New W212 E-Class - what options?

[SimonsMerc]

Having test driven an E250CDI Avantgarde (without Direct Steering) an E350CDI Sport and my own E350CDI Avantgarde, I'd say no. The latter two clearly have variable assistance as well as the variable ratio rack, while the car without Direct Steering felt a good deal heavier at parking speeds so I don't think the assistance is variable.

Like you I wasn't very impressed at it being impossible to spec what I want in the way of options on a circa £40k car - but that's the way it is. You really need to take a test drive for yourself though, to see if you can happily live without variable assistance on the steering.

Damn :-|

Ok, thanks for that

-simon

 

[AlastairM]

Like others, I really value the Intelligent Lighting System on the Avantgarde model. The interior ambient lighting gives the car a luxurious feeling at night,as well.

An option I specced only at the last moment and am really glad I did was the reversing camera - which I find really helpful when parking. It's a long car!

 

[hawk20]

The trouble with asking this question is that if you wait long enough we will find someone to recommend every extra in the book. We are all different and like different things.

Personally I would pay extra not to have Distronic, or a Pan roof. I would pay extra for smaller wheels as the ride is so much better, the steering lighter, and the road noise much less. I drove the 212 with 16 inch wheels and then with 18 inch and the difference in road noise was remarkable -and very annoying at cruising speeds. Like many reviewers in the car mags I would avoid the Sport suspension on UK roads.

The one extra I would definitely try out if I were you is the 250cdi engine. The 220cdi is fine but the 250cdi is just stunning. It is almost impossible to believe that so much power, and such smooth power can come from a 2.2 diesel. And the fuel economy is what we would all have only dreamed of a few years back.

I found the standard steering fine and it does vary with speed. I think Direct Steering is somewhat different. Worth asking MB customer service -I have found them useful on tech differences in the past. If they don't know, they find out.

And Parktronic.

 

[tylerdurden]

for me HK is a must (and not too expensive).

Try stock and HK, then tell me I'm wrong.

 

[SimonsMerc]

Hrm...is it possible that the "old" parametric steering is now standard, and the "direct" steering option is over and above this?

From emercedesbenz.com:

Just to dredge up this thread - I test-drove two cars, one with direct steering and one without, and I am pretty much convinced that the one without "direct" steering feels almost identical to my old W210 with parametric steering.

The new "direct" steering only seems to make a real difference at high speed, when the car becomes almost unmercedeslike in the way it steers! In fact at Motorway speeds it reminds me more of my old 5 series than an E class . I think direct steering would be nice if you're speccing up a sport or **********, but it's by no means a necessity - the standard steering with variable ratio is just fine.

 

[SimonsMerc]

By the way, here is what I plan to order:

S212 E220D SE 7G+
Metallic Paint (colour still being negotiated with wife!) and black artico leather

864 Rear Seat Entertainment System:
840 Privacy Glass:
734 Trim - Eucalyptus Wood:
915 80 Litre Fuel Tank:
260 Omit Model Designation:
248 Integrated Rear Child Seats:
409 Multi Contour Front Seats:
527 COMAND+Media Interface:
844 Rear Facing Child Seats-ARTICO:

I know, other options would be nice, but this is about the limit of the budget. Everything else is extra extra extra!

-simon

 

[Dr-Nab]

Looks like a pretty nice spec there I'm sure you'll enjoy it

 

[This is Pete]

Very nice. Privacy glass really does suit the estate.

 

[C240Sport97]

By the way, here is what I plan to order:

S212 E220D SE 7G+
Metallic Paint (colour still being negotiated with wife!) and black artico leather

864 Rear Seat Entertainment System:
840 Privacy Glass:
734 Trim - Eucalyptus Wood:
915 80 Litre Fuel Tank:
260 Omit Model Designation:
248 Integrated Rear Child Seats:
409 Multi Contour Front Seats:
527 COMAND+Media Interface:
844 Rear Facing Child Seats-ARTICO:

I know, other options would be nice, but this is about the limit of the budget. Everything else is extra extra extra!

-simon

can you not get Executive SE for the same price as the SE .. but with leather etc etc

 

[SimonsMerc]

can you not get Executive SE for the same price as the SE .. but with leather etc etc

Executive actually costs a bit more, plus it adds 17" alloy wheels which take the car from 139g/km to 142g/km emissions - which is the next level of company car tax.

Can you really tell the difference between the real leather and the artico?

 

[C240Sport97]

Executive actually costs a bit more, plus it adds 17" alloy wheels which take the car from 139g/km to 142g/km emissions - which is the next level of company car tax.

Can you really tell the difference between the real leather and the artico?

Artico is taxi. Leather is much better. Plus you get the lovely lights under the dash and door trims, auto dimming mirrors, lovely dark wood, more chrome on the outside ...

How much more is Executive SE?

 

[SimonsMerc]

Hrm...actually just done a separate quote on the Exec and it's only about £10 more, including the tax difference! Turns out that it comes with Nav50 so upgrading to Comand isn't as much as with the base SE, *plus* it already comes with folding mirrors so they don't need to be specced separately.

Even better - it turns out you can specify panoramic sunroof with the Exec! So for a total quote of about £28 over the base model I get the following spec:

* 864 Rear Seat Entertainment System
* 409 Multi Contour Front Seats
* 527 Command Online Sysem+Media Interface
* 840 Privacy Glass
* 915 80 Litre Fuel Tank
* 260 Omit Model Designation
* 275 Memory Package
* 248 Integrated Rear Child Seats
* 844 Rear Facing Child Seat - Leather
* 413 Panoramic Glass Sunroof
* Metallic Paint

And in leather instead of Artico! And 17" alloys!

Thanks *so* much C240Sport97

-simon

 

[Bircham]

I thought the executive was a great deal as well and ordered mine today. I've stuck to standard spec though as it gives me everything I wanted within my pretty inflexible budget. I would defo have specced ALS if it was available...
I like every option you've put on - it will be a lovely car.
Jon

 

[C240Sport97]

just done a separate quote on the Exec and it's only about £10 more, including the tax difference!

money very well spent.

wise choice