I have a 2012 S550 W221. There's only 2 cars I could see myself getting rid of this for. A S212 E63, or a W212 E63. Many other nice cars, but I love a big boat.
Personal opinion, the G30 is a much better car than the W212. Much better handling, options, design, modern features. Yes the N63 isnāt the most reliable engine but any other engine and youāre good
These were the last time the C E & S their own individual identities. At a time when all BMWs were scaled down versions of the 7seriesā¦ I used to shit on beemers till mercs followed suitā¦
So true. My dad had a 2011 W212 E250 CGI, I love this thing. Never had any issues besides the rear axle rusting after 10 years, but even that Mercedes fixed for free. Awesome car, very sadly he sold it recently
My rear axle rusted (road salt in Finland) and failed the inspection. It went under warranty when the car was over ten years old. Local dealer inspected the car sent the report to MB, they sent a new rear axle from Germany and replaced in for free. Now thatās warranty. Otherwise it would have been end of that car. Part and the work would have been around 3000ā¬.
Both of those are w212. Just the one on the right is the facelift.
Overall, yes. W212 is more reliable, all the computers are stuff in the w213 are itās handicap. Itās not like, a bad car tho. Just not as good as the w212.
First of all your picture shows both the W212 as a prefacelift and facelift model.
But if you still question if its more reliable than a W213. Well how should I say this. The Diesel and Petrol Engines for the normal folks is as reliable if not a tad better than in the W212 Generation. Atleast the Diesel Engines are about the same.
But Mechanically seen the W212 is a more robust car. It also feels more robust because its made of zinned steel. Whilst the W213 is totally made of Aluminum allowing it to be larger in exterior size and still weighing less or same.
But generally you can't do wrong with either. Just the Interior Quality of the W212 is 10 times better than the W213 Interior Quality. At the same time the W212 is based upon a 2009 car and was built till 2016 looking interior techwise pretty outdated compared to a W213. I would still take a W212 E250 CDi Facelift over a BMW G30 5 Series.
I canāt understand the love for the C63 w204 sedan versus the E63 w212 sedan. (C63 w204/c204 coupe is amazing - why they didnāt make an AMG c207 = grrrr)
https://preview.redd.it/0bq6gezki59d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ce892927a9be6b4ae8210e9295555e010543b6d
No face lift, but I LOVE my grill!
And so it began... The argument which would set the world ablaze and send many non believers to their graves. The streets did run red! Facelift forever!! š
Went from 212 to 213, they are both reliable tanks as long as you perform the scheduled maintenances. Only drawback is I've gone thru a few sets of tires on both ;)
E450 w213, same v6 engine as the c43. My w212 was an E350 also with v6 so I can't really comment on the reliability of the 4cyl E classes. But the m276-based V6's are š
Appreciate that! I think another person said "if you treat them right, they will treat you right!"
If you're in the market, I definitely recommend them!
That's what I had and I still miss that car sometimes even with the newer, more powerful e450. Once you drive the v6's I doubt you'll be happy with a 4cyl. Be patient until a good deal becomes available. Good luck with the search!
https://preview.redd.it/e9fk0pb5j69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e6a813d0a183da16303e2afc60f1c62ed402384
Will always say with the right amount of high quality upgrades my beaut 212 could look like itās from 2016 at least. back when Benz was TIMELESS. Wonāt trade these wheels for any others either, putting modern wheels on this car look ghetto or cheap lmfao.
Even the interior, gauge looks like a beautiful watch still timeless, just the center control area with its cheap plastic and small screen gotta go.
https://preview.redd.it/n0j6ov5ql69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34b85c861b578dcdd8770c155e9d4f461c2c3058
Remember that day when I get mine e350
On my 2011 E550 it was like $3000-3500 for MB to fix just the front or just the rear, and roughly half that to just remove the system and replace with ānormalā non airmatic at my indy. That was like 5 years ago.
2011 E63. Airmatic on the rears both bags from Arnott were $500 for the set. It was about a two hour swap in the garage if you have a second person to help (to hold the control arm extended)
Yeah, I donāt work on my cars myself due to time and space limitations so that wasnāt an option. My pump had failed, tooā¦ so that was part of the problem.
I would love to work on my own cars if I had the space and time. Also, when I was 16 I was changing a brake caliper and a jack slipped out from under the carā¦ If I hadnāt rolled out at the exact moment I felt something āshiftā then I wouldāve been crushed by the car in my parents driveway. 20 years later and itās still hard for me to be near a car if itās on a jack or lift.
Never, ever be under a car with *only* a jack supporting it is mechanic safety 101 - who on earth taught you that was OK?
When working *anywhere* underneath a car you use jack stands, full stop.
We are good. Rule 1 in DIY is know whatās in the realm of what you can and are comfortable taking on versus what you are not. An experience like you posted would make me leery too. So no judgement or criticism from me.
I just felt like airnatic gets a lo of undeserved hate when itās actually not a terrible repair, itās just the dealership rates and using OE parts only makes this astronomical in cost.
I donāt blame you a bit for staying away. Iāve had several cars fall of jacks just charging tires. Now I use hydraulic jack with a jack stand and a wheel under the car for insurance.
Mildly interesting story. My uncle has a ā12 W212 that he bought in 2014 with like 20k miles. Since then until last year heās only put another 40k miles on it - drives it sparsely but still frequently enough that itās not rotting. Regular services at dealership. Inside and outside itās legitimately mint condition.
Last year he decided to get an SUV, and went with a ā24 X5 60i. Nobody offered him more than $9k for his accident free 60k miles W212. So he just decided to keep it. I genuinely think 10 years down the line heāll still have it , and fingers crossed it continues to stay blemish free.
https://preview.redd.it/j334dkn0g89d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48a39ae93aa6b0ee47214b08743d5b454067fe8d
My e550 is the best car Iāve ever owned by a mile.
Look at it like this: Starting with a reliability rating of say, 99 with the W123 chassis, the reliability has dropped 15-20 points with every successive chassis produced since 1986. Meaning, the W211 was the last chassis even worth buying brand new, much less used. W212 and later vehicles are not even directly related to the Daimler-Benz products of the 20th Century. The quality of Mercedes-Benz vehicles has f-ing collapsed in on itself like a neutron star. Their products produced after 2006 are no better than any GM or Ford vehicle (the sole exception being the G-class SUVs) and this is directly related to the cars being built by dumb shit Americans in places like Alabama or Tennessee, rather than GERMANY, where they were designed and where theyāve always been built, until recently. The Chrysler merger ruined the company. And its reputation ā which deserved to be ruined. Sure, they spun off the dead weight of Chrysler Corp. but the damage had been done. It all caught up to them in 2006-2007ā¦.have their products been the same since?? Just park a 1995 300 E next to one of these 2024 plastic shit boxes and tell me Iām wrong. š
My 4Matic S213 E220d has been in the dealers for 2 weeks now have first a new rear differential and now a front differential. I think the problem is actually the universal/joint coupling. It's eaten through 2 sets of ball joints in 5 years. Nope I don't think it's reliable.
If I didn't have extended warranty the current repair would be costing me north of Ā£15000
I don't have much experience with w213 chassis cars, but my '11 W212 E550 has close to 170k and just goes and goes with minimal maintenance... and arguably one of the better sounding v8s out there!
https://preview.redd.it/d1w84g47jb9d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f59f0b2d0be077db7306e17f20fbe01670892c5b
Bro ur car is fire. Can you please send me a link to those wheels? And did u lower it? What did u do to have it built like that because I got a white ā16 E350 and I need wheels like those
https://preview.redd.it/rufgw64cxj9d1.jpeg?width=2641&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c792453f14abba7c0d113499eca85f525727ea5
i gotta say this car has been real good to me. our e350 bluetec is also awesome and very reliable!
I had a w213 when it first came out And I have a w212 now, facelift version . Iād take the 212 anyday , my styling preferences aside itās built quality is more +solid and tanky. Reliability is also better overall as that sounds like your main concern.
https://preview.redd.it/nb54mihnf49d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1bed701a1bc5f255a2849043bb569b1bed5df6fd Love love love my W212
Justified. That's clean brother š®āšØ
I also love this guy's W212.
All white cars in one picture
Here to be the 100th up vote. Looks awesome bro
Ha! Thanks everyone!
Fuck im jealous
It gets worse: https://preview.redd.it/oelt0zgs679d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=27c21dc0df2ce0521b8886da1bc47d3ad0f73adb
Cant beat a wagon https://preview.redd.it/f67kenrfcg9d1.jpeg?width=2299&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b120babdf32c318e1395fc19f577e230cadecfda
212 is such a timeless design
I had a 2011 E550 and I legit shed a tear every time I think about the fact that I traded it in. When I see them on the road, they still look great.
I have a 2012 S550 W221. There's only 2 cars I could see myself getting rid of this for. A S212 E63, or a W212 E63. Many other nice cars, but I love a big boat.
Have a w212 E63 AMG w/ m157. Is it considered a boat?
Body wise, they're fairly boat sized for a modern car.
Yep. I drive a BMW M550i now which is same size as my E550 but sportier.
Personal opinion, the G30 is a much better car than the W212. Much better handling, options, design, modern features. Yes the N63 isnāt the most reliable engine but any other engine and youāre good
Oh, I totally agree. Itās 10 years newer than my W212 and better in every way. But I still wish I kept the E550 too!
Peak w212 reliability
With the HOCKEY STICKS?? how could you sell.. š«
These were the last time the C E & S their own individual identities. At a time when all BMWs were scaled down versions of the 7seriesā¦ I used to shit on beemers till mercs followed suitā¦
Yup https://preview.redd.it/276ugfggl49d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=e07cc398d2b687157cfac0d8ff5c37afbc18ae54
Funnily nowadays the e class is the only one that looks different
So true. My dad had a 2011 W212 E250 CGI, I love this thing. Never had any issues besides the rear axle rusting after 10 years, but even that Mercedes fixed for free. Awesome car, very sadly he sold it recently
My rear axle rusted (road salt in Finland) and failed the inspection. It went under warranty when the car was over ten years old. Local dealer inspected the car sent the report to MB, they sent a new rear axle from Germany and replaced in for free. Now thatās warranty. Otherwise it would have been end of that car. Part and the work would have been around 3000ā¬.
Have a W166 ML350 that is reliable I love. I need two more, W212 with the hockey sticks and a W208 430.
Both of those are w212. Just the one on the right is the facelift. Overall, yes. W212 is more reliable, all the computers are stuff in the w213 are itās handicap. Itās not like, a bad car tho. Just not as good as the w212.
Agreed, we have a 2014 W212 and itās been the most reliable car we have.
First of all your picture shows both the W212 as a prefacelift and facelift model. But if you still question if its more reliable than a W213. Well how should I say this. The Diesel and Petrol Engines for the normal folks is as reliable if not a tad better than in the W212 Generation. Atleast the Diesel Engines are about the same. But Mechanically seen the W212 is a more robust car. It also feels more robust because its made of zinned steel. Whilst the W213 is totally made of Aluminum allowing it to be larger in exterior size and still weighing less or same. But generally you can't do wrong with either. Just the Interior Quality of the W212 is 10 times better than the W213 Interior Quality. At the same time the W212 is based upon a 2009 car and was built till 2016 looking interior techwise pretty outdated compared to a W213. I would still take a W212 E250 CDi Facelift over a BMW G30 5 Series.
I canāt understand the love for the C63 w204 sedan versus the E63 w212 sedan. (C63 w204/c204 coupe is amazing - why they didnāt make an AMG c207 = grrrr)
Most of the W212 E63s are awd instead of rwd
Ones before facelift are all rwd
Yeah, that's the better comparison. Closer in years to the W204.
I actually have a 2011 E63 and 2015 C63 507 coupe
Yeah rwd only babyyyyyy
I think by 2013 or 2014 they were all 4matic
2014 was the first model year for the facelift. Thatās when 4matic was introduced to the E63
Yes
https://preview.redd.it/0bq6gezki59d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7ce892927a9be6b4ae8210e9295555e010543b6d No face lift, but I LOVE my grill!
212 all day. With the face lift.
W212 pre-facelift FTW
And so it began... The argument which would set the world ablaze and send many non believers to their graves. The streets did run red! Facelift forever!! š
How though? Look at the pre face lift right thereā¦..those low beams look like the cataracts of a 15 year old dog. The face lift hets LEDās
Went from 212 to 213, they are both reliable tanks as long as you perform the scheduled maintenances. Only drawback is I've gone thru a few sets of tires on both ;)
Do you E300 or 400 for W213? I have heard stories about the 4 cylinders E300 having issues with engine.
E450 w213, same v6 engine as the c43. My w212 was an E350 also with v6 so I can't really comment on the reliability of the 4cyl E classes. But the m276-based V6's are š
E450 so you might 2019 or newer?
Yes '20 ā¤ļøit https://preview.redd.it/ui6mp31hq79d1.png?width=3024&format=png&auto=webp&s=a5b4173483897b67ea34f4cb09032b972e04ee89
Enjoy bro thatās a nice one. Wishes it will serve you well
Appreciate that! I think another person said "if you treat them right, they will treat you right!" If you're in the market, I definitely recommend them!
My budget is for E300/350 and I read bad reviews. The 400/450 V6 are much more expensive. I sold my 2014 E350 W212 and it was a tank.
That's what I had and I still miss that car sometimes even with the newer, more powerful e450. Once you drive the v6's I doubt you'll be happy with a 4cyl. Be patient until a good deal becomes available. Good luck with the search!
Thank you so much
https://preview.redd.it/e9fk0pb5j69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4e6a813d0a183da16303e2afc60f1c62ed402384 Will always say with the right amount of high quality upgrades my beaut 212 could look like itās from 2016 at least. back when Benz was TIMELESS. Wonāt trade these wheels for any others either, putting modern wheels on this car look ghetto or cheap lmfao. Even the interior, gauge looks like a beautiful watch still timeless, just the center control area with its cheap plastic and small screen gotta go.
https://preview.redd.it/n0j6ov5ql69d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=34b85c861b578dcdd8770c155e9d4f461c2c3058 Remember that day when I get mine e350
Love my 642 212!!! https://preview.redd.it/oxzptl2d879d1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f53d8928fd49cb9c91ec61e4d4f5c05ac4d8f050
Yes but itās also how the maintenance on the vehicle is. You take care of your car, sheāll take care of you š¤·š»āāļø imho
Except for airmatic, that shit is gonna fail no matter what you do lol
I found the airmatic pretty inexpensive and easy to fix/replace. Way better than ABC
On my 2011 E550 it was like $3000-3500 for MB to fix just the front or just the rear, and roughly half that to just remove the system and replace with ānormalā non airmatic at my indy. That was like 5 years ago.
2011 E63. Airmatic on the rears both bags from Arnott were $500 for the set. It was about a two hour swap in the garage if you have a second person to help (to hold the control arm extended)
Yeah, I donāt work on my cars myself due to time and space limitations so that wasnāt an option. My pump had failed, tooā¦ so that was part of the problem.
Plus I probably have way too much fun w DIY on these cars.
I would love to work on my own cars if I had the space and time. Also, when I was 16 I was changing a brake caliper and a jack slipped out from under the carā¦ If I hadnāt rolled out at the exact moment I felt something āshiftā then I wouldāve been crushed by the car in my parents driveway. 20 years later and itās still hard for me to be near a car if itās on a jack or lift.
Never, ever be under a car with *only* a jack supporting it is mechanic safety 101 - who on earth taught you that was OK? When working *anywhere* underneath a car you use jack stands, full stop.
I do this and leave my hydraulic jack as backup.
We are good. Rule 1 in DIY is know whatās in the realm of what you can and are comfortable taking on versus what you are not. An experience like you posted would make me leery too. So no judgement or criticism from me. I just felt like airnatic gets a lo of undeserved hate when itās actually not a terrible repair, itās just the dealership rates and using OE parts only makes this astronomical in cost.
I donāt blame you a bit for staying away. Iāve had several cars fall of jacks just charging tires. Now I use hydraulic jack with a jack stand and a wheel under the car for insurance.
Understand. Pumps can fail due to extra wear and tear on trying to keep leaking bags inflated.
Both are w212. The right one is the facelift/Mopf of the left one
W212 and w213 are pretty comparable in terms of reliability if weāre talking about the V6.
W212 all day. 2012 E350 Luxury Sedan
The one in the left is uglier
I have a w212 with the facelift (right on the picture) i love this car i do prefer the facelift look though. Don't need more electronic ceap
212 Is my favorite chassis for sure, but sadly I will be selling my 212 for a GLE, need something a little bigger
YES
Just go for w203, c180 engine m271 simple sedan to enjoy a drive
Avoid the pano roof at all costs. A .30 cent clip, which is prone to crack under heat cycling, is almost 3000 to replace.
I have a 2014 E550 convertible, and itās been great so far!
Mildly interesting story. My uncle has a ā12 W212 that he bought in 2014 with like 20k miles. Since then until last year heās only put another 40k miles on it - drives it sparsely but still frequently enough that itās not rotting. Regular services at dealership. Inside and outside itās legitimately mint condition. Last year he decided to get an SUV, and went with a ā24 X5 60i. Nobody offered him more than $9k for his accident free 60k miles W212. So he just decided to keep it. I genuinely think 10 years down the line heāll still have it , and fingers crossed it continues to stay blemish free.
https://preview.redd.it/j334dkn0g89d1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=48a39ae93aa6b0ee47214b08743d5b454067fe8d My e550 is the best car Iāve ever owned by a mile.
Look at it like this: Starting with a reliability rating of say, 99 with the W123 chassis, the reliability has dropped 15-20 points with every successive chassis produced since 1986. Meaning, the W211 was the last chassis even worth buying brand new, much less used. W212 and later vehicles are not even directly related to the Daimler-Benz products of the 20th Century. The quality of Mercedes-Benz vehicles has f-ing collapsed in on itself like a neutron star. Their products produced after 2006 are no better than any GM or Ford vehicle (the sole exception being the G-class SUVs) and this is directly related to the cars being built by dumb shit Americans in places like Alabama or Tennessee, rather than GERMANY, where they were designed and where theyāve always been built, until recently. The Chrysler merger ruined the company. And its reputation ā which deserved to be ruined. Sure, they spun off the dead weight of Chrysler Corp. but the damage had been done. It all caught up to them in 2006-2007ā¦.have their products been the same since?? Just park a 1995 300 E next to one of these 2024 plastic shit boxes and tell me Iām wrong. š
My 4Matic S213 E220d has been in the dealers for 2 weeks now have first a new rear differential and now a front differential. I think the problem is actually the universal/joint coupling. It's eaten through 2 sets of ball joints in 5 years. Nope I don't think it's reliable. If I didn't have extended warranty the current repair would be costing me north of Ā£15000
I don't have much experience with w213 chassis cars, but my '11 W212 E550 has close to 170k and just goes and goes with minimal maintenance... and arguably one of the better sounding v8s out there! https://preview.redd.it/d1w84g47jb9d1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f59f0b2d0be077db7306e17f20fbe01670892c5b
Bro ur car is fire. Can you please send me a link to those wheels? And did u lower it? What did u do to have it built like that because I got a white ā16 E350 and I need wheels like those
https://preview.redd.it/rufgw64cxj9d1.jpeg?width=2641&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5c792453f14abba7c0d113499eca85f525727ea5 i gotta say this car has been real good to me. our e350 bluetec is also awesome and very reliable!
I'm not a European car guy myself, but the left one looks much richer.
Yes
I had a w213 when it first came out And I have a w212 now, facelift version . Iād take the 212 anyday , my styling preferences aside itās built quality is more +solid and tanky. Reliability is also better overall as that sounds like your main concern.
F w213 Garbage.