S_W222

If you are not one of those who feel the "need" and "OCD' to just get a new toy, I would agree that keeping your W222 is the best decision you could make now (Unless you would go for W223). Quite honestly, if you are not willing to compromise a few things, every single car on the market is not as well rounded as the W222. I think the 7-series M760 is likely the only one that beats W222 on all (or at least most) aspects (but I still need to own one to confirm that), and I still think the W223 is a better car overall but it has some disadvantages too (it's a risky purchase, and the facelift is coming soon). So, since there are not many cars the market in the 75-150K range that are better than W222, I'd agree that keeping it is best. All other newer cars are goofy, ugly and not as classy, despite the tech and ride quality. Newer BMWs are a peice of crap reliability wise now, with a dress that in my view is the ugliest look in history of BMWs (just think of the facelift X7 front and new 7-series, compared to previous gen or pre-facelift). In my case, the excitement and fun of trying something new often exceeds the compromise coming from missing a few things compared to a previous toy. W222 is truly the most well rounded sedan now, and only W223 or 7-series M760 2020-2022 in my view have the chance to be a better vehicle. Wish I was able to find a fully loaded M760, but because of a dishonest potential buyer I missed one, time and money. In 3-4 years from now, those M760 won't be available with 20-30K am afraid. As for W223, I am seeing pre-owned ones if you are interested being offered for a very reasonable numbers nowadays and I test drove a few. You can get a 140-155K MSRP W223 for 90K or so now if you negotiate well and take your time searching. Otherwise leasing or buying new may not be a good approach when the facelift is about to be released. Good luck with whatever you decide, but at least am sure you can't go wrong with the W222 at least for the next 2-3 years.

SW20S

I may very well keep my 222. My lease goes until November of 2024, so I could let it ride until I can see the refresh 223, we should get that in Sept/Oct of 24. Issue is I am 8k miles from the end of the warranty so I have to buy a warranty, I don’t want to have it without one certainly not as a lease. My plan was always to trade out of it before 50k miles which is what I usually do (48 month lease and trade out before 50k miles)

My only issue with the 223 is I don’t love the dash layout.

Since the rates are so high if I keep it I would let the lease ride through November of 2024 in any event, but have to make a decision on the warranty within the next 6 months probably.

S_W222

Good luck. Warranty stuff are more of subjective and peace of mind type of a thing. To me personally, I never ever would waste money on an extended warranty. If it was for W222, that makes it even easier. For some reason I thought your lease would end this year... Way to go until Nov 2024... If it was me I would have had 2 cars by then lol. Things may look completely different in a year and 2 months from now everywhere (Financing, minor refresh updates, new cars, etc)

SW20S

Yeah that’s my thing I never go past 3 years because I want something new. I do kinda want something new but there’s not anything out there I really want. Stuff I would like to have but I’m not sure I want them more than what I have. The other issue is at the end of the 4 years I don’t know if I will be in the position to be able to trade out of it. Really the smart thing is to trade out of it sooner rather than later seeing that I won’t keep it more than another year or so.

Lots of potential things to go wrong with these cars, I’d just really not want to have one out of warranty…

S_W222

If you plan on trading it, the best time to do it is RIGHT NOW. The W222 is about to start to depreciate reaalllly quick now. Some poorly equipped W223 cars are already in the 80s... Soon, a lot of lease-return 2021 W223 will start to flood the marker after their 3 or 4 years lease, and that's when the supply starts to exceed with the demand staying the same, and hence prices would drop. Eventually that will also reduce the W222 prices. Yours is a 2020, so it will likely be close towards the top of the spectrum. I just sold my W222 obviously and happy to share what I've noticed market wise via private messages. A lot of buyers and fans for W222, but now is the right time to sell (not sure how does the process work to get out of a lease sooner, I never leased in my life). But am pretty sure there is a minimum of 10K to 15K depreciation that you can avoid by selling now vs 14 months from now. Otherwise just get out of your lease and say goodbye to it, if you don't decide to keep it. Personally, if I could, I would have kept my W222 until at least 2025 or 2026. My goal was to get a BMW X7 EV, as the new gen would start by then, or at least an X5 EV; but I just could not wait longer and wanted to get a new toy. I am still excited about the fully electrified BMW later, but now is not the right time as they seem to have all kind of issues with their cars since late 2022. So far am enjoying the Tesla experience, and given the tech in BMW is always better, I think re-adjusting to Mbenz again anytime soon is impossible given they are often behind technology wise compared to others. I don't see Mbenz electrifying the W223... The EQS is just too goofy for me despite how much I loved the ride..... Some cheaper parts, but it was really nice to set in it. Whining motor noise was really bad though.

SW20S

Yep, I realize that too...all this goers into my conundrum! I feel like now is a pretty good time to do something if I'm going to.

You basically just trade the car in and as long as its worth equal to or more than the payoff then you're out of it. Its a little more complex now because many manufacturers have made it so a third party can't buy your car, but worst case I just buy it and trade it. If I got a W223 there would be zero drama.

S_W222

Hi - Thanks for the feedback everyone. Sounds like nobody has experience with Durashield…. Hence to be on the safe side, I just switched to another shop that uses LLumar Platinum, which is basically the SunTek PPF.

SW20S

I can tell you for sure SunTek is great, I've had that on my last 3 cars

S_W222

Durashield has been in business for ~25 years or more now, I just was shocked nobody used it and the lack of feedback and reviews online got me a bit concerned. I wasn't able to find good videos on the self-healing properties too. Hence, I switched to SunTek. Getting the car in next week on Monday for a full wrap at the same original quoted price by Durashield that was not including the rear hatch. I'll also do 25% ceramic tint on all 4 windows + rear + clear "5%" windshield tint.

S_W222

Got a confirmation that I'll be getting the new SunTek Reaction PPF film (LLumar Valor PPF) which is the made by EASTMAN for both brands with a ceramic layer and 12-years transferable "car-Vin attached" warranty. They also have a new film that will be introduced in October in preparation for the SEMA SHOWO 2023; but it's not available for sale yet now. It's their new generation with even better ceramic built-it property, as well as lower temperature self-healing requirements. The shop has the film to train their staff on it and try it in advance. The shop submitted a request to authorize that new film on my car as they already have it and their installer are comfortable with it, but no formal release was made. If Llumary/SunTek representatives allow it, the shop is willing to install that one instead on my car. SunTek Reaction / Lli,ar Valor are already good and new if I don't get that one.

As far as tint, I was not happy with the performance of any of the clear films for the windshield in particular... They all have less than ideal IR reflection and TSER percentages than what I had hopped for, but that's the same across all brands for now and am not willing to go with anything darker than 85 on the front windshield hence performance is capped.

SW20S

Very cool!

S_W222

Update:

Just got my car from a full PPF job this morning (basically every single panel, full bumpers, lights and door handles "everything except black window trims and windows"). I also did full Llumar IRX window tint (25-30%). Still debating the roof but it seems to have built in heat rejection.

I got Llumar Valor (built-in ceramic layer), which is the equivalent or the same film as (Suntek Reaction ), both made by EASTMAN. same film just different labeling.

Car turned out realllllly nice.... Although they use pre-cut pieces using the cut software/machine, Llumar pre-cut is programmed really well and allowed the installers to have extra length on the edges to wrap majority of edges. There are only a few panels with one edge that is not wrapped or tucked in, and those were carefully chosen by the programmers from what I noticed (i.e.: not those exposed to front/direct impact)

The ceramic property is great, it beads water really really well. I also tested the self healing, scratched a few places, and it self-heals under the sun at 75degF weather. They claim it self-heat at room temperature in 10 min too in the garage, but I am yet to test that enough.

One disadvantage is that I never realized that PPF is softer than car paint, and easier to get scratches as you wipe the car, but good thing it self-heals in 10-15 min away.

BenzV12

That's good for you , I hope you will be satisfied with that as well. Another disadvantage could be when you want to sell or trade your car with that ppf wrap on it . You know some buyers or dealers have a specific tools to measure paint thickness and with that ppf on the car , the tool would fail to deliver correct results but that's not a case for you .I know it because one of my old cars was wrapped in ppf and dealer asked me to peel it off to measure if the car was still in its original color .
Happy Driving

S_W222

This is for a brand new car. My PPF installation date is just 2 weeks from the date I bought the vehicle, and a few weeks from the manufacturing date. So, if anything, I don’t think it should be an issue, if anything, it guarantees a 100% fresh paint condition under the PPF.
Thanks. Am surprised a dealer asked u to take it off, usually they won’t even care. I once sold (traded in) a 70K BMW and I swear the salesman or his team didn’t even look at the car (they looked at it from behind the glass wall where the cubicles are, 20 ft away!!)… but there is somewhat a personal relationship involved. But still….. They got the keys after the papers were signed… I was shocked, and laughed because I detailed every square inch of the car inside and outside before I stopped by, for nothing, lol!