e55phil

In the latest issue of Consumer Reports Mercedes-Benz ranks 23rd out of 28 car brands. The brand reliability is 34/100 points. In terms of predicted reliability, the E class gets 33 points out of 100. FYI the Audi A6 gets 69 points in the BMW five series 51 points.

I must admit I'm disappointed. All these years the reason I remained loyal to Mercedes is because I felt the car would be reliable. However I took delivery of my car in March and since that time it's been out of commission on two separate occasions for about 15 days.

Very sad, I worry about the future of my new wagon.

ua549

I've never had a problem that couldn't be repaired in a 1 hour visit to the dealer. IIRC I had 3 warranty repairs - weak driver door hinges, driver door soft close and software update. My car is now out of warranty. Last week I had to replace the battery at 54 months and 17k miles. The dealer price was double the shade mechanic price, but I didn't have to reprogram anything, a major pain.

Mac Jones 55

I'll heed to read this. My previous E was fine. Also, I'm getting the 2022 model, and I'm certain that this report is not for that year.

Cao Black

I don't have access to Consumer Reports except what is "reprinted" in various internet articles. According to the attached link, they rank the Buick Envision #1 domestic-branded, and #5 overall. Notice the term "domestic-branded". That's because the Envision in made in freakin' China. That's right China. Call me cynical, skeptical or even paranoid (or any of the other 'ism' or 'ic' words thrown around so casually these days) but I don't trust any ranking dynamic that has Chinese-made products ranked first. Mercedes, like GM, has hitched it's wagon to the Chinese economy. Mercedes considers the US market to be mature and not worth equal consideration.

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-...s-a7824554938/

All that aside, I have not had any problems with either Mercedes, and, I would not buy a Buick if it was ranked first in every category and Mercedes were ranked last. But, fingers crossed, just in case.

chassis

Mercedes as a brand is rubbish. Nice looking cars, rubbish new car quality and medium term reliability. Dealers and corporate that don’t stand behind the product. Incompetent dealers.

Too many recent and egregious examples to list:

V167 launch flop
48V system flop
M274 engine piston cracking
M278/M157 cylinder scuffing

So many more examples. It’s too bad, the old Mercedes ended after the W140.

Mac Jones 55

The BMW 5 series is 51. This is the other car I was looking at and it's rating isn't much better than the E.

I'm not going to consider the 5 because of this rating. I owned a BMW for 15 years and it's was good, but some things not so. All these types of cars have issues.

JTK44

I realize that when you change a battery power is cut off. I have changed batteries myself, but not recently.

I know on the electronics in my house, when I change the battery, are prior setting are retained. Same with my tractor and my last car a 2008 Porsche Boxster.

Are you saying that in the E Class everything must be reprogrammed?

JTK44

I have been a subscriber and supporter of Consumer Reports for over 45 years. But when it comes to cars, some of their findings I just find strange.

Before getting my first BMW 5, 12 years ago, the top rated car was the Infinite Q 45 or 50. I tested the Q and it could not hold a candle to the 5 series: noisier and on the road wind moved it. ride was harsh. It was cheaper by $5000/8000 than the 5 series, but I felt the 5 was worth every penny.

In the high rankings are the Ford Mustang MachE: I am fully familiar with this car having ordered a First Edition ($3,000 premium) but because Ford did not offer a lease and delays in delivery (this was before the delays caused by Covid) I decided not to take delivery: I am super happy that I did not take it.

The MachE is proof of the axiom: "Never buy first year of production" (I guess you can add that to the 2021 E450 with the 48 volt system):

There have already been two recalls and numerous problems with their charging system, cars conking out in the middle of the road and being flat bedded to the dealer who has no idea how to fix them, dashboards going completely blank, cars not shifting, and so many more problems.

Just go https://www.macheclub.com/forums/for...s-problems.62/ and you can see endless complaints and the non responsiveness of the Ford dealers.

So I do not know how CR can report that the MachE is reliable. This just makes their findings suspect.

Just my $.02.

e55phil

All that aside, I have not had any problems with either Mercedes, and, I would not buy a Buick if it was ranked first in every category and Mercedes were ranked last. But, fingers crossed, just in case.[/QUOTE]

You made me laugh. I agree. but Buick owners love their cars. (my first car was a 52 Roadmaster!)

ua549

MB either provides supplemental power or they make a system backup and restore it after power is connected. If not, things such as seat, sound, temperature and radio presets have to be reprogrammed.

The first time MB did a COMAND software update I had to re-enter all of the settings individually which took quite a bit of time. Then I learned that by setting up an individual profile, the data was saved and could be reloaded automatically.

Lanzz

I think the later model E-class (2019 and up - with the exception of the 48v battery issue...) are really solid cars. All of the bugs worked out - if any issues, very minor and easily solved. The emerging data on the M274 piston cracking isn't encouraging, but I am not sure we have a big enough sample size to call that a widespread issue yet. The rollout of the V167 wasn't the smoothest, but I have to think the pandemic didn't make that any easier. Overall, I think all "consumer electronics oriented" vehicles are a challenge now - and dealers are way behind that curve in general. That Consumer Reports article wouldn't get me to change my vehicle preference anyway.

W205C43PFL

At least the 2019 E450 has the V6, M276 and does not have the 48V hybrid system so you don't have to deal with that type of issue thankfully and the M276 itself is proven to be extremely reliable.

strife

The next few years will be colored by the COVID factor. All manufacturers are having supply chain issues, either with quantity or quality. Fewer people, NEWER people (job changes), and people not really working 5dx8h weeks productively, truly on the job, have had a very bad effect on manufacturing all the way from product design to supplier manufacturing. I've read some anecdotal threads on Reddit's "justrolledintotheshop" where completely stupid, low-tech things are going wrong with brand spanking new cars. Things like valves springs breaking and parts not being machined or assembled properly.

It may be that 20-24 MY cars may in the future be considered COVID cars. Actually, anything built or designed in this era may be somewhat suspect in the future (if any ).

My wife has a non-MB luxury car with a difficult to diagnose problem and the dealer basically admitted that he can't get enough good, skilled mechanics at ANY price in this area, and he is willing to sink thousands of dollars into them for training. I'm retiring soon from work where my primary tools at work are a keyboard and problem-solving skills, but I've always liked fixing cars and have somewhat advanced, reasonably modern know-how, I'm still in pretty good physical shape...so...hmmm...maybe a second career!

ua549

Over the years Consumer Reports has shown a bias against non-US branded vehicles irrespective of their actual origin or parts makeup.
As such I don't believe a word they publish. Just my opinion.

Mac Jones 55

Not true. It's non-biased.

ua549

When CR rate vehicles by category such as luxury, mid-size, etc. they purposely exclude certain US imports from their listings. That skews the results such that they have a bias against Euro models. When is the last time you saw CR rate a Maybach sedan or a Bentayga SUV. in their luxury listings? They skip over Italian imports other than low end cheapies such as Fiat almost all of the time. Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati don't seem to exist in their world either. All of the cars that I mentioned are common here with multiple local dealers. Because their ratings exclude well regarded Euro models, I simply do not trust CR. They show their bias in every vehicle article they publish.

js_cls

You probably won't like what they said about your E55's reliability then either...

e55phil

I hope you are correct about the 123, Consumer Reports bases it’s review on feedback from readers. Some of us must have given unfavorable reviews.

e55phil

Consumer Reports rated my 55 e class highly. FYI I bought it new in 2001 and never had a serious issue. My 222 never had a issue in 120,000 miles. My 240 d drove 220,000 miles w/o any serious issues. My 213 has had issues. Others must have had issues with the 213 and reported to Consumer Reports and that is why the low reading

ua549

Typically. those who respond have complaints. Those who are content with their purchase rarely respond to such surveys. It is very similar to posting on owner forums where folks with an issue are seeking resolution.

Cao Black

What are you talking about! I just look reliability up in the dictionary and it showed a picture of the E55.
(Would that even be on the list of reasons TO buy one?)

JTK44

I really do not want to argue with you, but I think your premise is wrong: for any survey to be relevant there must be a minimum sample size. Ferraris, Maryback or Bentayga are what were traditionally called special or one off designs. Certainly not enough produced to create a reliable survey. I think the same would hold for products of Rolls Royce, Bughatti and Lamborghini: just not vehicles produced.

Remember CR survey is based on customers responses: there are just not enough of them in this ultra high end market to create a reliable survey.

Unlike the other cars you mentioned, Maserati, at a price point where many are sold, has been rated by CR: it has a terrible rating.

JTK44

Again disagree: As a subscriber for over 40 years I have responded to their surveys - whether the product was good or bad.

To the contrary and In actuality, I think having spent above $60,000 for a Mercedes, if it was trouble free you would respond to the survey if you had few if any problems: that would be a "self - justification" and rationalization for spending so much money on a car.

Cao Black

More than ever before, in the age of Amazon and Twitter, I am suspect of the authenticity of "reader reviews". I stopped buying BMWs (two 5-series and two 7-series) in favor of the more reliable Mercedes (four E class, one GLS class and one ML class). Just my personal results, which aren't based predominately on reliability anyway.

js_cls

I’m not saying you would have issues, but in the early 2000’s, the E-Class (V8 Models) along with the S, ML, etc were consistently listed on Consumer Reports Least Reliable cars list. Personally I don’t care what CR says, they recommend Buicks and Lexus and while they are fine cars, they are not at all something I would ever buy. I’ve had no issues with my CLS or GLE so maybe I’m in the minority, but my experience with both the cars have been much more pleasant and enjoyable than my ‘17 540i which suffered numerous issues and on top of that just drove nothing like how a BMW should.