ngerstman

I actually much prefer the look of my 2011 over he refresh. The technology in the refresh is not much different than that in 2011, minor stuff, same mediocre stereo, nav, etc. The price tradeoff is compelling but already owning the e550, looking for something different I guess, although the 2014 with beast engine is tempting. The NA 5.5 liter engine in the 2011 is great, no complaints, keeping that car as well, it would be tough to let it go. Regards. Ned.

threeMBs

Well the front of the facelift W212 is not much different from the front of W213 (unlike pre-facelift W212) and like you prefer pre-facelift look, I like facelift look over W213 from all the angles (IMHO "new" MB shape works great on a large S class body as well as on smaller C class sport body, but not as much on W213).

More importantly, there were many (some not advertised) changes made to 2014 E550 (not only more powerful with lower RPM response engine) that made it drive much better than pre-facelift cars:
a. (almost) no throttle delay vs. significant one for 2010-13,
b. more precise steering (nowhere close to W213's great steering, but still),
c. better controls for multicontour driver's seat with much more precise
adjustments through the menu (instead of very limited seat's controls),
d. 360 view cameras (absolutely love it),
e. huge, fade and warp free (unlike previous E550s) brakes.

ngerstman

Those are all good reasons to possibly consider the 212, but the gorgeous interior, much better stereo and technology lean me toward the e43 despite the fact there are shortcomings from my perspective and aspects I don't want. Had they improved the stereo in the refresh of the 212 I might have considered one but just not different enough from my e550, kind of silly to have two such similar cars, variety is the spice of life. Regards. Ned.

c4004matic

Exageration would be a kind adjective. When driven in comfort or sport the transmission is exactly as the E300 shifting is mostly imperceptible. On sport plus shifts are more abrupt and definitely noticeable, but far from "clunky". Its to be expected when you are forcing the transmission to shift in 3/4 of the time it normally would. The transmission is the same in both cars the difference is only in programming and only in sport and sport plus. You have to consider that that you are using the same tranny in a car with 40percent more torque and rushing it to boot! The transmission is built to take it but some refinement compromiseses are inevitable. The E 63 will use a completely different transmission since the E43 pretty much maxes out the regular 9g tronic.
BTW I really loved the new transmission in both cars it is definte boon for the smaller engine and povides it the flexibility to punch much above what its supposed 241 hp should. I also think that Mercedes is underrating the engine on the E since the E300 feels noticeably faster than the C300. It could all be transmission but I doubt it.

RJC

The non amg 9G easily handles the 450+ hp/516+ lb ft of trq in the S class, so the E43 really wouldn't be maxing out anything. Actually RennTech dyno'd a bone stock 4.7 and it was putting out a whopping 474hp and 566 lb ft trq.

c4004matic

Ithought the E class was the first with this particular trans.

RJC

It's been available in the US on the GLE450 coupe for almost a year now.

c4004matic

You are correct, its also available in the S class. To my surprise its been around elsewhere since 2013. There is a thorough technical paper on the web from when it was introduced. I was misguided by the E class promotional literature, its new, for the E class sedan. Thanks