Pre-facelift and facelift W211

[Troon]

Can I ask does it really matter?!?!?!? They weren't huge changes. Or were they?

They certainly were. The brake system moved from the troublesome and potentially expensive SBC to a standard hydraulic system. In itself, that's a major reason for choosing a facelift over a pre.

Also, the dual battery system reverted to a standard single; and the 220CDI went from 150PS/340Nm to 170PS/400Nm. Mirror puddle lamps are not in the facelift!

The slats to mesh change on the centre speaker cover was around 2004, and is alleged to coincide with a set of production updates that improved the wiring reliability. This isn't the main June 2006 facelift, though, which had some fundamental changes.

As mentioned, the move to V6 with 7G ilo I5 and I6 engines happened prior to the main facelift.

 

[Major774]

I noticed that my mirror puddles lights are removed... my car is on 04 plate, still on the old electrics.

 

[christopherwk]

Interesting looking at that hybrid example, the steering wheel and gear lever are facelifted versions, while the climate controls are pre-facelift.

 

[mersum1es]

Sorry, in German:
http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/aktion/Attachment.html?attachmentId=685913

 

[developer]

John that loonys car was a facelift

it wasn't H - it was a mixed spec - V6/7G and pre facelift body parts:
Mercedes-Benz Owners' Forums

 

[mct_cars]

804 on the data card is the key for the mechanical upgrade - plenty on a 53 plate. My 500 was a 53 and came with 7G and associated revisions for 804.

 

[Peter DLM]

Always go for the facelift if possible. The changes are very worthwhile.

 

[MercedesDriver]

Always go for the facelift if possible. The changes are very worthwhile.

I fully agree with you, but. You know what I mean.
I'm more interested to find out if there are pre-facelift models but with sorted electric issues. Something like old exterior design (chassis) with facelift electrics. Regs 55 and 06 which still have old chassis but no gremlins. That's where I can stick my budget now.

 

[KillerHERTZ]

Ive never read of any problems with W211s other than the 1st MY2002.

My father has a 04 and never had any issues with quality.

 

[MercedesDriver]

What this VIN WDB21122202A9022 tells you? All I see is that it is W211.
Thanks in advance.

 

[John]

But there are also elegance and avantgarde trim models 54 & 05 which are pre-facelift but with mesh. are those also with updated electrics?

The updated electrics, or human-installed wiring loom, came Autumn 2004.

Code is 805 IIRC.

You can still get 54 plates with slats grille above the air vents but most should be fine mesh and therefore updated.

I've not heard of many issues on pre-model revisions (not facelift as said as this was 2006) and there are a few on here.

Mine is a revised one but I get some quirks when it is very wet albeit nothing permanent.

 

[Londonscottish]

There was a revised version with updated electronics mainly between 04 - 55 plates.

Mine's one of them - 54 plate. March 2005 I think.

 

[Major774]

Mine's one of them - 54 plate. March 2005 I think.

So close... if your car was in April 2005 it would have made the 05 plate hehe.

 

[Major774]

The updated electrics, or human-installed wiring loom, came Autumn 2004.

Code is 805 IIRC.

You can still get 54 plates with slats grille above the air vents but most should be fine mesh and therefore updated.

I've not heard of many issues on pre-model revisions (not facelift as said as this was 2006) and there are a few on here.

Mine is a revised one but I get some quirks when it is very wet albeit nothing permanent.

My 04 plate is code 804... so its on the old electronics. I can confirm this because I had to use the pre-facelift distronic kit. Oh yeah... great optional toy to have

 

[John]

Mine's one of them - 54 plate. March 2005 I think.

So close... if your car was in April 2005 it would have made the 05 plate hehe.

05 plates came out March 1st 2005...

 

[Londonscottish]

05 plates came out March 1st 2005...

I'll be wrong then. I never got my head around the new plate system after the annual change stopped.

It's deffo a 54 plate. Thought it was registered in early 2005. Will have a look at V50.

 

[PXW]

I had a 55 with V6 and 7G box...so presumably also with updated electrics. Didn't have any trouble with it. They are fully galvanised as well at that age.

The SBC is the lurker...if it goes, it's expensive, but istr MB did a lot of out of warranty replacements. Worth asking/checking service record - if the pump has been replaced then you are probably OK. Mine wasn't replaced, but didn't cause any problems either - ran the car to 105k, then sold it to a friend who has put another 10-12k on it again without any big mechanical problems.

It's definitely worth getting a decent indie to have a look over th car through - it will be worth every penny in peace of mind, if nothing else.

 

[MercedesDriver]

I had a 55 with V6 and 7G box...so presumably also with updated electrics. Didn't have any trouble with it. They are fully galvanised as well at that age.

The SBC is the lurker...if it goes, it's expensive, but istr MB did a lot of out of warranty replacements. Worth asking/checking service record - if the pump has been replaced then you are probably OK. Mine wasn't replaced, but didn't cause any problems either - ran the car to 105k, then sold it to a friend who has put another 10-12k on it again without any big mechanical problems.

It's definitely worth getting a decent indie to have a look over th car through - it will be worth every penny in peace of mind, if nothing else.

I went yesterday to local MB and got a printout of service history but there is no trace of any changes of SBC which is quite odd since this one is with high miles - 190k. Record shows that it is always serviced at MB and there are lot of services done due to recalls.
Could it be that 55 Sport trims have been already updated?

 

[gIzzE]

Don't think so.

It is something like 200,000 pedal presses, if the original owner did loads of motorway work then you could see 200k miles before it stops, if it was someone in town then you could hit that after 100k miles easily.

 

[gIzzE]

I wish Mercedes would give a proper answer on this, I read that the unit is good for at least double what they have set it to, and that they increased the pedal count on later cars too.

So, on your car you may get 400,000 pedal presses and it might be fine for 250k miles.

I would probably be happy to go for a pre facelift now I have read more about it, and just use one of the devices to reset it by 25% if it does go, that would give at least another 50k miles, and safely.