jdhoang

I was getting ready to upgrade my old E320 to the latest E-class until I read about the refresh coming early next year. Doesn't sound like a major overhaul but sounds like enough changes to warrant waiting. Appreciate any comments/opinions!

YYZ-E55

No facelift until MY14. Unless you want the HYBRID, no real reason to wait.

BenzV12

You don't need to wait otherwise you will always have to wait because in 2016 or so newer model to be released by MB

Buy a 2012 and if you like you can transform it into 2013 .
For ex: I know some pre 2010 W221 S Class Owners upgraded their cars buying 2011 bumper covers , headlamps , taillights .

YYZ-E55

First, there are no real changes MY12 to MY13.

Second, the facelift on the W212 for MY14 is going to be significant. Trunklid, rear fenders, rear doors, hood, front fenders, front & rear bumpers, lights... it's not just plastic parts like the S facelift was.

BenzV12

I believe these can be done but surely would cost more than S Class upgrade. I saw a C Class interior upgrade and that was a major one because they changed almost everything in the center console .

eagle_lex

looks like you need to decide if you can wait 2 years. i found a USED 2012 and jumped on it last week. hard to argue with more than 10k off sticker for 5k miles.

WEBSRFR

If you can wait you should definitely wait! If you buy now when the facelift model comes out it is going to instantly add an extra dose of depreciation to your already rapidly depreciating car.

Also IMHO the best time to buy a car is in the middle of the model year when they do a refresh. By then they've ironed out and addressed most of the quirks of the model and they usually throw in some nice enhancements.

For example look how nicely MB implemented the mid model year refresh for the W221 and W211. The W212 mid model refresh will be even more significant by most accounts.

I really hope they do something to class up the interior!

alsyli

Really??? Do you know if the shape and/or materials will be different (i.e., no outward changes to the sheetmetal, aside from it possibly being rendered in aluminum)? Do you also know if the interior is also getting an overhaul?

K-A

The facelift will be for 2014 MY, so if you wait for a 2013, you're missing time with the car for probably negligible/non existent changes.

jdhoang

Many thanks for everyone's opinion/advice! I saw a few websites (URLs below) that indicated major facelift for the midcycle update for 2014 models that should arrive early 2013 (Jan to summer 2013). January is not that far off which is why I'm hesitant to place an order.

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1...e-class-report
http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2...ghts-axed.html
http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2012/3/2...fresh-7708036/

K-A

It will not be January 2013. Maybe in Europe it will, but not U.S. It will be here around July 2013 at the earliest, as a 2014 MY.

Edit: Read that the articles mentioned they might push it up. Seems hard to believe.

Wig

MY 2013 will be essentially unchanged from 2012.

There have been suggestions of a better COMAND for 2013. Can anyone confirm?

Kar don

Hopefully we will see a new transmission. The 7-gtronic is old and still shifts horribly for 2012.

K-A

The "9G" won't debut until the W222, if that. IMO the 7G on my W212's have shifted perfectly smooth. The early version on my 2006 W211 was very unrefined, however.

Kar don

Ha, I prefer the earlier 7g as all the gears were always useable. If you got one that didn't slam into 1st gear it was actually a great trans. Now it has just been modified to death (valve body, springs, software, etc) and it is time to go. ZF made a great solution (8 spd) that MB will never use.

jdhoang

K-A

That was the big thing. The first gear slam ruined the whole experience for me. My current 7G is really all that I need it to be, in that it's smooth and unnoticeable yet spurts and quick shifts when I need it to. To be honest, considering how much M-B had to tweak the 7G to eliminate all its nuances, who knows how the 9G will launch.

BenzV12

I read somwhere about new E Class facelift that new facelift model will be available with HUD system as well .
These are cool stuffs

newyorktoLA

If I were you, I would lease a MY12 vehicle for 2 years so that by the time your lease is up, you can also lease into a new 2014 E class or upgrade

Paxfobiscum

I have been around this threads for about 10 years or so. Every six months or so this same question and a different version comes out. Not surprisingly, the answers never change: If you want a car now, then buy it now! If you want next year's car, then buy it next year! If you want to wait two years, three years, etc... then wait and wait!

Heck you can wait forever to be sure you get the bestest, meanest, most updated car. But it will only be the bestest, meanest and most updated car for a shor time - because something will come out to replace it. Like all consumer products it will eventually be replaced. For those that like the latest and greatest models, they lease it. Maybe you should just consider that - its a good suggestion. If you do, you can have your car by the end of the day TODAY!



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El Cid

My understanding is that 2013 model with have two headlights instead of four for one thing. Will look more like the C and S classes in that respect. Personally I prefer the four headlights.
You might want to use the upcoming changes as a negotiating tactic. Tell salesman you plan to wait unless he discounts a lot.

petee1997

The changes on the 2014 will be minor like all mid life cycle facelifts have always been. Mostly it's all rumours and speculation. The real changes will be in the Fall of 2016 with the introduction of the 2017 model.

If you want a new car buy it now.

kevinC

When do you expect the 2013 to be available? I'd like to work a deal on a 2012.

K-A

What will happen with the 2014 MY will be interesting. If the rumors are correct, this will be the most extensive facelift of all time, exterior wise it'll be inline with what M-B did with the interior of the 2012 C and 2013 GLK (big makeover).

I see this as a two sides of the coin situation: If the renders are correct, the 2014 will be more homogenized to the rest of the lineup, and have a half/half mix of the original W212 angularity and cubism, and M-B's next organic/soft tones (making for an odd couple fighting on one design). The pluses are obviously you'll have the newest design, if that matters to you, and the obvious tech and other refinements.

However, if that IS indeed the case, then having an older W212 won't have an immediate visual feeling of having the lesser resolved/refined version of the same car (which is what dates cars), instead it'll have unique elements that will now be forgone after it stops being produced (like the 4 eyes, and vertical portion of the Ponton fenders, Hockey Stick LED's, a full-no apologies angular/cubic design, etc.), giving it its own appeal and letting age more gracefully.

Of course, this is all speculation until the real thing is revealed, but I'm basing this on the renders.

BM2BZ

july the soonest, i believe.