S-Class (W223) [Official] Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223)

[Mr. Mercedes]

I don't feel completely lost because of MBUX, the touchscreen and the capacitive steering wheel buttons. Quite on the contrary. And I think that goes for a lot of "old" S class buyers. It's a mistake, thinking the average 45+ years European doesn't know how to operate a touchscreen based HMI ie the new S class. What I hear from longtime S buyers is, that it's unsafe to operate it and most of them are disgusted by the way the screen looks like after a few hours of usage: greasy fingerprints etc. Not mentioning the dip in overall quality of especially the interior.

Is the average European buyer of the S-class 45+? I was under the impression it was more like 55+ for Europeans and 43+ for Chinese?

I'm very interested to check out this dip in interior quality you have noticed Mick. Perhaps MB has mastered the Audi art of fooling motoring journalists, as this has not been raised as an issue in any review I have read, but only picked up by long term customers such as yourself. After the solidity of the new MFA and GLE/GLS interiors, I was hoping the build quality has improved, even if some of the finish quality deteriorated slightly. If you have the time and will, could you please give us some examples? It's at least another 3-5 months before we see it on our shores.

Disgusting fingerprints all over the interior would absolutely drive me mad and I can't believe interior designers of all automotive companies think that these high gloss easily scratched black plastics are an acceptable design outcome. First Audi did it and now MB has followed. I wonder what BMW has in store for the 7. I am constantly dusting and wiping down the interior of our 8.

 

[lukeswiss]

I don't feel completely lost because of MBUX, the touchscreen and the capacitive steering wheel buttons. Quite on the contrary. And I think that goes for a lot of "old" S class buyers. It's a mistake, thinking the average 45+ years European doesn't know how to operate a touchscreen based HMI ie the new S class. What I hear from longtime S buyers is, that it's unsafe to operate it and most of them are disgusted by the way the screen looks like after a few hours of usage: greasy fingerprints etc. Not mentioning the dip in overall quality of especially the interior.

I thought the MBUX is cool, but there is just SO much going on. Adding to that, my trainer was sitting in the back and changing the ambient lighting colours all the time :-D

It's a lot to take in and all very distracting until you know the car I guess.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

If you have the time and will, could you please give us some examples?

Vide post #1714 and #1722

S-Class (W223) - [Official] Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W223)

germancarforum.com

 

[bmwz4coupe]

The new Golf is also using cheaper plastic in the interior, I hope this is not a new saving measure trend....

 

[martinbo]

The new Golf is also using cheaper plastic in the interior

So too does the new 911.

 

[Serpens]

Yeah, no surprise the screens are alienating buyers. To this I shrug- they're going to have nowhere to turn soon. I think every car in this class is going to have a touchscreen heavy setup in the very near future.

The new Golf is also using cheaper plastic in the interior, I hope this is not a new saving measure trend....

Of course it is. Where do you think people are getting the funds for these EV transitions? It's a shame all of these brands aren't able to hide it better.

 

[lukeswiss]

So too does the new 911.

Knowing Porsche, you'll be able to cover it all in Nappa (for a price) our old 911 even had leather on the the air vent fins.

 

[MichiB]

Knowing Porsche, you'll be able to cover it all in Nappa (for a price) our old 911 even had leather on the the air vent fins.

I dream of something linke this

 

[275others]

Yeah, no surprise the screens are alienating buyers. To this I shrug- they're going to have nowhere to turn soon.

It’s not the screens per se that are alienating buyers, it’s the removal of nearly all physical buttons, the relegation of every single car function no matter how simple it is to a touch screen, and the design consequences of these decisions which are sterile cabins that feel cold, cheap and without character, it all amounts to a poor experience and stuck on screens don’t help. The previous S-Class had two huge screens and I don’t see many people complaining, why is that ? Because A)the screens were perfectly integrated in the dashboard which lends to a much better design , B) they were positioned in the line of sight and therefore safer and C) they could be controlled using a rotary dial which again contributes to safety and also to a more pleasing look given that they are not smudged from top to bottom with fingerprints.

 

[Serpens]

It’s not the screens per se that are alienating buyers, it’s the removal of nearly all physical buttons, the relegation of every single car function no matter how simple it is to a touch screen, and the design consequences of these decisions which are sterile cabins that feel cold, cheap and without character, it all amounts to a poor experience and stuck on screens don’t help. The previous S-Class had two huge screens and I don’t see many people complaining, why is that ? Because A)the screens were perfectly integrated in the dashboard which lends to a much better design , B) they were positioned in the line of sight and therefore safer and C) they could be controlled using a rotary dial which again contributes to safety and also to a more pleasing look given that they are not smudged from top to bottom with fingerprints.

Historically speaking plenty of people complained about the W222's screens, you only need to go back to the launch thread to see that. But point taken- in reality I actually meant to say "touch screens" and ended the post saying "nowhere to turn soon" thinking that BMW had gone all touch too. I see now they've kept the knob in iNext. I'm with BMW on this one, it's the right way to go imo.

 

[bmwz4coupe]

Historically speaking plenty of people complained about the W222's screens, you only need to go back to the launch thread to see that. But point taken- in reality I actually meant to say "touch screens" and ended the post saying "nowhere to turn soon" thinking that BMW had gone all touch too. I see now they've kept the knob in iNext. I'm with BMW on this one, it's the right way to go imo.

Yes, BMW has found the most reasonable balance here. Some weeks ago I tested several brands and it was so nice to take hand of the BMW testcar and notice that they are the most conservative and have kept a lot of the buttons, you could control the clima control with real buttons instead of going via the touch screen. This was one important reason for that I at the end ordered the BMW (well, I must confess that I would have bought the BMW anyway...). The design of the BMW interior maybe feels a little oldfashion compared to the competition, but I really appreciate the old fashion buttons for the functions I use often. Many brands lets form be more important than function and this is annoying and can also be dangerous.

 

[Merc1]

You know Mercedes for all their usual unflinching ways, they do have a history over overacting. The response (partly) to the Lexus LS resulted in the grosser W140 and then the reaction from the W140 criticism resulted in the W220. From W126 to W220 was a wildly varying theme on what the S-Class is. Then they stayed course with the W221 and W221, but now they've seemingly done it again. The W223 while pretty is less distinctive than the W222. I keep seeing the most magnificent W222 models on the road now. I can't wait to see the W223 in person. Then there is the screen issue and the eliminating of basic buttons and that screen behind the steering wheel, which I hate. It's a lot of change that will scare off some and bring others in, it's a risky gamble. Time will tell.


M

 

[Sunny]

However for every traditional S-class client lost, they will likely gain at least 1 replacement sub 45 year old Chinese consumer

BMW 3er is living proof of the perils of giving up your core customers chasing the fad crowd. The latter will move on soon to the next thing. And you won't have the former either.

 

[Mick Briesgau]

@Merc1 mentioned the W140. At that time perhaps a bit overdone, but nowadays most agree it was a tremendous good and great S. W140 alienated some customers because of it’s enormous size but also because of quite a steep price increase. In my opinion, though a price increase is always a sad thing out of customer perspective, the increase came with a lot of improvements, new tech and the overall quality was on par or even better than it’s predecessor and was therefore justified.
W223 also comes with a rather steep price increase. @kiki voinea mentioned that aspect as well earlier in this thread. Personally it bothers me more and more, that W223 is noticable more expensive than W222 but by no means noticable a “better” car. At least not in my eyes.

 

[sl123]

Hi Mick, you are right - hefty price increase. But you get more extras as standard. Which will be ordered anyhow I guess.
You know what: I am tall and the lights of the direction indicators are placed that high in the drivers display, that the steering wheel blocks my sight. I don´t see the flashing indicators while driving. That sucks

 

[Mick Briesgau]

Hi Mick, you are right - hefty price increase. But you get more extras as standard. Which will be ordered anyhow I guess.
You know what: I am tall and the lights of the direction indicators are placed that high in the drivers display, that the steering wheel blocks my sight. I don´t see the flashing indicators while driving. That sucks

True, it comes with more extras as standard.
I don’t know how to put this, but there’s a discrepancy between the price and what the W223 is offering. In other words, I had no problem paying for both W222. I do have a problem paying for the W223, because I think it’s not worth what MB is asking for it. ? first world problem, I know.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

Hi Mick, you are right - hefty price increase. But you get more extras as standard. Which will be ordered anyhow I guess.
You know what: I am tall and the lights of the direction indicators are placed that high in the drivers display, that the steering wheel blocks my sight. I don´t see the flashing indicators while driving. That sucks

Yeah, it sucks to be tall.

 

[sl123]

@CrunchSlaughter: You are right - from a dwarfs perspective

 

[MichiB]

I also have the impression that there are large price differences between individual countries for the W223.

For Example the S500 4Matic without Options:
- Price in Switzerland: 144'600 Swiss Francs > in Dollars: 161’258
- Price in USA: 109'800 Dollars

 

[bmwz4coupe]

I also have the impression that there are large price differences between individual countries for the W223.

For Example the S500 4Matic without Options:
- Price in Switzerland: 144'600 Swiss Francs > in Dollars: 161’258
- Price in USA: 109'800 Dollars

Well, in USA all cars are super cheap compared to Europe