E/W214: 2026 E Class
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From: Venice Florida
2018 S560
Probably not. The 214s just came out in 2024 model year. Probably be at least another 4 years or so before the next gen. Expect more of the same for 2026 my with minor upgrades.
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Lexus
I don't know about this version ?
Maybe not real ?
Mercedes returns to old fashion interior ?
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
That's AI generated BS. Unfortunately it's getting very common, but it's totally fake. I don't know what changes the 2026 model will have, but I would bet anything it's not what that video depicted. I would expect it to be the same as the 2025 with maybe an option for rear climate or an additional color.
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Lexus
That's AI generated BS. Unfortunately it's getting very common, but it's totally fake. I don't know what changes the 2026 model will have, but I would bet anything it's not what that video depicted. I would expect it to be the same as the 2025 with maybe an option for rear climate or an additional color.
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That's AI generated BS. Unfortunately it's getting very common, but it's totally fake. I don't know what changes the 2026 model will have, but I would bet anything it's not what that video depicted. I would expect it to be the same as the 2025 with maybe an option for rear climate or an additional color.
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Infiniti G35
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X214
I personally have not heard a peep about any “decontenting” within the products sold to the customers, and I would be shocked if MB decides to go this route. Just ripping out components and selling the car at the current prices, is a recipe for long term disaster.
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From: Boston
AMG
Do you have a source you can point to, that states the above ?
I personally have not heard a peep about any “decontenting” within the products sold to the customers, and I would be shocked if MB decides to go this route. Just ripping out components and selling the car at the current prices, is a recipe for long term disaster.
I personally have not heard a peep about any “decontenting” within the products sold to the customers, and I would be shocked if MB decides to go this route. Just ripping out components and selling the car at the current prices, is a recipe for long term disaster.
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
it came up on my terminal in German, so I don't have a link. But this is one of the things being mentioned, has not been decided though. Common practice though. They put more plastic, or get rid of some options like certain leather or stereo, or some other convenient feature. Another way is to slow down implementation of updates and improvements. That way they won't need to raise prices by so much or face huge losses.
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Infiniti G35
My strategy is to wait and see what they do when I walk in to take delivery. If it's not outrageous I might ask for a lot of concessions to be thrown in or I walk.
Thing is, if I pass, the e450 might go away entirely or become an inferior model. So I am weighing the pros and cons of taking a hit now because it's not likely to improve in the next 4 years and may never recover.
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2019 E 450, 2016 E350 4matic (retired), 2018 Ford Edge Sport, 2008 Porsche Boxster
Makes sense to me.
My strategy is to wait and see what they do when I walk in to take delivery. If it's not outrageous I might ask for a lot of concessions to be thrown in or I walk.
Thing is, if I pass, the e450 might go away entirely or become an inferior model. So I am weighing the pros and cons of taking a hit now because it's not likely to improve in the next 4 years and may never recover.
My strategy is to wait and see what they do when I walk in to take delivery. If it's not outrageous I might ask for a lot of concessions to be thrown in or I walk.
Thing is, if I pass, the e450 might go away entirely or become an inferior model. So I am weighing the pros and cons of taking a hit now because it's not likely to improve in the next 4 years and may never recover.
Very few material things in life cannot be replaced - often with a different item at a better price.
Sales of the E class in the US have dropped from over 40,000 cars in 2019 to less than 18,000 in 2024. The E Class is not a "hot" car and within the E Class the 350 outsells the E450 at least 5 to 1 - mainly because of price. The dealer should be willing to work with you in a substantial way. You are a sale: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Keep in mind what happened during Covid: people desperate for cars were willing to pay over MSRP. If you are not desperate better to wait.
Last edited by JTK44; Apr 3, 2025 at 01:37 PM.
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Infiniti G35
Just my $.02:
Very few material things in life cannot be replaced - often with a different item at a better price.
Sales of the E class in the US have dropped from over 40,000 cars in 2019 to less than 18,000 in 2024. The E Class is not a "hot" car and within the E Class the 350 outsells the E450 at least 5 to 1 - mainly because of price. The dealer should be willing to work with you in a substantial way. You are a sale: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Keep in mind what happened during Covid: people desperate for cars were willing to pay over MSRP. If you are not desperate better to wait.
Very few material things in life cannot be replaced - often with a different item at a better price.
Sales of the E class in the US have dropped from over 40,000 cars in 2019 to less than 18,000 in 2024. The E Class is not a "hot" car and within the E Class the 350 outsells the E450 at least 5 to 1 - mainly because of price. The dealer should be willing to work with you in a substantial way. You are a sale: a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Keep in mind what happened during Covid: people desperate for cars were willing to pay over MSRP. If you are not desperate better to wait.
If they asked me for $5k more I might bite but ask them to include the extended warranty and some free oil and filters over a set period of time. I would look at that as peace of mind I would have purchased down the road anyway. Anything more than that I will not consider.
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X214
it came up on my terminal in German, so I don't have a link. But this is one of the things being mentioned, has not been decided though. Common practice though. They put more plastic, or get rid of some options like certain leather or stereo, or some other convenient feature. Another way is to slow down implementation of updates and improvements. That way they won't need to raise prices by so much or face huge losses.
How about the suppliers who supply the components/products that make up those options…..and the long-term supply agreements that the manufacturer has with them ? Etc. A decontenting decision by a manufacturer has a cascading impact across the entire supply/value/production chain, especially when done mid-cycle. And no sane manufacturer would do that, especially until the dust settles down on this tariff kerfuffle.
Such posts are people speculating randomly, with no basis, if I were to guess. The kind of wisdom emanating from a headless chicken running around.
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X214
One thing I am 100% certain that Germany has done, is to reduce the German content of the vehicles that they assemble in Germany, over the past 3-4 years. My 2022 All-Terrain wagon had 85% components from Germany, and was final assembled in Sindelfingen.
In the 2025 models, that are assembled in Sindelfingen, the most I could find was around 35% content.
I saw a couple of S-classes where the German content went up to 40%. So they have been sourcing those components that make up the car, from non-German sources. I would guess the German parts supply got replaced from either China or India, since they make E-classes etc in those countries too, in addition to Germany. And the parts transition probably has been planned and executed over the past several years.
And the reasons are not far to seek. Ultra-high energy costs in Germany, via a combination of agenda-driven policy decisions, and the sabotage of the cheap energy source fthat Germany relied on, to remain industrialized. So what we are witnessing is the rapid de-industrialization of a European giant, who was literally surviving on shoe-strings. .
In the 2025 models, that are assembled in Sindelfingen, the most I could find was around 35% content.
I saw a couple of S-classes where the German content went up to 40%. So they have been sourcing those components that make up the car, from non-German sources. I would guess the German parts supply got replaced from either China or India, since they make E-classes etc in those countries too, in addition to Germany. And the parts transition probably has been planned and executed over the past several years.
And the reasons are not far to seek. Ultra-high energy costs in Germany, via a combination of agenda-driven policy decisions, and the sabotage of the cheap energy source fthat Germany relied on, to remain industrialized. So what we are witnessing is the rapid de-industrialization of a European giant, who was literally surviving on shoe-strings. .
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From: Boston
AMG
that's right, MB profits are down, they have been trying to cut costs even before tariffs so that leaves them with few options:
1) manufacture more cars here including parts
2) stop selling low margin cheaper models
3) decontent existing models
4) suffer profit loss
5) raise prices
6) sell elsewhere (beyond their control)
7) employ more automation in factories. (this is actually funny as current tariff policy is made to increase manufacturing jobs when in 5-10 years most of it would be done by robots)
Anything else?
1) manufacture more cars here including parts
2) stop selling low margin cheaper models
3) decontent existing models
4) suffer profit loss
5) raise prices
6) sell elsewhere (beyond their control)
7) employ more automation in factories. (this is actually funny as current tariff policy is made to increase manufacturing jobs when in 5-10 years most of it would be done by robots)
Anything else?
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,913
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From: Tennessee
W214 E450
that's right, MB profits are down, they have been trying to cut costs even before tariffs so that leaves them with few options:
1) manufacture more cars here including parts
2) stop selling low margin cheaper models
3) decontent existing models
4) suffer profit loss
5) raise prices
6) sell elsewhere (beyond their control)
7) employ more automation in factories. (this is actually funny as current tariff policy is made to increase manufacturing jobs when in 5-10 years most of it would be done by robots)
Anything else?
1) manufacture more cars here including parts
2) stop selling low margin cheaper models
3) decontent existing models
4) suffer profit loss
5) raise prices
6) sell elsewhere (beyond their control)
7) employ more automation in factories. (this is actually funny as current tariff policy is made to increase manufacturing jobs when in 5-10 years most of it would be done by robots)
Anything else?
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X214
The factories are already mostly operated by machines. The E-Class (along with other models) are made in Sindelfingen which is one of their most advanced factories. Very few people involved compared to the machines. Check out this video of the W214 being made.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiaCGwIIXPM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uiaCGwIIXPM
Of course the skillsets needed to do the setups etc are different from what's needed if humans were doing all of what the robots are doing now.
