AMGAffalterbach

Maintenance costs aren't bad, most of my trips to the dealer or indie are maintenance related or the result of my stupidities. I have owned my car for almost a year and to be honest it's what I would consider average as far as reliability goes (for the E-Class in general). Exceptionally engineered above most, yes. Very innovative, yes. And with some of those features including AirMatic I expected more repairs when I bought the car so I can't complain. If you bought one that is optioned out, especially if you purchased it used, you can't tell me you had no idea that these parts can and have failed. If you had no idea, you didn't do your research. Repair COSTS and part COSTS are very high on any luxury car that is important from Germany, but overall I am very satisfied.

mkaresh

We have updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through December 31, 2012.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2011: 24, low

2010: 46, moderate, small sample size

2009: 48, moderate, very small sample size

2008: 53, moderate

2007: 58, moderate

2006: 65, moderate

2005: 33, low, small sample size

2004: 59, low, very small sample size

2003: 68, low, small sample size

2002: 39, low, very small sample size

2001: 90, moderate, very small sample size

2000: 115, high, very small sample size

1999: 41, low, very small sample size

1998: 62, low, very small sample size

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. We'll have further updates later this month and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

vettdvr

Good job. Just wondering is there anyway to break out the severity of the issue. 24 might be low but if it is engine failure to countershaft or SBC brakes issues it might be a really big issue compared to lighter not popping out.

mkaresh

I'm strongly considering a second set of stats that only includes mechanical issues with the next update. Most of these would still be relatively minor, though.

We can't do stats for only severe issues even though we do have severity measures on the survey (we do ask the right questions) because these are generally rare, and the more rare something is the larger the sample size you need to measure it with a reasonable amount of precision. So we won't be able to do this until more owners are participating.

vettdvr

No problem keep up the good work. I used the data a yr in advance to help me with my current car purchase. This will be my second car in your system you are gathering data on.

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through March 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 50, moderate, very small sample size
2008 E-Class: 46, moderate
2007 E-Class: 55, moderate
2006 E-Class: 86, high
2005 E-Class: 21, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 53, low, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 75, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2007 E-Class: 50, < 1

We'll have further updates in August and in November.

For the details, including the descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through June 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 31, low, very small sample size
2008 E-Class: 58, moderate
2007 E-Class: 46, low
2006 E-Class: 80, moderate
2005 E-Class: 23, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 86, moderate, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 73, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2007 E-Class: 63, < 1

We'll have further updates later this month and in February.

To view competitors' scores and descriptions of reported repairs, and to sign up to help:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through September 30, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 65, moderate, very small sample size
2008 E-Class: 48, moderate
2007 E-Class: 58, moderate
2006 E-Class: 88, moderate
2005 E-Class: 31, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 80, moderate, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 90, moderate, small sample size

We have two additional statistics, "Nada-odds" and "Lemon-odds", to indicate the percentage of cars with no repairs in the past year and those that required 3+ trips to the repair shop:

2007 E-Class: 63, < 1

We'll have further updates in February and in May. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through December 31, 2013.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 59, moderate, very small sample size
2008 E-Class: 82, high
2007 E-Class: 44, low
2006 E-Class: 85, moderate
2005 E-Class: 27, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 88, moderate, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 81, moderate, small sample size

We'll have further updates in May and in August. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

To see the repairs behind these stats, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

Our reliability stats for the E-Class now include owner experiences through March 31, 2014, making them nearly a year ahead of other sources.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 56, moderate, small sample size
2008 E-Class: 83, moderate
2007 E-Class: 53, moderate
2006 E-Class: 90, moderate
2005 E-Class: 30, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 100, moderate, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 91, moderate, very small sample size

Thank you, once again, everyone who has been helping. Next update in August.

For a deeper dive, including the stats for other cars and repair descriptions, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

I Like Soup

I went ahead and registered and entered all of my significant work over the last 7 years. I also wrote a review and really got specific in the "why I wouldn't buy" section.

vettdvr

From the moderate rating I would look into the why / what is failing and cost. After owning one and selling with it having moderate I would never buy a MB with moderate.

mkaresh

We do post all repair descriptions. MB repairs can be pricey.

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through June 30, 2014 (making them about 14 months ahead of some others).

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 77, high, small sample size
2008 E-Class: 65, moderate
2007 E-Class: 80, moderate
2006 E-Class: 92, moderate
2005 E-Class: 62, moderate, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 96, moderate, small sample size
2003 E-Class: 116, high, very small sample size

Next updates in November and in February. The more owners participate, the more comprehensive and precise these will be.

For repair descriptions, the stats of other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through September 30, 2014.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 74, moderate, small sample size
2008 E-Class: 64, moderate
2007 E-Class: 65, moderate
2006 E-Class: 88, moderate
2005 E-Class: 58, low, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 100, moderate, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 139, high, very small sample size

Additional participants always helpful (especially if you see "small sample size" next to the year, or no stat at all).

To view the repairs behind these numbers, check the stats for other cars, and sign up to help improve this information (next update in February):

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

mkaresh

We've updated our reliability stats for the E-Class to include owner experiences through the end of 2014. Plus we've added reliability trends graphs. These indicate how a model's reliability has changed as it has aged, and how different model years performed when the same age.

Repair frequencies, in terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year:

2009 E-Class: 95, high, small sample size
2008 E-Class: 38, low
2007 E-Class: 58, moderate
2006 E-Class: 93, high
2005 E-Class: 93, moderate, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 67, low, very small sample size
2003 E-Class: 156, high, very small sample size

We'll have further updates in May and in August. As suggested by the sample size notes (I'd love to get rid of these), additional participants would be very helpful.

For the details, including how competitors compare, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability ratings and comparisons

The Thomas J

Out side of regular maintence I haven't had any issues in the two years I have owned it. One complaint I have is I keep bending the stock rims, but that's an issue with the terrible roads in NY and NJ.

mkaresh

Living in Michigan, I've become fairly skilled at dodging the potholes. But occasionally I hit one anyway--lost a tire and wheel last year.

BOYRACER

Spoken so truly and perfect response!

R

AMGAffalterbach

Well thank you, it still holds true to this day... I was reading an article that said German cars are engineered for performance and technology above everything else. Hence the increased complexity and number of sensors that can fail, but nothing that can't be managed if you keep up on the car. As with any car. It may not be a simple toyota that's a reliable appliance that will keep working if you forget to change the oil for 20k, but it has still never left me stranded and has remained manageable.

mkaresh

That said, they seem to have really improved reliability in recent years.

Our members have been selling W211s more often than they've been buying them. So that we can keep providing stats for this generation I hope more owners can join.

www.truedelta.com/join

vettdvr

My E500 stranded me 3 times

Starter failure
SBC "stop now" failure
Airmatic strut failure collapsing on the wheel.

Guess everyone else had a better car.

AMGAffalterbach

You had a terrible car, no doubt. But I'm glad I got a facelift W211 I think that benefited me in the long run.

mkaresh

So, how have these cars been doing lately?

Our reliability stats for the E-Class now include owner experiences through March 31, 2015. (Others are nearly a year behind.)

In terms of repair trips per 100 cars per year ("low" is best):

2009 E-Class: 105, high, small sample size
2008 E-Class: 36, low
2007 E-Class: 57, moderate
2006 E-Class: 107, high
2005 E-Class: 101, moderate, small sample size
2004 E-Class: 44, low, small sample size
2003 E-Class: 125, high, very small sample size

No stat for a model year? Then we very much need more participants for it. Same for those with small sample size notes. Next updates in August and November.

For repair descriptions, the stats for other cars, and to sign up to help improve this information:

Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability

Uranium238

WTH I am buying a 2009 today. What is the reason for the spike?

Merc6

Only thing sucks is there is no "My car is fine" to offset these numbers. I was looking at an 04 and 07 at the moment. 07 was winning on newer and bigger engine with lesser miles of the 2 but I may just hold off a bit longer.