Author: Radomskyi Maksym VasyliovychThe Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221 (2005–2013) can be visually moved forward by two generations — into the W222 style after the 2017 facelift or into the W223 style, produced since 2020. For this, the catalog includes 11 GBT facelift kits: basic sets of body panels and lighting without bumpers, and full kits with bumpers in AMG Line, AMG S63, and Maybach versions. Below is what exactly is included in each option, how they differ, and what to consider before installation.
Contents
- In brief
- How W221, W222, and W223 differ in dimensions
- What’s included in W222-style kits
- What’s included in W223-style kits
- Which option to choose: W222 or W223, AMG or Maybach
- What to consider during installation: headlights, wiring, painting
- If a full conversion is too much
In brief
- This is replacing the body “skin,” not an add-on body kit. The basic set includes the hood, front and rear fenders, front headlights, rear lights, and mounting elements; full kits add bumpers.
- Two lineups. W222 style — three kits (without bumpers, AMG S63, Maybach X222 S600). W223 style — eight (without bumpers, AMG Line, AMG S63, Maybach; most are available in two versions: with standard doors and “with door handles and inserts”).
- Material and color. Bumpers are composite polypropylene (PP); everything is supplied for painting and installs in factory mounting points.
- The silhouette remains W221: the roof, glass, pillars, interior, and wheelbase are not changed by the kit.
How W221, W222, and W223 differ in dimensions
This affects how convincing the result will look. W221 and W222 have the same wheelbase, while W223 and both Maybach versions use a different one.
| Generation | Years of production | Wheelbase, short / long |
|---|---|---|
| W221 | 2005–2013 (facelift in 2009) | 3035 / 3165 mm |
| W222 | 2013–2020 (facelift in 2017) | 3035 / 3165 mm |
| Maybach X222 | since 2015 (premiere — November 2014) | 3365 mm |
| W223 | since 2020 | 3106 / 3216 mm |
| Maybach Z223 | since 2020 (premiere — 19 November 2020) | 3396 mm |
The conclusion is simple: W222 styling fits the W221 in terms of proportions almost naturally — the wheelbase is the same. W223 styling changes everything you can see, but the W221 wheelbase is 51–71 mm shorter than the W223. And a “Maybach” kit is the Maybach front and rear-end styling: it does not provide the extended rear body section and separate rear doors like a real Maybach.
What’s included in W222-style kits
The foundation of the lineup is the W222 facelift kit without bumpers. According to the product page, it includes the hood, fenders, front headlights, rear fenders, rear lights, and mounting elements; in the kit photos you can also see the trunk lid, mirrors, fender liners, and brackets. The headlights in the photos have three light strips, like the W222 after the 2017 facelift.
| Kit | What’s added to the W222 base |
|---|---|
| W222 (without bumpers) | — (body panels and lighting only; bumpers are selected separately) |
| W222 AMG S63 | S63 AMG front bumper assembly (2018–2022), rear bumper with S65 AMG diffuser (2018–2022), AMG Black grille without Night Vision, AMG S63 exhaust tips |
| X222 Maybach S600 | Maybach front bumper (2018–2022), rear bumper with Maybach diffuser (2018–2022) |
That means the S63 version is the most complete in this lineup: it already includes the grille and exhaust tips. In the Maybach version, the “before/after” photos show a grille with vertical slats and chrome bumper inserts.
What’s included in W223-style kits
There are two base sets here. The W223 facelift kit without bumpers shown in the photos includes front headlights, rear lights, the hood, trunk lid, front and rear fenders, mirrors, chrome window trim and pillar covers, underbody protection, and a set of brackets. The “with door handles and inserts” version adds the outer panels of all four doors with recesses for flush handles, the handles themselves with wiring, and side skirts — the parts that make the side of the car look like a W223, not just the front and rear.
| Style | Bumpers included | Version |
|---|---|---|
| W223 AMG Line | AMG-Line front bumper, AMG-Line rear bumper with diffuser | standard / with door handles and inserts |
| W223 AMG S63 | AMG S63 front bumper assembly, AMG S63 rear bumper with diffuser | standard / with door handles and inserts |
| W223 Maybach | Maybach front and rear bumpers (in the version with handles — Maybach S680) | standard / with door handles and inserts |
| W223 without bumpers | — | standard / with door handles and inserts |
The kit photos show the difference in character: AMG Line has a horizontal grille and restrained air intakes, S63 has a grille with vertical slats and square tips in the diffuser, and Maybach has a massive chrome grille with vertical slats and a chrome mesh in the bumper. All kits with full bumpers are available in the facelift kits for the S-Class W221 section.
Which option to choose: W222 or W223, AMG or Maybach
W222 — if natural proportions matter
The W221 and W222 wheelbase is the same, so after the conversion the car does not end up with “foreign” proportions. Plus, the W222 lineup is simpler: it does not touch the doors.
W223 — if you want the most modern look possible
The optics, hood, fenders, and rear end of the W223 look a generation fresher. But if you install a set without door panels, the side remains W221 with standard handles. For a cohesive look, it makes more sense to choose the “with door handles and inserts” version.
AMG Line, S63, or Maybach
This is a matter of style rather than engineering: the base within one lineup is shared; the bumpers, grille, and trim differ. Maybach looks the most representative on a long-wheelbase W221 — on the short-wheelbase version, the difference in length versus a real Maybach is more noticeable.
What to consider during installation: headlights, wiring, painting
- Bodywork. The front fenders, hood, and trunk lid are bolt-on, while the sedan’s rear fenders are part of the body. Replacing them is a job for a body shop, not a one-day garage project.
- Painting. All parts require painting. Before painting, panels and bumpers are test-fitted and adjusted for gaps; after painting, everything is assembled.
- Lighting and wiring. New headlights and tail lights must connect to the wiring of your specific car. Before ordering, provide the manager with the VIN, year, and trim so the connectors can be checked.
- Night Vision. On the W221, the night vision system uses infrared emitters in the headlights and a camera behind the windshield. In the W222 S63 kit, the grille is specified as “without NightVision” — if your car has this option, уточніть, як вона працюватиме після заміни оптики.
- W223 door handles. Flush handles are supplied with wiring; their connection and the electronics check are best entrusted to an auto electrician.
The kit can be installed at the network of certified DD Tuning service centers — the nearest one will be recommended by the manager.
If a full conversion is too much
You can refresh the front end without replacing body panels with facelift headlights in the Maybach X222 design. According to the listing, they are compatible with the facelift W221 (since 2009); on the pre-facelift they fit provided the bumper and grille are replaced; the Night Vision function is retained; the set includes 2 headlights without bulbs. Separate front bumpers for the W221 are also available in the catalog.
For owners of the next generation — a separate article: Mercedes S-Class W222 in W223 style: what you can realistically install.
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Pros and cons
Externally, the car reads as a 2017–2020 or 2020+ S-Class, not as a 2005–2013 car
Complete sets from one manufacturer (GBT): panels, optics, and bumpers match each other
A choice of two generations and three styles — AMG Line, AMG S63, Maybach
The W222 style preserves natural proportions: the wheelbase of the W221 and W222 is the same
The parts fit the factory mounting points
The roof, glass, interior, and wheelbase remain from the W221
A large amount of bodywork: the sedan’s rear fenders are part of the body
Full repaint and gap alignment before painting
The optics, wiring, and Night Vision must be checked against the VIN and trim level
The Maybach kit does not provide the extended wheelbase of a true Maybach
