simandang

Is it just me or do the PRE FACELIFT (2014-2017) taillights look much better than the FACELIFT (2018-2020)? To me the pre facelift looks more elegant/classy while the facelift reminds me of a E class. Is there something special about the facelift rear taillights that I am missing? I don't understand why MB went with that type of look.....

Tom in Austin

I kinda like the whole facelift rear end ... the tail lights and the lower bumper treatment with the chrome piece between the exhaust outlets. I would think it's all just styling and probably has no functional difference.

W205C43PFL

If this makes you feel better, the pre-facelift looks like a C-Class instead of E-Class (but the S-Class facelift looks like the E-Class which you mentioned)...
That said though, the W222 S-Class pre-facelift came out in 2014 (announced sometime in 2013) while the W213 E-Class announced in 2016 (if I recalled correctly) so it makes sense the E-Class got the new stardust design, otherwise it would had came first for the W222 so it wouldn't had looked like an E-Class to you that way.

W205C43PFL

W222 S-Class things mostly trickle down to the lower tiers anyways, for example the W205's taillight was inspired by the W222, it is just that recent years MB went opposite and put A-Class inspired things in their higher models. If the E-Class came out around the same year as the W222, it will likely have a taillight design similar to the W222 as well and also assuming they never had stardust as an idea yet.

cfmistry

Obviously, it's all preference. But I agree with you, I like the Pre-FL taillights more.

Sean._.S

Every time I see pictures of the pre-face w222, they have the European turn signals. I really wish this style came to the US. IMO, it looks so much better than the awkward “2 leaf” turn signals we got.