Very few automakers in the world command respect and reverence on the road Mercedes-Benz does. Theirs luxury cars they are among the best in the world, never giving up power. Not only are Mercedes-Benz cars some of the most valuable and reputable in the business, they are also quite reliable. After all, if you’re selling luxury on wheels, part of that package is also peace of mind for customers.
With time and depreciation, many Mercedes-Benz luxury cars are becoming more accessible on the used car market, so if you’re thinking about getting one, you need to make sure it offers you the fewer long-term problems. . Of course, for any manufacturer, there are bound to be missteps, and Benz is no exception. Occasionally, some cars with the three-pointed star on the front have also been the opposite of reliable. On that note, here are 5 Mercedes-Benz luxury cars that will last you for years without major hiccups, and 5 that you should absolutely stay away from.
10 Will last for years: Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211
The E-Class was re-formed between 2002 and 2008 with the W211, and to this day is considered one of the most reliable Mercedes-Benz cars of the modern era. JD Power rated the W211 E-Class with an “Excellent” score of 85/100 for quality and reliability.
In 2015, the E-Class was the best-selling product for the brand, with 13 million models sold. If you want to take home a 2008 E-Class today, it should cost you about $20,000. As such, it would be best to look for a post-2006 facelift model.
9 Walk away from: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
A proper AMG product from Mercedes, the SL65 AMG featured a ridiculously powerful twin-turbo V12 engine, making 604 hp with 738 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the problems started right at the dealership, with an MSRP of $180,000.
While you can still get a 2005-2008 SL65 for under $50,000, we suggest against it as it has a lot of issues around it. For starters, the extremely expensive electro-hydraulic “Sensotronic” brakes were unreliable, and the hardtop was fitted with instances of failure.
8 Will last for years: Mercedes-Benz W201 190E
The Mercedes-Benz 190E was designed by Italian designer Bruno Sacco, and this was the main competitor of the E30 BMW 3-series car. The fuel-injected 190E was capable of 231 horsepower in its Evo II specification of 2.5 liter, but is also available with 1.8 liter, 2.0 liter, 2.3 liter and 2.6 liter engines.
In fact, this model is also where Mercedes delved into the world of compact sports cars. Mercedes manufactured the W201 190E for 11 years between 1982 and 1993, selling almost 2 million 190E models.
7 Walk away from: Mercedes ML-Class W163
Mercedes ML-Class SUVs were built in the United States between 1998 and 2005, and customers everywhere encountered an incredibly frustrating ownership experience. After all, it’s not every day you see a Mercedes car labeled as an “Alabama trash can.”
Despite its very reliable M112 and M113 engines, the ML-Class got everything else wrong, with a malfunctioning airflow sensor and rotten plastic panels showing the poor build quality. Owners even report issues with window regulators and there are rampant rust issues that caused Merc’s reputation to plummet in the late 90s.
6 Will last for years: Mercedes-Benz SL R129
Another iconic Bruno Sacco creation, the Mercedes-Benz SL E129, 213,089 units were produced between 1989 and 2001. Sacco claims it is one of his best creations for the German manufacturer.
The SL here stands for “Super Leicht” (super light), as the engineers shortened the wheelbase of the W124 and then fitted the SL with the M113 V8 engine. So this car rolled on Mercedes-Benz’s most reliable plant, along with its most incredible V8 powerplant.
5 Stay away from: Mercedes E-Class W210
The 2024 Mercedes E-Class is a gorgeous machine, which makes it that much harder to believe it’s related to the W210 of its past. Made between 1995 and 2003, the W210 had a rather polarizing design, quite different from the legendary W124 it succeeded.
The second-generation E-Class had multiple problems with its fuel injection and ignition switch. In typical Mercedes fashion, it required very expensive repairs. In addition, the W210 E-Class even had a habit of abandoning its bodywork, along with rampant rust issues. No matter how good a deal you get on this luxury second-generation E-Class, it just wouldn’t be worth it.
4 Will last for years: Mercedes-Benz S-Class W221
The S-Class has always been the flagship of Mercedes-Benz, a pioneer in vehicle technology and luxury. As such, it also needs to be bulletproof inside and out, and the 2006-2013 W221 S-Class is exactly that.
The S65 AMG model of the S-Class of this generation mounted the monstrous M275 V12 engine, which generated 620 hp with a staggering 738 lb-ft of torque. Cars.com reviews rate the W221 S-Class 4.6 out of 5 for reliability, with the 2009 model being the top score. Today, you’d have to pay less than $20,000 for the 2009 S-Class.
3 Stay away from: Mercedes-Benz C-Class W202
The Mercedes W202 C-Class was a money pit. This car marked the beginning of troubled waters for the German marque, as its water-based paints began to cause rust on most Mercedes products of the time.
The biodegradable wiring harnesses of the W202 C-Class were not maintained, leading to fire hazards and ECU malfunctions across the entire late 90s Mercedes lineup, including the W202 C-Class. This compact car ran with the M104 and M116 engines, both of which were notorious for gasket failures and oil leaks.
2 Will last for years: Mercedes-Benz W124
The now iconic W124 Mercedes-Benz was from an era that many liked to call the brand’s “over-engineered” era. Built to compete against the BMW 5 Series, the W124 sported the E-Class moniker.
The legendary 15 hole flat face alloys that are synonymous with Mercedes cars of the 80’s started with the W124. Part of a £600 million project, the W124 was part of the brand line-up that Daimler-Benz built to take on its Bavarian rivals.
1 Stay away from: Mercedes-Benz C-Class W205
From 2008 to 2014, the Mercedes-Benz C-Class was a highly reliable vehicle that is still bulletproof today. However, starting in 2014, things went south as the W205 C-Class suffered a whopping 11 recalls over 7 years.
This Mercedes C-Class had a fatal steering problem, along with software bugs that even prevented the car from locating properly in the event of an accident. The W205 also overheated frequently and had problems with fuel delivery, requiring replacement of the fuel delivery module. No wonder JD Power rated the W205 C-Class 2 out of 5 for reliability.
Sources: JD Power, CarEdge, Cars.com
