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Why not HIDs? How is your spread-and-throw? For the early-gen 212, LEDs will not perform as HIDs (it is poly-ellipsoidal).
HID's would be cost prohibitive to do, LED bulbs are plug and play. Spread and throw are almost EXACTLY the same as halogens, dont believe what you read, they are an excellent upgrade. Now that ive found this Sealight brand that doesnt cause CANBUS errors, the LED upgrade is a no brainer. I can't compare to the HID's because my car had halogens for low and hi beam, which were a joke. I have been driving around at night, waiting to see if any oncoming traffic flashes me, and not 1 person has. Picture below of the low beam light output (i still need to remove the passenger wheel well to install that bulb properly).
@ChrisHimself is 75w-90 gear oil ok for front and rear diff's (2013 E350 4matic sport)?
Sealight H7 low beam bulbs
Last edited by 2013W212; Jul 28, 2025 at 11:01 AM.
HID's would be cost prohibitive to do, LED bulbs are plug and play. Spread and throw are almost EXACTLY the same as halogens, dont believe what you read, they are an excellent upgrade. Now that ive found this Sealight brand that doesnt cause CANBUS errors, the LED upgrade is a no brainer. I can't compare to the HID's because my car had halogens for low and hi beam, which were a joke. I have been driving around at night, waiting to see if any oncoming traffic flashes me, and not 1 person has. Picture below of the low beam light output (i still need to remove the passenger wheel well to install that bulb properly).
@ChrisHimself is 75w-90 gear oil ok for front and rear diff's (2013 E350 4matic sport)?
Sealight H7 low beam bulbs
From experience, the HID @50W (due to conversion) will throw and spread far-superior light than any LED within a set of projectors. There are dead-spots around the LED bulbs. On the contrary, you've stated that the Main and Dip is done with the same bulb.
Hello Everyone! Recently got a steel grey 2013 E350 4Matic sport. It has 79k miles and drives great, and i already started doing some DIY on it. Coming from the porsche world so parts manufacturers, and the websites to order from were the same which was nice. I already did an oil change, replaced the cabin, and engine filters but the most pressing maintenance item currently is servicing the transmission because it shifts pretty rough when im heavy on the gas (pretty sure the rough shifts are only from 1st to 2nd and 2nd to 3rd). I read this is common with these 722.9+ transmissions and a fluid flush along with a adaptation reset usually resolves it, so i ordered a transmission service kit, and a Foxwell NT530+ for Mercedes.
I looked through the service history and i didnt find any transmission service records, so with it having 79k miles, and running on the original transmission fluid, im hoping this flush resolves the rough shifting. Other than that, everything else looks good, and it had the biodegradable brake lines replaced a year ago at 74k miles.
The only thing currently bothering me is that it has halogen low beam and high beam bulbs! Why, its an e-class?!?! Anyway, I have 2 sets of H7 LED bulbs on the way to replace both the high and low beam bulbs. Hopefully no CANBUS or flickering issues with the LED bulbs.
Infotainment isnt too bad, but would be nice if i could install a carplay kit in the factory radio. If anyone has any experience doing that, please let me know what you recommend.
Would love to hear from longtime W212 owners what their experience has been with them!
hi
Welcome to the 212 World!
I've had MB Estate Wagons for decades, starting with the '94 124S then the great 2001 210S & currently my 2011 212S.
In the 212 series, oil-filled bags replaced the 2 front rubber engine mounts of previous generations.
These bags can develop leaks, & will need replacing (before or around 100K miles) to prevent strong vibrations from entering the passenger compartment when the engine rests on the frame. The transmission mount is still rubber, & needs to be replaced, depending on use.
Replacing engine mounts is complex, expensive
& necessary, safety-wise.
The engine has to be removed (!) on the right side to get to the right mount bag because of the AWD
(4Matic) mechanics. Replacing all 3 mounts will cost north of $2000!
Another area of concern: the Direct Injection
System which was introduced on the 212 in 2012 & on all subsequent 212s.
i bought my 2011 S212 Wagon mainly because it was the last Port Injection E350.
Carbon buildup on the D.I. motors is common & costly to eliminate.
Also, the Panoramic Roof can be problematic,
with common leaking, loosening of rivets over time,some glass breakage & noise.
Please search these subjects in the 212 Forum,
& best wishes! Forewarned is Forearmed!
The wood trim fading has been a subject of much discussion here, so look that up & take advantage of replacement reimbursement, if you, like a good
majority, have faded wood because the 212 wood
supplier forgot to add UV protection to the solvent!
The other common failing is the sub-par MB Tex
vinyl seating surfaces, with the horizontal seam of the driver's bucket bottom seat commonly ripping & needing replacing.
good luck!
Jack / Jaxview
Last edited by Jack McCarty; Aug 1, 2025 at 09:38 PM.
Reason: Forgot item
thank you for that info! ive been driving the car a lot, and the power steering is getting a little better, the more i drive. I made an appointment at the dealer for the recall on the steering rack bolts. Will see if that helps with the steering.
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