W211 2006-2008 E-Class update up close

[miro]

New bumper, fog lamp trims. grille and headlamps

Detail of headlamps and bumper

Detail of mirror housing

Detail of rear lamps

Detail of gear selector design

Updated Speedshift control

Now has a roof mounted antenna for GPS / Phone like the W210

 

[Flash]

Nice pics and the face lift W211 looks very fresh and the exterior changes are noticebale!

The new gear stick is very classy with the MB Star and the chrome surround around the fog lights on the front bumper is a nice touch (just like it is on the CLS/new S Class (W221) and B Blass).

I quite like the face lift W211.

The Sports Edition is even nicer as get two single exhaust pipes (unless only E500s come with them)

 

[miro]

Nice pics and the face lift W211 looks very fresh and the exterior changes are noticebale!

The new gear stick is very classy with the MB Star and the chrome surround around the fog lights on the front bumper is a nice touch (just like it is on the CLS/new S Class (W221) and B Blass).

I quite like the face lift W211.

The Sports Edition is even nicer as get two single exhaust pipes (unless only E500s come with them)

Avantgarge with the dual rear exhaust.

 

[Flash]

Thats the one...

 

[Flash]

I wonder if DC UK have shifted all their pre face lift surplus stock (they had quite a few unit available when the face lift was launched...).

 

[mebs]

I would say the interior in the new w211 is becoming very standardised, I saw it at the london motor show it looking very much lik the facelift w209 clk inside apart from the heater settings at the top of the centre console, stil IMHO looks nice

 

[Dryce]

Nice pics and the face lift W211 looks very fresh and the exterior changes are noticebale!

The new gear stick is very classy with the MB Star and the chrome surround around the fog lights on the front bumper is a nice touch (just like it is on the CLS/new S Class (W221) and B Blass).

I quite like the face lift W211.

I think the front detailing on the model shown looks fussy.

Extra detailing for its own sake.

What I'd like to know is whether the new braking system is
really as good or better than the old SBC setup. (I like my SBC!).

 

[glojo]

I have seen the new Sport 320CDI 211 estate in the flesh, but only the side and rear I like the fact that the 'old' 211 estate has no exterior aerials at all. Just like Miro has shown with the saloon, even the facelift estate has the telephone aerial. I live in a very hilly area where the mobile telephone signal can be intermittant. The 'old' 211 estate without an exterior aerial seems to work very well, and I like not having an aerial on the roof.

The 320CDI Sport had the rear twin exhausts and I accept there might have been a problem with the injection system?? or something else, but the soot marks around the exposed exhaust pipes looked terrible, and I am NOT exaggerating it looked horrible. As stated I only saw the vehicles side and rear, but the only way I knew it was a facelift was the very nice sports wheels, the shark type aerial, and the terrible exhaust pipes.

John

 

[Glenn Smith]

Have you a close up of the rust, or hasn't it started yet!!!

 

[miro]

Have you a close up of the rust, or hasn't it started yet!!!

This is Australia ... we are lucky to have humidity

 

[Shude]

This is Australia ... we are lucky to have humidity

I am no expert in these matters but surely humidity is the the last thing you want regarding rust!

 

[glojo]

Have you a close up of the rust, or hasn't it started yet!!!

Rust!!!! What rust....

John

 

[Voltan]

To me, at least on paper, the front looks too busy and not cohesive. A cut and paste job, just to be different for the sake of difference. Cannot see what each “new” parts can functionally do better than the old ones. But they do look more expensive to manufacture and replace. As for the rear, the lengthened chrome strip above the number plate looks like an accidental work. It overshoots the edge and ruined integration. Question, why not make it longer to the glass?

These straight exposed jet pipes of exhausts are definite no go for diesel cars. I think John must have seen the murk in the exposed a**holes. Terribly ugly, I imagine. Just my 2 penny worth of comments.

 

[Goldfish11]

I had a good look at one the other day, to be quite honest the most noticable bit is the rear light clusters. I wonder if you could buy the lense and fit it to the old model? The other elements are only noticable if you know what you are looking for.

The other great thing is the new 220 engine this gives you the same bhp as the old 270 (about 170) so this is worth going for as it has the same fuel economy as the old 150bhp 220.

 

[Birdman]

Does the pre-facelift have a leather gaiter on the gearstick?
Remember the old MB cupholder was designed to dump a pint of full fat coke into the gearswitches and it was a $2500 fix (in Florida it would be a quart of Margarita melt-ice).

 

[glojo]

Does the pre-facelift have a leather gaiter on the gearstick?
Remember the old MB cupholder was designed to dump a pint of full fat coke into the gearswitches and it was a $2500 fix (in Florida it would be a quart of Margarita melt-ice).

I don't quite understand the question, but hopefully the European 211 will keep the whole centre console?? arrangement. The US version looks butt ugly, is not practical and is solely there to cater for a society that insists on having larger quantities of refreshments whilst driving. In fact the US centre console thingie is ugly!!! Have I said it is ugly?? Just my opinion though.

John

 

[Birdman]

Earlier E class gear selectors had no protective leather thingy (gaiter). So the US-market cup-holders mounted above the transmission tunnel spilt their contents straight into the internals of the gear selector. It was a $2500 repair jobby.
You get the same effect pitching hot sweet coffee over your laptop (computer, not squeeze!)

 

[glojo]

Earlier E class gear selectors had no protective leather thingy (gaiter). So the US-market cup-holders mounted above the transmission tunnel spilt their contents straight into the internals of the gear selector. It was a $2500 repair jobby.
You get the same effect pitching hot sweet coffee over your laptop (computer, not squeeze!)

Hi Birdman,
I'm as thick as two short planks and still do not understand what your saying. The 211 has always had a gaiter be it MB-Tex, leather or plastic which seals the hole between the gear lever and console. The US console was identical to the European vehicles until numerous complaints were made from US owners about the cup holder being to small for their drinks. The US console was then altered much to the disgust of numerous owners who are now paying the likes of MBenzNL to convert back to the European specification. The gaiter as such still connects to the gear lever. The top of the gear lever is always higher than the gaiter??

Here is a picture of the US console although it does not show clearly the horrible sliding shutter that hides the hole for the 2 gallon milk shake drinks container (joke)

Here are just a few comments about it from owners:

I just got a 2006 E350 with the standard roll-top center console and it's been driving me crazy not having an arm rest. I've seen other posts where people have swapped out their console for the older butterfly version. Can anyone tell me about how much that cost? Also, is there another alternative (i.e. an aftermarket part that can stick into the cupholder slot)?

I sure agree with you about the center console. I much prefer the older "butterfly" console doors. I also prefer the charcoal colored interior. I had one car with the pearl grey that was pretty but needed cleaning too often. My wagon has the Java interior that is too light and always looks a little dirty.

...we already swapped out several rolling center consoles for butterflying center consoles...no problem to swap those out

I believe the latest European console looks like this:

This is a better picture and hopefully you can understand my waffle about a gaiter. It is in the usual place and simply acts as a seal??

I hope I have been helpful and I apologise for being soooo fik.

Bye for now,
John

 

[Birdman]

Thanks glojo. I can safely say that you have answered my hazy recollection with a pin-sharp explanation. I think I wuz confusing the W211 with ANother Mercedes
The inspiration for going off-topic like this was mention of a class action against MB cup holders.
The E430 owner stated ' (the car) has a design defect due to the fact that coffee from a cup placed in a cup holder spilled into the gear shaft and shut down the entire electrical system.'
Here's the source of the story.

NHTSA Action Number: NHTSA Recall Campaign Number:
DP05007 N/A
Make: MERCEDES BENZ Model: SLK
Manufacturer : MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC.
Year : 2001
Component :
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)

Date Investigation Opened : November 7, 2005
Date Investigation Closed : Open
Summary:
THE PETITION STATED THAT THE SUBJECT VEHICLE HAS A DESIGN DEFECT "DUE TO THE FACT THAT COFFEE FROM A CUP, PLACED IN THE CUP HOLDER, SPILLED INTO THE GEAR SHIFTER AND SHUT DOWN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM." IT FURTHER STATED THAT THE CAR "JERKED AND SLOWED DOWN." ODI HAS RECEIVED 11 (NOT COUNTING THE ONE FROM THE PETITIONER) COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, ALLEGING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTION AND/OR ENGINE SHUT DOWN RESULTING FROM LIQUID SPILLAGE ONTO THE TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFTER.

Taken from http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r170-slk-class/1244934-2001-slk-spilling-liquids-into-shift.html

 

[glojo]

Hi Birdman,
Thanks very much indeed for the link and I am pleased to be of help. Nothing ever surprises me about modern day folk. We laugh at the Americans for the way they are so quick to sue, but in reality are we any better?

Bye for now,
John