K-A

LOL, that made me laugh. I actually don't agree about the interior in the least, but get what you're saying.

sunny_j

how is the interior better in the 212?

gaazmon

w210 had nice interior, especially with that two tone white and black, so sweet.

blueC230K

No way! The steering wheel in our C207 is wayyy much better than the plastic steering wheel in our W211 E500. The wheel in C207 is full leather and firm grip whereas the W211 is purely soft plastic with peelings (looks like dead skins falling off from your fingers) Mind you the W211 had a full leather package and the C207 only had partial leather package.

tyltan

I agree. I don't like the long horizontal tailights of 212 same as 210. I was holding out the 210 because of the taillights. As soon as 211 came out with the "triangle" lights, I bought the 211. May be I will trade my 211 for a 213 when they change the rear.

OceanView

Well I have both the 210 and the 211 right now and am about to buy a 212 so I think I can give my 2 cents.

I feel that the 210 is the original design that set the standards in this class.
Although it does look dated, it can still look great if it is fixed up. It's the plain stock models that you see on the roads today that make this model look bland. Although the electronics are basic, it's still feels like a solid substantial car. I feel completely safe in it.
I am not planning on selling mine regardless of what other cars I have.

The 211 was an improvement on the 210 but I have never felt the look was revolutionary. The ride is smooth and comfortable but it looks like a mass produced car. This one is going back to the dealer.

The new 212 has a great looking front, the rear is a bit Honda/Hyundai ish but in certain colors it looks ok. Personally think black looks best on this car.
The interior is much improved except the steering wheel which is cheap looking.
I prefer the aftermarket wood steering wheels, not sure if they have this option on this car. I think the improvements in this car is worth the upgrade.

At the end, it's all a personal choice on which car you like and both of these models are great cars.

CharlyE500

+1 the only good thing about W212 is the front. Side and rear ... Just go get a Jap/korean car with half price. So far I have not found anything better than my current W211, I will keep it until the 5.5TT AMG !

CharlyE500

Me2, I love that 2 tone, white and black. Too bad, W211 AMG only 2 tone but red-wine/burgendy color.... not too fan of this ...

gaazmon

ya i wasn't a fan of the burgundy black thing either.

i think the w208 clk55 also had the white and black. loved it.

Frasmat

+ 1

The first time I saw the car in person was from the rear and I thought it was a camry. When I got closer I caught a glimpse of the Mercedes emblem and then I seen E350 I was utterly dissappointed to say the least.

CharlyE500

You shold see that Brabus version....the rear side fender.... the ugliest car of the year.

Frasmat

I just googled it. WTF is that? It looks as if they had some spare material lying around and threw it on the rear side fender of the car. Not all change is good change

K-A

Agreed. No way in any way is the 212's interior more high quality. More durable yes, perhaps, but no way more refined, and I can paste a list I made a while back noting all the major cheapened materials the 212 has compared to the 211. Ironically, the steering wheel leather is one of the only areas in the 212's interior I find to be better than the 211's, lol, 212's use Nappa to wrap the wheel. Stark contrast from all the industrial plastic inside.

I will say, for all the crappy examples on the road (beaten up/not well kept), when I see a immaculate W210 I still stare in awe, and I agree, it did set the standard for the modern Sedan, it's design is like the blueprint for how new Sedans have evolved, at least Benzes.

To me, the W211 is a pure refinement of the 210 design, it's like they took a 210 and carefully molded it into looking completely properly in regards to the direction they were going after. I.e just eliminated the flaws, and made it a bit more graceful/timeless. The W212 goes a new direction, and I honestly feel M-B were very inspired by the Japanese this time around, and I feel their way of trying to win back confidence in terms of reliability, was subconsciously getting people to view them as that by sparking thoughts of Japanese vehicles, which like it or not, are what the world deem as the ultimate in reliability.

About the rear Camry comment, agreed, I still get confused by looking at the two, i.e I'll mistake them for one another at quick glance.

Bibliophile806

"... To me, the W211 is a pure refinement of the 210 design, it's like they took a 210 and carefully molded it into looking completely properly in regards to the direction they were going after. I.e just eliminated the flaws, and made it a bit more graceful/timeless."

Indeed -- your photo captures the perfect proportions and poise of the 211.

K-A

Thanks!

One thing I've noticed about the 211, is it's tricky to get it to appear in its best element in photo's, or to really appreciate the design when in not supreme lighting. the lines are so subtle. The 212 bulks the lines up, so it makes you get what the design is going after in most elements, and that alone is a way to win over most people who don't pay much attention, as it'll give the car more of its proper presence in most lighting. while the 211, can look very simply done in some photo's/lighting, then in others, you can see the spectacular detailing within such simple lines, I've never seen anything like it really, a car that can appear so simply done, yet when seen in the right lighting, you see how brilliant the designers were with shadow-play, and how sharp a design it really is (while it can be considered a soft/easy on the eyes design as well). Here are a couple pics which kinda show what I'm talking about: Edited obviously, but they really bring the lines out.

thongvilay

I for one do not like the new w212, it reminds me a lot like the new Lexus GS.



But I also do hate how the tail lights from Buick Lacrosse resembles the tail lights and rear end of the w211

charliele729

I remember that Hyundai and Jaguar x type (2003) models totally knock off the W211 bubble headlights.

007_e350

the 212 does have the driver eye-ball movement sensor & notifies driver when speeds exceed highway's posted speed limits - dont get me wrong, I hate that hyundai like exerior looks ... fell in love with w211's *ss the v first time I saw it

220S

I feel that the W211 is just as equally assertive looking as the very sharp-angled W212. But perhaps in a more flowing looking way(?) Just my opinion.

Here's my debadged 2009 E63 w/o the upright star and with a pre-FL grille sans the MB badge:

gaazmon

so nice

K-A

WOW, that is stunning!

That's getting saved into my Photobucket Album of "Really nice 211's to look at when I start feeling the itch to get another car".

I agree with you, one thing about the 211, is it doesn't get old for me to look at, in fact, I like looking at pictures of them, because I feel I can get so many different vibes from the exterior based on different photo's, even in real life, it's like the car can switch personalities based on various things.

People say the 212 doesn't photograph well, I disagree, I think it looks even better in photo's than it does in person, the car is designed to show in photo's exactly as it's intended to, which to me, gets me bored of it fast, what you see is what you get, it's got very sharp lines, and noticeable creases, and a "human face" type of front end etc. Basically, I rarely get anything from it that I don't expect.

Frasmat

Nice! That's one tough act to follow!

gaazmon

and the license plate is awesome

Polar Bear

Regarding the technology in the two -

The W210 I think received rear airbags in 1999 or 2000, COMAND in 2000, Tele-Aid in 2000. I think a 2000-2002 W210 (E55 or otherwise) would be a very solid daily driver and can be had at a song. The E55s are very reasonable. After owning two, I would recommend one to anyone. It's hard to locate a nice W210 loaded out but they are out there. A designo would be a very nice find.

It seems that the W211 almost had a false start in 2003, as the COMAND didn't make it in the first year, and MB ended up giving away several cars because of it. The local dealer told me that the first two W211's they received they had to send back because of "electrical issues." The Solar/Pano roof didn't last long (does anyone actually have one of those?).

Things I would greatly miss going from a W211 to a W210 -

SAT radio
DVD Nav vs CD Nav
Dynamic Seats
Better rain sense wipers (W210 will wipe once when ignition is turned on if left on auto)
Auto headlamps
Bi-Xenon vs standard Xenon

I like the iPod integration, but I have honestly found that I listen to the same six CDs over and over so I don't switch to the iPod that much. I would miss the SAT radio, however.

Bluetooth is available on the W210, so that would cover my phone.

A Diesel is not available in 2000-2002 so I would for sure miss the engine, but I could live with the gas engine. Would probably opt for the 4-matic - E430 preferrebly. May get another E55 - I really love those cars - but no 4-matic and expensive tires.

Decisions decisions.

One thing is for sure - it is almost impossible to go to another brand after owning an MB product.

K-A

Whoa, didn't realize that. So stunned by the car. Awesome plate.

I think 220s just laid the stamp on the 211 VS 212 "design debate" with that pic, just so smooth and pretty, yet sport and agile, the 212 lacks that classic/graceful beauty.

Ain't that the truth.

Honestly, I really dislike M-B's new designs, and direction, save for the W221 (which I contemplate getting daily). However, I'm so happy with my E, and am so fixated onto the Benz brand and history, if I had to get a new car to replace my E for whatever reason, I'd probably still find myself in another Benz, even a 212, if not for any other reason that I like my 211 so much. Even taking into account the areas it doesn't give me that I get out of my 211, such as the fancy/rich feeling of the interior, and the overall exterior vibe.