Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class scores 58/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 50% of the cars we track. That is computed from 186,390 real DVSA MOT test results.

How much does a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost?

A 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with around 33,762 miles is worth roughly £28,000 today (typical range £25,250–£30,700). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.

How quickly does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class depreciate?

A new Mercedes-Benz E-Class typically loses about 45% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.

What insurance group is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sits in insurance group 32 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.

What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The most common age-related issues we track for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.

What does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost to run?

Expect around 56 mpg combined on the E 220 d AMG Line, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.

Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class ULEZ compliant?

Most petrol Mercedes-Benz E-Classs from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.

How many Mercedes-Benz E-Classs are on UK roads?

About 213,144 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Ranked #139 car in the UK · Saloon · 3,093 units sold last year

Mercedes-Benz E-Class

The Mercedes E-Class covers the W213 (2016-2023) and the W214 (2024 on) - the comfortable, long-legged executive saloon that's a default minicab and motorway car for good reason. UK cars are mild-hybrid petrols, the strong E220d/E300d diesels and plug-in hybrids. Supremely quiet and relaxing rather than sporting, with a high-tech cabin that grew ever more screen-heavy across the generations.

How these figures are sourced — the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.

Body: Saloon
Years: 2018–2026
Fuel: Diesel / Mild Hybrid / Plug-in Hybrid
Economy: 56 mpg
Insurance: Group 32

The short version

21/100

Forecourt score

Value 32 · Reliability 10 · catalogue percentiles

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class loses value faster than most cars. Its MOT-based reliability is below average — an MOT score of 58/100, ahead of 50% of the cars we track. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 32% of models.

The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.

Pick your version

Fuel

Diesel · 1993cc

Power

197 ps

Drivetrain

RWD

Cam drive

Chain

Quoted MPG

56 mpg

The fleet workhorse. 197 PS diesel with mHEV, RWD (4MATIC optional), 9-speed auto. 7.6s 0-62, 56+ mpg achievable. AMG Line trim — base on W214 (UK doesn't import Avantgarde).

Tell us about the one you're looking at

Year of registration2023

20182026

Mileage on the clock33,762 mi

0Expected: 33,762180k

Conditiongood

PoorFairGoodExcellent

Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.

Region

Remembered as you browse other cars.

Know the registration?

Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.

Estimated market value

£28,000

Range £23,750 – £32,550

medium confidence

When new (2023)circa £56,000Age-based value£30,778Mileage adjustment+£0Condition & region-£5Market calibration-£1,123Forecourt price£29,650Private sale£26,300Part-exchange£23,150

Holdthis 3-year-old

Fair value — depreciation is moderating.

At 33,762 miles it’s about the ~35,849 typical for a 3-year-old.

Seen one for sale?

A data-led guide from the depreciation curve, UK parc trend and reliability — not financial advice.

The depreciation curve

How a 2023-registration Mercedes-Benz E-Class loses value over time.

Marker = your selection
Dashed = mileage either side

What it costs to own

Over

Based on the 2023 car with 33,762 miles you entered above — worth about £28,000 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 11,254 miles a year.

5-year total

£25,245

Per year

£5,049

All-in per mile

£0.45

Fuel per mile

18.5p

If a company carAround £780/mo Benefit-in-Kind tax at the 40% rate (£390/mo at 20%) — 36% band

Depreciation£6,707

Fuel / energy£10,418

Servicing£2,570

Road tax£1,000

Insurance£4,550

If you're a company-car driver

At 36% BIK, a 40% taxpayer would pay about £780/month in company-car tax (£390/month at 20%) — on top of the running costs above. Full BIK table below for context.

Best age to buy — around 2 years

A 2-year-old example loses roughly £5,800 a year — 71% less than the £20,300 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.

Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.

How it compares

Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.

Holds its valuebetter than 32%

Reliabilitybetter than 10%

Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.

Petrol, diesel, hybrid or EV?

How the available versions compare on price, running cost, and the headaches each tends to develop.

E 200 / E 220 d (volume)

Best non-PHEV exec saloon for most. E 220 d the fleet workhorse; E 200 the urban choice. UK doesn't get Avantgarde — AMG Line is the entry. Mercedes brand jumped from 25th to 2nd in Driver Power 2024→2025 — significant reliability improvement signal.

New price: circa £55,000
Annual fuel / energy: £1,900
3-yr depreciation: 50%

Watch for

·MBUX Superscreen freezes on early W214 (OTA-fixed)
·AMG Line firm ride on UK potholed roads (Exclusive softer)
·12V battery drain when parked (typical Mercedes)

E 300 e / E 300 de PHEV

Segment-leading PHEV range (70+ mi WLTP). 5% BIK economically dominant. E 300 de (diesel PHEV) is the executive's ideal long-distance car — fleet BIK plus diesel range. Niche but excellent for high-mileage drivers.

New price: circa £67,000
Annual fuel / energy: £1,500
3-yr depreciation: 51%

Watch for

·PHEV charging slower in cold weather
·Boot compromised vs non-PHEV (but less than C-Class)
·Tyre wear quicker on AMG Line 20-inch wheels

E 450 d / AMG E 53

E 450 d the last UK straight-six diesel executive saloon (BMW G60 5 Series dropped diesel). AMG E 53 PHEV is faster than the old V8 E 63 but doesn't sound as good. Both depreciate hard — better leased than bought.

New price: circa £85,000
Annual fuel / energy: £2,100
3-yr depreciation: 51%

Watch for

·E 450 d: typical OM656 cooling pump at 60k+ miles
·AMG E 53: front tyres wear quick if driven hard
·Both heavy (2.1-2.4 tonnes) — affects handling and tyre life

Fuel/energy costs based on this week’s UK averages (w/c 03/08/2026) · Petrol 159.9p/L, Diesel 179.2p/L, Electricity 27.0p/kWh · DESNZ

Estimated insurance

Group 32 of 50 (upper-mid — pricier to insure) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB

Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.

No-claims bonus3 years

0 yearsBaseline: 3 years15+

Risk profile:

Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39

£910/ year

Roughly £76 per month

Typical

Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.

Age band	Lower risk	Typical	Higher risk
Age 17-25	£2,075	£2,594	£3,372
Age 26-32	£1,083	£1,274	£1,554
Age 33-39Selected	£801	£910	£1,074
Age 40-49	£680	£755	£876
Age 50+	£606	£673	£795

How we estimate this

Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.

Expected annual costs

Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).

Annual mileage11,254 mi/yr

2,000UK avg for this model: 11,25430,000

Routine service

£290

Annual main-dealer service

Major service

£280

Every 2 years, annualised

Road tax

£200

Standard rate, post year-one

Fuel

£1,085

56 mpg, £1.60/L

Insurance

£910

Age 33-39, group 32

Clean-air zones

✓ ULEZ compliant

Plug-in Hybrid, Mild Hybrid variants are compliant with London ULEZ and all UK clean-air zones.
All diesel variants meet Euro 6 standards and are ULEZ compliant.

Based on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.

Total expected£2,765 / year

Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).

Unexpected costs

What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.

0-30k miles

£120

per year · low risk

30-60k miles

£360

per year · low risk

60-100k miles

£780

per year · medium risk

100k+ miles

£1,350

per year · high risk

Tyres

205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18

What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.

Budget

£300

set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre

Mid-range

£440

set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre

Premium

£620

set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre

What to fit

Optional extras worth paying for

Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.

Option	New cost	Added used value	Return
Tow bar (factory-fit) Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it.	£650	£450	69%
Parking sensors & reversing camera Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns.	£500	£300	60%
Heated seats / cold-weather pack	£450	£200	44%
Adaptive / matrix LED headlights	£900	£400	44%
Metallic or premium paint Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk.	£600	£200	33%
Panoramic / opening roof	£1,100	£350	32%
Advanced driver-assistance pack	£1,500	£450	30%
Larger alloy wheels	£700	£200	29%
Premium sound system	£800	£200	25%

Parts most likely to fail

Drawn from owner reports and warranty data. Filtered for relevance to 33,762 miles.

Watch now

Failure typically happens around your current mileage.

Upcoming

A known weak point — but you haven't reached its usual mileage yet.

Already due

Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.

Tyres & wheelsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £80-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

SuspensionUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£450medium severityParts high

Recorded in 9.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

BrakesUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£500medium severityParts high

Recorded in 7.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Lighting & signallingUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £15-£120low severityParts high

Recorded in 5.0% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

Driver's viewUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £60-£300low severityParts high

Recorded in 2.7% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

EmissionsUpcoming

Typical at over 100k milesCost £150-£800medium severityParts high

Recorded in 2.6% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 4,863,826 DVSA MOT tests analysed.

"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.

Safety rating

Euro NCAP's independent crash-test rating for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, from its 2024 assessment.

5/5

TEST YEAR2024

Current rating · valid to 2030

The passenger compartment of the E-Class remained stable in the frontal offset test.

Independent crash-test data from Euro NCAP. Star ratings reflect the test protocol of the year shown — newer protocols are stricter, so a 5-star from 2024 represents a higher bar than a 5-star from 2014. Euro NCAP ratings run for six years from publication; a lapsed rating means the protocol has moved on, not that the car performs any worse than it did on test.

MOT outlook

How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 186,390 real DVSA test records.

MOT pass rate by age

87.8% at 3yr → 77.8% at 25yr

A 3-year-old E-Class passes its MOT 87.8% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 77.8%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.

Longevity

13%of 8-year-old examples are still taxed and on the road — a useful read on how well the model lasts.

From 3,465 vehicles registered in 2018.

Survival by registration year

13% of 2018 cars still on the road

Each point is one registration cohort. Older cars on the left, newer on the right. A flatter line means the model holds up over time; a steep drop means cohorts disappear from UK roads faster.

What’s on the road

The fuel-type split of every E-Class with MOT history in the DVSA record. From 95,566 vehicles tested at least once - not the number on the road today, which is lower.

Diesel 45.4%
Petrol 38.9%
Hybrid 7.8%
Electric 7.2%

What fails at the first MOT

The defect categories a E-Class registered 2020–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 13,756 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.

Tyres & wheels10.1%
Brakes0.5%
Driver's view0.5%
Identification & other0.3%
Suspension0.3%
Lighting & signalling0.3%

Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.

Typical mileage by age

The average odometer reading for a E-Class at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.

3 yr35,849
4 yr47,530
5 yr58,701
6 yr70,145
7 yr81,202
8 yr86,726
9 yr95,633
10 yr104,174
11 yr112,305
12 yr118,407
13 yr125,411
14 yr133,783

Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.

Reliability

58/ 100

Below average

First-MOT pass rate and defect rate for cars registered 2020 onward (13,756 first tests), with cohort survival — high confidence.

MOT outlook · age 5 years

85%first-time pass rate

50th percentile — About catalogue average

Based on 399,855 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data

Where this car sits in the catalogue

Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models

Things owners say

01The E220d is the classic high-mileage workhorse - smooth, frugal and durable when serviced on time.
02The PHEV models offer strong electric range but the battery eats into boot space - check it fits your needs.
03Watch for kerbed alloys and worn front tyres on ex-fleet cars; they rack up motorway miles fast.

Safety recalls

Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.

Check on GOV.UK

Opens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.

Theft risk

A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.

Whole-car theft

Higher

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a recurring target in UK most-stolen lists (UK 2025 data). Keyless entry on later cars makes relay theft the usual method.

Parts theft

Higher

Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.

Worth doing

Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.

Clean-air zones

Whether driving a Mercedes-Benz E-Class into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.

Charging zones for cars

City	Area	Daily charge	Likely outcome
London	All of Greater London (within the M25)	£12.50	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Birmingham	Inside the A4540 Middleway	£8.00	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Bristol	City centre and part of the Portway	£9.00	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Glasgow	City centre	—	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Edinburgh	City centre	—	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Aberdeen	City centre	—	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.
Dundee	City centre	—	Likely exempt Diesel from September 2015 meets Euro 6.

Zones that don't charge private cars

Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).

Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.

Company car tax

What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Mercedes-Benz E-Class as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 154 g/km and a WLTP electric range of 63 miles, using £65,000 as the P11D value.

Tax year	BIK %	Tax @ 20%	Tax @ 40%	Monthly @ 20%	Monthly @ 40%
2025-26	35%	£4,550	£9,100	£379	£758
2026-27	36%	£4,680	£9,360	£390	£780
2027-28	37%	£4,810	£9,620	£401	£802
2028-29	37%	£4,810	£9,620	£401	£802
2029-30	37%	£4,810	£9,620	£401	£802

P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.

Servicing & the dealer network

How well-supported Mercedes-Benz is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.

Franchised UK dealers

~125

Large network

Premium mainstream

Network size relative to the UK's largest (Mercedes-Benz is 2.8% of all franchised outlets)

Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.

For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.

Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.

Dimensions & weight

These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.

Length

4,700 mm

Width

1,840 mm

Height

1,450 mm

Kerb weight

1,550 kg

Boot

460–480 L

Fuel tank

48 L

How many are still out there

How the UK Mercedes-Benz E-Class fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.

Total ever registered

283,385

Currently taxed & on road

213,144

75% of all registered

SORN (off road)

42,041

15% of all registered

Scrapped or exported

28,200

UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025

-4.1% vs 2024

213,415213,144

Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 29 Jul 2026

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Same underpinnings

Built on the Mercedes MRA platform

Mercedes' rear-wheel-drive longitudinal platform for mid-and-large saloons and SUVs. Different badges, often substantially different residuals, but broadly the same mechanicals and repair cost profile.

Mercedes Modular Rear Architecture · Mercedes-Benz

Common questions

Mercedes-Benz E-Class, answered from the data

Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class scores 58/100 on Forecourt's MOT-based reliability measure, ahead of 50% of the cars we track. That is computed from 186,390 real DVSA MOT test results.
How much does a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost?: A 2023 Mercedes-Benz E-Class with around 33,762 miles is worth roughly £28,000 today (typical range £25,250–£30,700). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
How quickly does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class depreciate?: A new Mercedes-Benz E-Class typically loses about 45% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
What insurance group is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?: The Mercedes-Benz E-Class sits in insurance group 32 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
What goes wrong on a used Mercedes-Benz E-Class?: The most common age-related issues we track for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class are: tyres & wheels (typically around over 100k miles, £80-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
What does the Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost to run?: Expect around 56 mpg combined on the E 220 d AMG Line, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class ULEZ compliant?: Most petrol Mercedes-Benz E-Classs from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the Euro standards for London ULEZ and other UK clean-air zones, so they are generally exempt from the daily charge. Pure-electric versions are always exempt.
How many Mercedes-Benz E-Classs are on UK roads?: About 213,144 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.

Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.