Mercedes-Benz E-Class — Buyer's Guide
Reliability, safety, running costs and what to check before you buy.
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class overview
With 120 currently licensed in the UK, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class is one of Britain's well-known cars.
Euro NCAP awarded the E-Class 5 stars in 2024, with 92% adult occupant and 90% child protection scores.
It has a 76.2% first-time MOT pass rate — above the UK national average of 72%. Common MOT failure areas include suspension, brakes, oil leaks.
Annual running costs are estimated at £4,436 for a typical 5-year-old example, breaking down to £370/month or 60p/mile.
Theft risk is rated high at 13.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles.
NCAP Safety
2024
MOT Pass Rate
76.2%
150,000 tests
Monthly Cost
£370
est. annual total
New From
£42,000
Safety rating
Euro NCAP tested the E-Class in 2024 and awarded it 5 out of 5 stars.
Adult Occupant
92%
Child Occupant
90%
Pedestrian
92%
Safety Assist
87%
Safety recalls
There are 165 known DVSA recalls affecting the Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Enter a registration number to check whether a specific vehicle is affected.
R/2026/201
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain GLE/GLS (167 platform) C-Class (205 platform) E-Class (213 platform) S-Class (223 platform) GLC (253 platform) and CLS (257 platform) vehicles with diesel engine the vacuum‑controlled coolant pump might exhibit a leakage between the vacuum system and the coolant circuit.
Build dates: 2017-05-30 to 2017-05-30
R/2025/534
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain E-Class AMG (214 platform) vehicles with 4-wheel-drive the routing of the transmission wiring harness might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2024-09-05 to 2025-01-27
R/2025/155
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain E-Class (214 platform) and GLC (254 platform) vehicles the bolts of certain 12V- and 48V- ground connections might not have been fastened with the specified torque.
Build dates: 2024-02-16 to 2024-05-06
R/2024/502
Mercedes-Benz AG has determined that on certain E-Class 214 platform and GLC 254 platform vehicles the welding of consoles to the rear axle carrier might not meet specifications.
Build dates: 2024-08-14 to 2024-09-04
R/2024/474
The software of the engine control unit might not meet specifications regarding misfire detection.
Build dates: 2021-01-20 to 2023-09-04
+ 160 more recalls. Check a specific vehicle to see the full list.
Reliability & MOT
Based on 150,000 MOT tests, the E-Class has a first-time pass rate of 76.2% — above the UK national average of 72%.
This is a positive sign for reliability. The E-Class is less likely to have issues at MOT time than the average car on UK roads.
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Running costs
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old Mercedes-Benz E-Class are estimated at around £4,436 per year, or £370 per month.
Fuel
£1,815
/year
Road Tax
£195
/year
Depreciation
£1,696
/year
MOT
£55
/year
Estimated annual running costs based on available data. Excludes insurance, parking, and finance costs. Actual costs depend on your driving habits and circumstances.
Fuel economy
The E-Class achieves a combined fuel economy of around 31.7 mpg (22.8 mpg urban, 41.5 mpg extra-urban).
| Variant | Fuel | Combined | Engine |
|---|---|---|---|
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | PETROL | 31.7 mpg | 1.8L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | DIESEL | 39.2 mpg | 2.1L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | DIESEL | 39.2 mpg | 3.0L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | PETROL | 29.4 mpg | 3.0L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | DIESEL | 37.2 mpg | 3.2L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | PETROL | 28.5 mpg | 3.5L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | PETROL | 20.8 mpg | 5.4L |
| E CLASS (S211) ESTATE | PETROL | 24.4 mpg | 5.5L |
Depreciation
Starting from £42,000 new, a Mercedes-Benz E-Class typically retains about 56% after 3 years and 46% after 5 years.
| Age | Retained | Est. Value | Lost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 75% | £31,500 | −£10,500 |
| 2 years | 64% | £26,750 | −£15,250 |
| 3 years | 56% | £23,550 | −£18,450 |
| 4 years | 50% | £21,200 | −£20,800 |
| 5 years | 46% | £19,500 | −£22,500 |
| 6 years | 43% | £18,150 | −£23,850 |
| 7 years | 41% | £17,050 | −£24,950 |
| 8 years | 39% | £16,200 | −£25,800 |
| 9 years | 37% | £15,400 | −£26,600 |
| 10 years | 35% | £14,600 | −£27,400 |
Theft risk
The E-Class has a theft rate of 13.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Consider additional security measures such as a steering lock or tracking device.
How common is the E-Class?
There are currently 120 licensed and 0 SORN E-Classs in the UK (120 total). This makes it a very rare vehicle on UK roads.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliable?
The E-Class has a 76.2% first-time MOT pass rate based on 150,000 tests — above the UK national average of 72%. This suggests good overall reliability.
How safe is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Euro NCAP awarded the E-Class 5 out of 5 stars when tested in 2024. It scored 92% for adult occupant protection, 90% for child occupant protection, 92% for vulnerable road users, and 87% for safety assist features.
How much does a Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost to run?
Annual running costs for a typical 5-year-old E-Class are estimated at around £4,436 per year (£370/month). This includes fuel, road tax, depreciation, and MOT fees — but excludes insurance, servicing, and repairs.
Are there any recalls on the Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
There are 165 known safety recalls affecting the E-Class. These are issued by the DVSA when a safety defect is found. You can check if a specific vehicle is affected by entering its registration number.
Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Class likely to be stolen?
The E-Class has a theft rate of 13.5 per 1,000 registered vehicles, which is rated high compared to the national average of 5.5 per 1,000. Extra security measures like tracking devices and steering locks are recommended.
How much does a new Mercedes-Benz E-Class cost?
A new E-Class starts from around £42,000. After 5 years, a typical example retains about 46% of its original value.
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