I think it’s the only E Class platform that has outshined its S class counterpart in the looks department, it has way more presence, even more today where the W211 has aged insanely well.
I’m on my 3rd w211, I’d still be in my first if it wasn’t for a deer and a 20 year old smashing my first 2, I also drive an 07s65 amg and I still appreciate my w211, I’ll always love them
As an owner of a W124, and having "tested" a few of the other generations, i fully agree with your order. W211 is a great car, but the W124 is just a generation of it's own. Great video.
The W211 E Class is what started my love for Mercedes when I was 12 years old in 2003 when it came out. I was a BMW fan at that age until I saw the W211. My friend's parents bought an E320 back then I will never forget when his parents picked him up from school the day they got it. All the kids were standing outside after school waiting for their parents and it was noisy. When their W211 turned the corner, I kid you not, the entire crowd went silent. There was literal silence as the car drove past all of us. Back then most things simply did not look as classy or anywhere close to as modern as the W211 did. I will never forget how it made me feel. Even today the W211 looks so modern both inside and out. I have a W212 facelift now and while it is nice, it is not as nice as the 211 (I couldn't find one in good enough condition with the spec I wanted). The 211 has a better interior both from a design and quality perspective and it looks more modern even thought the 212 is newer. The 212 has a lot of evidence of cost cutting in places where the 211 did not. It is in the details. For example the 212 boot/trunk hinges don't go into an enclosure like the 211. The steering wheel column base isn't covered in a nice roller shutter like the 211. The 212 has less door seals than the 211. It has more plastic than the 211. However, I have read that the 212 was the most reliable modern E Class yet and I still see plenty of them on the roads so they are robust. I guess they cut back on the fine details to focus on reliability more? Although from the exterior, while I still like the 211 more, many people think my facelift 212 is a new model because the design has also aged pretty well. I like the squarish proportions because it looks strong and muscular but also very classy. Most people who are not car people also seem to like the looks of my FL 212 over the 211. They think it is a 2020 model haha. To my eye and in my heart however, the 211 will always have a special place. The 211 did amazing things for Mercedes and they would do well to remember that. The 213 on the other hand was a huge disappointment to me with poor build quality and a very very bland design. The facelift 213 also looks like a blob in the front.
Thats because you got the facelift, i have the pre-facelift w212, and have tried the face lift, and while it looks newer, it feels soo much cheaper, especially in the interior.. such a shame
@@TheAlbaniaGaming I had the pre facelift before my facelift. The pre facelift felt much cheaper. The facelift even changed the air vent surrounds to real metal and not plastic like the pre. So you're incorrect on that part. Mercedes just went downhill. The W211 facelift was probably the best in terms of quality that Mercedes ever made.
There are people, who worked for Mercedes, they said that the W124 is the last Mercedes, which was built by engineers. After that, cars were built by accountants.
W124, yes !(I had a 123 as well but they had rust traps and were just a little too primitive) W124 wins for me as quality is the most important thing to me. But gadgets and numbers seem to sell cars. Motring journalists are often stupid, consumers are often stupid. So I think if you built a car with quality foremost you'd be criticised by the idiots for being boring and probably too expensive. Hence we have gadget laden MB cars that aren't as good as they could be
I think the W211 design will age really well in the future, because it has such a perfect blend of retro and modern time. The W213 might have a modern interior today, but seing how fast technology is evolving, i would bet, that it may look really dated in a few years, compared to new cars then. The W212 looks also pretty damn fine, considering it's around 10 years old. I think those will also age nicely. It has digital gauges, but they are integrated into the dash, which makes it astehtically more pleasing to the eye.
W211 has a really timeless design, it still looks contemporary and classy even today. I wish car manufacturers would re-release older designs with updated internals and safety, it would be great.
Me too but I also owned a W124 back in '91 and still remains for me a class above. Unbelievable build quality throughout. Felt like it was hewn from a solid billet of steel, it simply oozed quality and class.
Yeah, W212 looks great. Pre.lift and A.lift are pointing the year when mercedes started to look like very modern not like 1980s imagination of flying cars.
Pre-facelift W212 E63 is prob the best balance of aggression and classiness, so it wins for me. Interior might look a bit dated next to the W213, but it feels solid like a Merc should.
@@fkykas the looks mainly. But I'd also say the M157 is a fantastic engine that imo suits the E class more than the 4.0. Not saying it's a better engine, but it sounds really good and performs brilliantly in the mid range and top end.
For me pre.face lift W212 coupe have sth inside it.. Top 2 things in this car are meking me love it: 1) Windows hiding without bar between 2) In some positions its looking on you like Spider😂
I own a W210, but if I could afford a W212 pre-facelift, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's my absolute favourite E-Class of all the modern E-Classes. Don't get me wrong, I love the W210, but the pre-facelift W212 has a special place in my heart that no other car could fill. I love that car. I absolutely adore it. It's so elegant, classy, and beautiful man.
I sold my 210 last year & replaced it with a 212 & I absolutely love it. I just hope it proves to be as reliable as my old 210 was over a 13 year period. I respected though never loved my 210 but this 212 is something else.
Actually W123 is number 1. Yes, I have one. My grandfather bought it 1982 when it was new and now it's mine. Materials are amazing, quality is real deal. Original paint, always in garage, never driven rainy days. Will last next 200 years.
Man, you are so right about W211. When it came out in 03, I went every day after gym to look at my local MB dealer in Atlanta with few E55 AMG's and until that point I thought that 911 Turbo was perfect car, but this sedan could do same acceleration numbers but it cost about 80 while Turbo was 120 then and sedan gave you so much more practicality. I always considered that car masterpiece and Cesar of cars. No other car really raised the performance so much with great comfort even though M5 with V10 did stepped up and Audi RS6 was always in top for me for all around year performance. Early 2000's were great time to be, if you had little cash to enjoy these cars that could beat supercars of that time.
Beauty of machine,it is still a relevant car to this day. In my opinion the e55 js much superior cimpared to the 03 and up e63amg of the same model.if you put the same amount of money into modding the supercharger system and just minor engine mods you can have a substantially more powerful and quicker car .and it would still cost less than buying a brand new e63 amg.in myl opinion they should've went with a forced induction platform on tgw e63,its little brother e55 can beat the brakes off thee63 .and dollar for dollar Inmods a naturally aspirated e63 cannot compete in power gains compared to a forced induction vehicle. The 03 style supercharged e55 is one car I will eventually end up buying.its hands down a no Brainer to buy one especially if you're into tuning or modding cars for racing or just daily driving
I think W211 is rightly fully appreciated but W210 E55 is the most slept-on car of all time. It’s the first gen 55 AMG supercharged v8 (reliable as anything ever) for as little as 6k to 22k!
Talking about the cassis models in general: 1: w124 2: w212 3: w210 (the best ride) 4: w211 5: w213 I was a Mercedes technician and had experience driving/repairing them. I personally own a 1998 W202 C230 with 239K miles ( 384,634.65Km) which I use every day and a 2016 w212 E400 4Matic. Best cars that I ever had in my life.
I love the w202. Had a c200 for 7 years that did 120000 km perfectly. Mechanically it ran perfectly. Only problem was a fuel line rusted but that's expected after 20 years of salty roads. Miss that car everyday, it got exported shortly after I sold it.
I have owned, w123,w124,w210,w211,w212, and had w213. So all the E classes. My order is w124 with the w212 pre facelift 1st place. W212 is the modern w124. True merc feeling both. W210 is 2nd... Spacious, calm luxury ship
I think that one E class models was not talked enough in this video, - the revised w212 E63 sAMG. It probably had to have a separate spot from w212... It was the most expensive refresh in history of MB. I Think that w212r should tie for 2nd place with w211. w212r looks perfect from every angle. It is still squarish styling but with a modern twist, and it clearly separates itself from the C class, also it is blistering fast. In my opinion the front of w212r is probably the best looking of all E-class Mercedes of all time.
I had a 2010 and loved the sound/looks. Then I upgraded to the 2012 which was much quicker and still had great looks. My only complaint with the refresh was the mandatory 4matic. Outside of North America you could get rear wheel or 4matic which really annoys the shit out of me and makes me like the refresh less.
Imo the w212 facelift was the biggest design fail in the whole history of the e class. When you take a closer look at the proportions of the car, you can clearly see that the front view was not meant to be there and was only reworked because noone liked the pre facelift
@@wailfaridi2070 yes indeed,my old E50 AMG from 1996 has 525.000 km on it and still driving today. But i dont see the W211 holding in for 40 years with the elektra ect...
@@high5compliments45 yes sir. Classic Mercedes always better. W124 had better build quality than all Eclasses after it. W210 AMG is my personal favorite, and the E Class and all Mercedes products take a nose dive after mid 2000s
The order is spot on, W211 FL owner here. After owning newer Mercs, I switched back to the one I'm owning now, older Mercs are in a class of their own. The only thing I would add on it, would be an infotainment system that still looks like the original one with all the buttons, but has touchscreen, android car play, mirror link, waze, etc and that's it. I don't need start/stop, lane assist and other stupid things.
Having owned 2 of them, my own personal favourite is the W210. Despite their eagerness to rust and rot and generally fall apart, there's just something about them that appeals to me.
W212....an absolute future classic. A modern car with the classic looks. I own one for a long while and will never get rid of it. Mather of fact I will buy another one
The W211 E55 is king for me. It's impact on high performance sedans set a whole new bar. It was one of the first times history that you didn't need to go with an Italian exotic to get performance and you can daily drive it.
I have w211 E320. We bought it new from salon in 2007. Its family treasure at this point running 820 000 km ~500k miles on same engine. Never left me anywhere. Its so good we bought another one with 50k miles half a year ago.
I have to agree with this video. Fav Mercedes channel. 👍 I had an E-class discussion with a few people a few days ago, and we were all pretty much in line with everything you said. The only contrasting view we had was between W213 and W210. Yes, the W213 will do everything the previous gens did and then some more. But I personally feel like the W210 captures some of the qualities of the W124 that made it great a bit more so than later gens. Also, the E-class feels as if it's slowly losing its elegance and refinement as the newer models launch. Drove a non-AMG W213 and I loved it. But when it was parked next to a W212, the generic looks just seem to make it look less special than the W212 (this is a personal opinion, don't kill me). So subjectively, W213 and W210 should switch places.
My W212 has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. (With less than 20,000 miles, that makes sense.) Garaged, washed and waxed, it gets admiring glances even in this upscale area.
I just bought a w211 5.0 E63pack (Netherlands). Besides the ridiculous fuel costs, i cant explain how good it feels. I was always in love with the 430 engine, but the design of the w211 is timeless! Great vid
Great video. A car that gets overlooked is the W210 E430 because of it's rust problems. In my opinion it is the last great Mercedes and has a balance of handling and power you just don't find with most cars. It gets great gas millage, weighs 3,750 pounds and is very very dependable and easy to work on. Rust.....yes that is the problem but for me I live the rust belt and just tuck her away for the winter. My 2002 has 54k on it and where it used to be easy to find a nice used example of this car those days are gone. To me it is the most underappreciated Mercedes and my mechanics favorite (I'm on my second one). Oh by the way 5.6 seconds 0 to 60 and it you'll peg the car at 55 and stay there you can get close to 40mpg. This is the sleeper in the Mercedes line-up.
Spot on list in my opinion. As an owner of a 94 e500 and an 06 cls55 (basically a 211) I couldn't agree more. Truly the best mercedes has ever offered.
What did you think about the cls 55 amg the year before and after the 2006 cls 55 amg from the same body styl3?. Lollll.one year of production was a disappointment. The 06 cls is one of my favorite old school amgs and the e 55 amg from the same Era with the same supercharged engine specs as the 06 cls are overlooked and seen by many as inferior to its big brother 63 amg models. Any forced induction engine is th3 best way to go if you want to gain substantial hp and torque through mods.with minor mods the 06 cls 55 or e55 amg can easily make more power and become faster than the naturally aspirated 63amg models from any class in thst era. I hope to oneday own both the supercharged cls 55and e class .they're sleepers that have so much potential when it comes to performance gains.
W123 and W211 really deserve Mercedes star in my opinion. I had both and I really felt the feeling of driving them. W123 is still driven by my father 77yrs old. Thanks for your videos
watched the video to the end to be sure you got the w124 as the best mercedes benz ever... and you did. shows me you did your research well. i own a 1988 model that is still doing very well.
I have owned only 2 Mercedes - an early W212 2009 E-Class and a 2017 CLS - both 3 litre diesels. For my money, the W212 was the best all round E-series ever. I absolutely loved mine and it will forever remain the best car I have ever owned.
I agree with this list as it's well thought out and you've done your research. I own a W210 and I think they're underrated because of the bulletproof reliability and simpler design/technology make them easier to maintain than the newer generations.
Had I known that before I would have kept my w124 260e six in line, so smooth, instead of selling it for less than 500 euros and buy a stupid citroen that only brought trouble
in my view, w124 and w210 are the best, in relation to build quality. True w210 rusted very badly, but engines and interior very excellent. last model years of w124 had also the rust problem. worst overall was w211, quality build was not the best, design is always a matter of taste, and for me w210 were the most beautiful.
Well, owners were nervous that W211s had lots of computerization they feared would go obsolete long before the car wore out mechanically. The W210 electronics had not gotten too complicated, so therefore was considered more reliable. Mechanically, they're an honorable heir to the vaunted W124. I got my feet wet with an '88 "baby Benz" 190E from the same era, four cylinder naturally aspirated banger that still had kick at high speeds, rode luxuriously on bumpy roads 10 mph faster than any other car I'd owned, including an Austin Healy 2000 MK II, but it's short wheelbase made it oversteer and rear wheels slide out. It developed oil leaks in the combustion chambers, wouldn't start, and died on the road a couple of times, by 208,000 miles, but still rode solid like a Benz should. Rust under the rocker panels, but transmission and suspension still in great shape. Shedding a few tears, I reluctantly gave it up, for a '01 W210 E320 4MATIC to continue the journey. with only 45,000 miles on. I've had that car for almost 10 years, using it mainly for long trips and racked it up to 98,000 miles, hardly half its useful life. 4 wheel drive was a real awakening. I'd owned lots of rear wheel drives and a few front wheel drives, and they don't compare to all wheel drive. The car moves with the assurance of a cat, always in complete control. It won't slide out, no matter what. It moves on slippery roads like a Sherman tank. It feels like 60 mph going 80, rock steady, engine purrs quietly along at 2800 rpm in 5th gear, no sweat. The 220 HP V-6 engine is frisky at highway speeds, but parked, is so quiet I've had to look at the tach to tell if it's running. I don't have to drive it on salty roads, so rust is no problem. The underside still looks clean. The interior is quiet at 80 mph. Like the 190E, it's sensibly put together. The intrepid German engineers thought of everything. It's the first car I could drive all day and stand up at rest stops without feeling beat up. The 4MATIC and longer wheel base seriously under steers, but is absolutely king of the road on the interstates. I set the cruise control at 79 mph, and the miles shrink--26 mpg at 80 mph, no sweat. I loved the 190E, but this car is so sexy, not too big in the city, not too small on the interstates, just right.
@@aldodrazhi0016 can't say i was at all impressed with the electronics on my w211 e63, sensors all over kept going. Got fed up and swapped it for a w212 e63 s. Still I rate the w211 as special because of the ride comfort. It is incredibly plush for a 500hp car. And the 6 cd changer was dope too. The 6.2 also emitted such a wonderful purr.
My facelift W210 E320 hasn't a spec of rust anywhere. Underneath looks like a new car. Rides/Drives very nice. Leather and premium paint. Hard to believe it is a 20 year old car. The 124 and 126 have excellent build quality. Paint quality was also good. Sadly all the systems and wiring in those cars is getting old.
Completely agree with your order. I had a W211 (E320) and it was the perfect all rounder. I've had Mercs since but they've never provided the same enthusiasm.
Nice video. My dad bought a new W211 in 2005 which was the car i grew up in. It was so much nicer than anything else that last year I bought myself a 2007 E320 cdi with all the rare extra features. I'm so happy with it and it almost makes me sad because I think it will be valuable classic if maintaned.
Bought W211 E500 4matic in 2006 and still own it. Many times I said to other people "If there is any car parking near my graveyard then it will be this one" because it provides the most comfortable ride, behaves super safe in rain and snow, offers space, is quiet and air condition/seat heating works very quickly when it's cold outside. This is a car made to travel in comfort. I owned and still own many European luxury cars but this one stands out when it comes to overall qualities. Two repairs in 18 years for less than USD 1'000 (broken wiring rear view mirror and rusty exhaust pipe element).
The 210 isn’t getting the recognition and appreciation it deserves. It’s the perfect balance between the classic and modern E Class with a timeless design in my opinion.
I totally agree with your listing. My love to the E class began in 2005, when I bought W210 (96 E320 Avant-garde) which I owned until 2014. I gave it to my youngest brother and he still has it. In 2014, I bought a W211 (E350 4matic with a sport pakage) I still have it, I'm in love with it.
Just got a 124 e320 and absolutely love it and would agree fully with it having the number one spot. Quality at every angle and a wonderful sedan in general
Going W211 E63 as #1. Feature set of the 124 is too far from modern. I value those steerable W211 Bi-Xenons more than the extra solidity feel of a W124. W211 has the most steering feel with a true hydraulic rack and pinion system. Afterward fog lights disappeared. Then spare tires disappeared. Just examples of many capabilities. Really depends on what each of us value more.
@@simonomisimonomis lol hating on Mercedes much? You’re in the wrong place pal. Upper Class Mercedes are a Tour De Force of virtuoso engineering. Those steerable headlights are so seamlessly reliable, most drivers don’t even realize the technology operating. Just that those Bi-Xenon headlights have exquisitely effective coverage across the roadscape far and wide.
The w211 is of the modern age.. The quality not from the past. Anything that came after the w124 will not survive the future. Friends of mine also almost got into a crash with a w211, because the brakes no longer worked. The car is dangerous with the nonsense gadgets and the car was made in the time when they had to comply with recycle laws, like all plastic looking cars of today
I agree that the quality of the W124 is unmatched in later models. For example, our 1995 E320 wagon has the original seat covers, dash switches and push buttons yet still no visible wear. Our 2010 C300 not so much, the stitching in the seat cover opened up and the several of the dash buttons have worn labels. I've owned several W124 E class sedans and wagons. The one problem they ALL seemed to have was a slight freeway speed jitter unless the tires are balanced absolutely PERFECTLY to the limits of the balancing machine. No other vehicle that I've driven was this sensitive.
Every other new E class learns from the W124 and they can't never be that great like the 124. I'm driving an C250 Turbodiesel and I'm having a great time when I drive it, also keeping up with the base models of other brands on the highway. It's getting old every next day, but I have a feeling that this car has a heart and I trust her whenever I go.
W211 is an elegant timeless design especially in silver ,had a facelift W212 loved the car but preferred the twin headlight model just felt the front end was to corporate looking ,in the UK a W210 that hasn’t dissolved is as rare as unicorn shit….👍
Back in 2016, my brother had a 2013 E63s W212 with the 5.5 V8. I had the pleasure of driving it often, and it was a beast of a machine. I alwaye hated that silly outddated dialpad next to the radio controls though, and the slow satnav. In 2020, he then bought a 2017 E63s W213 but it had the 4.0 V8, which whilst still good, just didn't have that machine gun soundtrack nor the catapault when you put your foot down, not to the same level as the previous model anyway. However, the interior was amazing, probably one of the best cars to sit in ever, you didn't want journey to end. Loved that massive dual screen instead of that tiny satnav in the old one, and those beautiful circular air vents, and the ambiant lighting made for enjoyable night journeys. He's currently looking at the market for a 2021 E63s W213 facelift, with the same 4.0 V8. Probably one of the last V8's.
Very impressive comparison I must admit. I have owned W124, W210 and W211 and I must admit, the order or ranking you have done resonates with me ,though I think W211 comes a very close second, camera finish.
My absolute favorite is the pre facelift s212. It was the last generation true to the classy elegant feel of Mercedes but offers most modern comfort and convenience. The 213 E class is too modern and generic looking and the 211 is slightly outdated in terms of features and electronics. And I guess the 212 had the best engine options.
I would change w211 to 1st. Best mix of solid, technique, comfort, and timeless shape. Especially with M113K and OM648 3,2 R6 CDI. I have now CLS55 AMG , and S211 Brabus D6 with OM648 and this is my dream set.
Spot on. My first car was the W124 230E and I also own a W211 a few years back. There is a certain quality they possess that cannot be quantified technically, it feels special to sit in them.
I loved my W211! Very timeless design and a future classic imo. I now drive a pre-facelift S212 which I think has the perfect balance designwise between older and newer E-classes.
I think what makes the W211 special, as you noted, is the modern engines coupled with a focus on ride quality over performance. Also this is self serving but the W211 E63 wagon is just the best looking wagon of all time. There is just no other car on the road today that is like it.
My love for AMG started with the W124 AMG Hammer and E500. I do think the W211 AMG design and shape is timeless. I see one today and I still think, what a beautiful shape, Elegant and muscular. In comparison to the modern sedans I think it looks small, compact and tidy.
Can't argue with this list, I'm a W211 fan from past ownership (E500) but I love the look of the W124 as timeless as any of the classic Mercs from the past. It really captures the zeitgeist of the time.
As an owner of a W212 ('13 E350 4-Matic), I'm glad it didn't do too bad, knowing it had no chance of making the top of the list, especially with the W124 in it. I know what you mean by E-Class, though some would argue the W124 was before the term was used by M-B. In that sense, I would include the W123 should be on the list too. Truly a masterpiece in terms of build quality and reliability, not to mention the Diesel models. My dad's '83 200 (gas, Stromberg 175 CDT carb I believe - have to check my videos) reflects that. My dad's W210 is in good shape as far as rust because it drives so little and extremely rarely in the winter. All great cars and your video is right on. edit: saw the rest of the video, understand what you mean on the W123.
My W210 had a beautiful V8 engine, but the car had a lot of other issues, especially with the AC. The engine had a gorgeous sound!! It still had that awkward style where you had to open the windows from the center of the car. My W211 was absolutely great. The V8 was great, but after 8 years or so, the air suspension began giving me problems, and the car did not have bluetooth capability. My W212 diesel has been absolutely outstanding. It can go about a 1000 miles on the highway before refueling, and I love the fact that it still has buttons inside. You can manage the climate control or the entertainment system without having to take your eyes of the road and do everything on the screen, which I find very distracting.
w212, w124, w211, w210, ..........w213 w212 pre-face lift #1 It looks GERMAN. I own a 2013 model. I think it was a mistep for Mercedes to remove the double breasted grill from the E-Class. To me the E and S Class are the taxi and chauffeur standard while the A and C class represent new, fun and sporty. The backbone of Mercedes-Benz is the E-Class. (sprt/pkg. has the best styling) w124 slots in second place easily, for being the most identifiable Mercedes of all time. No mistaking those Lego block headlights and definitely a rich race history in DTM. Last w213 definitely last and my least favorite exterior. It doesn't look German, it looks Italian. Pass. Then they made that one with the giant wide grill 🤮 that one was hideous, (same goes for these recent S-Class models 🤢). I don't even see them on the road anymore. I think they changed designer's between w212 & w213 (bad decision, who ever designed the w212, saved Mercedes ass) w211 is third for me, looks like a race car. Those blue or teal tinted windows are amazing. I think I've seen the w211 in more movies and tv shows than all the others combined. It was a pace car in my favorite era of Formula 1. w210 is fourth, not a bad looking car but sorta sits in my mind as a junker 🤷🏾♂️ still looks better than the w213, it actually looks GERMAN and if the wiring and rust are addressed it's not a bad car to own. But the bad quality keeps it in 4th for me. Bio degradable wires 🤦🏾♂️
W211 has such a timeless design , instantly recognisable ..beautiful styling.
Excellent video , as always.
It's good but a bit too rounded for my taste.
W212 E63 (pre-facelift) it is in terms of design.
It's definitely the Best Looking E- Class of all time !
I really like W210 personally but agreed that W211 is also really good
I think it’s the only E Class platform that has outshined its S class counterpart in the looks department, it has way more presence, even more today where the W211 has aged insanely well.
I’m on my 3rd w211, I’d still be in my first if it wasn’t for a deer and a 20 year old smashing my first 2, I also drive an 07s65 amg and I still appreciate my w211, I’ll always love them
As an owner of a W124, and having "tested" a few of the other generations, i fully agree with your order. W211 is a great car, but the W124 is just a generation of it's own. Great video.
Drove a 93 E320. Had a Mazdaspeed3 and a 2015 coyote mustang. E320 was by far still the best all around ride I had
Yes. I agree. I currently own a w211 and had two w124's.. The 124 was and still is the best E Class ever..
W124 is a car for everything
4, 6, 8, 12 cylinders
4x4
Automatic or Manual
Coupe normal in E class not CLK with E-body on C-Suspension
Same here, 640.000 kms and runs like new. I just love my car. Wrecking it would probably give me a heart attack. 😂
The W211 E Class is what started my love for Mercedes when I was 12 years old in 2003 when it came out. I was a BMW fan at that age until I saw the W211. My friend's parents bought an E320 back then I will never forget when his parents picked him up from school the day they got it. All the kids were standing outside after school waiting for their parents and it was noisy. When their W211 turned the corner, I kid you not, the entire crowd went silent. There was literal silence as the car drove past all of us. Back then most things simply did not look as classy or anywhere close to as modern as the W211 did. I will never forget how it made me feel. Even today the W211 looks so modern both inside and out.
I have a W212 facelift now and while it is nice, it is not as nice as the 211 (I couldn't find one in good enough condition with the spec I wanted). The 211 has a better interior both from a design and quality perspective and it looks more modern even thought the 212 is newer. The 212 has a lot of evidence of cost cutting in places where the 211 did not. It is in the details. For example the 212 boot/trunk hinges don't go into an enclosure like the 211. The steering wheel column base isn't covered in a nice roller shutter like the 211. The 212 has less door seals than the 211. It has more plastic than the 211. However, I have read that the 212 was the most reliable modern E Class yet and I still see plenty of them on the roads so they are robust. I guess they cut back on the fine details to focus on reliability more? Although from the exterior, while I still like the 211 more, many people think my facelift 212 is a new model because the design has also aged pretty well. I like the squarish proportions because it looks strong and muscular but also very classy. Most people who are not car people also seem to like the looks of my FL 212 over the 211. They think it is a 2020 model haha. To my eye and in my heart however, the 211 will always have a special place. The 211 did amazing things for Mercedes and they would do well to remember that. The 213 on the other hand was a huge disappointment to me with poor build quality and a very very bland design. The facelift 213 also looks like a blob in the front.
Man,you are amazing ! :)
Thats because you got the facelift, i have the pre-facelift w212, and have tried the face lift, and while it looks newer, it feels soo much cheaper, especially in the interior.. such a shame
@@TheAlbaniaGaming I had the pre facelift before my facelift. The pre facelift felt much cheaper. The facelift even changed the air vent surrounds to real metal and not plastic like the pre. So you're incorrect on that part. Mercedes just went downhill. The W211 facelift was probably the best in terms of quality that Mercedes ever made.
I really like W210 personally but agreed that W211 is also really good
I have a 211 with AMG kit and E63 side skirts. I still get compliments even though it's almost 17 years old...
There are people, who worked for Mercedes, they said that the W124 is the last Mercedes, which was built by engineers. After that, cars were built by accountants.
The Best or Nothing
yep 100%
Absolutely true,W124 was built like a tank and bomb proof.
Yeah and it was built by Porsche
@@ericcoskun1 ..
Just some details in the E500
Perfect order. And… couldn’t agree more with you on the 124. Build quality is superb. Pure Mercedes Benz
w124 facelift even got it more refined !!
W124, yes !(I had a 123 as well but they had rust traps and were just a little too primitive) W124 wins for me as quality is the most important thing to me. But gadgets and numbers seem to sell cars. Motring journalists are often stupid, consumers are often stupid. So I think if you built a car with quality foremost you'd be criticised by the idiots for being boring and probably too expensive. Hence we have gadget laden MB cars that aren't as good as they could be
Which years is it ?
except it was built by Porsche
Because merc want to compete with the tank of sweden Volvo 740 and 960...the reliable and superb in safety n quality
I think the W211 design will age really well in the future, because it has such a perfect blend of retro and modern time. The W213 might have a modern interior today, but seing how fast technology is evolving, i would bet, that it may look really dated in a few years, compared to new cars then. The W212 looks also pretty damn fine, considering it's around 10 years old. I think those will also age nicely. It has digital gauges, but they are integrated into the dash, which makes it astehtically more pleasing to the eye.
W211 has a really timeless design, it still looks contemporary and classy even today. I wish car manufacturers would re-release older designs with updated internals and safety, it would be great.
I really like W210 personally but agreed that W211 is also really good
Ive been owner of W210, 211, and 212 and of them ive loved the W212 the most. The styling of it hadnt aged and still looks new after 10+ years.
Me too but I also owned a W124 back in '91 and still remains for me a class above. Unbelievable build quality throughout. Felt like it was hewn from a solid billet of steel, it simply oozed quality and class.
W210 the best fr! Criminally underrated car
I have had W124, W211 E63AMG, W212. Best cas E63 AMG but most reasonable normal w212
W212 is what made me move on from BMW which started by e36.
Yeah, W212 looks great.
Pre.lift and A.lift are pointing the year when mercedes started to look like very modern not like 1980s imagination of flying cars.
Pre-facelift W212 E63 is prob the best balance of aggression and classiness, so it wins for me. Interior might look a bit dated next to the W213, but it feels solid like a Merc should.
Meh. W211 is the goat for me.
But you are talking only about the looks?
@@fkykas the looks mainly. But I'd also say the M157 is a fantastic engine that imo suits the E class more than the 4.0. Not saying it's a better engine, but it sounds really good and performs brilliantly in the mid range and top end.
W212 here too.
S212>W212
The W211 is easily the best looking IMHO. The lines just flows beautifully. Still looks amazing on this day. Hands down.
I really like W210 personally but agreed that W211 is also really good
For me pre.face lift W212 coupe have sth inside it..
Top 2 things in this car are meking me love it:
1) Windows hiding without bar between
2) In some positions its looking on you like Spider😂
Clk mk2 would be better
but sadly it have W203 front body not W211 :((
I own two 211s since 2016 and 2017, and always liked them, but I prefer the exterior styling of the W124.
I own a W210, but if I could afford a W212 pre-facelift, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. It's my absolute favourite E-Class of all the modern E-Classes. Don't get me wrong, I love the W210, but the pre-facelift W212 has a special place in my heart that no other car could fill. I love that car. I absolutely adore it. It's so elegant, classy, and beautiful man.
I sold my 210 last year & replaced it with a 212 & I absolutely love it. I just hope it proves to be as reliable as my old 210 was over a 13 year period. I respected though never loved my 210 but this 212 is something else.
Im the same shoes. Own a e200k w210. But dreamed to hv a pre facelift w212
W210 is a godly car and the most underrated E-class! Why the hell are those things 6-22k for the most reliable AMG v8 and perfect styling
@@patchoulicyanide thank you
Actually W123 is number 1. Yes, I have one. My grandfather bought it 1982 when it was new and now it's mine. Materials are amazing, quality is real deal. Original paint, always in garage, never driven rainy days. Will last next 200 years.
W123 is not an e class
@@OM617a yeah i know what u talkin bout and i agree but just stating facts that w123 wasnt an e class
The same vehicle class but e class wasnt a thing back in these days
@@mundacci9055 W123 is "Class of it's owns"
@@kairikkola who are the 3 idiots that 'liked' this illiterate nonsense? ANd the W124 was not on sale in... 1982. You are a BS artist, it seems.
Man, you are so right about W211. When it came out in 03, I went every day after gym to look at my local MB dealer in Atlanta with few E55 AMG's and until that point I thought that 911 Turbo was perfect car, but this sedan could do same acceleration numbers but it cost about 80 while Turbo was 120 then and sedan gave you so much more practicality.
I always considered that car masterpiece and Cesar of cars. No other car really raised the performance so much with great comfort even though M5 with V10 did stepped up and Audi RS6 was always in top for me for all around year performance. Early 2000's were great time to be, if you had little cash to enjoy these cars that could beat supercars of that time.
Beauty of machine,it is still a relevant car to this day. In my opinion the e55 js much superior cimpared to the 03 and up e63amg of the same model.if you put the same amount of money into modding the supercharger system and just minor engine mods you can have a substantially more powerful and quicker car .and it would still cost less than buying a brand new e63 amg.in myl opinion they should've went with a forced induction platform on tgw e63,its little brother e55 can beat the brakes off thee63 .and dollar for dollar Inmods a naturally aspirated e63 cannot compete in power gains compared to a forced induction vehicle. The 03 style supercharged e55 is one car I will eventually end up buying.its hands down a no Brainer to buy one especially if you're into tuning or modding cars for racing or just daily driving
I think W211 is rightly fully appreciated but W210 E55 is the most slept-on car of all time. It’s the first gen 55 AMG supercharged v8 (reliable as anything ever) for as little as 6k to 22k!
Talking about the cassis models in general:
1: w124
2: w212
3: w210 (the best ride)
4: w211
5: w213
I was a Mercedes technician and had experience driving/repairing them. I personally own a 1998 W202 C230 with 239K miles ( 384,634.65Km) which I use every day and a 2016 w212 E400 4Matic. Best cars that I ever had in my life.
I love the w202. Had a c200 for 7 years that did 120000 km perfectly. Mechanically it ran perfectly. Only problem was a fuel line rusted but that's expected after 20 years of salty roads. Miss that car everyday, it got exported shortly after I sold it.
@@pkgoeswild The W202 is a baby tank.
from a technician perspective, which one will you chose beetween w202 and w124?
@@trikurniawidi45 W202. But in my opinion they are very close.
The w211 has the best ride, and is known for it
The W212 (pre facelift) exterior design is the most gorgeous of them all. Simply stunning!!
I have a W212 pre-facelift and a W124............Two totally different cars and they both make me smile when driving.........
I have owned, w123,w124,w210,w211,w212, and had w213. So all the E classes.
My order is w124 with the w212 pre facelift 1st place. W212 is the modern w124. True merc feeling both.
W210 is 2nd... Spacious, calm luxury ship
I think that one E class models was not talked enough in this video, - the revised w212 E63 sAMG. It probably had to have a separate spot from w212... It was the most expensive refresh in history of MB. I Think that w212r should tie for 2nd place with w211. w212r looks perfect from every angle. It is still squarish styling but with a modern twist, and it clearly separates itself from the C class, also it is blistering fast. In my opinion the front of w212r is probably the best looking of all E-class Mercedes of all time.
Totally agreed ! W212r looks far better than any of successors followed by.
I had a 2010 and loved the sound/looks. Then I upgraded to the 2012 which was much quicker and still had great looks. My only complaint with the refresh was the mandatory 4matic. Outside of North America you could get rear wheel or 4matic which really annoys the shit out of me and makes me like the refresh less.
W212 prefacelist is king.
Imo the w212 facelift was the biggest design fail in the whole history of the e class. When you take a closer look at the proportions of the car, you can clearly see that the front view was not meant to be there and was only reworked because noone liked the pre facelift
@@THDLightfl4sh That is why I choosed W218 CLS63 S, W212r still a great and same platform
210 probably the nicest .. 96-99 my favorite Benz era
W124💪
Because after almost 40 years they are still driving like a Boss!
I dont see the rest doing that and even dare to bet all my money on it!
There are 600k and 400k mile E55s...
@@wailfaridi2070 yes indeed,my old E50 AMG from 1996 has 525.000 km on it and still driving today.
But i dont see the W211 holding in for 40 years with the elektra ect...
@@high5compliments45 and my w210 turbo diesel has almost 670,000 km. Not bad for the worst rated car on this list.
I have a 95 E 300 D estate, sadly up for sale ........
100% reliable, built like a tank !
Azurite blue ,orion grey leather seats ,
Full mot ,😉
@@high5compliments45 yes sir. Classic Mercedes always better. W124 had better build quality than all Eclasses after it. W210 AMG is my personal favorite, and the E Class and all Mercedes products take a nose dive after mid 2000s
The order is spot on, W211 FL owner here. After owning newer Mercs, I switched back to the one I'm owning now, older Mercs are in a class of their own. The only thing I would add on it, would be an infotainment system that still looks like the original one with all the buttons, but has touchscreen, android car play, mirror link, waze, etc and that's it. I don't need start/stop, lane assist and other stupid things.
W211 E270 CDI was my first Mercedes-Benz and I had it for 7 years. Loved every minute of it!
Having owned 2 of them, my own personal favourite is the W210. Despite their eagerness to rust and rot and generally fall apart, there's just something about them that appeals to me.
Same. It gives out a specific vibe that feels sort of cozy and relaxing while also having a very strong character, especially the diesel engines.
I have to agree the W210 is my favourite
W212....an absolute future classic. A modern car with the classic looks. I own one for a long while and will never get rid of it. Mather of fact I will buy another one
Great list you have there, and I think you are right about W124, but my favorite is the W212.
The W211 E55 is king for me. It's impact on high performance sedans set a whole new bar. It was one of the first times history that you didn't need to go with an Italian exotic to get performance and you can daily drive it.
I have w211 E320. We bought it new from salon in 2007. Its family treasure at this point running 820 000 km ~500k miles on same engine. Never left me anywhere. Its so good we bought another one with 50k miles half a year ago.
I own an E220 W211 facelift and am in love with it. timeless design, quality materials
I have to agree with this video. Fav Mercedes channel. 👍
I had an E-class discussion with a few people a few days ago, and we were all pretty much in line with everything you said. The only contrasting view we had was between W213 and W210.
Yes, the W213 will do everything the previous gens did and then some more. But I personally feel like the W210 captures some of the qualities of the W124 that made it great a bit more so than later gens. Also, the E-class feels as if it's slowly losing its elegance and refinement as the newer models launch. Drove a non-AMG W213 and I loved it. But when it was parked next to a W212, the generic looks just seem to make it look less special than the W212 (this is a personal opinion, don't kill me). So subjectively, W213 and W210 should switch places.
Your list is so on point ,I personally daily drive a 300ce (W124), swapped the engine to a M112 motor.
My W212 has been the most reliable car I’ve ever owned. (With less than 20,000 miles, that makes sense.) Garaged, washed and waxed, it gets admiring glances even in this upscale area.
The W211 makes time stand still it does not age. Still the strongest looking Merc 👍
I just bought a w211 5.0 E63pack (Netherlands). Besides the ridiculous fuel costs, i cant explain how good it feels. I was always in love with the 430 engine, but the design of the w211 is timeless! Great vid
Great video. A car that gets overlooked is the W210 E430 because of it's rust problems. In my opinion it is the last great Mercedes and has a balance of handling and power you just don't find with most cars. It gets great gas millage, weighs 3,750 pounds and is very very dependable and easy to work on. Rust.....yes that is the problem but for me I live the rust belt and just tuck her away for the winter. My 2002 has 54k on it and where it used to be easy to find a nice used example of this car those days are gone. To me it is the most underappreciated Mercedes and my mechanics favorite (I'm on my second one). Oh by the way 5.6 seconds 0 to 60 and it you'll peg the car at 55 and stay there you can get close to 40mpg. This is the sleeper in the Mercedes line-up.
The E50 with the 5.0 347 hp M119 was.much better
@@high5compliments45 E50? You mean the E55 AMG
@@Upstream2020 there's a limited edition that its called E50
I have the same 2002 e430 4matic with 130000 miles. Very dependable, comfortable car
I also have the same 2000 e430 4matic with just a little over 300,000 miles but the 210 is very underappreciated
I have a w212 and love it.
Spot on list in my opinion. As an owner of a 94 e500 and an 06 cls55 (basically a 211) I couldn't agree more. Truly the best mercedes has ever offered.
What did you think about the cls 55 amg the year before and after the 2006 cls 55 amg from the same body styl3?. Lollll.one year of production was a disappointment. The 06 cls is one of my favorite old school amgs and the e 55 amg from the same Era with the same supercharged engine specs as the 06 cls are overlooked and seen by many as inferior to its big brother 63 amg models. Any forced induction engine is th3 best way to go if you want to gain substantial hp and torque through mods.with minor mods the 06 cls 55 or e55 amg can easily make more power and become faster than the naturally aspirated 63amg models from any class in thst era. I hope to oneday own both the supercharged cls 55and e class .they're sleepers that have so much potential when it comes to performance gains.
W123 and W211 really deserve Mercedes star in my opinion.
I had both and I really felt the feeling of driving them.
W123 is still driven by my father 77yrs old.
Thanks for your videos
For me it’s tied between w212 and w212r. I like how aggressive the R is but I like how subtle yet muscular the pre facelift 212 is
watched the video to the end to be sure you got the w124 as the best mercedes benz ever... and you did.
shows me you did your research well.
i own a 1988 model that is still doing very well.
Great List.... My favorites are also the 211 and the 124 !
I have owned only 2 Mercedes - an early W212 2009 E-Class and a 2017 CLS - both 3 litre diesels. For my money, the W212 was the best all round E-series ever. I absolutely loved mine and it will forever remain the best car I have ever owned.
1995 E280 Masterpiece in Malaysia.. Limited edition...beautiful automobile. Thanks.
I agree with this list as it's well thought out and you've done your research. I own a W210 and I think they're underrated because of the bulletproof reliability and simpler design/technology make them easier to maintain than the newer generations.
True. The W210 is totally underrated. If only there wasn't so much rust on them.
I want someone with money to make a full carbon Fibre shell of a w210 chassic
@@wp8022 Specially bad if youre in a place where rust is a big issue, i see decent amount of w210's that have 5 different color body panels 🤧
I love the W210 it is a classy car
I agree with the order. I love my E55, and yes I dream of owning one day a W124.
I have a late 95 cabriolet 124 with 70k miles (USA) in very good condition. Not a daily driver, more like monthly. Should I keep it or sell it?
W124 in my opinion is the best E class ever build. One can even argue it's the best Mercedes Benz ever build.
Had I known that before I would have kept my w124 260e six in line, so smooth, instead of selling it for less than 500 euros and buy a stupid citroen that only brought trouble
The W212 with the M156.... That sweet sweet naturally aspirated 6.2l V8!!!
in my view, w124 and w210 are the best, in relation to build quality. True w210 rusted very badly, but engines and interior very excellent. last model years of w124 had also the rust problem. worst overall was w211, quality build was not the best, design is always a matter of taste, and for me w210 were the most beautiful.
haha how w211 is worst here? i bet u are too litlle to know about w211 one of the best looking and strongest mb models ever
Well, owners were nervous that W211s had lots of computerization they feared would go obsolete long before the car wore out mechanically. The W210 electronics had not gotten too complicated, so therefore was considered more reliable. Mechanically, they're an honorable heir to the vaunted W124.
I got my feet wet with an '88 "baby Benz" 190E from the same era, four cylinder naturally aspirated banger that still had kick at high speeds, rode luxuriously on bumpy roads 10 mph faster than any other car I'd owned, including an Austin Healy 2000 MK II, but it's short wheelbase made it oversteer and rear wheels slide out. It developed oil leaks in the combustion chambers, wouldn't start, and died on the road a couple of times, by 208,000 miles, but still rode solid like a Benz should. Rust under the rocker panels, but transmission and suspension still in great shape. Shedding a few tears, I reluctantly gave it up, for a '01 W210 E320 4MATIC to continue the journey. with only 45,000 miles on.
I've had that car for almost 10 years, using it mainly for long trips and racked it up to 98,000 miles, hardly half its useful life. 4 wheel drive was a real awakening. I'd owned lots of rear wheel drives and a few front wheel drives, and they don't compare to all wheel drive. The car moves with the assurance of a cat, always in complete control. It won't slide out, no matter what. It moves on slippery roads like a Sherman tank. It feels like 60 mph going 80, rock steady, engine purrs quietly along at 2800 rpm in 5th gear, no sweat. The 220 HP V-6 engine is frisky at highway speeds, but parked, is so quiet I've had to look at the tach to tell if it's running. I don't have to drive it on salty roads, so rust is no problem. The underside still looks clean. The interior is quiet at 80 mph. Like the 190E, it's sensibly put together. The intrepid German engineers thought of everything.
It's the first car I could drive all day and stand up at rest stops without feeling beat up. The 4MATIC and longer wheel base seriously under steers, but is absolutely king of the road on the interstates. I set the cruise control at 79 mph, and the miles shrink--26 mpg at 80 mph, no sweat. I loved the 190E, but this car is so sexy, not too big in the city, not too small on the interstates, just right.
@@aldodrazhi0016 can't say i was at all impressed with the electronics on my w211 e63, sensors all over kept going. Got fed up and swapped it for a w212 e63 s. Still I rate the w211 as special because of the ride comfort. It is incredibly plush for a 500hp car. And the 6 cd changer was dope too. The 6.2 also emitted such a wonderful purr.
Proud owner of w210 for 24 years. Still strong and beautiful.
My facelift W210 E320 hasn't a spec of rust anywhere. Underneath looks like a new car. Rides/Drives very nice. Leather and premium paint. Hard to believe it is a 20 year old car. The 124 and 126 have excellent build quality. Paint quality was also good. Sadly all the systems and wiring in those cars is getting old.
Completely agree with your order. I had a W211 (E320) and it was the perfect all rounder. I've had Mercs since but they've never provided the same enthusiasm.
Nice video. My dad bought a new W211 in 2005 which was the car i grew up in. It was so much nicer than anything else that last year I bought myself a 2007 E320 cdi with all the rare extra features. I'm so happy with it and it almost makes me sad because I think it will be valuable classic if maintaned.
212 just looks new even though it was 10 years+. Loved it.
Make me even more proud to own a W124
Bought W211 E500 4matic in 2006 and still own it. Many times I said to other people "If there is any car parking near my graveyard then it will be this one" because it provides the most comfortable ride, behaves super safe in rain and snow, offers space, is quiet and air condition/seat heating works very quickly when it's cold outside. This is a car made to travel in comfort. I owned and still own many European luxury cars but this one stands out when it comes to overall qualities. Two repairs in 18 years for less than USD 1'000 (broken wiring rear view mirror and rusty exhaust pipe element).
The 210 isn’t getting the recognition and appreciation it deserves. It’s the perfect balance between the classic and modern E Class with a timeless design in my opinion.
I had own w210, w211 and w212. Now have move to audi. W210 was the best. Very solid car
I have a w124 coupe E320 and couldn't agree more. With first place.
That old Mercedes benz door when closing it sounded solid you could feel it. W124 anytime any day. That's a classic
In modern times u can still get it but only on the G class 😁
Perfect ranking. My 1st was a w124. I now drive a w212 diesel 3l estate. I’ve had 9 Mercedes over the years. My fave of all was the 124
I totally agree with your listing. My love to the E class began in 2005, when I bought W210 (96 E320 Avant-garde) which I owned until 2014. I gave it to my youngest brother and he still has it. In 2014, I bought a W211 (E350 4matic with a sport pakage) I still have it, I'm in love with it.
Great video. I need a w124 so badly. Would love one to daily drivr
Great video
The w124 is a legend
Just got a 124 e320 and absolutely love it and would agree fully with it having the number one spot. Quality at every angle and a wonderful sedan in general
W124 220E always have a place in my mind
As an owner of a pre facelift W212 I love the styling of that body style especially the AMG estate version
Going W211 E63 as #1. Feature set of the 124 is too far from modern. I value those steerable W211 Bi-Xenons more than the extra solidity feel of a W124. W211 has the most steering feel with a true hydraulic rack and pinion system. Afterward fog lights disappeared. Then spare tires disappeared. Just examples of many capabilities. Really depends on what each of us value more.
steerabe bixenons? wow, what's the use for that more than to break and the dealer to suck money from your pockets, solidity and reliability is all
@@simonomisimonomis lol hating on Mercedes much? You’re in the wrong place pal. Upper Class Mercedes are a Tour De Force of virtuoso engineering. Those steerable headlights are so seamlessly reliable, most drivers don’t even realize the technology operating. Just that those Bi-Xenon headlights have exquisitely effective coverage across the roadscape far and wide.
@@LawrenceMarkFearon still prefer the 124 but love the 211
The w211 is of the modern age.. The quality not from the past.
Anything that came after the w124 will not survive the future.
Friends of mine also almost got into a crash with a w211, because the brakes no longer worked.
The car is dangerous with the nonsense gadgets and the car was made in the time when they had to comply with recycle laws, like all plastic looking cars of today
I agree with number 1.. I had two of them! The best E Class ever!
I agree that the quality of the W124 is unmatched in later models. For example, our 1995 E320 wagon has the original seat covers, dash switches and push buttons yet still no visible wear. Our 2010 C300 not so much, the stitching in the seat cover opened up and the several of the dash buttons have worn labels. I've owned several W124 E class sedans and wagons. The one problem they ALL seemed to have was a slight freeway speed jitter unless the tires are balanced absolutely PERFECTLY to the limits of the balancing machine. No other vehicle that I've driven was this sensitive.
I still love the W212. It still looks sharp today!
Great car! 👍
the w211 is simply a beauty. I got one in 2011 and I still have it. Of course only in summer. The ranking is more than perfect👍🏻
W211 from 2007- 2009 the Best E class for me especially the E 63 what a beauty 😍
Only the mirrors look better in the facelift w211 imo
You can add face-lift parts to an e55. The e55 torque is much nicer for straight line performance. Which is what these cars are made for.
I loved w124 since when i was like 5 yrs old and today am 22 yrs old and still is ma fav car ever
The 124 is the best in my opinion but good luck finding the E60 AMG.
Every other new E class learns from the W124 and they can't never be that great like the 124. I'm driving an C250 Turbodiesel and I'm having a great time when I drive it, also keeping up with the base models of other brands on the highway. It's getting old every next day, but I have a feeling that this car has a heart and I trust her whenever I go.
W211 is an elegant timeless design especially in silver ,had a facelift W212 loved the car but preferred the twin headlight model just felt the front end was to corporate looking ,in the UK a W210 that hasn’t dissolved is as rare as unicorn shit….👍
Back in 2016, my brother had a 2013 E63s W212 with the 5.5 V8. I had the pleasure of driving it often, and it was a beast of a machine. I alwaye hated that silly outddated dialpad next to the radio controls though, and the slow satnav.
In 2020, he then bought a 2017 E63s W213 but it had the 4.0 V8, which whilst still good, just didn't have that machine gun soundtrack nor the catapault when you put your foot down, not to the same level as the previous model anyway.
However, the interior was amazing, probably one of the best cars to sit in ever, you didn't want journey to end. Loved that massive dual screen instead of that tiny satnav in the old one, and those beautiful circular air vents, and the ambiant lighting made for enjoyable night journeys.
He's currently looking at the market for a 2021 E63s W213 facelift, with the same 4.0 V8. Probably one of the last V8's.
Very impressive comparison I must admit. I have owned W124, W210 and W211 and I must admit, the order or ranking you have done resonates with me ,though I think W211 comes a very close second, camera finish.
Fully agree. The W124 was the finest E Class and I've owned a few.
My absolute favorite is the pre facelift s212. It was the last generation true to the classy elegant feel of Mercedes but offers most modern comfort and convenience. The 213 E class is too modern and generic looking and the 211 is slightly outdated in terms of features and electronics. And I guess the 212 had the best engine options.
You’re absolutely correct, (212) Chassis 2010/2011 E350/E550 Rear wheel drive is about the most reliable car you’ll buy.
I would change w211 to 1st. Best mix of solid, technique, comfort, and timeless shape. Especially with M113K and OM648 3,2 R6 CDI. I have now CLS55 AMG , and S211 Brabus D6 with OM648 and this is my dream set.
W124 and W211 the most elegant and reasonable to own. Love em
If you ask me, the W124 is already a classic, even in the latest model years, but I agree with the fact that is the BEST generation shown in the top
W124 my favorite. It's stylish, hard, reliable and most of all, comes with true shape of mercedes benz
I agree but I am heavily biased since I own a W124 coupe.
Spot on. My first car was the W124 230E and I also own a W211 a few years back. There is a certain quality they possess that cannot be quantified technically, it feels special to sit in them.
I have the E55 AMG W210 '97 since 6 months and i can say it's a underrated one i love this car
Fully agree with your ranking. The first time I closed the door in a W124, it felt like a vault door.
W124 and W123 are some of the best built production cars to ever come off a line.
I loved my W211! Very timeless design and a future classic imo. I now drive a pre-facelift S212 which I think has the perfect balance designwise between older and newer E-classes.
S212 ? What the Hell is that ?
@@makoshark69x96 an E-class wagon?
@@MrMozz07 Never heard of that ! I thought you made a mistake !
I drive a S124 and love it. Haven’t driven the newer ones unfortunately.
love the vid! W211 FTW! :)
What size are those 2 piece Lorinser wheels on the silver 211?
I have a 2014 W212 E63s 4matic best car I’ve ever owned 🙌🏼 also had a 2012 e350 4matic 69k miles to 120k no issues just regular maintenance
I think what makes the W211 special, as you noted, is the modern engines coupled with a focus on ride quality over performance.
Also this is self serving but the W211 E63 wagon is just the best looking wagon of all time. There is just no other car on the road today that is like it.
My love for AMG started with the W124 AMG Hammer and E500. I do think the W211 AMG design and shape is timeless. I see one today and I still think, what a beautiful shape, Elegant and muscular. In comparison to the modern sedans I think it looks small, compact and tidy.
Agreed... E500 is the best 👍👍👍
W210 was my dream car as a kid. It still look good to this day.
W124 is the best of all time E class despite its wiring harness issues .
Can't argue with this list, I'm a W211 fan from past ownership (E500) but I love the look of the W124 as timeless as any of the classic Mercs from the past. It really captures the zeitgeist of the time.
W211s are top of the class for me, and i will always own at lest one of them. Great video, thanks for the thoughtful ranking
As an owner of a W212 ('13 E350 4-Matic), I'm glad it didn't do too bad, knowing it had no chance of making the top of the list, especially with the W124 in it. I know what you mean by E-Class, though some would argue the W124 was before the term was used by M-B. In that sense, I would include the W123 should be on the list too. Truly a masterpiece in terms of build quality and reliability, not to mention the Diesel models. My dad's '83 200 (gas, Stromberg 175 CDT carb I believe - have to check my videos) reflects that. My dad's W210 is in good shape as far as rust because it drives so little and extremely rarely in the winter. All great cars and your video is right on. edit: saw the rest of the video, understand what you mean on the W123.
My W210 had a beautiful V8 engine, but the car had a lot of other issues, especially with the AC. The engine had a gorgeous sound!! It still had that awkward style where you had to open the windows from the center of the car. My W211 was absolutely great. The V8 was great, but after 8 years or so, the air suspension began giving me problems, and the car did not have bluetooth capability. My W212 diesel has been absolutely outstanding. It can go about a 1000 miles on the highway before refueling, and I love the fact that it still has buttons inside. You can manage the climate control or the entertainment system without having to take your eyes of the road and do everything on the screen, which I find very distracting.
w212, w124, w211, w210, ..........w213
w212 pre-face lift #1 It looks GERMAN. I own a 2013 model. I think it was a mistep for Mercedes to remove the double breasted grill from the E-Class. To me the E and S Class are the taxi and chauffeur standard while the A and C class represent new, fun and sporty. The backbone of Mercedes-Benz is the E-Class.
(sprt/pkg. has the best styling)
w124
slots in second place easily, for being the most identifiable Mercedes of all time. No mistaking those Lego block headlights and definitely a rich race history in DTM.
Last w213
definitely last and my least favorite exterior. It doesn't look German, it looks Italian. Pass. Then they made that one with the giant wide grill 🤮 that one was hideous, (same goes for these recent S-Class models 🤢). I don't even see them on the road anymore. I think they changed designer's between w212 & w213 (bad decision, who ever designed the w212, saved Mercedes ass)
w211 is third for me, looks like a race car. Those blue or teal tinted windows are amazing. I think I've seen the w211 in more movies and tv shows than all the others combined. It was a pace car in my favorite era of Formula 1.
w210 is fourth, not a bad looking car but sorta sits in my mind as a junker 🤷🏾♂️ still looks better than the w213, it actually looks GERMAN and if the wiring and rust are addressed it's not a bad car to own. But the bad quality keeps it in 4th for me. Bio degradable wires 🤦🏾♂️