w211 vs w212 whats the issue?

[elisetype25]

If you discount the subjective statements in the responses received eg. styling, materials, future reliability there isn't much left to underpin any claim that the 212 is inferior to the 211.

The seats fold with a single pull of the handle. Yes the folded seat sits on the squab, resulting a very slight angle (maybe 5 degrees or so), which becomes completely flat as soon as anything is placed into the load area. So no issue there.

My car is now at 116k miles, 4.5 years old and has no squeaks or rattles and remains an extremely comfortable and refined car, averaging around 45mpg.

Gizzie couldn't get on with the seating position, a couple of others have said the same. I and many more others have had no issues.

Some have commented, including myself, on the road noise in the cabin. Tyres seem to play a significant role in this (Goodyears are much better), but it is in no way an issue IMO. In fact, I have had a significant number of passengers comment on the smoothness and quietness of the ride.

Like you, I like the look of the 212. In my opinion Es have always looked better as estates, but IMO the 212 is the first E that doesn't look awkward in saloon form. I also like the clean lines of the interior, and always felt the 211 was overstyled inside and that some of the coloured plastics looked a little old fashioned.

The build quality has proved to be excellent from the start (initial injector problems aside), something that seemed evolve with the 211 (radiators, brakes, rust etc.).

As with all Mercedes the safety features on the latest models continue to evolve and the 212 is no exception. There are some very impressive features built into this car (especially when fitted with the latest Distronic system), I cannot think of any other car I would prefer to use to convey my family in comfort and style.

I do feel a lot of the criticism of the 212 is misplaced and subjective, much in the same way that everything after the 123/124 is inferior. Don't believe the hype, try before you buy and make up your own mind in terms of styling and materials. Then search the forums for common faults with each model, this will highlight which models suffer from real mechanical gripes and which suffers from just gripes!

Regards, Neil

 

[merc85]

Why not go the whole hog and get the facelift version, E420CDI with 310BHP and 730 newtons as stock? (tuned versions claim 400+ BHP and 800+ Nm)

Ive never seen one for sale saloon or estate buddy, If there was id would have to be a estate for

 

[Deleted member 37751]

I had a 2012 W212 E350 CDi 7G+ for over a month and, quite sadly, grew to dislike it that much that it put me off them as a potential long term purchase.

Having owned seven W211's I was really willing the W212 to be better but the only thing I can honestly say that is better is the sound deadening; it was definitely quieter at motorway speeds.

Other than that? I genuinely can't see myself ever owning one, pre-facelift anyway; the seating position is terrible, the top of the drivers door card is too high, the interior plastics feel hard and embarrassingly cheap, the Artico seats don't age well and last but not least the rear quarter looks as though they've not given any thought to how the body lines match up.

And this isn't a subjective W211's-are-better-than-W212's-in-the-same-way-W124's-were-the-last-proper-Mercs type rant; I really wanted to own a W212 long term but I don't think I ever will which I'm a bit sad about!

 

[gIzzE]

Oi, Lee, what is that in your profile???!!

XFS Portfolio??

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Oi, Lee, what is that in your profile???!!

XFS Portfolio??

It is indeed my friend.

Not took up golf though, I draw the line at golf.

 

[Ash]

I wonder what MB engineers would make of this thread.

For me the 250 212 cdi feels far better developed than our previous car the 211 320 cdi inline 6. Lessons learned from the last one and all. They seem to have engineered out the bugs and produced a very effective modern car. But it feels like an appliance and a very angular-looking one.

Mrs Ash for example was fond of the old car and indifferent to the new one. It is more plasticy inside and a bit dull. Better car. Not as nice to look at. Less character. Way more reliable.
Ash

 

[lukecrowley571]

I had a W212 E220 CDI SE saloon as a lease car until recently, when I replaced it with a pre-facelift W203 C240 (I know, I know, but new job means no more company car). Immediately prior to the 212 I had a W202, and I've also had a W124 and a W201 in the past. Got all that? Right, my opinion of the 212 in the context of the other Mercs I've owned (bearing in mind that the next-newest is my current '01 C-Class) is as follows:

Good points:
1. Spacious, comfortable interior that a lot of people commented favourably on
2. Decent range of standard kit. Never had parking sensors or sat nav before, but now really miss them in the 203!
3. Mostly reliable
4. Really economical

Bad points:
1. Leather felt of a much lower quality than my 203 (and yes, it was the real stuff, not Artico)
2. No folding rear seats as standard (that's just mean)
3. Cabin just doesn't feel 'special' enough. Dreary design, and a lot of the switchgear feels cheap. My uncle has a 2012 A6, and its cockpit is streets ahead of the 212's
4. Clattery, unrefined engine
5. Gearbox is so slow to respond to the paddles that you have to send a written request for a gearchange two weeks in advance
6. COMAND isn't what you'd call intuitive

Make up your own mind...

 

[timskemp]

I've had a 211 E270cdi and a 212 E220cdi, with a 204 C320di in between.

All have been great cars, the C320 shows where the money is saved but was huge fun to drive. Always felt a class below by not having as much leather and felt a lot smaller, despite not really being much smaller at all.

The 212 beats the 211 in every way, it's quieter, feels nicer to drive, handles better, grips more, uses a lot less fuel, is cheaper to tax and insure.

I really like it, and feel like I could keep it forever but after the C320 it feels a little slow, and a CLS250 has come up at the right price...

 

[Thayster79]

I had a 2004 e class 220 CDI elegance and loved it, best car I've ever owned ( and I've owned about 20). I went from that to a 2010 e class 2.1 avantgarde. It was actually the 2.5 engine. Really disappointed. Didn't drive as well as the 211, not as stable, ride more choppy, steering worse. The only area it surpassed my w211 was speed. I might be mad, but I sold it and bought a 2005 220cdi elegance. Love it

 

[350cls]

This thread last updated last updated 2 years ago. 10 year old thread overall

My thoughts as have now owed both models with different engine variants at different times in my ownership.

W/S211
The ride quality of the 211 is superb in every way, comfortable, quite, refined, just a fantastic place to be with any driving situations. I thought the world of my first 211 which was the amazing e55k what a platform to start with. Then acquired the s211 e320 cdi. Both amazing cars with brilliant engines. Monsters to be fair in more ways than one. Interior comforts, ride comfort, driving position. Can't fault the 211's at all. The only slight negative for me compared to the w/s212 was the handling. Just felt dated in the end when I got into my first 212 which was the E63 156 variant. This car for me personally was just on another level with performance, and handling was just amazing how a car can feel so agile for its sheer size. Its an amazing chassis, still astounds me to this day when I jump in it. Going on 6 years plus. Then we have the current recent purchase E250 s212 which again just handles so well the 212 chassis is just miles better on a handling front compared to the mighty 211.

Interior and exterior deabates will always go on like the models previous to these I have mentioned. I have preferences with both myself. It's evident the 212 wouldn't have the handling qualities it has had it not been for the 211 chassis.

I had xenon headlights on both my 211's I don't on the new to me s212 but I can live with that. There is argument for both models in my opinion. I actually like both exterior designs of both. I haven't owned a fl 212 so can't comment but I like both pfl and FL but I do think the pfl looks more aggressive in the 212.

Options are always nice to have and both come with plenty. My s211 320 was well optioned but the e55k less so. It didn't alter the driving aspects of the car which is the important stuff for me.

Where as the E63 is fairly well optioned and again this doesn't effect the driving aspects of the car.

The s212 e250 is less so optioned but as said it's driving capabilities is what connected me to the car. As I experienced this previously with the 212 chassis being the E63.

It's hard to pick an overall winner for me as I have love in both camps. But just for the handling and more modern driving feel, the 212 gets my vote. But I can see if the 211 is preferred, it's an amazing place to be. I mis the old s211 but I still have MB cars in the household so I still feel privileged that I do so.

This fascinaton is growing by the day. Happy motoring MB owners/ members.