K-A

Actually I'm pretty positive that Pic is just in black and white, so the markers aren't really smoked.

I'd recommend for the time being (until company's start making clear markers for the 212), to just get them tinted with the specialty tints they use for lights. I did that with mine, cheap and easy fix, and looks good.

HB230

Looking at the pic more closely, it is weird, the brick around the car is in color and it fades to B&W. I thought it was a little too early for smoked markers to be out..

I wish the bumper was more like the w203 with the rub strips. I got the euro ones and it is super clean with no light there at all.

220S

Try calling 123Mercedes/Express Body parts in North Hollywood. Ask them if they're getting any W212 stuff in yet.
http://www.123mercedes.com/index.html
I've bought stuff from them before, no problems. I think they're a sponsor here now, too.

K-A

Yeah you're right, it's like partially in color.

Yeah the rub strips made it really convenient to get a clean look with the Euro strips. I also thought it was a nice functional touch, as it makes it waaay cheaper if/when you scuff something. Now you gotta buy a whole new bumper!

ESIX3POWER

Picked up the car earlier tonight!

What immediatley stuck out to me was the interior lay out and dash board with the new Nav.Very,very impressive and high quality. Has a very rich look and feel to it. The ambiance lighting around the dash and door panels was S-class like. The steering wheel is monstrous, larger than the wheel on the E63.
The seats are very comfortable and well cushioned but I have to admit the quality of leather is not like my seats in the E63, the soft nappa leather in the 63 is the best Ive seen.
I could not get used to not having the shifter in the center console, I guess in time I will get used to it.. Its cool to have the extra space though.
So after I was told about the ins and outs and how to use the Nav,Stereo and other functions, I finally put the car in D and drove off taking 1 final long stare at my E63, now gone.. Funny i felt like a father giving his daugter away for marriage,lolol.. OK back to the E550 - The ride quality is absolutley amazing, It seriously drove like an S-class in terms of ride quality and over bumps.. The 550 has great power but I didnt and cant really drop the hammer just yet, with a little over 9 miles on the odo.. The car felt very solid and planted, very good control. The suspension and tran was set on C mode, I have not tested S yet.. Another thing that really stuck out was how quiet the car is, You couldnt even tell the engine was on, buttery smoothe power train. NOthing like the ferocious power and exhaust note on the 63, which I will certainly miss at times BUT I seriously love this new car.. I didnt really get a chance to test the car,long day of work, picked it up,drove home and threw it in the garage. I will write up a better review with extra seat time.. I actually did my 1st mod also,took my flat hood badge off the 63 and had the dealer put it on the E550.See the iphone pic. I will have much better/quality pics in the coming days..

P.S im done with the back n forth between W211 vs W212.. Im happy as hell with my new car and im glad youre loving your W211.. Leave it at that,period.

ESIX3POWER

Previous pics too small.

[

ESIX3POWER

What color will the markers look once tinted? Wont they look darkish/blk ?
Thx

MBNUT1

Hey if it rides like an S at the size of an E that is a great thing.

K-A

Yeah, it actually does come out to a pretty black look. Definitely not the same vibe as clear corners, but especially if you have Tinted windows, I think it makes the front look a bit cleaner than the annoying U.S spec oranges, and especially with a White car I think it'd look pretty good. I can post a pic if you want.

220S

I'm sure you'll lose a few things from the AMG (as you already mentioned) but will gain a lot of good stuff, too. COMAND screen is now located in the right spot (rather than looking down.)

The 550 I think makes for a much better (as you say, like the S) ride than the 350. I'm kind of waiting to see what the E63 wagon might be like (if we get it here in the US.) And wondering how it'll be with MCT.

Enjoy and good luck with the patience to do the break-in. Like to hear more as you get more seat time.

gaazmon

+1, I liked the rub strips idea. Was also better for those wanting to install parktronic.

Won't the light bulb still shine orange even if you get it tinted???

Ya, the 350 and 550 seem "quieter" in a sense compared to the 320 and 500. I have both a 320 and 500 car and there is more engine noise than the 350s and 550 I've driven. MB must have changed something in the design probably due to people complaining about the engine noise being too loud.

gaazmon

The 3 Wisemen

stanatl

I'm new to the formum having driven a BMW 550i for the past three years and am now considering the 2010 E550 when my car comes off lease in December.

I can tell you that the comments both pro and con on the argument for the W211 vs. the W212 design on this forum PALE in comparison to what went happened on the BMW forums when the e60 Bangle design was first introduced. Many of the comments of pre e-60 owners were over the top and childish. It turned out that the expected demise of the e60 series due to the new design was greatly exagerated. BMW has sold an awful lot of them and other automakers are copying some of the design characteristics.

Having said that, there will always be people on both sides of the new design question. Neither is right or wrong - it is just opinion.

MichaelB.

I got my wife an E350 and I am here to tell you that IT TOO drives like my S class. I am actually jealous of her car. It is fantastic. Both the 350 & the 550 E are superb cars.

220S

Was curious because the 550 still retains adjustable airmatic suspension which I find to be superior over the steel springs in respect to overall ride comfort (depending on road condition.) And if they both ride identical, then what's the point?

gaazmon

Lol, that's exactly what I said in one of my previous posts on one of the threads.

gaazmon

I think white is the best color on this car.

Agree. The airmatic is such an advanced system. I'm glad they kept it on the 550 sedan, but I know they couldn't put it on the E550 coupe since it shares the C platform. I mean think of it this way, you get pretty much the same style suspension system that a Bentley Continental GT gets (I know its not the same but similar with the adjustments and such). The ABC is the best though. Very advanced and I do notice a difference between the airmatic and ABC.

220S

+1
ABC is what I'd want on the E. It really does maintain body roll. My car should've really been a CL65

The W212 E550 and the E350 sedans should feel different from each other, that's what I didn't get from MichaelB's post unless he also has a coupe

MichaelB.

I am certain that the airmatic E550 can be regarded as "the finest" in terms of ride - as far as the new E class goes, but what I am trying to say is: As nice as the new airmatic E550 rides, the E350 rides extremely well too.

As I said I am here to tell you that it rides comparable with my S550 (which is on 19's). And that personally impresses me.

I can't say that I would require the airmatic in a E class if the basic sport set up is this good. And that is comming from someone who went ahead & bought one.

petee1997

I agree this new E350 is something else. I've driven this car almost 1500kms (930mi) over the past five weeks and I'm continuously more impressed. The ride and performance in C or S mode are superlative.. It is by far the most quiet car I have ever owned. When stopped in traffic you must look at your tach to confirm the engine is still running. Between the noise suppression and engine balancing there is no way of knowing if it is running. This sucker is restoring my confidence in the brand after owning an 03 E320, 03 CLK500, 04 SL500 all at the same time. Those three POS just about killed MB for me forever. If this keeps up I would expect my wife will trade her BMW 335i on the E coupe or convertible by next Spring.

K-A

Dude, I have to say I do feel sorry for you, those three model year M-B's were some of the biggest piles they made, you'll be much happier with the new steed.

Yeah, I found the suspension in the E350 to be great, it takes all the good points from mine, and refines the bad and okay points, just very smooth. I'd imagine the E550's should be just as smooth as an S without a problem, and it's not a big surprise to me that the E350 would be almost as well. One of the Mags commented that they were surprised at how the 350's suspension felt like an air-ride.

BTW, I don't think the 212 is gonna have the same legacy as the E60 really, for better worse (better I think), the E60 had a TON of controversy, very love it or hate it, the 212 comes after the "Bangle era" where we're used to seeing cars go after "shock value" vibe, and it's still a more careful and conservative design than the E60 was, so won't be nearly as polarizing and isn't/won't spark as much controversy.

To note, I never "warmed up to" the E60, I still think it's ugly from too many angles, I usually don't change my opinions on design much. I'd way rather have a 212 over it.

MBNUT1

Really? That is even better news. Because even though I have never driven a w221 S Class I can guarantee that my W211 doesn't drive like one.

MBNUT1

What does C or S mode do for the ride? Isn't that a transmission setting button?

MichaelB.

Absolutly. Your w211 is a nice enough car without a doubt (I have driven literally hundreds of them and like them) but this new E has taken it up several notches to the point of surprise. Do try one.

As far as my own daily ride. My S-class is indeed luxurious to drive but Mercedes has done everything in their power to make the new E the most highly developed car they can produce. Comparing the two cars is actually fair now as the E is approaching the refinement of the S. I was amazed when I first drove my 221 S that MB got the chassis to feel like it was half of its weight. The car effortlessly turns and accelerates & brakes without any concern. It it truly pleasurable to command. But the sweet thing is that MB has done nearly the same with the 2010 E. Most certainly the V6 is only a fine engine choice but the steering, ride, handling, effort, braking and general use feels much the same caliber as its larger and much more expensive sibling. Its delightful (which would make the 550 E positively delightful).

My wife thinks my S-class is much to large to zip in & out of shopping mall parking spots easily but she wanted the same appointments in a car for her that I get to enjoy in my S-class. She now has every bit my S-class has AND MORE!. Great machine.

Just tonight we downloaded her music choices into the on-board E-class hard drive. The whole time I am thinking "jeezzz, this is an E-class?"

Bravo Mercedes.

petee1997

The E350 Sed in Canada has direct control suspension and selective damping. In sport mode it firms up the suspension and changes the transmission settings. It changes the whole dynamics of the car. This is not available on the E350 coupe.

I don't know if the US model has this suspension. Canadian cars have higher base price but standard equipment includes 4Matic,pano roof,folding side mirrors, parktronic with park assist, Sat Radio, Zenon lights with auto dimming, folding rear seat, LED running lights, dir control susp.