TchrzBenz

Great response...very well put....so there!

mkaresh

I don't make recommendations based on reliability unless someone says it's very important to them. My general philosophy with this research is that the key thing is to provide actual repair rates, and not just red and black dots.

With actual repair rates, people can decide if a car's advantages outweigh whatever its repair rate might be, or vice-versa. Often the differences between cars are much smaller than people think they are.

The key thing is that each car buyer should be able to make this decision on their own, not have it made for them by someone who decides that any car with a below average repair rate (whatever the average might be) ought to be avoided.

TrueDelta's November results will finally include a Mercedes model, the 2007 GL-Class.

Vehicle reliability research

rjm

I don't know where you get your data from. I've owned an E-Class Mercedes, a Lexus LS430 (still do) and a BMW 328i (still do) and I can tell you the Lexus and the BMW exceed the reliablility and dependibility of the Mercedes by a wide margin. My Mercedes spent more time in the garage being fixed than on the road.

mkaresh

The purpose of this research is to help provide some readily comparable repair rates for these cars. Where I do have numbers, the differences tend to be what people expect them to be, but not as large as people expect them to be.

2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 are now all over half way to the minimum number of enrolled cars needed to get started.

Auto reliability research -- need more E's!

JCsE350

Have you owned a BMW?? I'm not sure where did you get that info. about replacing radiator, water pump and thermostat every 60K miles. I've never had that issue on mine nor past cars.

mkaresh

I think some clear numbers will help take some of the emotion out of the subject. In general, repair rates are lower than most people expect.

Still not to the minimum with the E-Class, but getting closer.

mkaresh

2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 are now all over half way to the minimum. Definitely getting there, but not there yet.

Vehicle reliability research

ZedStyle

it could also mean that after about three years, they start becoming quite unreliable...

Ser05E500

I have had an 05 E500 for a year and only had an issue with alarm going off on its own. So far it has been a very reliable vehicle. I bought it with 22,000 and now it has 43,000 miles. I could not be more happy with the way this vehicle has performed. I hope it stays this way.

mkaresh

Thanks for the responses, guys.

If we can get enough owners involved in the survey, TrueDelta can provide some actual numbers on repair rates for the E-Class. Closer, but not there yet.

Vehicle reliability research

aromith

For me, reliability goes beyond full-out breakdowns. It's the rattles that pop up out of nowhere, the way rubber trim pieces come loose and plastic frames discolor. It's the way climate control vents get stuck in place or the rear window drops all of a sudden when you're driving on the highway (extremely dangerous) or your radio turns itself on and off and fails to work after one hour. As for quality, it's how trim pieces don't align perfectly or the sunroof shade is not tight enough in its track so that it bounces and rattles when you hit bumps, it's how the paint is just a bit too thin and swirls much to easily. Or how the foglights are never out, but don't always work, especially in wet weather. Or how the shift lever becomes loose in its track. It's the ease with which the factory wheels dent over potholes, which by the way are transmitted far too easily. It's the rain sensing wipers that disagree with the rain, and then swing nonstop in a drizzle. It's the way the xenon lights just don't illuminate well, and allow the car behind you to cast shadows over your path. It's the rust that grows prematurely, and the windshield wiper that just isn't tight enough for the entire blade to fit the contour of the glass. It's the way the rubber radio knob falls apart (essentially melting) and the rubber coating rubs off the steering wheel buttons. It's how the seats are not in sync with the car and "float" separately. It's the fact that you have had to have your car fixed three times for the same problem-refusing to start (not turning over).

That is what quality and reliability are?

ProV1

why does MB still only offer 4yr/50k rust warranty??? really sad

F456 V12

Had a 2006 E350, with 55K miles - no issues and bullet proof in my opinion - traded it in on a 2008 E350...

MB

mkaresh

Good question. Does anyone even have a problem with rust?

Generally rust warranties only cover rust that's all the way through the panel, not just surface rust. This is very rare these days. So you'd think Mercedes could extend the warranty at very little cost to them.

gnma

Hmmm. the Supra's inline 6 cylinder engine has its roots going back to the 60's, and the last version was good for 600whp stock AND has world-wide known Toyota reliability. AMG who???

No car today has no electronic features.

That's no excuse for unreliable products.

Go to Europe - plenty of MB taxis there:

In fact one noted he's seeing less and less MB taxis nowadays due to higher reliability issues of said car....

That statement says it all.



That statement says it all

wmhjr

I've owned BMWs (including M's) and MBs. Frankly, all of them have been quite reliable for me - however comparing the two the BMWs have been slightly more reliable. I have had virtually zero issues with my M-Roadster and M3 except for replacing tires too often.

My W208 has had fuel gauge sensors go bad and MAF sensor go bad. Also, front steering shock absorber. In 86K miles that isn't bad -but is certainly no better than the BMW.

Though I'm not afraid of MB reliability (I'm about to take delivery of an '08 E350 next week) in no way do I believe that MB is superior to BMW, Lexus or Infinity in terms of quality and reliability. I'm buying the '08 E because I got a great deal and like driving the E.

mkaresh

It all depends on whether you focus on relative or absolute numbers.

Other sources only give you relative ratings. As a percentage of the average, many German cars continue to appear unreliable.

Even with my site, some people fixate on the relative difference between models. But I provide the actual repair rates for a reason: they make it clear that no cars these days are "in the shop all the time." Your experience sounds about average for a German car.

Unfortunately, still no result for the E-Class, as too few owners have signed up. But whenever E-Class owners decide they're ready for better reliability info on the car, I'll be here.

Maybe not too much longer. A few years are now within ten cars of the minimum sample size.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

We're now just a couple owners short with the 2008, and many other model years are about 2/3 of the way to the minimum. Getting there.

Results for about 120 other model/model year combinations in May.

To help get your model year included:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

I've added the 2008 to the main survey.

The 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 are all about 2/3 of the way to the minimum. Getting close.

Help get your year included:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Closer, but not there yet. Up to 160 for all years, compared to 218 for the 5-series and 225 for the A6.

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

Now 177 for all years (compared to 233 for the 5 and 236 for the A6).

The 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008 are now all close to the minimum sample size.

Help get your year over the top:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

And now 192. The 2005 is now a single owner short of the minimum, and the 2003, 2006 and 2007 are all within five.

The 2008 is already in the survey, but more participants are needed for it as well.

To get your year into the results:

Vehicle reliability research

mkaresh

The 2005 has been added to the survey--but it's right at the minimum--while the 2003 is only three owners short and the 2007 is just four.

The latest results were recently posted for many other models--would like to get the E in future sets.

Those results:

Vehicle reliability survey results

mkaresh

The next set of results will be in November. It's not clear if any model year of the E-Class will be included--it's going to be close, and a few more participants could make the difference. Some years of the 5-Series and A6 will be in this set.

To help get your year included:

Vehicle reliability research

rusbel

My 06 E55:

At 10k - new steering rack

At 12k - new battery

At 40k - left valve cover gasket leaked, needed replacement; trans bushing replaced at the same time

Lighter does not work

Thank god for warranty!!!

For comparo: My previous car, 1993 Mitsu diamante station wagon at 258k had only a problem with a drivers window switch