, I personally credit that as to why the 212 has some cruder materials here and there, and as to why there was some decontenting here and there.

Hmm, F10 Thread, I forgot.

I'll add, the F10's interior looks warm to me, warmer than the E's, and that's why I like it more-so. However, I'm hoping materials are elegant and refined too. I agree it's a bit busy and cluttered, so I could go either way when I sit in it.

 

[MBhmjs220]

Agreed. Right now, if you sit in an S-Class, then sit in a new E-Class, or C-Class, it's a world of difference in terms of materials. The S retains that *WARMTH*, and elegance, which are the biggest factors that separate it.

I'll add, the F10's interior looks warm to me, warmer than the E's, and that's why I like it more-so. However, I'm hoping materials are elegant and refined too. I agree it's a bit busy and cluttered, so I could go either way when I sit in it.

true, you never get that feeling when you set in E60 or E65, you find the materials similar which is something good i believe.
its a good thing that Mercedes wants to separate the flagship but i really believe that they should raise the bar with the C and E, just take the C and compare it to the 3er!
i am not talking about the design but the ''feel'' of the materials quality.
i honestly prefer the E-class over the 5er in term of interior design but from the pictures you can sense that the 5er got more quality.

as for the w222 S class i hope it don't get the sharp lines of the E and the UGLY looks of the F700

 

[K-A]

Totally agreed. The 204's interior is bizarrely cheap, in the "unrefined" sense. The 3'ers is way ahead of it, not only design wise, but material wise, and that's a no no for M-B, as they are supposed to have the upper hand in Luxury. What's the point of buying a C if it can't outperform, out-handle, doesn't have the driving dynamics of, AND doesn't have as nice an interior of a 3-Series?

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Totally agreed. The 204's interior is bizarrely cheap, in the "unrefined" sense. The 3'ers is way ahead of it, not only design wise, but material wise, and that's a no no for M-B, as they are supposed to have the upper hand in Luxury. What's the point of buying a C if it can't outperform, out-handle, doesn't have the driving dynamics of, AND doesn't have as nice an interior of a 3-Series?

Oh god you can't be serious. The 3's interior is easily behind the C's. The only MAJOR downfall of the c's interior is the grain of plastic that has been used for the dashboard and door trim. The quality is fine, but it does look a bit unrefind and rough. But the balance of the interior in terms of finish, detail, shutlines etc. is easily superior to the 3-series.

 

[Sunny]

I have never been inside the new E, so I won't profess to know about the quality of the material in there. But I have been in the C and it is bad. The plastic is of the same type as what is used in the under side of dash away from the view of my E36 3. And then there is swathe of silver painted plastic on the gear lever and around it and around the instrument dials. As someone who makes model aircrafts I do it too, but even I use the type of metallic paint you can buff to give it a metallic look, not plastic. Maybe it is just that trim/edition but it sucked big time. I will try and post a pic of that trim.

Edit: Here you go.

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

http://www.germancarforum.com/pit-g...-myth-about-audi-a4-b8s-interior-quality.html

 

[K-A]

Oh god you can't be serious. The 3's interior is easily behind the C's. The only MAJOR downfall of the c's interior is the grain of plastic that has been used for the dashboard and door trim. The quality is fine, but it does look a bit unrefind and rough. But the balance of the interior in terms of finish, detail, shutlines etc. is easily superior to the 3-series.

I've had over 1K of seat time in a new C. The interior horrifies me for a Benz. It feels strong and durable, not flimsy or cheap in that sense, but the plastics, attention to detail, materials, design, etc. is purely crap, and doesn't match the refinement of even the F.L W203. I always got negative comments when people would ride in my many Loaner 204's. The 3's to me is definitely ahead of it.

My worst favorite part of the 204's interior, is how "rubbery" and "sticky" it feels, also the cheap rubbery material on the dash attracts dirt. Not to mention the shiny, grainy sandpaper-like headliner and A-Pillar material, which unfortunately the W212 has inherited.

 

[coolraoul]

The interior is indeed a major weakpoint for the C-Class, which is otherwise a stunning vehicle. The grain of the plastic is a bit on the rough and shiny side, and the design itself is quite unluxurious with a big slab of plastic, that ugly pop-up screen and a certain lack of decorative elements.

Feels very strong, very sturdy, but not very upscale.

This is bound to change, well at least the design of the dash will be undergoing a major rework with the upcoming FL, includig the disappearance of the pop-up screen.

 

[K-A]

I hate that cheesy pop up screen. Also, I noticed the graphics on the radio display are very low-fi, like some 80's-esque fare.

The interior sucks, but I don't mind the 204 all in all. It doesn't touch me enough on a level to ever want to own and love one as my only car, but I have been keeping an eye on them in the Used Market, for a second car. You can get them for pretty good deals, but those little buggers hold their value pretty well for a Benz, just not as much to go wrong in them as in higher end Benzes, and it hasn't had seemingly any scary/high publicized problems. In America, when it comes to resale, reliability and Gas Mileage talk, more-so than anything, that's the American average customer base, I guess add Safety to that. So the C is sitting nicely in the market.

I wonder how the F.L treatment will do for it, hopefully it'll be a nice upgrade. The exterior of the 204, although to me, a bit too Japanese inspired, is less flawed than the 221 (still not as nice though IMO), and definitely the 212. It's a good design, and is a nice looking car, nicest in its price range for sure. My main beef with the exterior is the rear, pretty cheap looking, not elegant or expensive looking at all, and almost indistinguishable from quite a few Asian Econs.