qasim1rfan

I currently own a W221 s550 2010 and recently have been in the market for a W222 S550 2015-2017 pre-facelift model.

What I wanted to know was for the W222's 2014 to 2017, what were the new features or quirks added to the s class each year. I am aware the 2015 model got a Heads Up Display (and hence why I'm only looking for 2015-2017) and 2017 has the 9G transmission (which I'm not sure of since it might lead to higher maintenance costs since ill be owning it out of warranty and is it really worth it).

Could someone help me out and list the new features every model got from 2014 to 2017. On a side note how is the maintenance on the W222, my w221 has not been without issues but has been manageable.

MB221

You wont miss the HU. I think its awfull to focus on. I did want it, now im wondering what the hell i was searching it for. Didnt use it twice. The 9g is even bad as the 7g, you just need some luck in both cases is my opinion.

Quenthel

I disagree on the heads-up display. Driving in Zurich is anxiety inducing by itself (especially concerning speed limits), the heads-up display helps you stay focused on the road without breaking your attention from the road. Mine has it and I would say it has already paid for itself.

Mitch Alsup

A story::

One night I was driving down some rural interstate and the heads up display was way too bright, even after turning is down as low as it would go. So somehow I found out how to turn it off completely. and presto, It was truly off, and I was happy.

Then for 12 months I could not find how to turn the display back on after searching through the menus and asking the friendly Mercedes dealer person,..... well one day I was driving right about 1 year after I turn it off and presto it turned itself back on without any input from me.

Overall, HU is positioned at the wrong place in the field of vision, and too bright even at dimmest settings.

qasim1rfan

I'm aware of the hard shifts, heck they are present in my w221 too sometimes. Would you elaborate on the pros and cons of the 9G and 7G

qasim1rfan

I agree I tried the HUD on a LX570 (not on any s class) and found it very useful to relieve the burden of looking down at the speed every now and then. I hope the S boat is at least as good if not better

qasim1rfan

The area I live in and the highway are all most of the time well lit so I presume I wouldn't have a issue with the brightness, Did you try using the button on the left side of ur steering above the E break to turn it on and off, if yes then that's pretty weird

superpop

The year and transmission aren't nearly as important as understanding the ownership and maintenance history of the vehicle. Low miles are better but in that year range will be tough to find anything under around 30K or so. I have the HUD and I like it. it is a nice to have, not a must have. For me the must have features are Napa Leather, heating cooling package, AMG package and surround cameras. The rest is gravy. I have a 2015 that I purchased in 2017 for about half of sticker with 17K on the clock. It has been flawless with the exception of one noisy strut that I replaced myself for around 450 bucks.

cfmistry

Changes per year:
MY2015: Touchpad Command controller (standard), HUD option.
MY2016: None that I am aware of.
MY2017: 9G-Tronic transmission, Magic Sky Control roof option, mBrace2 connectivity.

Personally, I think any of these years are great. The 7G and 9G are both good transmissions and practically-speaking the only major change.

MBS63AMG

I love the HUD. I won't buy another car without it, just like I won't buy a car without adaptive cruise. The night vision is the feature that I find impossible to use. How are you supposed to be looking out for a deer looking at a screen while keeping your eyes on the road. I had it on my 2007 S600 and never used it after tinkering with it for a few weeks.

RJC

Magic sky was available in MY2016 at least it was in my S Coupe.

MB221

I drove a w221 350d, now have the 400d. I thought 7 gears were allready overkill, now i have the 9g. It hardly comes over the 1500rpm. 100mph=1400rpm! And with every movement of the pedal it shifts down. Madness. Its that ist mandetory otherwise i would have my 5g of my w210 350d in my 400d. All the gearchanges makes shifting...more present?...more nervous? I dont know exacly how to put it.
I understand why and offcourse we i didnt have a choise, the 400d is only in 9g, but 9g has defenatly for me no extra value. Again, if you find a better shifting 7 appose to a 9, take the 7. On the oposite, take the 7 if it shifts better. Its all to expensive to take a gamble. Just take it for A FEW testdrives, especially with cold engines. The 1-2-3 should be absolutely flawless. Anything else, please please turn around and walk away. And im glad i got rid of the wooded steeringwheel, its cold in the winter. Brrrrrrrrr.....

DaveW68

Yes....the button furthest to the right turns HUD on and off. Also, in the settings in between the speedo & tach you can adjust the HUD up and down to make it ideal for your driving position. Perhaps you have it set too high. Personally, I love the option.

DaveW68

There are definitely low mileage ones out there. I bought my 2015 in December with just 30k miles for $47k and it originally stickered for $120k. I also purchased exclusionary warranty coverage for $4100 that covers the car for 7 years and up to 131k miles. The lower the mileage, the more reasonable the cost of warranty coverage. But even low miles do not guarantee that the car will be trouble free as age seems to be as much of a determining factor for repairs as higher mileage. This was especially true when I bought my flawless 2007 S600 in 2014 with just 24k miles. In 3 years and 23k miles, the warranty paid out $24k in claims.

bkdc

Skip the 2014 model and go with 2015 at minimum only because of the updated lower hassle center console control. My W222 has been the most trouble-free car I have ever owned. I’ve only had worn part issues except a cracked pneumatic tube in a dynamic seat.

The 7G and 9Gtronic transmissions are both very reliable. The 7G is easier to service (although both are actually not easy because you have to remove the massive bolt holding the down pipe/exhaust to drop the transmission pan and replace the aluminum bolts).

George1986

night vision is hard to use as alone feature in the w221 S class. In 2013 plus model, equipped wit intelligent light system, combined with the camera, they also added the possibility to highlight the pedestrians and animals when driving. It is flashing on them with impulses from the driving lights, so you can see them. In addition they are pointed read on the screen. From experience… worth every penny. Helped me to avoid multiple animals in the past days, and for sure helped me to see some of the pedestrians when they are dressed up in dark clothes and walking on the side of a road.

Sean._.S

I've never use my Night Vision and wish the $2500 was spent elsewhere.

Quenthel

Sometimes the car decides it should pop-up Night Vision, sometimes even during the day. Won't lie, when that happens it usually points out pedestrians that are hard to see, but on the other hand, these pedestrians are (usually) on the pavement and not on the road. It's not very practical to drive with it on all the time at night however.

MBS63AMG

Thanks for the update. Then this would have been worth it.

steinjr

I would suggest once you decide the options you want, set up searches on the car sales websites and get alerted when the car you are looking for becomes available. Be patient.

This method allowed me to pick up a 2015 W222 4Matic with AMG Sports Package, Nappa Leather, Rear Executive package, cabin comfort package, Burmester 3d high-end sound, a few Designo upgrades, and only 27k miles.

MBS63AMG

I would get the 2017. It is a flawless model and you still have the stalk cruise control.

badq45t

I have had a few loaners with the new controls on the wheel, for sure prefer the stalk controls.

Tom in Austin

If Android Auto or Apple Car Play integration are important to you, look for a '19 or newer car.

2012 merc amg

2018 or newer for android auto/apple car play. My 2018 s560 has it. There was a real upgrade with the Tech starting 2018 Model Year, I like it better than my 2017 model. The one thing I did like better about my 2017 Amg line S550 was the sound of the engine was better getting on it and the engine seemed to have a little more low end grunt, probably because the difference between the 4.7 in the 2017 and the smaller 4.0 in the 2018, although as the 2018 revs it puts out a bit more power than the 2017 did at the higher RPMs.