W210 elegance / Avantgarde suspension difference

[welland99]

Can anybody with experience describe the difference in ride experienced between an elegance and avantgarde W210 estate?

I have test driven a few recently and can't tell much difference. I have read that the avantgarde is meant to be firmer (sportier), but the ones I have driven don't seem unduly firm. In fact the elegance ones I have driven don't seem unduly wallowey either.

Both seem fine to me.

Do both have the self levelling system as standard, or just the Avantgarde? I ask this because I didn't spot a headlamp beam adjuster in the dashboard. Is this because the suspension is always auto levelled, or because I didn't open my eyes enough.

As far as I am aware none of the cars I have looked at had xenon lights. Xenon lights have auto adjusting beam height don't they?

 

[Dieselman]

Avantgarde is lower and stiffer, but the cars possibly want new springs and dampers up front by now.
All estates are SLS on the rear.

 

[whitenemesis]

Can't comment on the suspensions but yes, xenon lights have auto adjustment

 

[welland99]

All estates are SLS on the rear.

What does SLS mean, please?

 

[Dieselman]

Self Levelling Suspension

 

[lynall]

If you cant see the bulb through the lens its got xenons, dont forget these are the old style xenons and not the newer projector style.

I always though avantgarde had lower and stiffer springs and much better trim levels, but not always leather.



Lynall

 

[welland99]

Self Levelling Suspension

DOH! I realised this in the shower this morning

 

[welland99]

If you cant see the bulb through the lens its got xenons, dont forget these are the old style xenons and not the newer projector style.

I always though avantgarde had lower and stiffer springs and much better trim levels, but not always leather.

From what I can tell, the suspension is lower, it may be firmer but I can't tell. Trim levels seem a bit different, but I would not say better. I have so far seen nothing on an avant garde that is not also available on an elegance.

 

[Dieselman]

I have so far seen nothing on an avant garde that is not also available on an elegance.

Blue glass, 5 slat grille...

 

[lynall]

Decent wheels

I think you can spec a lot of stuff on the lower models that was std in the avantgarde, auto fold mirrors, auto dim exterior mirror, heated seat (best bit)

Its probably the subtle stuff that you wont notice to start with, otherwise why nake the avantgarde model in the 1st place?




Lynall

 

[welland99]

Blue glass, 5 slat grille...

Oh yeah, forgot about the grill. Isn't it black on the avantgarde, but chrome on the elegance?

 

[gurpz]

Blue glass, 5 slat grille...

Not forgeting Birds Eye Maple wood trim as standard

 

[Peter DLM]

The suspension on my W210 Avantgarde is very stiff indeed. Too stiff most of the time, but just right sometimes.

One of these times is the junction between the M25 and the M11. One of my favourite sequence of bends.

 

[hawk20]

IMO the difference in trim levels on the 210 (or on the 211 series which I now have) are very small between Elegance and Avantgarde. There are some trim differences but they are just different not better. Elegance has Walnut wood trim (like the S class). Very nice. Avantgarde has Bird's Eye Maple. Different and also very nice in its own way.
Black dials on Elegance (which I prefer); silver dials on Avantgarde.

When Elegance and Avantgarde were the same price, Elegance outsold Avantgarde. Then MB added Bi-Xenon lights to Avantgarde (and made them extra on Elegance). Now AG outsells Elegance.

Both have alloy wheels, just different.

Elegance comes standard with 'comfort suspension'. Being German it is still pretty firm on UK rutted and pitted A roads.

Avantgarde has suspension lowered 15mm as standard and is firmer. BUT you can choose 'comfort supension' on AG at no extra charge. So you may drive one of each and find no difference if they both have 'comfort'.

On the 211 facelift there is also the option with Avantgarde, of Sports suspension, which I find far too firm for UK roads in my area. That is the suspension which is standard on Sport models.

 

[hawk20]

I haven't put this as clearly as I would like -as its a confusing picture now on the 211 series. There is a useful table on the MB website.

Basically, even the Classic version can choose the option of AG or Sport supension. So can Elegance. Both come standard with 'comfort suspension'.
And AG comes standard with AG suspension (lowered 15mm and firmish) but can choose 'comfort' or Sport.

Finally there is the option of the Airmatic system (which is on the S class as standard) and IMO is like a magic carpet ride. Wonderful. And you can flick a switch to have either 'comfort' or Sport settings.

 

[renault12ts]

Oh yeah, forgot about the grill. Isn't it black on the avantgarde, but chrome on the elegance?

No, both have chrome, but the AG has much more.