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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:15 AM
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Default Refresh W223 S Class Thread

The refresh W223 S Class is due to be released on Thursday Jan 29th! Figured I would start a thread.

The design looks to be...a little more brand forward with stars in the DRLs, headlights, taillights. Not a huge fan of those...interior has a new dash with full width screen.

Spy pictures we have so far:

Note the illuminated hood ornament









This is the latest "leaked" shot...hoping this is AI generated. I don't see MB doing the hood star AND the grille star...this looks very awkward and gives "EQS SUV" vibes to me:



Interior though I think is a good improvement, note wood on the console vs the piano black on the current car:



Note the return of physical dials on the steering wheel controls



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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:17 AM
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Last renderings looking at all the leaked pictures:





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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:20 AM
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the first pic looks fine but holy hell if it actually ends up looking like the gray one with a star hood ornament and a star in the grille i'm gonna seriously slip into a depression... it's bad enough that the damn lights need to be a mercedes logo too

it's looking like the W222 will become the 'back in the day' S class when people get nostalgic for how nice it once used to be
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:26 AM
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The white one in the rederings looks okay, a little over the top with all the stars, but that gray one is just hideous. The headlights look too big on that one too.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:36 AM
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Here is the source image for the grey one, note the gemini logo in the bottom right corner...so AI:


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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by SW17LS
Here is the source image for the grey one, note the gemini logo in the bottom right corner...so AI:
oh i never doubted it was AI, it just looks utter **** lol... the white one looks nice, especially the rear view that's a classy elegant car!
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Stroock639
oh i never doubted it was AI, it just looks utter **** lol... the white one looks nice, especially the rear view that's a classy elegant car!
Get rid of the stars in the lights and it's damn near perfect, front and rear.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:13 AM
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Not a fan of W223, probably one of the worst Sclass ever made especially after how excellent the W222 was.

It badly needs a refresh specially the interior but so far these spy shots are not giving much hope as they ruined the only good thing about it which is the exterior design with these tacky emblems everywhere.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:22 AM
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Originally Posted by RNM GS3
Not a fan of W223, probably one of the worst Sclass ever made especially after how excellent the W222 was.
As I've said before, I like my 223 better overall than my 222

The stars everywhere remind me of this kind of thing though:



Its just way flashier than I'm looking for

The stars in the taillights don't really bother me, the headlights though are on another level...

Last edited by SW17LS; Jan 27, 2026 at 08:25 AM.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:37 AM
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Again we disagree on this but both the W221 and W222 were superior.
They went too far with the tech on W223 and the integration was not great. They also use the same layout pretty much on all their cars. The material/build quality was a huge step back!

There is a reason my parents are getting a 7 series after driving 3 of the past Sclass generations for 10years +

BTW the Maybach line offers even tackier trim / graphics definitely for “certain” markets.

Last edited by RNM GS3; Jan 27, 2026 at 08:39 AM.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:44 AM
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Originally Posted by RNM GS3
Again we disagree on this but both the W221 and W222 were superior.
They went too far with the tech on W223 and the integration was not great. They also use the same layout pretty much on all their cars. The material/build quality was a huge step back!

There is a reason my parents are getting a 7 series after driving 3 of the past Sclass generations for 10years +

BTW the Maybach line offers even tackier trim / graphics definitely for “certain” markets.
I think your parents are at an age where the tech is too much for them, I think they will have the same issue with the 7 Series. As a much younger person, the tech and the tech forward interior appeals to me and my wife and the car feels much "younger" than my W222. Interior materials and build though are a step back from the 222 for sure, but everything else is better with the 223...oddly enough including exterior build quality and finish and paint quality. Ride, drive, interior isolation all are better in the 223.

So this refresh could be a huge improvement if they address the interior issues...but we gotta see what the styling looks like.

Last edited by SW17LS; Jan 27, 2026 at 08:45 AM.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:44 AM
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The lighting elements are too flashy and tacky. I prefer a more understated elegance.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:49 AM
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This is the front clip from the parts exploded diagram:

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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:54 AM
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I love any S Class. Looking forward to this. Personally light up emblems, grills are cringe though.
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Old Jan 27, 2026 | 08:56 AM
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At least you can turn them off lol
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