Streamliner

4-Zone Climate Control was an option and is still an option on the new S. I imagine it could be retrofitted, but I think it would be expensive and that you would be better off trading the car for one equipped more to your liking.

P.S. By the way, you lose about 70% of the center armrest storage area depth with 4-Zone.

Diesel Benz

The point with rear HVAC is that it is a complete HVAC system with independent blowers and heat exchangers etc. that need a lot of room. Not just the rear control panel, a lot of pipes and valves too, very expensive to retrofit.

bishop64

MBUSA website Configurator (for S500 only while S580 is not ready) shows dual-zone Climate Control as standard feature (both Luxury Line and AMG line). And I cannot find 4-zone Climator Control as an available option. I suspect, this omission is likely due to the long chip shortage problem.
However, for Maybach S580 and S680, 4-zone Climate Control is standard feature.

MB Canada is the same. However, I think this is market/region specific as I find out that here locally Hong Kong MB currently has 4-zone Climate Control as standard feature for all S-Class models. All are 2023 models.

Frenetic

The lack of 4-zone climate control as either standard or as a modest option always bothered me. My $100k+ GLE lacked it and out of the 23 S classes on nearby dealer lots that I looked at NOT ONE had it optioned. The way Mercedes packages options is strange to me and not very smart. The HUD is another example. You can pickup a cheap Acura or Lexus with 4-zone climate control as standard.

BenjaminKohl

In the US, since the 2021 model year (well before as well, but I'll only speak on W223 for this thread), the 4 zone climate is part of the "rear seat package". For the W223, this is a part of the Executive Line, and not available otherwise, which makes it exclusive to the S580 and S580e, plus standard on Maybach models.

crabman

My dealership was telling me they sell few executives, too expensive, too many options most people don't want, no possibility of AMG. In fact the sales manager complained about the bundling saying they're asking for more standalone because they think they'd get more sell through and profit. I've never sold cars but it makes sense that a number of people would put a check in a four zone box but not many would get the executive package for the 4 zone. It does make you wonder about the reasoning behind the bundle as it exists; there's no reason to think the people who made those choices are stupid, which means they had their reasons.

BenjaminKohl

I had made a plan a while back for what I thought trim structure for the W223 should have been, and I'd be curious to hear folk's take on it here.

Base model now called premium. All current standard features.
Options:
Nappa leather
AMG Line
4.5 rear steering on AMG, 10 on base styling
Heated rear seats
Heated steering wheel
4 zone climate
Active ambient light
HUD (not AR)
Maybe air balance package is not standard

Luxury
Standard:
contents of w&c package I.e. heated wheel, heated armrests, energizing, power rear seats heated and cooled.
HUD (not AR)
Nappa
Air Balance
Options:
Exclusive Nappa/signature interior
AMG Line
4.5 rear steering on AMG, 10 on base styling
3D tech (lower price because HUD without AR is included)
E-abc
High end audio
4 zone climate standalone
Active ambient lighting

Executive
Standard: contents of rear seat and executive rear seat (4 zone climate, tablet, foot rest and extra adjustable seats, LED lights, belt bag, massaging, calf massage, belt bringer, illuminated belt buckles, easy adjust headrests, heated neck, rear seat entertainment, rear energizing, rear gestures)
RWS (4.5 on AMG, 10 on standard styling)
Maybe 3d tech
Options:
Exclusive Nappa/signature interior
AMG Line
3d tech
E-abc
High end audio
Active ambient light

I know some folks would be dissapointing that the pano roof, keyless entry, and 19 nch wheels would still be standard but there would be 0% chance of those not being standard in the US

Streamliner

The “best” thing about the ridiculous “Executive Line,” is that MBUSA made it up! The “model” doesn’t even exist anywhere other than in the USA. I went for it to get the 10 degree rear axle steering, but wanted none of the rear seat options. As nice as the rear steering is, I don’t think I would go that way again.

crabman

I did it to get the 10 degree, the 4 zone, and I did want to be able to control car functions when I actually sit back there. I rent a limo a few times a year but I'm going to hire a driver for those occasions with this car, thought I'd try it out. The rear screens would have been a skip for me; there is no world in which I don't take my baby laptop with me and I would pull that out every time versus using those screens. Which reminds me about the inability to get the 4 seat configuration. That really torqued me.

Streamliner

To further illustrate how little the rear seat options mean to me, my “tablet” from my S580 is still sealed in the box. I’ve never opened it. Hate to see it go missing before I turn the leased car back in.

crabman

My grandchildren dropped it a couple times, mine isn't quite in like new condition anymore. *facepalm*

When I filled out the questionnaire one of my complaints was the lack of a global off button to childproof it back there. The kids do love it, lots of toys.