S212 7 seat opinions

[88LG]

Evening,

Looking to upsize from a E91 335i to an F11 or an E Class wagon. Looking at the s212 variant.

How does the back seats fare in terms of space. Currently wife has an Xc60 she wants to downsize which means me going bigger (not that I mind).

This is the current set up when we go out as a family of 4 and if there’s 5 of us, we swap an iso fix out for a booster seat and an adult will go in the back.


As far as I am aware, pre face lift models are easier to get with the rear facing seats due to the post facelift cars having to have an ad blue tank? Is that correct?

Not driven a merc in the past, only ever driven bmw apart from my first car, a KA.

[dave_s13]

We had one for a while (E350d) when the eldest was maybe 9-10. It was ok intially but as she started to grow we got nothing but complaints about throwing her in the back. They are ok for small kids or very short journeys only.

Sold it and bought a nissan elgrand. That shat it's pants and ditched it for a ford galaxy. That or the smax solve the problem perfectly, but don't give you a huge feeling of joy.

[88LG]

I was looking at the s-max titanium x sport. Something I’ve liked the look of for a few years. But not sure it will be too big for day to day.

My youngest kids are 5 and 7 so they’d spend most time in the second row. Maybe the odd occasion the 3rd row would be used for when we go out as a family of 5.

[trevalvole]

According to Wikipedia, an S-Max is about 4 inches shorter, but two inches wider than an S212.

[GlenMH]

trevalvole said:

According to Wikipedia, an S-Max is about 4 inches shorter, but two inches wider than an S212.

But a lot taller and therefore lots more useable volume.
I have got a W212 with the 7 seat option. The third row gets used so rarely as with 2 boosters (10yo and 8yo kids) you can still get an adult in between, just. So it does 5 easily.
Bugger all luggage space if you do have 7 in it...

[88LG]

GlenMH said:

But a lot taller and therefore lots more useable volume.
I have got a W212 with the 7 seat option. The third row gets used so rarely as with 2 boosters (10yo and 8yo kids) you can still get an adult in between, just. So it does 5 easily.
Bugger all luggage space if you do have 7 in it...

Yeah, the third row wouldn’t be used often, but it’s handy option to have if needs be.

The boot space will be great for stay-cations and everything a child would want to take.

[GlenMH]

88LG said:

Yeah, the third row wouldn’t be used often, but it’s handy option to have if needs be.

The boot space will be great for stay-cations and everything a child would want to take.

Yes - it is very good for this. Although a W210 is far far bigger inside the boot: I have got one of each but the 210 will probably only live on for another couple of years as the rust is running rampant.

[dave_s13]

88LG said:

I was looking at the s-max titanium x sport. Something I’ve liked the look of for a few years. But not sure it will be too big for day to day.

My youngest kids are 5 and 7 so they’d spend most time in the second row. Maybe the odd occasion the 3rd row would be used for when we go out as a family of 5.

I've got 3 kids so galaxy/smax is the only real option. Didn't realise you only had 2 with an occasional need for 3. In that case an s212 would work fine. They are lovely things to ride along in and the 350d is no slouch, they are also pretty reliable.

[88LG]

dave_s13 said:

I've got 3 kids so galaxy/smax is the only real option. Didn't realise you only had 2 with an occasional need for 3. In that case an s212 would work fine. They are lovely things to ride along in and the 350d is no slouch, they are also pretty reliable.

I think if I had 3 really young ones, the S-Max would of been the only choice. They do look good with the Titanium X Sport pack especially as they come with the panoramic sun roof.

I do like the look of the pre-facelift E class with the sport pack. I just know it won’t be as involving to drive as a BMW. But the option of a 7 seat wagon is a big plus point.

[GlenMH]

88LG said:

I do like the look of the pre-facelift E class with the sport pack. I just know it won’t be as involving to drive as a BMW. But the option of a 7 seat wagon is a big plus point.

Get the post face-lift if you can: improved gearbox gives far better economy. My 350 soot-chucker is pre-facelift and struggles to see 40mpg when driven like granny on the motorway. Goes well when you want it to, though although low 30s mpg is the price of that. It does weigh nearly 2T...

Once you have got one, you are pretty much trapped: I am struggling to see what I could replace it with - S-Max, Galaxy/Sharan type bus thing, large Skoda estate or some form of VW transporter are pretty much the only options...

[GlenMH]

And if you are seriously looking at these, FFS check if the subframes have been replaced or are corroding as an MOT failure and a potential massive bill are heading your way if they are.
Rear suspension air bags are consumables too, although mine has only had one go in 11 years.

[88LG]

GlenMH said:

And if you are seriously looking at these, FFS check if the subframes have been replaced or are corroding as an MOT failure and a potential massive bill are heading your way if they are.
Rear suspension air bags are consumables too, although mine has only had one go in 11 years.

Cheers for the input!

Am I right in saying there was an interior facelift before a exterior facelift? Would that have the better gearbox and engine?

I am coming from a 2007 E91 335i and see around 27mpg on the clock.

Edit: here’s the car that seems to have interior facelift looking at the instrument cluster.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204094...

Edited by 88LG on Thursday 2nd June 21:39

Edited by 88LG on Thursday 2nd June 21:59

[GlenMH]

88LG said:

Cheers for the input!

Am I right in saying there was an interior facelift before a exterior facelift? Would that have the better gearbox and engine?

I am coming from a 2007 E91 335i and see around 27mpg on the clock.

Edit: here’s the car that seems to have interior facelift looking at the instrument cluster.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204094...

Edited by 88LG on Thursday 2nd June 21:39

Edited by 88LG on Thursday 2nd June 21:59

Quite possibly - that one has updated graphics in the binnacle but the exterior is still pre-facelift. The easy way to tell is that that later cars have straight running lights at the front compared to the "hockey stick" ones that one has - and my 2011.

[AC43]

GlenMH said:

And if you are seriously looking at these, FFS check if the subframes have been replaced or are corroding as an MOT failure and a potential massive bill are heading your way if they are.
Rear suspension air bags are consumables too, although mine has only had one go in 11 years.

I've got a 2010 (petrol) and I asked my local indie about the subframe thing. Apparently the pre-facelifts are not affected and the problems seem to be with slightly later ones. Mine is fine.

One of my rear air suspension springs went a couple of years ago - a lot of them seem to give up at around that age on 212's. At least you can get Arnott's and other brands on Autodoc these days for reasonable prices.

[AC43]

88LG said:

Cheers for the input!

Am I right in saying there was an interior facelift before a exterior facelift? Would that have the better gearbox and engine?

I am coming from a 2007 E91 335i and see around 27mpg on the clock.

Edit: here’s the car that seems to have interior facelift looking at the instrument cluster.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204094...

That seems to have updated instruments but pre-facelift DRL's. Also, I think someone has added the Sports grille and got rid of the bonnet star. Nice update.

I had a 7 seater 211 and found the extra seat v handy when on holiday with other family members/friends etc. It was far better that the grimness of getting an MPV or something.