Originally Posted by TwinCam

superior in ride comfort, handling and quietness to the previous model. I do not have run flat tires and I have the 4.5 steering. My only pet peeve is where they put the door lock/unlock switch on the drivers door, a bit hard to locate.

Originally Posted by W205C43PFL

Curious, is it possible to do that in Mercedes Me or you have to enter the PIN inside the vehicle?

Originally Posted by Sonic Boom

You have to enter the PIN via settings in Center Console. Personally, I have it as on favorites button.

Originally Posted by konigstiger

IMHO since 2003 MBUSA (even with an engineer at the helm in Stuttgart at that time) shifted from purchase to lease clients for the most part equip & build them to last through the factory warranty period after that, not to worry they’ll (clients) be back to do it all over again.

Originally Posted by MBS63AMG

Chrysler was certainly one of the monkey wrenches that began the downturn of the heritage MB products. The W220 was a horrific example of this. The W221 and the W222 will be the last of the best.

Originally Posted by Jmcintire217

I agree with KellyP. These types of quality issues are completely unacceptable in a car of this price range. The old wife's tales of a "first year build" are nonsense in the technologically advanced age in which we live.

I've had several significant issues with the electronics on my 2021 S Class, including the active advanced ambient lighting feature, pre-safe side impulse, not to mention the fact the car alarm went off with a family member just sitting inside the car at the local shopping center, a yellow check engine light, a wireless charging pad that doesn't work, the intermittent door handles that occasionally present when you go near the car with the key, and the constant messages that the 12 volt battery is critical and the car should be run immediately or it may not start. This car is not ready for prime time.

In addition to the above, my car sat outside in the elements for 5 months and when I went to pick it up, it was extremely damaged due to bird droppings etching the clear coat in the paint. I spent 13 hours correcting the paint before I took the car to be Xpel wrapped.

To be fair the dealership told me to bring the car back and they would work on it to correct the paint, but after waiting a year for the car, I just did it on my own.

I'm taking the car to the dealership this Wednesday to be looked at and I'm hoping they can correct these many issues.

This is my third and probably last S Class. The way the car was rolled out, lack of communication from MBUSA, as well as the corporate parent, and the quality issues, even with the new factory 56 is a major fail. Can you say dumpster fire!

Daimler AG should focus on customer satisfaction ahead of corporate profit and shareholder value, but that is another discussion for another day.

Originally Posted by superangrypenguin

I disagree with you. Japanese carmakers don't seem to have this problem. When Audi launched the A8 in 2019, there were almost none of these on major forums. Look at the LS500, Audi A8 forums. They're dead. Sure, they don't sell nearly as well, combined, as the S but that statement just isn't true.

Originally Posted by MBS63AMG

Chrysler was certainly one of the monkey wrenches that began the downturn of the heritage MB products. The W220 was a horrific example of this. The W221 and the W222 will be the last of the best.

Originally Posted by Streamliner

You really have to wonder what the thinking was in Stuttgart when they decided to go for Chrysler. It would also be interesting to know how soon after they pulled the trigger that they knew they had made a mistake of gargantuan proportions. What a mess.

Originally Posted by 190Efan

Having been raised by an engineer, I was always taught to never buy the first year of a new model due to the preverbal first year issues. The automotive landscape is littered with them and they come in all varieties.

Originally Posted by 190Efan

The MB quality decline started before the Chrysler debacle as in the mid 1990s. Increasing competition from Asia with their lower priced cars combined with a CEO Jurgen Schremp, determined to buy up businesses totally unrelated to automobiles caused there to be little money left for quality components and further research and development. Cars now are built to a price, not a standard..

Originally Posted by MBS63AMG

The E classes that ushered in the new millennium were some of Mercedes' finest quality and engineered vehicles.

Originally Posted by MBS63AMG

I agree to some extent. I live in Alabama and was proud that MB decided to put an automotive plant in Vance/Tuscaloosa Alabama. I drive by it almost twice a week. That being said, the ML series was the first pitiful vehicle to come out with an MB star badge which makes your point valid (I forgot about that). The quality was terrible and it took over a decade to improve them. They are better now but I will never own one , perhaps a lease only but I even doubt that. That being said, the W140 and the E classes that ushered in the new millennium were some of Mercedes' finest quality and engineered vehicles.

Originally Posted by places

From the moment MB decided to get into the SUV business and go down market with the ML, they never really recovered in terms of overall quality. Came out of the Chrysler debacle and improved significantly but with the added lower line models never was the same again.

Originally Posted by MBNUT1

I think that it is hard to truly appreciate Mercedes quality it you haven't owned one of their cars that was introduced prior to the mid-90's. I know some people on the board will respond that the cars weren't so great back then and certainly there has been improvements in safety fuel economy, power delivery and emissions (but these things are true for the whole industry) and sure there were flaws in the old cars but they were not due to a lack of commitment to quality.

Originally Posted by teksurv

I have a neighbor that parks a 124 and 126 on the street, both diesels and drives them regularly. They are in decent shape, especially considering the age. I still see the occasional 123. I see a few 126's on my way to work on Coronado. It tells me those cars were built to a standard that I'm not sure any make does today.

Originally Posted by MBNUT1

I think that it is hard to truly appreciate Mercedes quality it you haven't owned one of their cars that was introduced prior to the mid-90's. I know some people on the board will respond that the cars weren't so great back then and certainly there has been improvements in safety fuel economy, power delivery and emissions (but these things are true for the whole industry) and sure there were flaws in the old cars but they were not due to a lack of commitment to quality.

Originally Posted by Diesel Benz

This forum has mostly MB owners, some are fans, some are fanatic. I'm one somewhere from a fan towards a fanatic but I don't consider myself "blind" as some clearly here are.

I have owned a W123, not that study as my W124. The wife used to have a 190E (all cars from new to reasonable mileage). The W124 is an icon but it would not sell if it was available as new today! True that the industry has moved to lower cost and quality is compromised but who is a baby benz driver to compare it with the modern models if he/she has never owned any more modern Mercedes. I bet these persons are mostly those blind fanatics who see their current car the one and only acceptable model. Other cars are either too old or too new. Next day when these guys go and buy another MB, their opinion remains 100% the same, the car they previously owned is too old, newer cars are too new. I have a lot of sympathy to baby benzes and their owners but I hate blind fanatics, be it a baby benz or a W223.

I don't think these comparisons with a W124 or a W201 belong to this thread. Not a single W223 buyer would consider those cars as an alternative. This comparison may be very useful and interesting but belongs to generic sub-forums.

Originally Posted by Diesel Benz

This forum has mostly MB owners, some are fans, some are fanatic. I'm one somewhere from a fan towards a fanatic but I don't consider myself "blind" as some clearly here are.

I have owned a W123, not that sturdy as my W124. The wife used to have a 190E (all cars from new to reasonable mileage). The W124 is an icon but it would not sell if it was available as new today! True that the industry has moved to lower cost and quality is compromised but who is a baby benz driver to compare it with the modern models if he/she has never owned any more modern Mercedes. I bet these persons are mostly those blind fanatics who see their current car the one and only acceptable model. Other cars are either too old or too new. Next day when these guys go and buy another MB, their opinion remains 100% the same, the car they previously owned is too old, newer cars are too new. I have a lot of sympathy to baby benzes and their owners but I hate blind fanatics, be it a baby benz or a W223.

I don't think these comparisons with a W124 or a W201 belong to this thread. Not a single W223 buyer would consider those cars as an alternative. This comparison may be very useful and interesting but belongs to generic sub-forums.

Originally Posted by Diesel Benz

I don't think these comparisons with a W124 or a W201 belong to this thread. Not a single W223 buyer would consider those cars as an alternative. This comparison may be very useful and interesting but belongs to generic sub-forums.