Vs W212 E-class vs. F10 5 series (vs. Audi A6)

[klier]

What the hell are you talking about?!

He's saying the same thing as you are

As for the quality of 5er interior vs E class interior....well, quality might be equal in terms of material use, but that's where everything ends for the E class. The design and layout and everything is not up to par as far as I am concerned. The E class looks like a rush job that lacks fine tuning.

 

[coolraoul]

I'm sorry Klier, I just fail to understand how the LOOK of a car is an indication of its QUALITIES such as drive, refinement, feel and so on.

So you might be prescient, I dunno. As far as i'm concerned, the look of a car is merely an indication of its design...

For the rest, I prefer a testdrive than a testlook. You know, just gives me a better idea of the car's qualities... Might be why the carmakers bother to actually hire other people than just designers, you see, to develop the car in fact. Not just its look.

Might be just me though but the way you sound is quite biased to my ears.

 

[klier]

I'm sorry, I just fail to understand how the LOOK of a car is an indication of its QUALITIES such as drive, refinement, feel and so on.

Design is a quality too, and that's where the car slightly drops the ball for me (not on it's own, but it fails compared to the jaw dropping 5er. It wins compared to the A6. And it wins as a stand alone design as well).
And you're right that qualities like refinement and drive is not something you can see in pictures.

Now back to the 5er

 

[K-A]

The two have really switch places. The last generation models the E-class was elegant and sleek vs. the 5 series was more dramatic. Now they have completely changes positions.

Nice pics, I am amazed at how timeless the style of the W211 is, after so many years. M-B nailed that design IMO, the last (and most refined) version of the classic styling ideal of Mercedes, i.e the timeless, classic, and understated approach.

The new 5 has more in common with the W211, as it's more fluid and sexy. The W212 seems to have taken cues from the previous 5er. Looks like a role reversal to me!

Agreed.

HAHAHA, NOW I WOULD'NT REALLY KILL YOU, I just say it as a figure of speech

Young brother, , the reason you didnt like the E class as much when it was unleashed was because it doesnt look much improved in looks from the W211. I felt the same way too, as for the new 5er, it certainly replaces a much less attractive model.. Jusdt incase youve been wondering where that hype came from ..

Good post and point. Seems like lots of people are breathing lots of new fresh air with the F10, as it's kind of a "savior", after the IMO putrid E60. The W211 is such a stellar design, the W212 had a tougher car to follow, so M-B did the only thing they probably thought would spark some interest in the car, instead of trying to evolve on such a widely accepted car like the W211, they went the more controversial, and "revolutionary" route.


I'm late to this, but I love the new 5, seems more like a stylistic evolution of the W211 to me than the E.

The E's too fussy, hard-edged, box-cut, and fumbled looking to me, although it does have some striking angles. I need my designs to be easy on the eyes, and I can't deal with flaws, which the W212 to me is full of, and I'm not even talking about the painful rear end, which makes the car look like a $20K car from the rear angle to me.

Interior wise, the W212 IMO is way too hard, and has way too much plastic, not nearly as soft, refined, or elegant as the W211's IMO, it's a stronger, more imposing look, but I prefer the elegant vibe. For the first time, I think it looks like a 5's interior is warmer, more coddling, and fancier/more luxurious than its competing E-Classes. The materials of the W212's interior aren't too great to me, overall, so I'm hoping and assuming the Bimmers will beat it in that dept, as the E60's quality and materials were lacking IMO, for the most part.

To sum it up, what's really important to me, is refined, clean, cohesive, and elegant/timeless/smooth looks. The W211 has it, the E60 certainly does not, and although the W212 is more interesting to try and make sense of than the F10 seems to be, in a few years I think the E will age very poorly, especially for an M-B, which has always prided itself on clean, timeless looks, for the most part. The F10, IMO is as timeless as any new car is coming right now.

 

[K-A]

E-class for me. Has all the traites and philosophies I desire in a car.

Ugh, Wagener, I'm sorry, but for me he's the current Bangle. Just kind of ruining what I personally have come to love about M-B designs.

 

[rollo]

And what is my opinion on the 5 Series? I like it and I can't wait to see it in real life. I also like the E class.

I was agreeing with you Ree. I was saying it would be nice if we could all talk objectively about the 5 and E Class, but there are too many fanboys.

I agree with Betty here. I was luke-warm after seeing some of the early photo's of the F10, but the recent video has changed my mind and I am very encouraged now and look forward to seeing it IRL. I have also seen the new E Class many times and I really like it. Much better looking IRL than the model it replaced and the reviews have been quite favorable regarding how it drives.

 

[coolraoul]

Interior quality seems to be great in pics, and the attention to detail reminds my of the Wolfgang Reitzle era:

Interior sure does look nice.

But the wood/alu on the dash is misaligned with the wood/alu on the door, and the adjustment seems quite approximative with a considerable and above all irregular gap. Maybe it's a preproduction vehicle?


Overall, the impression I get is that it is more show than the E-Class with the heavy use of alu combined with wood, but the gaps and finish on the E seems superior.

 

[Mr Robert]

But the wood/alu on the dash is misaligned with the wood/alu on the door, and the adjustment seems quite approximative with a considerable and above all irregular gap. Maybe it's a preproduction vehicle?

My first thauth is that it is done to make it look tight when you sit in the seat.

Here:

Scond thaught is that it makes the interior look more "alive". Everything seems to be a bit "chubby" and organic.

I do not think this is a pre-production vehicle.

 

[Vivaki]

You're as much a Mercedes fan as I am a BMW fan.

Wrong, im as big a fan of BMW as I am mercedes and no way am I crazy and blinded by mercs like you are for BMW's.

I am a fan, not a fanboy. I don't troll.

You might not troll but you definitely are one of the bigest BMW fanboys on this site

And I don't hate you by a long shot. I just have a different opinion. I am not emotional or defensive either. Very far from that. You give your opinion, and I give mine. That's it.

Neither do I but yes you get defensive whenever a BMW is criticised because for some reason you cant accept that other people dont like BMW or their cars as much as you do. There are fanboys of all the german marques but there are many BMW fans (as well as mb and audi fans) who wont rush to post and start criticising the competition and praise BMW's like you do but thats probably just the fanboy in you. You accused me of being a merc fanboy based on what? Was it my post that I dont like the front and side of the new 5er? As eplained in my earlier post I own more BMW's than mercs!

And I am allowed to say the 5er is going to destroy the E class in the reviews. What would be wrong with that? Or can't you handle that?

Of course your allowed to say that. I read what you say and move on. Im not going to do what you do and start to defend the competition and trash talk about the BMW. You have your opinions and I have mine but everyone who reads the posts on this site can clearly tell who the fanboys are who are not!

 

[coolraoul]

My first thauth is that it is done to make it look tight when you sit in the seat.

Here:

Scond thaught is that it makes the interior look more "alive". Everything seems to be a bit "chubby" and organic.

I do not think this is a pre-production vehicle.

Mismatched panels are not made on purpose... I certainly hope it's a preproduction vehicle.
Also the handle and the button panel next to it don't look very rich.

I'm curious to experience that interior IRL. The E's interior certainly feels extremely well built with narrow gaps and solid plastics, but some of them do lack the ultimate luxury touch and sometimes feel a bit too rigid.

That interior seems quite different, rich looking on the whole but with an overuse of chrome, quite big gaps, and pieces everywhere. Way more complicated, more elegant, but maybe not as well built.

 

[Mr Robert]

Mismatched panels are not made on purpose...

I just had to take a look and try and find another example:



I guess it is hard to make everything look aligned from every angle.

 

[Will]

i always thought BMW struggled with panel gaps in the interior, they've never really paid much attention to the that but the overall quality is top notch.

Audi are still way in front, with BMW and Merc catching up gradually with regards to interiors.

 

[Sunny]

I just had to take a look and try and find another example:



I guess it is hard to make everything look aligned from every angle.

lol. Only if Mercedes fans looked at cars from their own favorite brand as closely as they look at BMW. Anyway wonder what the excuses are going to be? Should be some fantastic shit.

 

[coolraoul]

I just had to take a look and try and find another example:



I guess it is hard to make everything look aligned from every angle.

Well it ain't that bad on that one, I'm sorry but here the height adjustment is perfect and the gaps very narrows. Only the wood line seems to be faulty, the rest is just perfect. Might be a problem on that particular car, which is not even necessarily a new one.

Not comparable to the BMW with the whole doorpanel completely mismatched and with what looks like giant gaps at every junction.

 

[Potential]

This is ridiculous. Commenting on the quality of a pre-production car from photos. Slap a Mercedes Benz star on the steering wheel, as per the image above, and all of a sudden excuses fly as to why the panel gap exists. Utter rubbish!

 

[coolraoul]

Nobody can say I never criticize Mercedes, I'm sorry. This is not true.

And I said it was probably due to the fact that it was a preproduction model.

Still, everybody was looking at that particular pic and commenting on how insane the quality and finish looked, while the car was obviously faulty... so I felt the need to comment.

 

[Potential]

I have no problems with that. It was your response to the EXACT same problem on a S Class that has made me lose all respect for your opinion. Critise BMW, defend MB.

 

[Zafiro]

Not comparable to the BMW with the whole doorpanel completely mismatched and with what looks like giant gaps at every junction.

Come one Coolraoul, I think you are too hard on the 5-series contra E-class. The new 5er is exactly what previous E-class was, elegant with symmetric lines. The new E-class is what previous 5er was, many lines and more exciting lines. Previous E-class was loved by many people on this board but now when BMW design something eye-catching, now its suddenly a 'boring' car. But thats okey as long as people dont claim the new 5er is an ugly car because its not.

And who says the closer the gap is the better quality it is?
This is how BMW designed the interior and they obviously designed it this way on purpose.
Read the reviews on the latest 5er and no one complain on the interior quality. The quality is definitely top notch. No worries.

 

[K-A]

Come one Coolraoul, I think you are too hard on the 5-series contra E-class. The new 5er is exactly what previous E-class was, elegant with symmetric lines. The new E-class is what previous 5er was, many lines and more exciting to look at. Previous E-class was loved by many people on this board but now when BMW design something eye-catching, now its suddenly a 'boring' car.

And who says the closer the gap is the better quality it is?
This is how BMW designed the interior and they obviously designed it this way on purpose.
Read the reviews on the latest 5er and no one complain on the interior quality. The quality is definitely top notch. No worries.

Good point and agreed.

As for the mismatching wood on the 5-Series, it looks large enough to be done on purpose (i.e not a mistake), so I'm assuming there's a method to BMW's madness there, I'll reserve judgement until I see it in person. The W212's panel gaps seem to be tight, pretty much standard-good Mercedes, however the interior it doesn't have the elegance and richness of the 211 or seemingly the F10 (based off of pics) to me. Coolraul has acknowledged that I've seen, but seems to like the sturdy, "hardness" vibe of the 212, which is not my personal cup of tea, as it is too sans certain detail-oriented luxury and refinement to me.

Now if we want to talk panel gaps and mismatching objects, the W212's clamshell shutline looks like you can stick two fingers through it, and the headlights are so disproportionate from each other in any angle aside from the head-on, it hurts me to look at....

 

[Deleted member 25]

I feel the same, the gap is just too large to be simply due to quality problems, does someone have the design sketches ?