Changed to S212 - thank you BMW?

[blue gnome123]

Hi

After looking round for a while I've changed my S211 (Brabus D6, black metallic) for a S212.

The '62 plate S212 E350 is quite a "good spec" compared to large number of standard spec ex-Merc cars at the dealers.

Metallic black, tinted windows (aka The hearse)
19" AMG alloys
Panoramic sunroof
Coffee leather with white contrast stitching (Designo?)
Memory pack
Reverse camera
+stand spec, Parkronic, etc...

The only slight disappointment is that it isn't the latest NTG 4.5 with the microSD card and no DAB but I might upgrade at some point.

Unusually for a relatively new Merc it was at a maindealer but at a BMW dealer. It had been traded in by a "lifelong BMW customer" who had swapped to Merc but just couldn't get on with the straight forward driving controls, comfortable ride and space. After 6 months he went back to a 5 series

It's been hardly used. The media cables are still in the pack, the Stat Nav hadn't been used and there were no presets in the command radio/ telephone book. He really didn't get on with Command

Pictures to follow later

 

[developer]

Sounds a fine car - looking forward to the photos and comparisons.

Which dealer was it?

Forgot to add - mine came from a Volvo dealer .

 

[blue gnome123]

Hi Developer 215

It was BowkerBMW in Preston. Quite a drive yesterday from Surrey but well worth it.

Initial impressions are good. It rides slightly harder than my 17" Avantgarde S211 did, more noticeably around town and hardly at all on the motorway. In some ways it feels like a "bigger" car too (I think that S211/212 are the same size?) but maybe that's the new car feel. The S212 also handles a little bit tighter but I suspect that this is Avantgarde vs Sport rather than 212 vs 211.

The seats (there have been some complaints about the 212 seats here) and the driving position are good with the steering wheel almost directly in front (a bug of mine in the 211 being so off line), but not quite in line. I drove 280miles back yesterday (via Nottingham) and can say that I was in better shape than the 250miles to Preston. However 530miles in the day and I felt fine. Just what e-class were made for.

Otherwise the communications upgrades (it took me 2mins to put in my ipod and Bluetooth my Iphone and upload the contacts) are as you would expect of a newer car. The central info screen in the speedo is particularly nice. I'll have to play today training the Lingatronic (something else the previous owner hadn't used )

The D6 320cdi did seem if anything a little punchier than the E350, although this maybe because the torque peak in the 320cdi seemed a little narrower. There isn't much in them. I must resist the temptation of the D6S!

 

[blue gnome123]

I forgot to add. I got a couple of MPG more in the E350 coming home. Most around 80mph and 42mpg for 150 miles.

 

[blue gnome123]

Old machine pics and new machine. 81K on the S211 and 4k on the S212

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Love that interior, it's a nice contrast with the black paintwork.

 

[bpsorrel]

Good looking car! Black and tan go so well together!

 

[A210AMG]

Looks very nice,


I agree its a nice change from black with black...

I think it needs a different colour being black outside looks really nice, and sits well on 19"

 

[Peter DLM]

Very nice indeed, I really like the Tan interior.

 

[developer]

Looks great - I love the tan.

Power wise it's S211- 272bhp
S212 - 265bhp.

Torque very close.

Negligible, but I suspect the 211 will have loosened up nicely, hence feeing a bit perkier.

 

[Dieselman]

Another one for the Sand interior colour.

I'm getting more determined that my next car won't have a black interior.

 

[blue gnome123]

Hi

Most of the E350's I looked at were black leather interior and black headlining, with dark wood trim. These all felt a bit too "cave" like for me. Although this one has a black headlining, with the panoramic and tan interior its a very light place.

After the old 211, the 19inch wheels look massive. I'll be getting some winter tyres for certain!

I'm having a towbar (detachable swan neck) and reversing camera fitted next week. Then I'll be at my desired specification.

The D6 211 certainly felt free reving, although the 212 is still under 5000 miles, it should improve.

Finally to say to those people who feel 211 are unreliable. Mine had 81k on it and had a glow plug relay as the only thing replaced in all that time.