Posted May 5th 2006 12:24PM
According to the German automotive association
ADAC, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are the most reliable among the German brands. The C-Class, CLK-Class, E-Class,
M-Class, S-Class, and the SLK-Class all took top spots in the association's latest report, more than any other German
automaker. The ADAC was especially impressed with the C-Class (pictured). This is particularly surprising considering
the quality troubles Mercedes-Benz has had to deal with the last few years.The first and last time I'll own a piece of crap like this. I have a c320 with so many problems, I stopped driving it. It's cheaper to let it sit than drive it and have to pay for my maintenance problems. I think anybody that slams a Japanese car has their head in the wrong place. Had a Camry with NO problems and 175K. This junker has less than 50K and I've just about replaced everything electrical, brakes, tires. I'm NOT impressed with the engineering of this car. Now my battery drains due to bad seat control modules. What??? SEAT CONTROL MODULES?? Only cost about $700.00 remanufactured. This doesn't include the installation cost. KISS MY BUTT MB. Stick to making race cars and stay out of the consumer market!!!! I'll NEVER say anything good about your junk!!!!
March 23 2009 at 6:09 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI drive a 2004 MB E240 with 67000KM I had it brand new and must say the performance has been good, I like the car, I have had problems from the biginning in that the carpet starting pulling away from the right corner on the passenger side beside where the transmission is located.
This was noticed on the day of the delivery they took it back did some corrections but a day later it was right back, after several trips for servicing and pointing it out, after two years the dealer advised that some cars was manufactured with the carpet cut short so they would have to order a new one. I am still waiting.
I changed no less than 5 gas pumps in less than two years, and on each ocassion I was left on the road and had to get a wrecker, on another ocasion a bright red light appeared on the dash indicating brake failure stop car innediately, this occured as I was going down a winding hill again, late at night, the steering could not turn as the engine had switched off itself and I was again stranded at night.
The dealer reported that this was caused by a defective valve in the breaking mechanism which caused the problem I was speechless and as I have said I was proceeding down a winding hilly terrain. this have caused many uneasy moments fore me as I am always asking when will iot happen again.
The car also have a problem with slackening of the engine mounts which cause a hum between 100-120KM (and it is not the tyres) and the pullung of the car to left the dealer changed wheel bearings, air conditioner compressor, belt, all pulleys, front hubs, until a frontend technician pointed out all the engine mounts were broken, after that was repaired all was well, but a shight drift to the left is still there,
Other than these items I love the car, however, where I live I think we need a new dealer.
In few word "what the hell were they thinking with the e350 engines". Were they thinking of having their engines shout out mercedes or chrystler!!!
Those are the worst engine I have ever seen not that the e320 or the s430 were ever good engines. They have been producing cars with cheap build engines to make more profit.
I have friend including my self who will never purchase a new mercedes benz ever until they decide to build quality cars. I will wait to see the proof or quality after a few generations. One of my friend purchased the new s550 brand new, this car had only 7000 miles on it when it started to smoke from the mufflers poor guy loved his s550 put after many recalls he decided to give it back and switch to lexus and now we are talking reliablity and comfort to the max. Mercedes claims that they are going to build more reliable cars starting with the new cls models I will wait to see if that is true before I thinking of getting another mercedes benz...
I totally agree with the previous comments about Mercedes reliability. I have a 2000 C180 and have spent £2000GBP this year to keep it on the road. Electronics are very poor. Had to replace the Electronic ignition system and keys + and also the electric folding mirror indicator flasher units had corroded after only 6 years. Engine seems good but all the advanced electronics is what fails. Almost feels like after 6 years old the car is pre-programmed to fail !
September 29 2008 at 4:28 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyLike the old saying goes: you can't fool all of the people; that said, do yourself a favor and go by an Asian car. Buy a Merceds and you will get taken for a ride. Save your money and buy a more reliable car. If your heart won't stop yearning for one; rent one before you buy because they have lost a lot of their elan. In the old days you would get in and smell real wood and leather for years with a wonderfully snug sound when you shut the door; no more; the interior and overall quaity is sooo ordinary.
January 26 2008 at 6:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI bought a M-B C200 kompressor in 2002. It has been the least reliable car I have ever owned inluding British Leyland. I have had engine and suspension problems. Wheel corrosion etc. It is currently off the road with an undiagosed fault which is predicted to cost me thousands of pounds to repair. The car is running perfectly but the engine diagnostic lamp says it needs repair. Love the car shame about the poor engineering
May 29 2007 at 3:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI have to say that Audi and MB have been suffering from poor quality and the service in general, is poor. In 2001 I purchased a CLK 55 AMG. 22K miles later the check engine light came on. The dealer said it would take a day to get things sorted out. Two days later, the service rep confessed that they could not figure out what was wrong with the car, since everything checked OK but they were not able to re-set the light and that they could do no more for me. It is quite obvious they did not see the problem with this. The light is supposed to alert you to a problem if none is present then it should re-set so when a problem does occur it can turn on so the driver can take action. The dealer could offer no explanation and no solution for this mystery. After unanswered emails, letters and calls to MB, I decided to sell the car, I no longer trusted the car or the dealer. So I purchased a 2003 Audi RS6, a blast to drive, fast and well appointed. The love affair lasted for 6 months before unexplained electrical gremlins began to show up. I took the car to the dealer because the interior lights would come on for no reason. The service rep said it was a frayed wire. A few weeks later, the radio began to act up, again another trip to the dealer. This time the service rep told me that the RS6 has shown several electrical problems because it was, get this, over engineered. Déjà vu, I got rid of the car and purchased a Lexus. 98K miles later the car drives as well as it did when I first took delivery. No worries so far. I t is sad, that German cars have sunk so low. I had a 1978 Porsche 911 SC and used it as a trade-in for the MB. The 911 had 265K miles! I still have a 91 Porsche 944 S2 with 150K trouble free miles.
May 06 2007 at 9:21 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYou are an erudite crowd ! Whatever the parameters of the test results the fact is the MBZ is now about the worst of all cars for reliability, and yes it is mostly untested electronics and some crappy finish work.
OK, our 2001 CL600, great engine, great drive, great looks. First thing, V-12 emblem broke off when washing the car ( Plastic, stick on ). Windows wouldn't close, new computer module ( Warranty- $4,000 job ).Break down, towed in, left side computer component, out of warranty, $2,200.
Wife closed the trunk normally, the trunk brake light fell out ! This car has only 39,000 miles now and cost $120,000 new, I did ask my local dealer if I had bought a Trabant but they did not know what that was, ho hum.
PS The sick thing, we still love the bloody car.
04 e500 here.biggest crap in the world
November 11 2006 at 2:00 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMine actually worked!Best car I've ever owned.Okay,fine,it's a 1988 230E,but it's great.No problems at all.I also owned a 1997 E200.No problems with that either,but it didn't feel quite as indestructible as my 230E
