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S-Class (W222) 2014-2020

W222 or W221

Old Oct 11, 2013 | 04:26 PM
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W222 or W221

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Last edited by MBZSW221; Jan 2, 2023 at 07:11 PM.
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 07:37 PM
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The W222 looks waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy better than the W221. In fact I think it's the most beautiful S class of all time.....!

Gonna be a legend.....
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 07:44 PM
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Originally Posted by Kratos-TM
The W222 looks waaaaaaaaayyyyyyy better than the W221. In fact I think it's the most beautiful S class of all time.....!

Gonna be a legend.....
In terms of the technology it wipes the W221. But to me the W221 looks alot like a Maybach. It is sleeker than the W222. I can not judge your opinion but I appreciate it.
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 09:40 PM
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I like W221 more than W222, especially exterior. W221 looks more sporty to me and I'm seriously thinking to buy S350 after my GL lease is over in one year.
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 09:45 PM
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Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder, LOL.

It's amazing how vast the difference is in our perceptions.
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Old Oct 11, 2013 | 10:32 PM
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I like both cars and owned a w221 but I think the w222 is improved on and is better looking.

However I am not sure what the ethnicity/nationality of the designer has anything to do with how it looks or how Mercedes is taking shortcuts.

Last edited by oswiff; Oct 11, 2013 at 10:50 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 02:08 AM
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Originally Posted by MBZSW221
When I first saw the new S-Class I honestly did not like the front. The car is designed by someone named Il-hun Yoon who is Korean. Mercedes I mean these days are taking shortcuts sometimes. When they merged with Chrysler the M-class had a plastic dash and horrid build quality. The W220 had problems but not as many as that ugly 7 Series. To me the last true Mercedes Benz was the W140. I see a chain here first a very good car (W140) then a not as good as the old one car (W220) and we start again. So what do you guys think is the W221 better then the W222 I say YES.
Not sure what you mean by "true" Mercedes. They all are. There is no Asian for Chrysler influence in any of the mentioned models. The W140 was the last "old-school" S-class with limited electronics. The w220 represented MB's new direction; new manufacturing techniques, cost reduction and lots of electronic assistance systems.

Thus started a 6-7 year period of electronic gremlins, quality issues and rust due to its new water-based paints (that only lasted for a year or two). After that the S-class has been on a continuous road of getting better and the W222 is a great example. It is better than the W221 in any way, technically and in overall design.
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 06:20 AM
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I didn't like pre fl W221 but still found a better styling than all other predecessors may be in exception of W140 .
However, FL W221s are one of my fave car designs , it worked like magic literally , just bumper cover ,angle of the grill ,headlamp design and mirrors
Not to mention ,I don't remember a car like in this class with almost same interior (only steering wheel change ) remained untouched during production years , even W140 got updated back in late 90's
As for the W222s ,I have yet to see the one in person but only car mags ,internet and I love it inside in/ out since day 1
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by oswiff
I like both cars and owned a w221 but I think the w222 is improved on and is better looking.

However I am not sure what the ethnicity/nationality of the designer has anything to do with how it looks or how Mercedes is taking shortcuts.

Agreed. I own the W220 and W221. I actually like the W220 better, looks more luxurious. The 221 is too sporty, with it's sloped front end, and I really don't like it's headlights. My 220 headlights still make me smile when I look at it. Just beautiful.

BUT......the 222 takes what MB learned from the 2 predecessors and mold it into the most beautiful S class I've ever seen...
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 11:25 AM
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Originally Posted by Kratos-TM
Agreed. I own the W220 and W221. I actually like the W220 better, looks more luxurious. The 221 is too sporty, with it's sloped front end, and I really don't like it's headlights. My 220 headlights still make me smile when I look at it. Just beautiful.

BUT......the 222 takes what MB learned from the 2 predecessors and mold it into the most beautiful S class I've ever seen...
.
.

Last edited by MBZSW221; Jan 2, 2023 at 07:12 PM.
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 04:38 PM
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just today i was driving by some tinted store windows that saw the reflection of my 220 and couldn't believe how great it still looks for an 8 year old car and a design created in 1998.

really elegant, beautifully rounded, etc. In a good color with some decent non-ridiculously sized wheels, the W220 is still a GREAT looking car.
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Old Oct 12, 2013 | 06:24 PM
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W220 was dramatic when it came out but to me it aged poorly

W221 pre face lift was one of the most beautiful S class IMO. I think it was ruined a bit after the facelift

W222 looks like a combination of the W220's softer lines combined with the aggressive looks of the W221.

I really like it
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 01:10 AM
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Clearly the W222 is the best S-Class yet. Looks is subjective, interior and engineering are less so if at all, both aspects being clearly superior to the W221. W221 was a fine car, still fine 7 years later, but it has been surpassed. W220 was junk when it arrived. Poor build quality and problems galore, but it was pretty.

M
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 06:16 AM
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I think the W221 is a better design and was a much bigger revolutionary leap for Mercedes when it came out.

Interior wise neither are particularly my cup of tea but the W222's inside is clearly nicer, IMO.

I don't think either the W222 or W222 designs will age as well as the W220 has, however. That car for all its faults is timeless when in great condition and with the AMG Sports Package. It is simply a non-fussy, beautiful design which happened before Mercedes started going overtly fussy and complex. It really modernized car design in general and was copied over and over again by others, for years. The W221 was also slightly copied but initiated something Mercedes starting uncharacteristically doing more and more as time went on: Copy instead of be copied. IMO Mercedes design has slipped up so much by way of ceasing to be leading or revolutionary that it's been a while since they've been copied in design in the same blatant ways they were before. These days their competitors get copied more than they are, with Audi seeming to be considered the industry leader in design (EVERYONE is copying Audi, I don't know why as I'm not big on their designs, but they are).

Originally Posted by Quadcammer
just today i was driving by some tinted store windows that saw the reflection of my 220 and couldn't believe how great it still looks for an 8 year old car and a design created in 1998.

really elegant, beautifully rounded, etc. In a good color with some decent non-ridiculously sized wheels, the W220 is still a GREAT looking car.
That's because it was one of, if not the last Mercedes designed by Bruno Sacco. He's a legend who IMO has been irreplaceable since his departure.

Last edited by K-A; Oct 13, 2013 at 06:29 AM.
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 07:37 AM
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put them side by side and you'll drive away in W222
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 01:26 PM
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Does the W221 ride smoother then the W220? Is there more legroom?

K-A you are right the W220 has aged but you still look good wherever you go to. If buying a W220 buy one that looks up to date like an AMG or S600. I always get annoyed whenever everybody has leased a C-Class in my town. It's like you are seeing white everyday (lol). Seeing a Mercedes is like seeing a Prius you always see one on the road (not included SLS or SLR).

Last edited by MBZSW221; Oct 13, 2013 at 01:33 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 01:33 PM
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Originally Posted by MBZSW221
Does the W221 ride smoother then the W220? Is there more legroom?
yes on both. The newer generation airmatics are definitely a step up in ride quality and the car is longer, so legroom will be improved (although I'm 6 ft and I can stretch out fine in the back of my 220).
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by Quadcammer
yes on both. The newer generation airmatics are definitely a step up in ride quality and the car is longer, so legroom will be improved (although I'm 6 ft and I can stretch out fine in the back of my 220).
Is the ride better in the normal S550 or the AMG S550? I am thinking about getting a normal one. I went to see a Dark Blue S550 and when I went to the back it felt like the legroom was as much as a Lexus LS430. Maybe it was because the passanger seat was moved back all the way.

Last edited by MBZSW221; Oct 13, 2013 at 01:40 PM.
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 02:58 PM
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AMG s550 does not exist. If you mean a 221 with ABC suspension, i find the ride to be similar, but the abc does have less body roll if that matters to you.
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by MBZSW221
Is the ride better in the normal S550 or the AMG S550? I am thinking about getting a normal one. I went to see a Dark Blue S550 and when I went to the back it felt like the legroom was as much as a Lexus LS430. Maybe it was because the passanger seat was moved back all the way.
if by AMG550 you are referring to the sport pkg there will be no ride difference. The sport pkg is cosmetic. However, with sport +1 you do get summer high performance tires
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 07:41 PM
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Originally Posted by LETO
if by AMG550 you are referring to the sport pkg there will be no ride difference. The sport pkg is cosmetic. However, with sport +1 you do get summer high performance tires
Yeah that is what I meant. I saw a W221 with night vision but no headlamp cleaners. The bumper had the head lamp cleaners flaps on it. Is that normal or is the button somewhere else. Yhe button was not next to the headlamp switch. Okay I do not want to go off topic.
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Old Oct 13, 2013 | 08:50 PM
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Originally Posted by MBZSW221
Yeah that is what I meant. I saw a W221 with night vision but no headlamp cleaners. The bumper had the head lamp cleaners flaps on it. Is that normal or is the button somewhere else. Yhe button was not next to the headlamp switch. Okay I do not want to go off topic.
Headlights are cleaned as part the windshield washing. No more standalone buttom on the dash...
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Old Oct 14, 2013 | 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by MBZSW221
Yeah that is what I meant. I saw a W221 with night vision but no headlamp cleaners. The bumper had the head lamp cleaners flaps on it. Is that normal or is the button somewhere else. Yhe button was not next to the headlamp switch. Okay I do not want to go off topic.
As wolf man satates the head lamp washer button went away a long time ago. With every so many uses of the wiper you get a squirt on the headlamps
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Old Oct 14, 2013 | 11:18 AM
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never cared for that method (which was on my E39 m5). If my car is clean, but the windshield gets something on it, I don't want fluid sprayed all over the hood.
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Old Oct 14, 2013 | 08:40 PM
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Originally Posted by Quadcammer
never cared for that method (which was on my E39 m5). If my car is clean, but the windshield gets something on it, I don't want fluid sprayed all over the hood.
You have a point.
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