I am certainly delighted about the huge response and exchange of views the argument over which is better (the W140 or the W220) has generated.

About two weeks a very good friend of mine bought a '01 S430. He also owns a '96 S320. We put both W140s (his and mine) and his W220 into a small ride test. The excersize consisted of driving the cars at different speeds over a good size speed bump.

Not to the surprise of both of us, the W140s always stayed composed and instead "feeling" the speed-bump, you only could hear the suspension absorbing it ( regardless of speed ).

The W220 stayed somewhat composed at lower speeds (under 10 m.p.h.), but as the speed increased, also the bottoming out of the suspension increased. After 45 m.p.h., the '01 S430 would literally shut your lower back and also jump a little sideways.

The W140s? Well, like a bank vault, they laughed at the speed-bump, stayed always composed and kept their straight direction.

The new air suspension might allow the W220 to be more agile in certain sport situations, but in terms of ride comfort, it just plainly cannot win over the W140.

And, in terms of quality: just park the two cars side by side. Open and shut all the doors and just "hear and feel the difference"! The W140 wins hands down by a large margin.

A. Rosich
S320, 1998
E320T, 1995