Originally Posted by K-A

Center A/C Vents are a flimsy, cheap feeling substance (painted in silver, not real aluminum). The trim/stripping that goes alongside the interior of A-Piller>door frames>b-pillar is a nice cloth on the W211, it's a harder and rubbery feeling plastic on the W212 (I've always loved how M-B....used to use Cloth in that area where other cars used Plastic/Rubber).

Door arm rests are not nearly as soft and plush as the W211's, they're harder. I notice more plastic in the inside of the car all in all. The lowercenter console area that touches the lower front seats bolsters is all carpet on the 211, minimal use of plastic there, and where there is, it has a nice "stiching" effect, and a chrome piece in the middle (on the side of where your thighs/knees would be) to give a classier look. W212 has all plastic there, none of the mentioned attributes the 211 has (carpeting, chrome, etc.).

The area where the Seat Controls and Window Buttons (on the doors) are, is very plain and cold, not surrounded in wood like the 211 (the wood is on top of it). Maybe it's just the look that's cheap, but it feels pretty hard around there. The door buttons and shapes are not nearly as elegant as the 211's, far more of a simple, mass-produced look of a vibe, but this I don't think has to do with materials as much as design, although I think the 211 does use better/nicer buttons all in all.

The A-Pillar interior material on my W211 is a wool-y/cotton-y looking material, very class (similar look to what you see in some RR's, etc. although they use the real deal), the 212 has the same sandpaper-y, rougher material there as in the uber cheaply appointed C-Class. To note, M-B cheapened this area anyway with the Face-Lifted W211.

The Radio buttons, although not bad, IMO don't have as heavy and thick (i.e quality) a feeling as the W211's buttons in the same area, not to mention not as nice and elegant a design.

The A/C unit I think is more quality all around in the W212's than in the W211's, which I think is actually the weakest link (or only real relatively "weak" link) in the 211's interior.

The little divider piece on the rear door windows in the W212 is a chunkier flat-black plastic piece, IMO not as nice or quality as the glossier material in the W211.

There's more I think but I'm forgetting. Again, it's "nit-picky" stuff. I don't dislike the W212's interior, and think the vibe is more "business", "imposing", "strength" and "quality in durability and solidity", over the W211's "grace", "elegance", "coherent & sweeping design", and "quality in refinement". I personally prefer the latters approach.

Also, I don't know if it was just me, but the M-B Tex in the 212 reminds me of what's used in the W204, i.e a bit harder and less comfy than the 211's version of it (but I'm thinking they should be the same M-B Tex?), and it almost didn't seem to me that the W212 had genuine Leather on the center areas on the front seats (where you sit) like the W211?

Originally Posted by transferred

Read the post directly above yours. I'm right but am tired of taking my time to explain why when it's already been explained.

Valkyrie- you know what one I meant by "new" I would hope, good summary though.

Originally Posted by CWW

I 110% agree with you. I saw a demo one at the dealer and thought the same thing RE them "jazzing up" the interior but making it cheap, I just couldn't put my finger on exactly why. Now that you've explained it, you're totally right. It's all the little details they cheaped out on...

Originally Posted by CWW

When the W211 came out, most of the W210 guys liked it. A good chunk of them liked it right off the bat, especially the AMG model. ..

Originally Posted by KipF

I haven't compared actual data, but after seeing it in person it looks like there is less interior room - especially for the rear seat passengers. The trunk also looks much smaller.

Originally Posted by lauer87

Your wrong about that, the car is actually longer and wider than the W211. The Mercedes engineers sat down with the German taxi drivers (since the E-class is the default taxi in Germany) and asked them what they wanted. They said they wanted a few more inches of leg room in the backseat, without sacrificing trunk space.

Originally Posted by SleepersRock

so why would the W212 AMG be any different?

Originally Posted by 1stdoublenickel

How would we have viewed the w212 if hyundai never existed?? It would probably be amazing huh??

Originally Posted by MB_Forever

There you go......

https://mbworld.org/forums/w211-amg/...70-hp-amg.html