I'm starting my hunt for an S212, and I'm having a hard time determining what, if any, small differences there are between the 2014, -15, and -16 AMG wagons. I've got a few loosely related questions and I figured I'd keep them all in one place rather than bog things down with multiple threads. Any help, insight, or advice is much appreciated.

1. I'm strongly anti-touchscreen/menu - would prefer many different buttons rather than a few different screens and menus to navigate. Is there any difference in terms of ease of use, "modernity" (or lack thereof), or overall frustration level with the onboard computerized crap?

2. I dislike intrusive drivers' aides of all kinds. I hated driving a friend's RS7 because it was constantly intervening and sounding (mostly false and/or unnecessary) alarms and just generally having a nervous breakdown all the time, at least the way he preferred it to be configured. I would like to be able to turn things off without having to turn them off every single time I start the car. Any difference between model years as far as this goes?

3. I plan to keep this car for a very long time. If I ever modify it, it'll be relatively tame (i.e., just throwing a tune on, but nothing hardcore). It'll only get driven during nice weather, and never in the winter - I've got a bunch of Subarus to get me through the Chicago winters. But I'll be exceeding the posted speed limits on the interstate for hours at a time on occasion. Any emerging trends with respect to long-term reliability? Any meaningful trend with the cars at the end of the model cycle being more mechanically sound than the earlier ones?

4. How prone to rust are these cars? Many of the cars I've seen have spent at least some time in the Northeast or Midwest where the winter road salt and brine is a bad deal. If you were looking to buy an S212 with the intention of keeping it indefinitely, would you avoid cars that have spent any amount of time in those areas/climates just on principle?

5. I realize that this question depends on many different factors, but to the extent it can be answered, all else being equal and with a budget between $60k and $70k, what's the "sweet spot" in terms of cost versus mileage? Lower mileage 2016 for more money? Higher mileage 2014 and put the savings towards inevitable repairs and maintenance? Lower mileage 2014? I don't want CCBs (not negotiable) and while I'd prefer one of the wood trimmed interiors (and not CF or piano black), that isn't necessarily a dealbreaker. I want a boring, sleeperific exterior color.

6. Any known problems or issues with installing radar detectors, etc., on any of these cars?

Thanks for the help, and I'm looking forward to joining the club!

 

Newer w212s
- better timing chain
- 2016 has better COMAND infotainment
- 2014 has wider exhaust slightly
- lots of tsbs and software updates will make these cars essentially identical 2014-2016

 

Great, thanks!

What years have the improved timing chain?

And what's better about the 2016 COMAND system? I'm kind of an anti-tech grouch in many ways, so "better" may be a general consensus for which I'm a unique exception...

 

 

Apple car play is a big one

 

Even though this is 2014, it's closest to the 2016 software for e63S. The seating adjustments are in the comand... others can confirm. Better graphics for the car settings

 

Small additions:

The 2016 Command is a big improvement. Better graphics - faster processor/ response,a nd support for Carplay/Android Auto (which if you are going to go above speed limit "for hours" allow you to run Waze in the screen and get voice messages even if you crank tunes. In general - always best to buy last model year of any car, kinks are worked out, but of course depreciation is steeper.

No issues installing radar detector, these cars do not have heated windshields.
If you are a habitual speeder, also invest in laser sensors. ALP install

 

The chains is easy to identify and explain... most (if not all) 14s and some 13s have the new chain. Easy to see right through the oil filter cap.
The tensioners and check valves are a different story. it took Mercedes quite a few tries to get this right.
most early years like 11-12 didn't have check valves.
most 13+ have check valves
11-13 have the oldest version of the tensioners, they can fail. first TSB issued to update to the ~13-15 tensioners
13-15 have the first revision of the tensioners. they can fail, TSB issued to update to newest tensioners found in most 16s.
15-16 usually the newest tensioners (but not always lol)
Confusing, luckily, according to MB, the tensioners are an annoyance, wont cause damage. The also are relatively cheap. ~$200. On the contrary, a stretched timing chain is a couple grand and causes issues if not addressed.

 

14's dont have power mirrors in the US market.
15+ have diff badging font on side fenders and trunk
15+ have no rear passenger headrest drop button on center console

 

Not sure about the last one - my '16 has it - and it doesn't work since it's a wagon....

 

Wagons may have kept the option or just the button lol? I should have said sedan specific. Never looked into wagons.

the 15+'s also have a updated Trans conductor plate which may show up in your findings. No known performance or reliability changes to report on that end, may just very well be a internal change from Mercedes and or a change from the supplier. The clutches, solenoids, gears, oil pump, etc are all the same.

 

I believe in the wagons, the button just drops the headrests down to the lowest position (if raised) instead of dropping them backwards.

 

Awesome - thanks for all the feedback!

Any yearly differences with respect to the ease of permanently disabling the more intrusive drivers aides? I don't want to have to fight with a menu every time I get in...
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