SergeiKim2001

My older cousin and her husband, since they prefer SUVs, they bought the GLE 350 4MATIC 7 years ago (November 2015).
It is still very reliable (85k miles, or around 137k kilometres), even though they poured in a lot of money to maintain as well as to fill it up every week.

I am curious which car in your opinion is better if it is the E Class or the GLE/M Class?
Compare the W210 to the W163, compare the W211 to the W164, compare the W212 to the W166 (what my cousins have), and compare the W213 to the W167 (the latest generation one)

Given the fact that the E Class was manufactured in Germany and the M/GLE Class was manufactured in Alabama, which one is more reliable in your opinion?

For me, I believe the E Class felt more luxurious inside and it is definitely more stylish since I am quite biased towards saloons over SUVs.

chassis

E Class is a sedan. ML/GLE is an SUV. Apples vs oranges. Which do you need? A sedan or an SUV?

Avoid the four banger in any E-Class. It has a reputation for piston cracking. Search for the M274 engine on this site. The subsequent M264 four cylinder is descended from the M274 and has unknown long term reliability. The M264 has been replaced by the M254, which is developing a reputation for a failed cylinder head.

The M256 inline 6 cylinder is saddled with the failed 48V system. Plus it seems the M256 is developing issues of its own. Search this site. Avoid the M56 inline 6.

E350 and E400 with the M276 V6 in either 3.5L NA or 3.0L TT versions are solid engines.

W166 in the GLE350 or GLE400 with M276 V6 have solid powertrains.

Avoid the M278 V8 in both E-Class (E550) and ML550, because of cylinder scoring and valve guide failures.

SergeiKim2001

I prefer saloons/sedans. I am curious which is better in your opinion?

ygmn

what are the parameters for BETTER?
Better is not something that can be measured.

you have all sorts of potential criteria and I do not know what is important for you.
Heck you have initial price, insurance costs, fuel costs, by the book maintenance costs, repair costs, Resale value, tire costs, etc.
braking, acceleration, handling, safety, crash ratings, handles various weather in your region, suitable for roads where you live?
does it carry everything you want, passengers and/or stuff.
Comfort?

This question is too personal to answer.

Can ya narrow it down to what concerns you - your top 5 measuring points?

SergeiKim2001

Styling, reliability, interior appearance, technology/features, repair costs/resale value

chassis

The only sedan you listed is the E-Class. I suggest the newest, lowest mileage E-Class that fits your price range and has a version of the M276 V6 engine in either 3.0 TT or 3.5NA configurations. Several models of W212 and W213 use these engines.

dagger22

Been searching around the forum as well on the M256 but it doesn't seem like there are multiple issues of the same kind..... anything i should look out for? thanks!
i am actually interested in the platform with the hybrid, and actively modding it so good to know if there are any drawbacks which i can take into consideration when modding.

chassis

M256 is the inline 6 cylinder. It uses the terribly failed 48V system. Avoid it unless you plan to dump it after the warranty period is over.

The M256 seems to have some emerging problems, have a read through the V167 section related to GLE450 vehicles.

Serhan

You are mixing the engines... M260/264 has the cylinder head problem with 2020/21 models as posted in TSB link below and supposedly fixed in the new models per MB service technician.
https://www.tsbsearch.com/Mercedes-B...01-30-P-072328