Quadcammer

I have been trying to defend the 220 to all the jokers with 126s and 140s who claim that the quality is unmatched, yet they can never quite explain why. Some of these individuals even claim the 220 is not even worthy of the tri-star.

So, I say, instead of airmatic and rim threads, I say we have a thread explaining just why we love our 220s so much.

Let me begin.

That wonderful smooth styling that still looks up to date. sleek, classy, but yet still distinctly mercedes
The powerful, yet quiet and butter smooth engine and transmission
The high quality interior appointments, beautiful wood trim, and soft leather
I believe the most comfortable seats ever installed in a car
The adjustable, smooth, and comfortable air suspension. Although it can be problematic, you simply can't compare it to springs
The options. Distronic, parktronic, keyless go, reclining rear seats, etc. Its literally amazing what a 220 can do. It can cruise at 130mph, with nary any road/engine/wind noise, while using voice commands to control the navigation, change the CD, or using the cluster to check tire pressures for each tire.
Finally, I think the stock Bose sound system is phenomenal.

Despite all the ignorant statements about build quality and airmatic junk, the car has been 100% reliable, beautiful, and completely enjoyable to drive.

Long live the 220.

QuadBenz

I think you've pretty much said it all...
One thing I like is that even though the W221 is out and has been out, when my 220 and 221 are next to eachother, the 220 doesn't even look outdated. It looks like another current model.

Quadcammer

well damn, its gonna be a short thread then. LOL.

I agree. The 221 has some nice features, but I think it lost a bit of style, especially in the interior.

m4xm1l10n

I think he answered it all

Quadcammer

dammit guys, humor me here.

benz_addict

I love the sun sensor when it's too hot outside it automatically blows cool air on my face from the center vents, and the solar/heat resistant glass!
Also can't forget the auto close doors and the auto fold in mirrors when locking.

kadafone

I agree with you 100%. I have a 2000 S430 and yesterday I was riding down Old City in Philly, I had a W221 behind me and the people outside the club where looking at my W220 more than the W221. I also pulled up to a club ready to park in a parking lot then the bouncer stopped me and said "NO!!" I have a stop for you in the front by the entrance.......damn that felt good. Between the 7 Series and S-Class best cars ever made.

QuadBenz

Yeah, but you can get auto folding mirrors and sun sensor in a lot of other cars that aren't as "high up" as the S-Class.

benz_addict

Also love the park-tronic, how the headrest moves down automatically if no one is sitting in the passenger seat and the "floaty" air ride!

QuadBenz are both of your S-Classes stock? If so which one do you find more "comfortable" on the road?

Oxygen

First and foremost you have to bow down the presence that the W220 projects where ever it arrives. It can be in a parking lot, at a car show, in front of a café, driving down the highway or parked in your garage and where ever it goes it’s got style and it’s just so Mercedes-Benz of a car.

I remember the first time I saw a black W220 cruise by there was something about the lines of the car that felt very quality and just right. I was dating someone at the time and a family member drove an S500 and every time I would be in the car I always tried to find something wrong or something misfit, or something not comfortable or something bothersome and I could never find anything.. the whole car was just perfect. The way it drove, the way it smelled and the way it looked.

I continue to find it amazing that no matter who gets into my car for the first time they are always in awe of everything about it.

I think the styling of the car is also very modern. I always thought it would happen, but no matter how hard I look at the W220 it never looks old or outdated to me compared to the W221, inside and out. Sure, the COMAND in the W220 could use an upgrade, but that can slide.

Some of my favorite features include..

Soft-close doors
Instrument Cluster (very elegant, very simple but also fits the style of the car 100%)
Active Body Control Sport
Dashboard layout – everything is perfectly within reach and exactly where it should be

Also the car has never, ever felt bulky or big or heavy to me, which I think is amazing for a car that weighs close to 5000lbs!

Lastly I love the complexity of the car. It has as many modules and sensors and acquisition modules as the space shuttle but it's all engineered so well.

Adrianx

Well, I have driven LOTS of cars from German, Korean, Japanese, and even chinese. Comparison to based on what I drove to W220 MB is,
1. No rapid style change - I do believev interval for the style change in MB is 7years. Look at Japanese vehicle style change. You can even recognize if it is a same car from year to year.

2. Proportion of the W220 is almost perfect. Look at how the body is proportioned. The car is so welll proportioned, it almost looks like it is still moving and flows even standing still.

3. Technology - lots of MB owners complain about some of the technology being absolete, especially NAV. Well, compare any vehicle year 2000-2003 with GPS to W220 NAV. It was ahead of anyone's technology and it still is.

4. Comfort - Roominess, support, and safety is all combined yet not sacrifising the comfort. Look at the dash design, seats, even floor courtesy lighting!

5. Performance - This is not a rocket ship, but it is a cruiser, most CAPABLE cruiser. Power is reserved when needed and power is supplied very well through smooth V8's and transmission.

6. Material quality - Compare the material used on W220 to any other MB line or even competitor's, simple as comparing the Designo collection leather seating material. Never seen any leather holding up this good.

7. Finally, look at the owners of W220. Everyone pitches in to help out other members and owners and more mature in age level compare to other MB lines. Not saying all W220 owners are old farts, but more experience with other vehicles before arriving to W220.


5.

Skylaw

You guys are right on the money. You have pretty much summed up the way I feel about mine - and I simply love a 4matic's command of the road.

And Oxygen, I agree with you about the black W220. My car is silver (more practical in the Florida sun) - but nothing beats the looks of a black W220. When I see my neighbor's around the corner, I think back to my '00. Gorgeous cars.

AH1W-COBRA

i drive MB for safety/elegance/performance and reliability.started with a C240 then E320 and now the S500 sport.im a aviation mech/tech and appreciate design engineering that is spot on.the S500 is so perfect in so many ways that im finding it hard to upgrade to the W221.i just cant get onboard with the new body styling yet.i also love the peace of mind that i get from knowing that i have put my wife and new baby in one of the safest automobiles that money can buy.24 mpg with cruise control set at 80mph with ac set at 72 surrounded by bose and whispering through the absolute kaos of the I-15 headed to san diego.it feels so much like an aircraft flight simulator that i have to remember im driving a car.

vmystikilv

Guess I Will throw my two cents into this. My father had a new s55 back in 02. What made me just blatantly stare at the car was one day it started it up in the garage and I saw the headlights move up and down. I was like WTF. Then, one day I let him use my e38 7 and I got to drive the thing and OMG what a remarkable car it was. Not because of the speed and power but just so much comfort and convenience. The 2nd biggest wow was my girlfriend at the time was psst I didnt get tickets to a play that night(sold out). I was in the car again and I pushed the little button, they charge my credit card and my tickets were waiting on us when we got there, no wait in line. I mean this car raises you self status and esteem by leaps and bounds when you own and drive one. And just like someone said earlier in this thread, even today, this car still gets a very high amount of respect. The w126 and w140 were great cars, and they still are, but, there is no one thats going to have one parked in front of a place (unless its a w140 coupe that is pristine) and the comfort level in a w220 is phenomenal. I can think of no other car except the w221 that has such a elegant look combined with a power stance on its 4 wheels. I also glad someone else agrees with me about the interior of the w221. Dont get me wrong, I love the car but even with all the interior gadgets, it, just doesnt look good to me or at least I believe the w220 "looks" better( on the inside only, outside looks great). I need the tech from the inside of a w221 installed in a w220 and that would be great. Listing the things I like most about the car though would be

1. Not so much the air ride but the suspension adjustment is awesome.

2. I like the navigation. I just moved to Atlanta and was using my TOMTOM920 which i agree is superior but for a 10 year old designed navigation I think its great. I mean, it finds my my closest resturants and always gets me home, what else more do I need. Not to mention the its easy to reroute with traffic with it. OH, most navs i have seen totally mute the cars radio when talking, the mercedes lowers, not mutes, and speaks in a perfect blend together so there is no interruption. not even my TOMTOM when playing mp3's will do that. I like it. It goes great with my Fun-shway or however you pronounce and say it.

3. Guess this wouldnt count because Its added but a S class on 19"amg wheels is the one of baddest things to see on the road from a 4 door sedan market. I saw one other person in atlanta with a car like mine with the wheels and you swear I had never owned the car in my life and always wanted one as a little kid the way i looked at it.

4. its not that the seats move, its that I can slide the bottom piece by itself without moving the whole seat. The seats are just so comfy. Especially coming from a VP jaguar, whose seats were god awful on long trips, the s class is remarkable.

5. did i mention the auto level lights and fold in mirrors.

6. auto lights, auto wipers, auto start(i just tap the key turn not hold it) auto windows, auto sunroof, auto climate (that works),

7. The rear air vents in the pillars, amazed how many point that out when they sent in the back

8. interior lighting is like a expensive resturant at night

9. doesnt count because all mercedes have it but 24hr roadside assistants. Apparently mercedes thinks its a mercedes for those that feel there shouldnt be a tri star on the hood. Not to mention I would be D@/\/\ed if someone told me that and the blue book was half the price of my car. They better had bought it new.

10. Woman off the street could care much less if its a w220 or w221. The see it and still flock to it like birds to bread crumbs
(just dont see woman running to the w126 or w140's anymore) Except the w140 coupe. thats still for some reason a visiually stunning car.

Quadcammer

keep it coming guys, good stuff.

Also, I really think the quality issues are massively overblown.

With some proactive attention, airmatic is no big thing, and aside from a bad maf/CPS here and there, they are pretty reliable if you ask me.

Il fenomeno

I don't have any, but It's best luxury car, that look is awesome so elegant and pretty, and interior is the best.

I dream about S65AMG (or S600 could pass), once I drove S500 with full equipment and it was fantastic, so smooth and so comfortable , ah you are so lucky to have that car

m4xm1l10n

I love it so much that once in a while when i pull on my driveway i stop and think for a minute And here i got for another blast again . My friend tells me that i love my SL , but I'm in love with my S I love everything about the car , specially with my resonator deleted i stuck my head out the window sometimes and listen to that smooth growl during take off

W220S430

I love my 430 soo much!! I feel that it is the most beautiful Luxury sedan and S-class ever built!.. It's sporty look and it's ferocious engine (279hp), I know its not that much but its like my car is like herbie, she just keeps on going whenever I need her to bring on the power. I still envy those who have the 600,55, 65, and even the 500 but I will never sell out my 430. I will only buy other S-classes, not to replace my 430 but to appreciate all of her counterparts. I love my 430 and I don't care about what other people say about the W220. And I feel right at home with other W220 owners such as myself and I greatly respect all of you for your excellent choice in automobiles.Sorry I dont have any pictures but soon the will come.

fusion2007

lol your w220 is a 2005.. bearly 4 years old. i have had my w220 since 2001 and i can tell you iv had my share of break downs. but over all car is definitly reliable. untill the battery dies and u cant get in the car...lol

but thanks for defending!!!way to go

m4xm1l10n

Well unfortunately the 01 had it's issue .

westcoast5

its just a timeless piece, I love the compliments I get from other people on how clean my car looks.

QuadBenz

Do you have a custom exhaust?

D2FORGED

For me it would have to be the styling. I lusted for one so badly back in 2000, and then with the 03 refresh and AMG kit, it was simply perfection.

As others have said, the styling is weathering the storm of age quite well!

W220S430

To be honest I have had two previous 430's one a horizon blue 2000(my first) and another a desert silver 2002 but the best one is my current 2005 model... I would kill for an amy exhaust system and the amy body kit but I still love the general styling of the car and I will keep this one until it won't run anymore because I obsessed with the W220!!!

m4xm1l10n

I didn't do it it came like that , and by looking under it looks complete stock , the tips are AMG . here is pic