For anyone who was actually interested in my original post (the tread got derailed badly);
After having my car in the service department for 43 days of 62, and dropping it off there again today, the general manager agreed that the problems are too numerous to keep the car. They are going to try to replace it for me, barring that, refund me. Shout out to RBM of Atlanta, they have been wonderful to work with to try to resolve all the issues and when I finally decided they could never fix all the problems, he started working on how to get me out of the car.

I have to say i'm very relieved. Problems included: ambient light errors, 12 volt battery errors, settings for driver display, ambient lights, exterior lights changing on their own. Kick to open trunk feature stopped working, Car hard braked on its own for no apparent reason, proximity alarms going off for no reason, rear passenger door handle stuck in the locked position, rough idle, rough acceleration, brakes mushy and then grabbing. The electronic gremlins were out in force, followed closely by mechanical problems. I finally faced the fact that I just got a lemon.

I am so put off by the reflection and position (blowing in your face and no lower) of the vents, the impossibility of closing the doors without hanging out of the car, the cheap black plastic and the fingerprint magnet center screen, that I am going to be looking at taking an E class instead. I think I'd be happier, as the loaners I've gotten (on my 3rd) have driven better than my S.

If anyone else is having problems with their electronics, be sure you take it in to service. For the cost of this car, I was unwilling to put up with features not working, after all, the features are what we pay for. Any old car can drive me from here to there.

 

I haven't had any issues that I would call defects, but I have had most of your design issues and some more too. There is a lot that could have been better. Just today when backing out of a parking spot I noticed that the rear camera view on the screen is dark and the view is almost worthless. Almost every drive reminds me of an issue discussed on these forums. I just had my car detailed yesterday and I still think it is great looking inside and out, but I agree that the issues you state, along with the defects detract from fully enjoying our new S-Class'.

 

I actually love the new E class better than the new S class. It's a shame the S wasn't designed just like the E.

 

Sorry to hear that. Thankfully I've only had the battery problem and ambient lighting problem but both have been fixed.

 

Glad RBM took care of everything for you. I pick up my S580 in 2 weeks and I am crossing my fingers that everything will be ok on my car. RBM is my local dealership, but I am buying the car from a Tennessee dealership.

 

Good luck to you, hope you end up loving it! Just wondering why Tennesee? Lack of inventory I imagine.

 

Glad your issues were few and resolved. I really just got a lemon.

 

I could have ordered the car with RBM, however my prior BMW relationship here was transferred to Tennessee. He offered me a $14,500 discount (10%) on my special order. RBM definitely would not have given me a 10% discount. With or without his generosity I would have maintained the relationship, though.

 

If MBUSA was still importing the E Class models with the traditional, “Luxury” trim, I certainly would consider one. It is available in Germany, but not in the USA.

 

Glad you are getting issues resolved. I haven't had but a couple of issues and they are been repaired. However, after talking to my guy at RBM and hearing some of the horror stories, like yours, I am considering trading it for GLE580 (oddly enough the car I traded for the S class, the exact car). It showed back up from the dealer I traded it with. Didn't buy from RBM because of inventory, etc. They are actually buying it for more than I paid so with the used car market the way it is, I think I am taking advantage of the situation, especially able to buy my old GLE back. I say old it 2020 with 7k miles that I put on there.

 

I bought a CL500 at RBM in 2002. The salesman was Kyrus Frames. Is he still there? He was a terrific guy.

 

My first new MB was a 1979 450SL, Signal Red with Bamboo interior. I bought it from W.I. Simonson in Santa Monica, paid MSRP of $32,200.00 and the salesman’s name was Henry Heil. Great name for a German car salesman.

 

I almost bought a new unsold 2016 W222 in 2018 from there. But since it was so old, the lease program was expired. The numbers didn't really make since to me on financing.

 

Joyfully posting my last on the S forum. Got rid of my Sonderklasse lemon for a rare China blue E63. Thank you to much to Dale, Jim, and James at RBM for doing everything they possible could to leave me a happy customer. The car is loaded with upgrades that are important to me and I feellike I'm driving again, not piloting a yacht on a becalmed sea.

To those who love yours, very glad you do, just really thrilled that I am notone!

 

Wow gorgeous vehicle, wise decision! Glad it is finally over for you with the lemon W223. Enjoy this new vehicle in good health!

 

Enjoy your new toy. You shouldn't have any issues with it. May your W223 rest In peace. I'm sorry you had to go through so many hoops to be satisfied. Unless MB does something quick to fix the W223, it will finally overcome the W220 as the worst car they ever built.

 

The V167 is getting to close for comfort in that as well

 

Happy to hear that you worked out your situation. We are in somewhat same issues as well as the MB service department having the vehicle in their possession more than us since purchase. However our vehicle's braking system failed. The vehicle did not stop even with having plenty of room. No alarms, no emergency assist, no brake assist Nothing and all was in the active position. Our vehicle is a safety nightmare...honestly happy that we were in gridlock traffic and not going at a high/normal rate of speed as I firmly believe I would not be here to further discuss. Now just waiting to see what happens with the diagnostic report. Nevertheless we have a lemon too!!!

 

We’re you actually involved in a collision? The brakes worked normally and then the next time you went to apply them, nothing? Anyone injured? More details, please.

 

Yes we were in a incident causing impact with the box truck in front of us. We were in gridlock traffic for about 45/50 minutes and were following the same car for about 15/20 minutes. The box van proceeded to go as we were approximate 3/4 of car length behind with plenty of room to stop but when I applied the brakes to stop the vehicle did not stop no matter how much pressure I applied. Also the vehicle did not alarm sensing the truck in front of us. The brake assist did not work however have been told by Mercedes service department that brake assist will not engage if the driver is actively braking (which I was) It is intended for when the driver possible is not paying attention or falling asleep and not actively braking which makes complete sense however emergency brake assist is a whole different assistance. As I was actively braking without the vehicle stopping the vehicle emergency brake assist should have worked. It failed causing impact. The vehicle also turned off and back upon impact.

We have a Cadillac Escalade as well and believe me both systems work as the vehicle has demonstrated when getting to close to plants in a drive-thru or when someone walked behind me when pulling out of the parking stall. Our Mercedes should have done the same either way but failed causing impact thus a safety nightmare.

The issue being as well the vehicle had issues from day one which I was not made aware of until the vehicle was delivered upon purchase. The error codes were not visible upon my test drive. as they were cleared by the salesman. I have issue with the selling dealership whereas knowing of issues as they do full inspections on the vehicle upon arrival and before selling. Hard not to notice an error code that came on every time the vehicle started. I asked for our vehicle to be put under the lemon law within 5 days of purchase based on the issues then the incident happened. I will never drive said vehicle again nor put my family in a failed safety situation. Again happy that the rate of speed was minimal knowing that if we had been driving at a high/normal rate of speed, might not be here to discuss further.

Mercedes strives on safety however hard to feel safe in a vehicle that has failed and Mercedes is not doing much about it. Every I inquire I am given the run around. Even though I have photos and videos of the issues at hand.

 

Please keep us posted as the investigation progresses.

 

One day I thought I would test the car's (W222) ability to detect stationary automobiles up ahead. While on Distronic cruise at 65 mph on a 4 lane highway with occasional intersections and traffic lights, I approached the stopped cars at the traffic light without touching the pedals just to see how fast and far up to the cars my car would go without intervening. I had to quickly slam on the brakes or else I would have plowed into the stopped cars. The advertisement on most YTube videos show the latest Mercedes S classes going back at least a decade to intervene and prevent a collision. The demo shows a cardboard man suddenly walking out in front of an oncoming Benz and the car detects the "pedestrian" and even at high speeds the car manages to stop. My experience is that it only slows down when I'm trailing a car in motion, not at a standstill. Not confident to trust it 100%, not even 50% .

 

What happened here is you didnt wait for the braking system to engage. It would engage and stop, it just does so really late. If you look at those videos you mention, they stop really late.

 

I cannot remember which stationary objects the W222 would ignore it intentionally ignores some. Otherwise at high speed it would be braking all the time if prepared for the driver turning the car quickly. I would assume both taking into account stationary objects that are on the current direction of travel although even there it would need to be pretty late, possibly too late to fully avoid an accident. An example on my neighbourhood where a straight road turns significantly just before a T-junction. The car alerts for the traffic sign in the middle of the road but does not brake.

This onebigfamily53 case is discussed on multiple threads, I'd avoid it here, one thread is enough even if the owner feels it deserves the whole forum.

 

when I became afraid of my car is when I started discussing lemon law. I am so sorry that this has been your experience as well. Hopefully your car will report "the event" as mine did. At least with all the tech on these cars they can report errors instead of poor techs trying to recreate occasional and dangerous blips. I hope you can come to a satisfactory resolution.