Tarek307

how could you like the pre 2012 interior, so cheap and horrible looking imo...huge difference in interiors specially..the interior of the 2012-2013 is what made me actually want a W204

Sportstick

As was already noted, although the pre/post interiors look different, there is no evidence of part "cheapness" based on the material specification nor assembly fit. There is evidence of a significant change from a more plain and simple design to a more elegant design. Some like one and some like the other. Your opening question suggests you cannot relate to those who prefer a different design, but those who eschew a mini-E Class appearance do exist.

C300Sport

Yea, what he said...

victort

not a fan of either interiors. both are just whatevers to me. both still use cheap plastic, just that the newer ones use a softer cheap plastic. At least, the pre-facelift interior did not have the horrendous round AC vents.

vic viper

Its not only a design change, the overall quality feel is greatly improved, I previously owned a pre facelift 2009, I now own a 2013 and I drive an average of 5 facelift or pre facelift W204.s every day at work.

There is a lot less creaks and noices, the doors feel more solid, materials in the steering wheel are much better, button texture and feel is improved and so on.

Of course its a matter of personal taste, but IMO the facelift interior also looks much better than the pre facelift.

global33

Call me crazy, but I actually like my pop-up display screen. There are plenty of times where I don't need or want to look at anything, so it stays nicely tucked away, out of the sun and also out view from would-be thieves when parked. My OCD appreciates it...

shotgun_banjo

I like the the pre facelift interior version only if:

1. It has the two tone ash insert interior
2. It has the pop-up screen

Somehow the interior of the pre facelift looks bigger because of the dash not having something bulky like the screen cover attached with the instrument cluster

I also prefer the fogs than the leds.

vic viper

Pop up screen is nice, but its not as refined or classy as for example the new A6:

MDMercedesGuy

Where do they use cheap plastic (with the exception of the A/C control surround)?

The round vents look light years better than the old vents which look like they were lifted from a VW product...

Sportstick

Please specify which parts are cheap plastic. The pre-facelift uses a padded substrate vinyl skin for the entire IP upper pad, lower pad, door trim uppers, door trim arm rests, console lid. Hard plastic is quite limited to forward console lower, center stack control bezel (which is very typical in a wide variety of cars), a black bezel surrounding the gauge cluster, and some other minor applications, however surfaces match well and are finished smoothly. To which ones are you referring as cheap?

spyked

So much of it is personal taste. Just like the GLK. The pre-refresh GLK had a fine interior (at least nav screen was where it should be). Until you saw the new interior. Then you realize the old plain vents let it down. Now it's got nice metal round vents. Of course, the trade off is they took the shifter away so the car becomes more like a minivan

The 2012+ W204 also gives you a nice piece of real wood or metal actually on the dash. The pre-refresh models were just plastic.

But really to me, for a cheap price, I'd totally buy a 2011 (no engine issues on the M272 by then), IF it didn't have nav or 4MATIC. I hate the pop up screen and don't feel like replacing transmissions just because the front TC is part of the transmission.

These critiques are truly first world problems