E-Class (W212/C207/A207) [Official] Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W212)

[K-A]

Tough financial times for M-B. Gotta start cutting costs where they think people won't look.

Me personally, gimme some of that refinement back, some nice materials back, leather inserts on the seats of the E350 standard again would be nice, a headliner that doesn't belong in a bottom-of-the-line-model Kia, etc. and they can have their blind-spot and lane-detector nannies back! I'll keep the drowsiness detector though.

 

[Merc1]

I think they'll correct this. Remember MBUSA tried to sell us C-Classes for 2008 with no power seat controls on the doors and no memory seats at all. The uproar was so loud that it got corrected for 2009. The really stupid thing was that this was a MBUSA-only decision. Everywhere else in the world had the door mounted seat controls and memory seats.

This about the climate control however, will have to come from the very top since it isn't a market-specific omission.


M

 

[Centurion]

I think they'll correct this. Remember MBUSA tried to sell us C-Classes for 2008 with no power seat controls on the doors and no memory seats at all.

Weren't they on the option sheet at all?

 

[Merc1]

Nope, not in the U.S. market for the introductory 2008 model year. Can you believe that? No memory seats in a Benz. The owners on MBWorld were outraged. Then to add insult to injury they seat controls were on the bottom of the seat like every other car.

M

 

[SKY]

Nope, not in the U.S. market for the introductory 2008 model year. Can you believe that? No memory seats in a Benz. The owners on MBWorld were outraged. Then to add insult to injury they seat controls were on the bottom of the seat like every other car.

M

Both our E-Class and ML have the seats controls on the bottom part of the seats.

 

[ree]

Also a real sad thing, is that this beautiful and always warm feeling leather around the door isn't available anymore, but only with Exclusive package and even then, it doesn't have this great soft touch of the W211:





Nevertheless in comparison, the W211 looks damn old and the W212 definitely did one great step into the direction of the S-Class! Especially the non-leather version of the W212 doesn't feel as cheap as the non-leather interior of the W211!

 

[SKY]

Notice how poor the beige colour is in comparission with the black on that pics ree has posted, it should have more beige parts, as the W211.

 

[ree]

Notice how poor the beige colour is in comparission with the black on that pics ree has posted, it should have more beige parts, as the W211.

The photo I posted doesn't show a beige interior - it's one of the Avantgarde natural brown trims. The elegance beige one looks like this – quite nice:

 

[K-A]

I think they'll correct this. Remember MBUSA tried to sell us C-Classes for 2008 with no power seat controls on the doors and no memory seats at all. The uproar was so loud that it got corrected for 2009. The really stupid thing was that this was a MBUSA-only decision. Everywhere else in the world had the door mounted seat controls and memory seats.

This about the climate control however, will have to come from the very top since it isn't a market-specific omission.


M

Wow, didn't notice that about the C. I can only hope the uproar is enough that M-B correct the 212's interior materials, however, problem is, most owners/fans don't really look into these things, however I know we can count on those intuitive peeps who demand better to at least voice out, maybe M-B will listen.

Ree, yeah, the doors and arm-rests on the 212 are rock hard, it bummed me out because I love the soft touch on the doors of the 211. I gotta disagree about the 212 moving toward "S-Class" interior though, I actually find it to be the other way around. Aside from the tech, the Command screen and knob, some styling direction, and a few similar placements/parts, and the new ambient lighting, the materials/attention to detail and refinement have moved away from the S-Class in comparison to the W211, IMO. I find it to have moved more toward the C-Classes interior in more regards actually, as they actually share many parts.
e

 

[klier]

Well a 2 zone airco already barely works imo, and a 3 zone or 4 zone is only show off without real function. As if it would be possible to create 4 different climate zones in such a small area

 

[SKY]

Wow, didn't notice that about the C. I can only hope the uproar is enough that M-B correct the 212's interior materials, however, problem is, most owners/fans don't really look into these things, however I know we can count on those intuitive peeps who demand better to at least voice out, maybe M-B will listen.

Ree, yeah, the doors and arm-rests on the 212 are rock hard, it bummed me out because I love the soft touch on the doors of the 211. I gotta disagree about the 212 moving toward "S-Class" interior though, I actually find it to be the other way around. Aside from the tech, the Command screen and knob, some styling direction, and a few similar placements/parts, and the new ambient lighting, the materials/attention to detail and refinement have moved away from the S-Class in comparison to the W211, IMO. I find it to have moved more toward the C-Classes interior in more regards actually, as they actually share many parts.
e

Even when I think you are a bit hater sometimes, I think you are right on this one.

 

[K-A]

I think it's just a telling sign of how they don't really go to the greatest lengths of luxury, little by little, anymore.

For ex: The initial 211's had things like charcoal filter, "Rest" function, option to allow for fresh outside air to mix in with Heater (all old M-B's had that), genuine Leather inserts on the M-B Tex cars, and various options that got de-contented. The Face-Lift 211 made many improvements, but also, especially inside, LOTS of downgrades were made, but the marketing was solid enough on the new perks, that the little stuff wasn't noticed by most.

The 212 continues this, marketable improvements, but to me, those nice "M-B" extra steps just get sneakily de-contented.

About the Climate Control though, I agree, mine has a 2 way and it's already annoying enough for me to have to keep both in position with each other, as I don't have people in my car much. I guess for family's who travel a lot (kids, etc. in the backseat), the 4-Zone must come in handy.

 

[K-A]

Even when I think you are a bit hater sometimes, I think you are right on this one.

LOL. Thanks for at least reading into what I write.

I'm not a hater, I'm just a picky/O.C.D/anal b-stard!

 

[MBFanToDeath]

The partnership between Mercedes and Beijing Auto has proven to be a succesful venture so far, however Mercedes are planning to give the E-Class some Chinese characteristics in a bid to boost sales in a market where it is lagging behind its traditionally weaker competitor, Audi. Beijing-Benz will soon launch the made in China E300L, with L being of course Chinese for lengthened. The need for L-cars has been growing in recent years due to Audi’s successful launch of the Audi A4L and Audi A6L where the market requires that the rear passengers have plenty more legroom due to these models usually being chauffeur driven. BMW are expected to enter the fray with a lengthened 3-Series at some point to counter the A4L’s run away success, but it is unclear if Mercedes will counter with a stretched C-class.

Source: Chinese Cars - China Car Times

 

[Merc1]

Both our E-Class and ML have the seats controls on the bottom part of the seats.

I know the ML does, but with the E it must be market specific.

M

 

[cawimmer430]

made in China E300L

Any word yet on how these are quality wise?

 

[K-A]

Considering apparent Chinese competition, I'm sure M-B could get away with lowering that 70something% high-strength steel overall build, and use just enough to ensure that when in a frontal crash test, the steering wheel doesn't exactly make it to the rear seat.

 

[JLBM]

Why do the Chinese have a demand for LWB cars?

Is it purely a "status" thing?

 

[coolraoul]

The Chinese want LWB cars because they are often chauffeured around, and thus can use the extra kneeroom.


I'm a bit sick about all those comments concerning supposed decontenting and cheapness in the E-Class.

K-A, honestly, you do not seem to see anything valuable in the W212, are you blinded by your own car? Honestly, as klier said, multiple zone A/C are totally useless. Pure gimmick. And if you don't mind, I prefer a car whose reliability is excellet and built quality vault-like, even if it means that some plastics are less soft than previously.


I think everybody in the world, even in the whole universe dare I say, understood you totally hate the W212. So much than even your kids will genetically be preconditionned to hate it to their bones.

It might even be that, if someone enters your garage with one of those horrid things, the door will by reflex crush it and the rood will fall on it. And your dog will pee on it. And the trees in the street will fall on it. And the birds in your neighboorhood will maculate it. All that, so powerfull your hate towards it is.

Don't you ever post anything else than W212-bashing comments?

I think that, to keep people safe, you should install a sign stating "W212 forbidden. Any W212 will be shot on sight untill complete destruction. You be warned."

And we should modify the name of this thread:

"Official: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W212) - Warning: K-A inside."

 

[K-A]

The Chinese want LWB cars because they are often chauffeured around, and thus can use the extra kneeroom.


I'm a bit sick about all those comments concerning supposed decontenting and cheapness in the E-Class.

K-A, honestly, you do not seem to see anything valuable in the W212, are you blinded by your own car? Honestly, as klier said, multiple zone A/C are totally useless. Pure gimmick. And if you don't mind, I prefer a car whose reliability is excellet and built quality vault-like, even if it means that some plastics are less soft than previously.


I think everybody in the world, even in the whole universe dare I say, understood you totally hate the W212. So much than even your kids will genetically be preconditionned to hate it to their bones.

It might even be that, if someone enters your garage with one of those horrid things, the door will by reflex crush it and the rood will fall on it. And your dog will pee on it. And the trees in the street will fall on it. And the birds in your neighboorhood will maculate it. All that, so powerfull your hate towards it is.

Don't you ever post anything else than W212-bashing comments?

I think that, to keep people safe, you should install a sign stating "W212 forbidden. Any W212 will be shot on sight untill complete destruction. You be warned."

And we should modify the name of this thread:

"Official: Mercedes-Benz E-Class (W212) - Warning: K-A inside."

That was pretty funny.

I give plenty of cred to the 212, more solid than the 211, drives like the 211 but better, acknowledge the better steering feel (IMO), credit the enhanced tech, would feel even safer in one, like that extra rigidity and confidence you feel while driving one, like the Nappa on the steering wheel, etc.

What I don't like is the very much realistic *cheapening* of interior materials, the decontenting, and the lack of a refined luxury car feel inside, compared to the outgoing model at least. You may like a hard plastic interior, but in this day and age, a Benz E-Class should offer materials a bit more plush than a car of less $$. Is the interior all so bad? No. Just cold to me, and lacks enough of what the 211 had, to keep me disappointed.

What we have here is myself merely adding some balance to the "whatever M-B does is the greatest thing ever, and craps on the older models in every which way, no matter what" fan-boyism. If sane people don't keep voicing out the high expectation they have for M-B interiors, pretty soon we'll be stuck with the horrid C-Classes interior in the S-Class, yet the sheeples will still buy "Benz" because it's called "Benz".

I don't hate the model, nor do I dislike its negative points just for the sake of it, in fact, I'm potentially in the market for a $50-ishK car, and guess what? I've looked extensively at the new E. So believe me, I want to like it enough to buy it.