99 v 02 - what visual differences?

[Tagsley]

I thought all the W210s were the same, but a friend tells me differently. Can someone please list the differences for me?

Thanks!

[r_liebo]

I don't know all, but I can add a few.
Front body kit is more plain on the 99s -- no wire mesh.
Steering wheel is different -- no controls on the 99s, and I think the 99s have a thicker wheel as well.
No touch-shift gear changes with tranny in 99 (this was added at some point, not sure which year).
Colors available are different. I know tectite grey was an 02 only.
Probably an upgraded NAV system, but not 100% sure.

[HockeyGod]

Just from memory...00 was the W210 facelift year, so a post 99 model will have the revised front fascia, blinker mirrors, different front body kit. I don't know if the rear bumper or lights changed. As was mentioned, the steering wheel was also updated with the controls, and options increased by 02 so it is possible to have parking aid, nav, cooled seats, sunshade - that I don't know if all were available in 99.

Speaking of all this, I wish there was a reference to break down production numbers of these cars like they do with old muscle cars (you know - they made 8 of this car in orange with a bench seat, floor shifter, wood wheel, and 8 track, etc)...as I think some option combinations might be fairly unique. Yesterday at a local lot I saw a silver 01 E55 with 2 tone silver and black interior (seems to be a very late use of this), parking aid, and sunshade, but no nav or cooled seats. I bet not many were identical.

[Supercharged SEC]

Originally Posted by HockeyGod

Yesterday at a local lot I saw a silver 01 E55 with 2 tone silver and black interior (seems to be a very late use of this), parking aid, and sunshade, but no nav or cooled seats. I bet not many were identical.

My '99 E55 had the two tone interior. In fact, most of the early 210's had the two tone interiors.

[JOE55]

Originally Posted by Supercharged SEC

My '99 E55 had the two tone interior. In fact, most of the early 210's had the two tone interiors.

Yup that's correct, in fact I just saw one this morning park next to me.

[HockeyGod]

Yep, I have seen 99s and even an 00 with two tone (there's a black and red one in my area), but never an 01.

I know MB is pretty meticulous about record keeping...there must be a way to find these numbers.

[Musikmann]

I have a copy of the 2001 E-class sales brochure. They list 3 combinations available on the E55 in that year: Charcoal/Charcoal, Charcoal/Ruby and Charcoal/Grey.

[Musikmann]

Originally Posted by HockeyGod

Just from memory...00 was the W210 facelift year, so a post 99 model will have the revised front fascia, blinker mirrors, different front body kit. I don't know if the rear bumper or lights changed.

The rear light lenses (the inner ones on the trunk portion) changed very slightly, but I don't think the bumper did at all.

[atlshaver]

I have an 01 with the Charcoal/Ruby interior. I see many E55's around but not many with the two tone interior.

[AdamY]

The 1999 has larger headlights than the 2000+ W210 E-Class. They have made the facelifted E-Class's front end look more like a CLK. I'd prefer the pre-facelift version as the headlights look better in proportions.

Cheers,
Adam