Overview & Reviews

"Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?" That's the opening line of "Mercedes-Benz," a song most famously recorded by singer Janis Joplin in the early 1970s. The tune gently poked fun at materialism and our desire for the finer things in life. It's fitting that the renowned German marque figures prominently in the lyric. Mercedes-Benz has long been known for crafting vehicles that emphasize luxury and refinement. For many, its vehicles are sleek symbols of status, success and good taste.

In January of 1886, Karl Benz unveiled the world's first automobile, a three-wheeled vehicle dubbed the Benz Patent Motor Car. A few months later, Gottlieb Daimler and his chief engineer Wilhelm Maybach rolled out a four-wheeled vehicle powered by his Daimler engine. The first Mercedes was crafted in 1901, shortly after Daimler's death. Built by Maybach, the car was commissioned by Emil Jellinek, one of Daimler's primary distributors, and was ultimately named after Jellinek's daughter, Mercedes.

In 1926, the companies founded by Daimler and Benz merged to form Daimler-Benz AG, and the Mercedes-Benz brand was born. The company's insignia was a three-pointed star wreathed in a laurel; the star was dreamed up by Daimler years earlier, and its three points signified the fact that his engines were used in vehicles that traveled land, air and sea.

Right from the start, the Mercedes-Benz name was synonymous with automotive excellence. One of the automaker's earliest vehicles, the 1931 Mercedes-Benz 170, distinguished itself as the world's first production car to offer a technology that was nothing short of extraordinary for the day: four-wheel independent suspension. The '30s and '40s saw Mercedes establishing itself as the brand of choice for car buyers seeking the ultimate in luxury, thanks to coveted cruisers like the 380 and 540K.

The 1950s witnessed the introduction of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SL "Gullwing," a sports car that has been described as being the world's first supercar. With its dramatic styling and race-bred technology, the 300 SL reigns today as a classic coveted by collectors worldwide. The decade also saw Daimler-Benz making strides in the area of safety technology. The company's Mercedes-Benz 220 sedans were the first vehicles to incorporate its patented "crumple zone" body design, created to absorb impact in the event of a crash.

In 1963, the company cemented its reputation as the home of automotive luxury with the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 600. The elegant, luxurious sedan was also available as a limousine and featured an ahead-of-its-time air suspension system and a V8 engine that boasted 300 horsepower. The decade also saw the launch of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SEL 6.3. This full-size sedan went from zero to 60 in under seven seconds, distinguishing itself as the quickest luxury car is its day.

The 1970s saw the birth of the brand's storied S-Class line of vehicles, opulent sedans and coupes that coddled passengers with powerful engines and a long list of luxury features. The decade also saw Mercedes continuing on the cutting edge of safety technology, by being the first to offer antilock brakes in its vehicles.

Daimler-Benz's safety advancements continued in the 1980s. Its cars were the first to offer airbags and traction control. The manufacturer also raised the bar in terms of ride comfort and handling when it introduced multilink rear suspension. The technology debuted on the compact Mercedes-Benz 190 E, and it remains a vital component of the company's chassis engineering to this day.

Mercedes-Benz vehicles got an extra dose of power and performance in the 1990s, thanks to the manufacturer's partnership with AMG, a performance and tuning shop that was eventually purchased by the company to help produce ultra-high-performance versions of some of its vehicles. The first AMG model offered in the U.S. was the sporty C36 AMG in 1995; since then, Mercedes has gone on to offer an AMG-tuned version of almost all of its vehicles.

The company's current lineup is the most comprehensive in its history. With a variety of sedans, coupes, SUVs and roadsters filling Mercedes showrooms, it seems like the only thing missing is a pickup truck. Surely, the fact that Janis Joplin's song holds as much relevance today as it did four decades ago is a strong indicator that the brand's premier status is still very much intact.

User Reviews:

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  Performace over 33 months - 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By Jim Smith - May 24 - 5:43 pm

  When the car is performing well, not in the shop, it is wonderful. Have had numerous major problems with the car, such as O rings having to be replaced twice, the transmission going out, numerous problems with the keyless go, and on and on. Have asked MB to extend warranty to 75K with being turned down. Will not buy another MB car, ever

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  Military vehicle - 2005 Mercedes-Benz G-Class
  By BlueAngels - May 23 - 12:56 pm

  Having seen the G-Wagon in the miltary service, it is kind of odd to see them as a luxury car. These tanks are made to take all kind of abuses. Unless you are taking them off-road in the Pac West or somewhere, you will be better off driving a smaller SUV.

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  Love it despite electrical issues - 1998 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By lindaw - May 23 - 10:00 am

  I love this car BUT I had electrical issues at 60K miles which lead to an $800 fix. Dealership told me the underside of the car was wet too frequently, but no off road usage and was garaged when not driven. Also have had to replace the drivers window switch 4 times - opened 4 times a day every day for tolls, but my Honda did fine with the same drive.

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  Fun - 2001 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By lka - May 23 - 10:00 am

  I was worried that id never use the rag top, but was i wrong. Top is down 90% of the time. Plenty of room for my little ones (they keep coats in the car for when its cold). very quiet when top is up and freeway driving. excellent gas mileage while on freeway. great features. fantastic power. wish i had the nav system. Also, hard to find cell phones (other than from dealer $$$$$$) with integrated system. my wife even loves driving now.

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  MB quality is poor - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By David Hiers - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Within an hour of bringing this brand new car home the passenger side xenon headlights burned out. The car has a vibration at 55 mph and above. The car has been back to the dealership for 5 days out of the 8 I have had it and they still cannot fix the vibration. They put brand new michelin tires on it yesterday and it still vibrates. They are calling in a MB technician next week to see what is wrong. It vibrates so bad that the passenger seat and headrest shake. The cupholders are really bad. The dealership has been very professional but have been unable to fix the problem. Wish I had purchased the LS430.

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  San Jose S600 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz S-Class
  By San Jose Man - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Fun to drive factor is a 10+. Unbelievable torque. Handling and braking are excellent for a sedan this big and heavy. Styling is understated. Comfort and inside room are excellent. Keyless go feature is excellent, however it has failed 4 times in the first year. Highway mileage is 18-19 mpg, city about 12mpg. Built in phone is OK with vocal commands useful. Get parktronic - its needed. Automatic trunk opener/closer is a favorite - used frequently. Auto Tire pressure reading is useful, but a pain to deal with. Ive driven MBZ E Series, Audi A8, Jaguar VandenPlas, Jaguar XJR, MBZ CL500. This car is by far the best sedan! Bought easily over an S55. Great car!

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  Performance Luxury - 2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class
  By DavidN - May 23 - 10:00 am

  Iwas reticent to purchase an MB. My prefeence was the Lexus 430 but, it is big and clunky much like a Cadillac. This 500e has the looks, performance, power and luxury I sought. My confidence in the vehicle has been verified in driving the car and asking it to deliver power, when necessary.

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  Stoked - 2006 Mercedes-Benz M-Class
  By HNG-TEN - May 22 - 6:23 pm

  It was hard to find a loaded ML500, and I had to pay the price, but IT was worth it! Smooth just dosnt describe it. It will get up and go. I had an 03 E500 before this with good luck and service. I have had and still own large GMC SUVs but this is in another class, Distinctive body style, not a hybrid. You cant confuse this with a Toyota. Great attention to detail. Benz did it up right!

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  Problems with the nick nacks & Many More - 2000 Mercedes-Benz C-Class
  By joe - May 20 - 11:26 pm

  This was the First Mercedes I ever Owned and probably the last. When I first purchased it my frontheadlights and rear taillights kept blowing out and 97 thousand miles later they still do. More often than not I drive around with a light blown out. I cant tell you how many times Ive been pulled over for having a blown bulb right after having fixed them. ---that includes the interior as well. Transmission problems after only 30 thousand miles. Gas Gauge problems 2 X. Air condionter died after 80,000. Cost close to 2k. Mass airflow died at 85thousand. Dont lose your key it will cost you.The center sonsole doesnt open as you want. The glove compartment opens when it wants. Bad in snow.

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  EX HOT RODDER STILL LOVES HIS CLK 500 - 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class
  By Cary Cooper - May 20 - 10:22 am

  I did a 48 state search for this car (found it 4 hours from my home!) I have done virtually all the work on my cars since I was 16. I have only bought 3 new cars in the 59 years I have been driving. My motto has always been: "I never met a car I didnt need to modify for me". That means modify in all ways. The only mods on this car needed involve adding things that did not come on it originally (such as bluetooth) and updating the navagation/entertainment system. It has the right wheels (AMG) so it is the first car ever that I dont have to change the wheels! It has the right engine - more than enough power/acceleration/speed (and economy considering the performance) (my last "hot rod" was a 1987 Volvo wagon with a Mustang Cobra 5.0 with a Tremec 5-speed - like Paul Newman and David Letterman had!). This car is effortless, smooth and secure. The HVAC is great and I like the "Distronic" Cruise Control. It has the right suspension - it rides nice, handles the twisties great and stops like a race car. It does have some options I dont need but I can handle that since I figure I didnt pay for them. And it looks awesome with the top down (and the top is so easy to lower/raise) - and it seats 4.. Based on how new the interior looks (I am very fussy) the materials are tough as well as good looking and luxurious (but I know that from my previous 3 MBs). So far it is easy to work on (better than my 300CE was) and maintain, especially with the help online.