Used Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon 2002 - 2006 review

Owning an E-Class is never going to be cheap, but you can reduce bills by finding a good independent garage for servicing and repairs. Check, though, that they follow Mercedes schedules and use proper branded parts rather than cheaper copies to keep your warranty intact.

The car decides its own servicing schedules based on how it's driven, and tells you when work is due. However, a major service is needed every three years, so the smart move is to go for a car that's just had this done.

Engines and transmissions are durable, so there's no real need to budget for repairs on them. But, the E's complex electrical systems have caused grief for too many first owners, and threaten nasty bills later on.

Fuel economy is reasonable: 30mpg for the E200, up to 40mpg for the diesels and mid-20s mpg for the E280 and E350. The only really scary ones are the E500 or E55, which barely reach 20mpg.