The W212 E-Class is one of the best Mercedes-Benz Cars Ever?
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2015 E250 Bluetec
I watched that video a long time ago. I was rather disappointed that it mostly just listed a lot of the available features of the car and didn’t develop a thesis about the significance of the W212 in comparison to other Mercedes models.
Personally I appreciate the very solid feel of the W212, the doors close with a much more solid and impressive sound than the W213 other current lightweightened MBs and I think the facelift styling is especially timeless. The wide range of engines available in the US market, from diesel to two V6s and a hybrid, to the non-AMG twin-turbo V8, also differentiate it from the current generation. I didn’t shop W213 at all because I knew I wanted a diesel, and the E250 BT will probably be the last and best diesel MB sedan ever sold in the US.
The W212 has established a good track record of mechanical and electronic reliability over time as evidenced by many forum members’ experiences and reports of fleet cars in Europe with amazing mileages.
Historically the W212 marked an important turning point for MB after the quality and reliability issues of the W211. And the extensive mid-cycle update, the most costly and extensive so far in MB’s history, began the company’s current pattern of more significant aesthetic and technological mid-cycle refreshes. And to the chagrin of many it marked the end of the quad headlamps and arguably served as the last E-Class with a distinct aesthetic apart from the C and S classes.
Personally I appreciate the very solid feel of the W212, the doors close with a much more solid and impressive sound than the W213 other current lightweightened MBs and I think the facelift styling is especially timeless. The wide range of engines available in the US market, from diesel to two V6s and a hybrid, to the non-AMG twin-turbo V8, also differentiate it from the current generation. I didn’t shop W213 at all because I knew I wanted a diesel, and the E250 BT will probably be the last and best diesel MB sedan ever sold in the US.
The W212 has established a good track record of mechanical and electronic reliability over time as evidenced by many forum members’ experiences and reports of fleet cars in Europe with amazing mileages.
Historically the W212 marked an important turning point for MB after the quality and reliability issues of the W211. And the extensive mid-cycle update, the most costly and extensive so far in MB’s history, began the company’s current pattern of more significant aesthetic and technological mid-cycle refreshes. And to the chagrin of many it marked the end of the quad headlamps and arguably served as the last E-Class with a distinct aesthetic apart from the C and S classes.
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2015 E250 Bluetec
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Just seeing if you are watching the video in detail to catch the small gaffs.
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I'm currently driving a pretty highly optioned 2020 C300 AMG sport as a loaner while my 2016 W212 is in for warranty work. I gotta say, Mercedes has done a great job with the facelift W205. The all digital cockpit looks great in the C-class (but is hideous in the rest of the lineup IMO). The C and GLC are currently the only Benz cars that have interiors I can tolerate - I absolutely hate the wide screen, flat-all-the-way-across dash.
Looks like my W212 will eventually be replaced with a last year model W205, and after that.. no more Mercedes if the new W223 S-class is the direction they're going on interior design.
Looks like my W212 will eventually be replaced with a last year model W205, and after that.. no more Mercedes if the new W223 S-class is the direction they're going on interior design.
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2015 E250 Bluetec
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2020 GLS450 (wife) / 2024 Ford Bronco (mine) / 2014 VW Tiquan (son)
We replaced our family SUV this week (2013 Toyota Highlander Limited) with a new GLS 450 with lots of bells and whistles on it. This was a birthday present for my wife, as it is the only 3 row SUV that she really liked out there. I also still have my 2014 W212. We are now a 100% german car family (3rd is still my 2015 GTI).
The GLS is the latest from MB. Has the wide dual digital cockpit dash, all tech all over the place. 325 21' in rear tires, 275 21's on the front. Lunar blue with beige MBTex interior (I actually prefer the MBtex over leather for durability, and can't tell that much of a difference between the two to justify the cost and upkeep). By nearly all accounts, this is indeed their flagship SUV offering. And it is spectacular.
But..... Even with all of its creature comforts, EQ Boost engine and turbo straight 6, 0-60 just shy of 6 seconds, air suspension, etc... It still doesn't compare to the W212 in that classic Mercedes Benz bank vault feeling. The sheet metal on the 212 is like the old school 80's big boy benz cruisers - thick with obvious heft. The GLS cruises very well, but again, not like the 212 which just squats down and scoots right along. Nearly $90,000 for the GLS, but the 6 year old 212 sitting next to it, feels a lot more Mercedes Benz to me. Not knocking the GLS, it too is undoubtably a Mercedes Benz, but it's new school vs old school. And old school, is just soooooooo perfect. They really did nail it with the 212. You can tell they threw everything they could at it to bring back the loyalists that Chrysler chased away. I think they did, and picked up a few more along the way (like me).
The GLS is the latest from MB. Has the wide dual digital cockpit dash, all tech all over the place. 325 21' in rear tires, 275 21's on the front. Lunar blue with beige MBTex interior (I actually prefer the MBtex over leather for durability, and can't tell that much of a difference between the two to justify the cost and upkeep). By nearly all accounts, this is indeed their flagship SUV offering. And it is spectacular.
But..... Even with all of its creature comforts, EQ Boost engine and turbo straight 6, 0-60 just shy of 6 seconds, air suspension, etc... It still doesn't compare to the W212 in that classic Mercedes Benz bank vault feeling. The sheet metal on the 212 is like the old school 80's big boy benz cruisers - thick with obvious heft. The GLS cruises very well, but again, not like the 212 which just squats down and scoots right along. Nearly $90,000 for the GLS, but the 6 year old 212 sitting next to it, feels a lot more Mercedes Benz to me. Not knocking the GLS, it too is undoubtably a Mercedes Benz, but it's new school vs old school. And old school, is just soooooooo perfect. They really did nail it with the 212. You can tell they threw everything they could at it to bring back the loyalists that Chrysler chased away. I think they did, and picked up a few more along the way (like me).
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2015 E250 Bluetec
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There were lots of changes from year to year. The 2012 had the direct injection engine. I'm not sure the 2010-2011 could be considered that great. Ripped seat and faded wood was very common in those years, you still had it in later years but it seemed like it wasn't as much. Plus the M272 had the intake manifold issue that I don't think the M276 will have although it's a bit more involved to change the plugs on an M276 vs M272. But you do get 302hp on 2012+ vs 268hp on the M272. The of course there was the facelift in 2014 and a very rare and popular model would be the 2014 E550, one year only in the US. But maybe the best year would be the 2016, you had Apple Carplay/Android auto although now I suppose you can retrofit it to older models. I'm not going to bother with mine though. As usual, the last year of production is usually the best, all the bugs get worked out in time to discontinue it.
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From: Abbotsford, BC, Canada
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There were lots of changes from year to year. The 2012 had the direct injection engine. I'm not sure the 2010-2011 could be considered that great. Ripped seat and faded wood was very common in those years, you still had it in later years but it seemed like it wasn't as much. Plus the M272 had the intake manifold issue that I don't think the M276 will have although it's a bit more involved to change the plugs on an M276 vs M272. But you do get 302hp on 2012+ vs 268hp on the M272. The of course there was the facelift in 2014 and a very rare and popular model would be the 2014 E550, one year only in the US. But maybe the best year would be the 2016, you had Apple Carplay/Android auto although now I suppose you can retrofit it to older models. I'm not going to bother with mine though. As usual, the last year of production is usually the best, all the bugs get worked out in time to discontinue it.
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Yeah, I owned a last year (2009) W211 and we can agree that the final year of the E is the one to get. They tend to have the next generation electronics (hence you can activate AA/CP on the 2016) while maintaining the classic styling that at that point is super familiar. And by that point, as you say, the issues are ironed out. The only thing I wish my 2016 E had that the 2010-2013 models do are separate, amber turn signals. Other than that, having driven many examples over the years, I would not have considered an E-class prior to 2014.
Last edited by MBNUT1; Aug 16, 2020 at 12:03 PM.
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2015 E250 Bluetec
If the cars are equipped with the Driver Assistance Package the post-facelift models are much more advanced with hands-free Stop and Go Pilot and limited self-steering capability.
I’m not sure if 360 degree cameras were available pre-facelift.
I don’t know as much about the gasoline engines, but the OM651 biturbo 2.1 liter inline-4 Diesel engine in the E250 BT facelift is slightly less powerful than its predecessor turbo 3.0 liter V6 Diesel engine in the E350 Bluetec. But it is much more efficient and considerably more reliable, perhaps excepting the AdBlue heater.
Facelift models are equipped with the electronic, fluid-free and maintenance-free Direct Steer power steering system. It varies effort and steering ratio based on the car’s speed and steering angle to provide fast, light steering for low speed maneuvering and firm, non-twitchy handling at high speed. I personally love the steering on my 2015 and was a big factor I decided to go with the E-Class.
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My W211 had the 268hp M272 that the 2010 W212 has. The M276 is a huge upgrade. The 7G+ is an upgrade. The facelift headlights are an upgrade in terms of function (styling is subjective).
I never said the pre-facelift drove poorly or was unreliable. I said it was not for me. The cars undoubtedly got kinks worked out as the chassis matured, as is always the case with Benz.
Interestingly, I have owned a facelift W203, facelift W211, facelift W212, and facelift W204 and liked them all. I didn't like the pre-facelift versions of any of those, although I did (for a short time) own a 2011 C300 (and hated it). I also hate the pre-facelift W205 but really like the facelift ones. Must just be me.
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2016 S550
I used to have a S420 w140 big body Benz from the 90s and those felt like a bank vault. The doors were easily twice as heavy as the w212 and in fact, most passengers had a hard time shutting it (I would just tell them they don’t need to slam it since the doors have pneumatic self closing assist, a feature I truly miss). The w212 doesn’t give me the feeling of the bank vault.. although it does a lot better than the competition. The w140 had an inch thick foam lining under the carpets and rear seats, as well as the side paneling and I wonder if that added to that bank vault like feeling. Might explore adding some type of thick foam mat to the w212 😂
