I am back in the market for Benz that said I am having a bit of difficulty understanding the difference between lux and sport / read some posts here and also used edmunds to configure an '11 (they are now listing 11 & 12 for builds so package info is still there etc..) that said let me know if I am missing anything:

Sport is going to have a three Horizontal bar grill
A slightly lower (10mm) suspension / yes or no?
Dark headliner
Different body side moldings and front bumper / yes or no?
Option to go with 5 spoke AMG wheel as a option vs a separate wheel add

Anything else major I am missing? Hard to always tell online what options a car has despite the detail - so I am looking to hone in on one or two visual items that'll be a quick dead give away as to whether it is a sport or not (thinking grill and headliner)

Thanks in advance

 

Not sure exactly what you are asking. You are very unlikely to find a luxury wagon on a lot -- dealers here all said special order only, and when ours came there were several employees at one of the busier dealers in the area who said they had never even seen one. I can't imagine a dealer ordering one to sell off the lot.

A luxury also has the dash lighter if the seating is light -- ours has ash seats and a grey -- not black -- dash. And if the car has driver assistant package, it will have a 3-bar grille. Finally, some if not all 2012 luxuries have 8-spoke wheels.

 

Interesting didn't realize the luxury will have a 3 bar grille if there is distronic but makes sense.

THe luxury will also have 17" wheels vs. 18" wheels correct?

 

I believe so, but my wife has it right now...

Best way to have a look is build your own on the MB site. Also, there was a wagon thread not long ago where I posted a couple of photos -- worth a read through.

Are you looking to find a used one, find one on a lot or special order to get what you want?

 

The luxury will have a more compliant ride. I know this first hand. If you wish the wagon to be biased towards a comfy ride, the Luxury is the way to go.

 

Luxury line is "Elegance" in Europe: tone on tone color scheme, thus it will have a light headliner (either grey or beige) and a two-tone dashboard if the interior is not black. Front/rear bumpers have chrome molding inserts. Grille has 4 bars (unless the car has DISTRONIC, then it gets the sport grille).

Sport line is "Avantgarde" in Europe: black headliner (regardless of seat color). Optional AMG 18" wheels. No chrome molding insert on front/rear bumpers. Grille has 3 bars.

 

On 2012 E Wagons, can one get the Sport exterior but the Comfort Suspension so the ride is not so stiff?
Thanks

 

Not sure. It would definitely be a special order though.

 

To clear this all up:

YYZ-E55 was close to the accurate info but a few corrections/clarifications/additions. Most of the below info is for a 2012 but the 2011 wagon was pretty much the same other than the new for 2012 engine, transmission, power steering setup, new front LED design, color IP display, LED license plate lights, media interface moved to center console, and SD card slot.

-I've attached the 2012 order guide

-Both the sport and luxury wagon come with 17-inch wheels as standard but different styles. All-season tires on both. Sport has split 5-spoke wheels and luxury as 8-spoke wheel.

-18-inch wheels with all-season tires are optional as part of the wheel package (includes 3-spoke steering wheel and 18-inch wheels. Steering wheel defaults back to standard 4-spoke steering wheel if you spec heated steering wheel option). I can't recall if you can get the wheel package option on the luxury wagon but I know you can on the sport.

-Mercedes calls both suspensions "comfort" but the sport wagon has a slightly stiffer and lower suspension (same as Avantgarde cars in Europe) compared to the luxury wagon.

-Mercedes offers 4 suspension choices for the E wagon in Europe. We are not offered the stiffest sport suspension or full air suspension in the USA.

-Both sport and luxury come with rear air suspension (self-leveling) as standard

-You can order the dark wood (Black Ash) with the sport wagon

-Sport includes the body styling, aluminum trim around the instrument cluster as well as perforated front brake rotors and calipers with Mercedes logo. It also has the "tone on black interior concept" which I believe is a black headliner and possible other black details.

-I've only ever seen a sport wagon in person (2011 or 2012) and I know the luxury wagon is rare.

 

one more thing not mentioned -- luxuries have oval exhausts