Doors Different on W222 vs 221
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Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 152
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From: Maryland (Washington DC market suburbs)
2024 GLS450W4, 2016 S550 4MATIC (W222), 1972 350SL (R107), 2012 GLK350 (X204)
Doors Different on W222 vs 221
Hello all… any insight on the changes to doors on S Class? My prior car, 2013 S550 sedan, had no detents on the hinge. It never blew shut due to weight and was one of the only cars I’d ever had that didn’t have detents. When i just upgraded to a 2016, there are detents. Also, the doors are lighter and so the need to soft close is much less than W221. I do hear the whir of the soft close mechanics even if the door is completely shut. I hear it when opening using handle on inside as well - any idea what the door mechanism is trying to accomplish?
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Joined: Nov 2014
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From: Chicago burbs
2015 S550
My 2015 will open to the exact position to where I push the door, just like my 2007 S600 did. No "detents" as you say. IIRC, the non S600 and S65 in the W221 did have the detents. At least that's the way it was in the earlier W221's.
I believe the doors in the W222 have an aluminum skin, unlike the W221 which had steel. They definitely feel lighter in the W222 as it takes more of a push to close them. My soft close feature certainly gets more of a workout in my current car.
I believe the doors in the W222 have an aluminum skin, unlike the W221 which had steel. They definitely feel lighter in the W222 as it takes more of a push to close them. My soft close feature certainly gets more of a workout in my current car.
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 283
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From: Maryland
S 550, S65 Coupe
I believe the hinges were changed after 2015. The 2014-15 hinges had the ability to hold the door in any position. In 2016 they went back to a more traditional hinge that had the detents. This was due to issues with the prior hinge making creeking and poping noises with no way to eliminate them. My 2015 is starting to make the noises and unless it gets really bad i will just live with it as i prefer the ability of door to stop at any position.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 152
Likes: 26
From: Maryland (Washington DC market suburbs)
2024 GLS450W4, 2016 S550 4MATIC (W222), 1972 350SL (R107), 2012 GLK350 (X204)
Thank you both. I thought the detent-less version on my 2013 was pretty cool, unique and unlike any car I’d had before. I recall parking on a steep hill and the door stayed exactly where it was. Bet none of us thought we would use the word detent multiple times today, let alone me making up detent-less. Haha.
I have to say I liked the bank vault heavy doors in 221. The 222 sounds quieter inside, so there’s no reason for a heavy door other than the “feeling” of the car being solid. I actually think I’m the opposite and my soft close mechanism got a lot more work in the 221. I find myself getting the 222 closed first try with little effort, that’s why it’s weird to see it’s closed but hear the whirring of the pumps and motors that make up the soft close feature.
Thanks for the discussion, there really wasn’t a question baked in there but just enjoy talking about what makes a S Class, a S Class!
I have to say I liked the bank vault heavy doors in 221. The 222 sounds quieter inside, so there’s no reason for a heavy door other than the “feeling” of the car being solid. I actually think I’m the opposite and my soft close mechanism got a lot more work in the 221. I find myself getting the 222 closed first try with little effort, that’s why it’s weird to see it’s closed but hear the whirring of the pumps and motors that make up the soft close feature.
Thanks for the discussion, there really wasn’t a question baked in there but just enjoy talking about what makes a S Class, a S Class!
