Overview & Reviews

A favorite in the midsize luxury car class, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class has provided an appealing mix of comfort, performance and safety for decades. The trademark qualities of Mercedes-Benz vehicles, such as vaultlike solidity and cutting-edge technology, have also contributed to the E-Class' great popularity among luxury buyers.

Over the years, the E-Class has been offered as a sedan, wagon, coupe and convertible. Contemporary E-Class models come loaded with luxury features and offer stunning acceleration in higher trim levels, with diesel power available if you want to maximize your fuel economy. The E-Class has never been the sportiest car in its segment, but its handling has improved significantly in recent years. Rivals are better in certain respects, but if you're looking for the complete package in a medium-size luxury car, an E-Class will be hard to beat.

User Reviews:

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  Transmission problems - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By huitz - March 6 - 12:10 pm

  Love the car except for the transmission. Rough downshifting. The dealer has put in tow new transmissions (three in total) and the problem persists. This is the seven speed transmission thats throughout the Mercedes line. Id stay away until they get it right. Were giving them back our car.

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  A Moderately Good Vehicle - 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Andy - March 1 - 8:56 am

  Bought used with 28k miles on it. Was all excited about getting this car, but excitement has worn off. Radio sounds good, but controls are poor. Knows nothing of folders on MP3 CDs. Too many button presses to get from Radio to CD to other. Defrost is annoying: full fan speed, highest temp, turns A/C on. Have to use MB phone, no BlueTooth. Engine is very good, powerful, economical, driving range is excellent (near 700 miles). Yet to see 40mpg like people claim, and I drive conservatively. Steering is soft/spongy. No Oil Dipstick?! Leather is good. Overall a good car, but I expected more from a company that charged $50k+ for this car when new.

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  great driving car - 2001 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By sdax - February 22 - 10:00 am

  I owned mine for 3years until i had an accident and it was totaled. The car protected me very well and i was able to walk away unharmed. It was a rear impact and it crumpled/absorbed the impact so that i could still drive the car, but the rear doors would not open. I love the way it drove, but it wasnt the greatest on gas in the city, was getting horrible mileage, but on the highway it shined and i got at least 25mpg. It was awesome in the snow.

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  Poor Gaskets - 1995 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Pip - February 15 - 6:50 pm

  Great car that feels sturdy and smooth. Purchased the car with 69k and Head Gaket, front engine seal and front timing chain cover was all leaking. After fixing those items it started to have electrical problems. The engine wire harness was brittle and arcing under the top engine cover. Then the center vents in the dash stopped flowing air. To fix, $300 up to $1200 depending on the 6 vacuum pods (10 hours labor).

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  Disappointing Quality - 1999 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Charles Boelens - February 1 - 9:26 am

  My 5th MB diesel (170/190/220/300 (1975)), bought new and kept almost 10 yrs. The 99 the only disappointing one, a pleasure to drive, but very disappointing quality, rust (repainted a few times by MB, but it is back 2 years later)and many electric and various problems that just should never have happened, wheel bearings, generator, mirrors, CD changer, lampsockets, sliding roof, airconditiong etc. For the money we spend every year with MB Toronto on maintenance (incidentally, excellent service, pricey, but no hassles !) I could lease another car !

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  Severely disappointed - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Carlos - January 28 - 5:13 am

  Bought this car used from the original owner in 2002, with only 16,000 miles on it, and thought "what could go wrong with such low mileage". Plus my intention was to only drive this car to and from work, which averages about 8,000 miles/year. Well, first the electrical wires to the drivers side front headlights kept "coming lose", which cost $400.00 to fix. Then the A/C went out, along with oil leakage and transmission problems, which totaled to $5,000.00. I wish I have stayed with buying Toyota or Subaru, which are far more reliable.

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  Hard to trade in this elegant workhorse - 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Warren Woessner - January 6 - 6:33 am

  I live in Minnesota, so bought the car new with the 4matic feature. I love the way it looks inside and out and it has been mechanically very very reliable. I only have 50000 miles on it now in 2008 and it is starting to show its age a bit. The most serious things that have broken are both rear window power lifts, but the repair costs were not outrageous. Adequately powered by todays standards (barely), still I cant bear to part with it. And it looks better than the new ones.

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  Black Opal E420 - 1997 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By george michaels - December 1 - 10:00 am

  A real sleeper. comfortable and powerful auto. Cheaper to run than a 1999 Volvo S80

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  The brakes stink - 2003 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DSD - December 1 - 10:00 am

  Bought it after owning Acuras for the last 12 years.(never a visit to the service dept except for scheduled maintenance.)I have to say, I am a bit dissapointed overall. I have taken the car in for servicing on minor, albeit aggravating issues, i.e. vibrating brakes, sensor lights going off and on, radio buzzing, no use of tele-aid because i was told it had a "canadian" chip, etc. Ive owned BMWs in the past and forgot about German temperance until i bought the E320.

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  After a month - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By J. Clark - November 19 - 2:00 am

  The car is well built with great safty features, great style, and great options (if youre willing to pay for them). The only problem I am having is with the braking system. Every time you let off the brakes a computer humming sound happens for a couple of seconds. Mercedes says that is normal. The problem is sometimes the humming is so bad that it rattles the dash. Will soon take in to service for a second time. I have noticed the computer system sometimes misreads but hopefully very minor and not too often. Other than that it is a great car.