Used Mercedes E-Class Saloon 2009-2016 reliability review

What should I look for in a used Mercedes-Benz E Class?

Mercedes-Benz was determined to restore its reputation for quality and engineering integrity for the fourth generation E-Class, after a less than perfect showing with its predecessor. It worked too, which is great news for used buyers because it makes checking over a car relatively straightforward.

Do, though, ensure the electrics all work as intended, and that there are no warning lights showing, because while generally reliable the E-Class is still a technically complex car. Also listen for any creaks from the suspension and ensure the brakes feel strong, because on a big, heavy car these items will wear more quickly.

Cars with an automatic gearbox should shift smoothly up and down the gears, and there shouldn’t be any significant smoke from the exhaust, unless you’re accelerating particularly hard in a diesel. A full service history carried out at either a main dealer or an independent Mercedes specialist will go some way to reveal if a car has been well cared for; at the other end of the scale a lack of any documentation is almost certainly cause for concern.

Is a used Mercedes-Benz E Class reliable?

This generation of E-Class Saloon lives up to its reputation where reliability is concerned. In our 2023 used car reliability survey of cars between six and 20 years old, it scored 85.3%, making it the third most reliable used luxury car on sale.

But this level of reliability isn't a given for Mercedes; it languishes in 27th out of 30 manufacturers in our rundown of the most reliable used car brands.