Reliability
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MBWorld Fanatic!
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From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Reliability
Dec. Consumer Reports has ranked car manufacturers by reliability. Whether you agree with CR or not, it is a shame MB cannot rank better after over 100 years of automobile manufacturing.
Good news is that the V6 E Class has returned to above average overall. V8 still below average.
MB in general ranks 14th, but that is up from 18th. Audi went from 26th to 8th-Best of Europeans. Can they hold it? Ironically VW is 18th.
The issue also reviews the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and ranks it below the E350 (diesel/luxury version?)
Good news is that the V6 E Class has returned to above average overall. V8 still below average.
MB in general ranks 14th, but that is up from 18th. Audi went from 26th to 8th-Best of Europeans. Can they hold it? Ironically VW is 18th.
The issue also reviews the 2013 Lexus GS 350 and ranks it below the E350 (diesel/luxury version?)
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 2,056
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From: Paradise
w212 E550
the last consumer report that i read was years ago and i'm not planning to read this one. nothing to against them. i just have too many magazines to read and this forum really kills a lot of my free time 
. is toyota still on the top 
? but i'm quite surprise to see the gs ranked below the e350 on reliability simply because those magazine people always think toyota/lexus are bullet-proof 
.
. is toyota still on the top ? but i'm quite surprise to see the gs ranked below the e350 on reliability simply because those magazine people always think toyota/lexus are bullet-proof .
Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 216
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From: Canada
E350 4Matic 2011
The GS is one of the Toyota/Lexus exceptions. CR rates that particular model as being poor. MB used to be on top back in the days of the pre 1995 300E (W124 chassis). Those cars were legendary. CR doesn't rate the reliability themselves -they just compile their reader surveys. I find CR pretty accurate.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
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From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Road test score, not reliability
Sorry for confusion, the E350 Luxury Diesel ranked higher on the CR road test score than the 2013 Lexus GS. Not sure where GS ranks in reliability, but it is a new model anyway.
FYI, the Luxury Diesel version of E class ranked higher than the 2010 Sport gas version tested earlier. Apparently this was based primarily on the more comfortable ride in the Luxury versions.
FYI, the Luxury Diesel version of E class ranked higher than the 2010 Sport gas version tested earlier. Apparently this was based primarily on the more comfortable ride in the Luxury versions.
Last edited by El Cid; Nov 8, 2012 at 09:46 AM.
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
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From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
Just had the battery replaced at 2 years. Under warranty. Something about how the alternator output is programmed. Alternator has been reprogrammed. I haven't had to jump start a car in about 10 years. But. . . This did not cost me any thing. Just time.
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Super Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 576
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From: Placitas, NM
E550
One needs to consider these ratings in context . . .
Pistons, valves, brakes, transmissions, in all car models, have relatively low failure rate (or they should).
High tech stuff, like lane keeping, nav, auto dim, auto suspension, etc., etc., has a relatively high failure rate.
Mercedes tend to have more high tech stuff.
Further, because Mercedes buyers pay so much money, they tend to be less patient with little problems. And because the service operations are so friendly (little crap, loaners, etc.), Mercedes owners are more likely to take the time to get things fixed.
This does not absolve Mercedes of their reliability issues --- it just puts things in a little different perspective. As for me, I am not trying to make excuses for Mercedes --- my particular $70,000 Mercedes is the second worst in 48 years of buying 14 new cars of many brands, and I am p****d. (The first worst, a Toyota Avalon, had fewer problems than the Mercedes, but it blew an engine . . . twice.)
Pistons, valves, brakes, transmissions, in all car models, have relatively low failure rate (or they should).
High tech stuff, like lane keeping, nav, auto dim, auto suspension, etc., etc., has a relatively high failure rate.
Mercedes tend to have more high tech stuff.
Further, because Mercedes buyers pay so much money, they tend to be less patient with little problems. And because the service operations are so friendly (little crap, loaners, etc.), Mercedes owners are more likely to take the time to get things fixed.
This does not absolve Mercedes of their reliability issues --- it just puts things in a little different perspective. As for me, I am not trying to make excuses for Mercedes --- my particular $70,000 Mercedes is the second worst in 48 years of buying 14 new cars of many brands, and I am p****d. (The first worst, a Toyota Avalon, had fewer problems than the Mercedes, but it blew an engine . . . twice.)
Super Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 764
Likes: 10
From: North Carolina
2010 E350, 2015 S550
One needs to consider these ratings in context . . .
Pistons, valves, brakes, transmissions, in all car models, have relatively low failure rate (or they should).
High tech stuff, like lane keeping, nav, auto dim, auto suspension, etc., etc., has a relatively high failure rate.
Mercedes tend to have more high tech stuff.
Further, because Mercedes buyers pay so much money, they tend to be less patient with little problems. And because the service operations are so friendly (little crap, loaners, etc.), Mercedes owners are more likely to take the time to get things fixed.
This does not absolve Mercedes of their reliability issues --- it just puts things in a little different perspective. As for me, I am not trying to make excuses for Mercedes --- my particular $70,000 Mercedes is the second worst in 48 years of buying 14 new cars of many brands, and I am p****d. (The first worst, a Toyota Avalon, had fewer problems than the Mercedes, but it blew an engine . . . twice.)
Pistons, valves, brakes, transmissions, in all car models, have relatively low failure rate (or they should).
High tech stuff, like lane keeping, nav, auto dim, auto suspension, etc., etc., has a relatively high failure rate.
Mercedes tend to have more high tech stuff.
Further, because Mercedes buyers pay so much money, they tend to be less patient with little problems. And because the service operations are so friendly (little crap, loaners, etc.), Mercedes owners are more likely to take the time to get things fixed.
This does not absolve Mercedes of their reliability issues --- it just puts things in a little different perspective. As for me, I am not trying to make excuses for Mercedes --- my particular $70,000 Mercedes is the second worst in 48 years of buying 14 new cars of many brands, and I am p****d. (The first worst, a Toyota Avalon, had fewer problems than the Mercedes, but it blew an engine . . . twice.)
None-the-less, I have been very happy with the reliability of the Benz. The recent battery issue has me somewhat concerned because while the dealer has replaced the battery under warranty after two years, I am assuming this will have a hefty price tag once the car is out of warranty. Makes a good argument for an extended warranty.
Time will tell.
Thread Starter
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,616
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From: Southeastern USA
2010 E350 Luxury Sedan, Engine 272 (V6)
Others are better
Doubt that MB owners expect any more out of their vehicles than Lexus, Acura, Infiniti, etc. Have two Toyotas and I expect everything on them to work just as much as I do on my MB and for just as long. I don't expect anymore from MB than Toyota.
Ironically, the things that fail in MB do not fail in far lesser priced vehicles.
Also, doesn't matter if covered by warranty or not - parts/systems should not fail to start with.
The motor in my steering wheel failed at 2 years and 7,000 miles and it was replaced under warranty. However, it took 2.5 days after the part came in. What would it cost me to replace it not under warranty? Have had same feature in other cars and never failed. Have had other problems as well. Heck, look at this forum-way too many problems.
While all of us have probably had lemons, the reliability reports from organizations indicate systematic reliability issues.
BTW, time is money - at least mine is.
Sorry if this offends, but I think MB/DAG can do better and we should expect them to. How can Kia have a better warranty than MB?
Ironically, the things that fail in MB do not fail in far lesser priced vehicles.
Also, doesn't matter if covered by warranty or not - parts/systems should not fail to start with.
The motor in my steering wheel failed at 2 years and 7,000 miles and it was replaced under warranty. However, it took 2.5 days after the part came in. What would it cost me to replace it not under warranty? Have had same feature in other cars and never failed. Have had other problems as well. Heck, look at this forum-way too many problems.
While all of us have probably had lemons, the reliability reports from organizations indicate systematic reliability issues.
BTW, time is money - at least mine is.
Sorry if this offends, but I think MB/DAG can do better and we should expect them to. How can Kia have a better warranty than MB?
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 258
From: Ontario,Canada
...24 GLE53
I don't know what the ranking means but on my 2010 E350 I had one warranty claim for a defective door lock in 54,000kms and three years. My 2011 E350 has never had a warranty claim in 38,000kms and 26 months of use. It just doesn't get any better than that.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,121
Likes: 12
From: Connecticut
2018 BMW 540d
I'm approaching 20K miles on my Bluetec and I've had one service visit and one recall visit.Not as good as my two Infinities (80K miles combined) but still acceptable...so far,at least.
Super Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 584
Likes: 2
From: Los Angeles
2012 C250 Sport
Oddly enough, b/c of Honda's stellar reputation, I expected a lot from my Accord (2003, V6). It wasn't exactly horribly unreliable, but I was shocked when the head unit failed (replaced under warranty), the key fob went dead (out of warranty), the hood strut failed (huh?), the car stalled when I was switching from reverse to drive during a 3-point turn (if front of on-coming traffic), the exhaust system needed to be de-carbonized (my own fault, I suppose).
It was almost as unreliable as the most unreliable MBs our family has had; the main advantage was that it was simply cheaper to repair. Of course, repairs were a hassle since Honda service stations don't have loaner cars....
