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Hi everyone, I was plannng to buy the mid cycle refreshed S550 and assumed it would be the 2017 but with the refresh not coming until 2018 I think I will have to wait til next August now. Today, I was offered a BMW 750 MSRP $118000 and fairly well equipped with Bowers and Wilkins, and most of the packages for $107000 today. I think I might enjoy driving the BMW but I feel the Mercedes is a better vehicle definitely more luxurious, although maybe isnt fun to drive? Has anyone driven both? I see zero BMW 7ers on the road. Should I wait? As an aside, will the MB dealers discount a 2018 w222 if ordering one as soon as it can be ordered? Or will they be "proud" of a refreshed vehicle?
I liked the BMW but ended up with the S550. I don't think the BMW deal is all that great at 11K off. I ended up with a used s550 with 2500 miles and loaded and saved enough to take my trade in beating when the 18s come out. After driving mine I'm not sure I'll be anxious for the refresh. The current model does what I need. Dave
Average discount on the 7 series is over $13k as they are not selling well. They also just offered a new $5k options discount.
So you can do much better on pricing. For the S-class, there are a number of changes that are noteworthy (I had posted them a while back) so you need to decide the level of importance for you.
I would sum them up this way: Electronics upgrade too above E-Class level, engine is downsized but with similar performance and the cosmetics are very similar but slightly nicer.
I was considering a similar situation. I own a 2016 BMW and a 2014 S550. I drove the new 7, it just didn't feel special. A few cool gadgets, but just not in the same league as the S550. They are discounting the 7 because they need to.
I am hoping that the 2018 S Class launches mid year.
So to get the new electronics in 2018 you will have to give up the 4.7 ? Bummer, it has become a favorite engine. Almost as good on gas as the Audi 4.0 but way better torque. Dave
I was considering a similar situation. I own a 2016 BMW and a 2014 S550. I drove the new 7, it just didn't feel special. A few cool gadgets, but just not in the same league as the S550. They are discounting the 7 because they need to.
I am hoping that the 2018 S Class launches mid year.
Thank you.
Isn't the S Class also discounted usually?
When I first started to look at the S Class this past January Mercedes dealers were also offering me $11,000 off MSRP.
The BMW salesperson said the same thing to me...they are discounting because they are not selling?
I have owned both. Had a 2015 W222 that I totaled and moved to the new 7. Love driving the 7 but I miss my S550. It really comes down to what's important to you. There are many things about the 7 that are just better but the car for me is just not as elegant and the satisfaction I get in driving it is just not the same as the S550.
I drove the 7 it was nice it felt a little more sporty. I couldnt get the right setting position I wanted. I'm a little over 6'5 and I just felt the opening of the front door was smaller (harder getting in and out of the vehicle) and as much as tried moving the steering wheel and seat I could not get a comfortable seat position.
The s-class just about fits me like a glove. I absolutely love how comfortable and quiet it is. Something about the benz interior and the dash layout just seems a little more thought out or put together than the bmw. The 7 series is nice but IMO not as nice as the s-class and I've always been a bmw fan and owner. This is my first benz and after I drove it I was like why the heck did I wait so long after owning just about every other brand of vehicle. There's a reason why they've been the full size luxury sedan class leader.The sales guy at the dealership said its S-Class or No Class. lol I thought that was funny. But all of that aside I also drove the jag XJL, lexus 460L, audi A8L, cadillac CT6 (i really wanted to drive a Hyundai Equus just to compare but none in a 250 mile radius) I even drove the Tesla Model S... I know i know, how can that car even compare, but again I checked it out and drove it...Electric was awesome with torque that felt like my organs were going to shoot out my body, but the fit & finish and aesthetics of the car for the price was a C- IMO and the seating ergonomics and and huge A pillars bugged me. The tech stuff was great but the layout in the benz is better Out of all these vehicles the S-Class won. Sure there are things I liked about each one but it wasn't enough to win me over.
I drove the 7 it was nice it felt a little more sporty. I couldnt get the right setting position I wanted. I'm a little over 6'5 and I just felt the opening of the front door was smaller (harder getting in and out of the vehicle) and as much as tried moving the steering wheel and seat I could not get a comfortable seat position.
The s-class just about fits me like a glove. I absolutely love how comfortable and quiet it is. Something about the benz interior and the dash layout just seems a little more thought out or put together than the bmw. The 7 series is nice but IMO not as nice as the s-class and I've always been a bmw fan and owner. This is my first benz and after I drove it I was like why the heck did I wait so long after owning just about every other brand of vehicle. There's a reason why they've been the full size luxury sedan class leader.The sales guy at the dealership said its S-Class or No Class. lol I thought that was funny. But all of that aside I also drove the jag XJL, lexus 460L, audi A8L, cadillac CT6 (i really wanted to drive a Hyundai Equus just to compare but none in a 250 mile radius) I even drove the Tesla Model S... I know i know, how can that car even compare, but again I checked it out and drove it...Electric was awesome with torque that felt like my organs were going to shoot out my body, but the fit & finish and aesthetics of the car for the price was a C- IMO and the seating ergonomics and and huge A pillars bugged me. The tech stuff was great but the layout in the benz is better Out of all these vehicles the S-Class won. Sure there are things I liked about each one but it wasn't enough to win me over.
Thank you Italiano.
you just confirmed the exact concern I had last weekend. I am also 6'5". I spent 10 minutes getting into and out of the 7 series and kept hitting my shoulder on the pillar. I drove straight to the mercedes dealership solely to compare getting in and out of the S Class.
Hi everyone, I was plannng to buy the mid cycle refreshed S550 and assumed it would be the 2017 but with the refresh not coming until 2018 I think I will have to wait til next August now. Today, I was offered a BMW 750 MSRP $118000 and fairly well equipped with Bowers and Wilkins, and most of the packages for $107000 today. I think I might enjoy driving the BMW but I feel the Mercedes is a better vehicle definitely more luxurious, although maybe isnt fun to drive? Has anyone driven both? I see zero BMW 7ers on the road. Should I wait? As an aside, will the MB dealers discount a 2018 w222 if ordering one as soon as it can be ordered? Or will they be "proud" of a refreshed vehicle?
If you have tried/owned a 2013+ S-Class I'd seriously think about trying something different. They are different cars, drive differently and even sound different especially under acceleration (with M option). Some S owners would say that's a down side but after owning a S63 I actually enjoy the stiffer suspension/sound/drive. 2018's will not be discounted at the get go .... If what we are reading is correct (S will get the E tech) then I think MB will have a best seller on it's hands. Prices are similar between both ... and deals for both can be substantial depending on the market you are buying in. If you have a hankering for Audi ... all new 8 coming as well.
Thank you.
Isn't the S Class also discounted usually?
When I first started to look at the S Class this past January Mercedes dealers were also offering me $11,000 off MSRP.
The BMW salesperson said the same thing to me...they are discounting because they are not selling?
My point was that when the S550 was launched in 2014, there was very little discounting and it took a while to get a car. When the new 7 was launched, it wasn't long before the dealer was calling offering great deals.
The current cycle of the S550 is in a heavy discount period.
My point was that when the S550 was launched in 2014, there was very little discounting and it took a while to get a car. When the new 7 was launched, it wasn't long before the dealer was calling offering great deals.
The current cycle of the S550 is in a heavy discount period.
I didn't make my point clearly. Cheers.
Thank you. Yes, the BMWs are being discounted heavily very early in its production cycle which is a negative indicator.
Save money for the 2018 S-class. BMW hasn't made a decent 7-series since the the E38.
The E65/66 were ugly as sin and unreliable, the F01/02 were slightly bit better looking, but hardly a beauty queen because of the humongous pair of pig nostrils in the front and it was even more unreliable than the hideous monstrosity that it replaced; the N63 has got to be the most unreliable engine ever made. Finally the current G11/12 7-series looks dull as a Lexus only without the reliability of a Lexus and it's a sales flop and gets beaten by the W222 in just about every comparison test.
The E38 was hardly as reliable as a Lexus, the V8 suffered of cooling problems, but at least it looked classy and James Bond had one.
So yes... BMW lost the plot with the 7-series and that means you better off saving money for the FL W222.
From the few details I've seen about the 2018, two stand out to me as not exactly desirable. The new engine downsize to the inline 6 and the inclusion of "gesture control". I've seen the gesture system in use and think it is silly and much less useful than what we now have. Sometimes the engineers seem to just add stuff because they can, not bcz it is useful. The exterior and lights are slightly updated and the mouse/scroll tab on the steering wheel is new, along with the slightly larger, integrated nav screen. I'm guessing the biggest change will be adopting the E-Class electronics. Personally, I don't know if that's enough to move me out of my 2015 S550 4matic. Time (and a drive of the real thing) will tell. But, surely no 7 series will do it for me as they currently exist.
I was told that the 2018 S Class interior options would change to that of the current E Class with the natural grain ash woods. Anyone else hear this? I really like the look of the natural woods better.
I have decided to wait for the 2018. My MB dealer agreed to order me the 2018 for invoice minus holdback minus incentives (probably will not have any incentives on the 2018 when it first comes out but still it is very nice for him to agree to a triple net deal). I can't wait!