SurfnSun

I currently have a Cadillac ELR PHEV. Cadillac has ended support and I am thinking about a full EV. I want the Tesla charging network but not the terrible interiors and build quality.

I found the EQS by looking at best 70mph range.

Are these reliable cars? While I don’t get it too much credit, Consumers Reports didn’t not give favorable reviews…only above Polestar which was terrible.

hlothery

Well, on an EQS forum, you're probably not going to get many folks who disparage the EQS. i've got just over 28,000 trouble free miles on mine. It has needed a software update or two, nothing more. It is a dream to drive, smooth, quiet and luxurious. Killer stereo. I love the styling. I get approximately 370 miles per 80% charge in the Summer months in Texas, less in the Winter. No plans to drive anything else in the near future.

dmstl

Traded a first edition 2019 Audi A8 for my 2023 EQS580 sedan. While the Audi was next-level luxe with every option known to man, I prefer the EQS’ driving dynamics. Doesn’t feel like a boat. While not as luxe, it’s a very nice ride with its interior wow factor. So far so good on reliability at 3 months, and loving the fact that my “free” Mercedes garage charger is a very inexpensive charging option.

SurfnSun

yeah, I get that. I’ve had cars that I loved that still weren’t very reliable and I try to be honest about it. 😂.

My ELR is slower than molasses but it’s a great looking car that has been decent to me. With only 2500 copies built in two production years, It was easy to see that replacement parts would run out pretty soon. I just didn’t think it was going to be this soon.

Ive always really loved having a unicorn/rare car, but this one has made me second-guess that.

SurfnSun

I love the interior, that’s probably the major draw other than the range.

I already installed a charger in my garage for my ELR, so I’m covered there.

hlothery

Just make sure you read my thread on my garage fire, and make sure your charger was properly installed. The EQS has a 9.6kW charger on board, and will pull a steady 40amps for the entire charging cycle, which might be up to 6-8 hours, depending on state of discharge of the battery. Inferior wiring or plugs will not withstand this demand. You have to have 6awg wire, preferably directly wired to your charger, or reduce the amperage of the wallbox.. The fewer connections the better. But absolutely no problems with the car during charging. It has worked flawlessly. I love this car, would highly recommend it to anyone.

SurfnSun

yeah I saw your thread. I want to move my charger in my garage, when I do I will go direct wired 50a and lose the plug.

Trekguy77

what do you mean GM has stopped supporting the ELR? I had a 2014 ($40k discount!) and now the quicker 2016. No problems getting service or parts here in NE Ohio. Both have been decent for reliability.

My 2022 EQS 450+ is racking up the miles quickly, and have only had 1 sw update and 1 flat tire. It's a comfortable cruiser, but that ELR still gets the looks!
I recommend it

AppleFan1

For what it’s worth, other than a few software issues, I’ve had zero problems with my EQS 580 that’s a bit over 2 years old.

SurfnSun

I have a 2016 also. The ELR does get a ton of attention bc it’s so rare.

Part are discontinued all over the place. I love the car but my dealer tells me I got the last right side CV axel in the country. Ive heard of others having parts issues as well.

My battery is weak and I’m about to sue GM for not replacing it when it was still under warranty. My car has averaged well over 200mpg for 90% of its life(now over 90k miles), so that’s a lot of charge cycles but still….it was under warranty and should have been covered.

stealth.pilot

I consider my EQS to be extremely reliable. I don’t worry about it. If I had a trip where I wanted a dependable vehicle I would take it.

And as context i also have a second car which happens to be JD Powers highest rated vehicle in their 3 year vehicle dependability study - The Porsche 718

So there you have it. I own the JD Powers rated most reliable single model of car currently sold, and I consider the EQS to be just as reliable.

Crito

The software doesn't instill confidence. If your tire pressure is too low, for example, you'll get a flurry of messages about driver assistance things being disabled. I'm also constantly being notified that my flash drive is full, that there might still be someone in the car, and apparently I can't remember to take my keys anywhere. Once you learn to ignore the system and all the nonsense it's trying to tell you, though, it's not so nerve-racking. I've turned off everything that can be turned off at this point and the car always goes when I want to go, which is what a car is supposed to do, not start invigorating refreshment programs in the middle of an intersection and squirting fragrances up my nose while I'm trying to maneuver between big trucks.

This'll be my first and last Mercedes for sure though.

nath_h

No issues for us at 23,000 miles. In general, it seems like manufacturers are providing less part support these days. All sorts of stuff is out of stock/no longer made for my 2008 MB, which is not surprising. However, I'm seeing parts out of stock/no longer made on my daughter's 2018 Ford Fusion Energi. Maybe supply chain problems arose and auto companies never bothered to find a new path?

SurfnSun

10 years is the typical support cycle. Both my ELR and C6 Corvette have seen the end of support prior to the 10 year mark. Maybe its just GM...no idea.

StudioMedSpa

2 years 35k miles on my 450+. Solid like a rock.

SurfnSun

Thanks I am still lurking on these cars. The cost of insurance was a bit surprising to me. Considerably more than a Tesla.

I just love that interior, maybe when Tesla Supercharger adoption is 100%.

ehildum

Be careful, there is more to proper cable sizing than just the expected current load. You need to take into account the length of the run, and there could be local additions to the electrical code that may change the required cable size. But the point about inferior wiring or plugs is well taken. Do not skimp on either. A $20 receptacle that can take a 30 minute dryer cycle might not handle an eight hour charging cycle well. There is a reason the Telsa recommended receptacle is $50 - $100. Best to have this planned out by a properly qualified electrician.

Jaan

We have two Tesla MY and one M3. No problems ever except minor issues which were either fixed by Tesla technician at our home or needed a one day visit to Tesla service center. In March 2024 I got fed up with the bland interior and cheap car looks of my 2022 Tesla MY and exchanged it with a 2022 EQS450+. It was a dream car. Beautiful and luxurious. But then two weeks later it stopped with message Don't shift transmission. Contact service center. Three and a half months passed and Mercedes could not fix it. So mbusa replaced it with a similar car. I had to pay another 13k dollars as this is model 2023. So my advice. It you are looking for beauty go for EQS but remember it is still in its infancy. Tesla is all intelligence but no beauty.

hlothery

Best to not use a receptcle at all, and direct wire your charger, as mine now is. Cable size, length of run, expected ambient temps in your attic, and the amperage draw are all important considerations. I shouldn't have needed to know this if I had had a qualified electrician in the first place. But, since I now do, sharing that data on this forum is essential for future buyers. But, my EQS has been flawless, the best car I have ever had. I love my EQS.

c4004matic

I've had a single problem,the AC needed a gas recharge. Otherwise, perfect for 36k miles. Of course Iv've had my occasional software glitch which has always resolved itself. Reliability, all in all, has been excellent. (fingers crossed).

nath_h

I chimed in once before, but had another thought for the op...I like Consumer Reports and have subscribed to them since the 1980's, but I do not take their car reviews super seriously. They value cost, safety, and relative cost value above all else. Their perfect car is usually a Toyota Camry or Honda CRV, or whatever is the cheapest relative value in a category. JD Powers initial quality indicators are also quite suspect due to the enthusiasm or lack thereof of the buyer...explains why Telsa has at times ranked well, when they are not known for having great quality control.

SurfnSun

yes, I am not completely blinded by CR, and certainly not JD Power. I just kind of use them as a starting point. I like to chat with actual owners on the forums, but even that can be hard to cut through b/c superfans never want to admit anything bad about their own car that they love- see the Tesla comment

MBNUT1

Superfans exist on the Mercedes boards as well as well as super complainers. I think that there is enough of a spectrum to cut through the BS of the former and discount the latter to formulate a good sense.

Based on my observation of member responses and I have been following various models good and bad for years the reliability of the EQS seems to be pretty solid. Actually to my way of thinking remarkably so, given Mercedes lack of time in the EV world.

nath_h

Yah, agree. As MB go, these do seem remarkably solid, even putting aside the fact that we are enthusiasts, and the fact that these are super complex cars. I have enough confidence in them that I just steered my 80 year old dad into buying an EQE 500 and my best friend into a EQS 580. Both will arrive on trucks from CA in the coming few days.

QuadBenz

Our EQS has been a dream, no issues at all. It's been an enjoyable ownership experience.

The Cadillac Lyriq that we just got less than 2 months ago? It's already been at the dealership for 2 weeks straight. That car is a mess and is the most unreliable car I've ever experienced. It's really making me realize what a dream the EQS has been. It's just simple and works and doesn't give me any fuss. One of the best cars we've ever had. One of the best EVs we've ever had.