Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016) Review
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016) At A Glance
Distinctive, sharp looks. Excellent CDI diesels. Good motorway cruiser. Feels very well built.
Steering could do with more feel. Interior is not as inviting as other premium saloons. Possible electrical glitches.
Mercedes stuck to its core principles with this generation of its famous saloon, focusing on comfort, refinement and superb long-distance cruising ability to take on the BMW 5 Series and Britain’s Jaguar XF. Read on for our full Mercedes E-Class review.
The Mercedes E-Class entered its ninth generation with this model, with the firm claiming it signalled a return to engineering integrity.
After the issues and reliability problems that dogged the previous Mercedes E-Class, especially in the early days, this was an important area for the firm as it attemped to regain its reputation for strong build quality and reliability.
First impressions are very favourable and the car feels well built when you get behind the wheel. From the heavy thud of the doors, to the solid feel of the dash and buttons, it’s clear this is a far superior model to its predecessor.
There’s also a welcome return to the more angular interior styling of older Mercedes models, giving a functional and sturdy feel – although it’s perhaps not as inviting as other premium cars such as the Jaguar XF.
The bold and sharp exterior style is certainly a big departure from the previous model, but it retains that distinctive Mercedes-Benz look.
There were big changes under the bonnet, too, with new petrol and diesel engines that offered significantly improved fuel consumption and better performance – both welcome for used buyers now.
On the road, the Mercedes E-Class is everything you’d expect with a smooth ride, cosseting cabin and superb refinement. It’s not quite as good in corners as a BMW 5 Series of the same era, but is reassuring and composed nonetheless.
It was also available with some sophisticated and genuinely useful technology, such as a blind-spot warning system and adaptive high beam assist, which automatically dips the headlights if a car is coming in the opposite direction.
Fancy a new Mercedes E-Class? Read our review here.
Reviews for Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016)'s top 3 rivals
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Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016) handling and engines
- Engines range from E200 CGI BlueEfficiency to E63 AMG S
- Readers report Real MPG to be between 18–56 mpg
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Handling and ride quality
The German brand’s saloons have always been renowned for refinement, and this generation of Mercedes E-Class is no different.
While the best-handling saloon is the BMW 5 Series, the Mercedes E-Class leads the way in terms of long-distance comfort, matched only by the Jaguar XF.
It’s supremely quiet and cosseting over long distances, with minimal intrusion from road noise or wind noise. As a result, long journeys are generally a relaxing experience.
This is down to the excellent ride quality, which not only irons out potholes and rough surfaces, but also deals exceptionally well with bumpy roads.
Of course, this all depends on what model you choose. The top-of-the-range Sport has a noticeably firmer ride due to sports suspension and larger wheels, but it’s still more comfort-biased than sport models from other premium saloon manufacturers.
Avantgarde models are focused more towards luxury, but still have lower suspension (by 15mm) than the entry SE version.
Where the Mercedes E-Class doesn’t shine as brightly is on demanding roads. The steering feels quite artificial, although it’s fairly well weighted, but overall the Mercedes lacks the agility of a BMW 5-Series, even if the Sport models come closer thanks to firmer sports suspension.
It's still very composed and reassuring though, so for everyday driving, you won’t be disappointed.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Engines
There’s a wide choice of engines, offering everything from economy to outright performance. Most people choose one of the frugal but punchy diesels, starting with the E200 CDI with 138PS. This is the best choice for economy with the standard six-speed manual gearbox.
For more performance, there’s the E220 CDI, which is the same 2.2-litre diesel engine but with power increased to 172PS. It’s only marginally less efficient, but feels more punchy when pulling in-gear, helped by 400Nm of torque.
This model is ideal for long-distance driving and on the motorway where it’s quiet and economical, yet still delivers plenty of performance when needed.
The E250 CDI also uses this same engine, but with power boosted to 207PS.
The real performance diesel, though, is the exceptional E350 CDI. This is the only six-cylinder diesel in the line-up, and it has that muscular sound and feel you’d expect.
It delivers 234PS, but the figure of most importance is the torque, at 540Nm. It’s a really effortless engine and gains speed easily and quickly – 0-62mph takes just 6.8 seconds. However, it’s the sheer grunt that really impresses on the move.
The petrol line-up starts with the E200 CGI and like all the petrols, it’s fitted with a turbocharger to boost performance, but help with efficiency.
Despite the name, it’s actually only a 1.8-litre engine, but produces 187PS, so 0-62mph comes up in a brisk 8.4 seconds. The same engine is used in the E250 CGI, but with power increased to 207PS.
It is less torquey compared with the diesels and so needs to be worked quite hard to get meaningful performance, especially when you’ve got a full load of passengers and luggage.
It comes with a five-speed automatic gearbox as standard, but this combination doesn’t work especially well, particularly when you consider that other manufacturers offer more advanced automatics with six-speeds.
You often have to force it to kick down in order to get decent acceleration, which results in high revs and a rather unpleasant strained engine note. This obviously has an adverse affect on fuel economy, too, so achieving the claimed figure can be a real challenge.
The high-performance petrols include the E350 CGI – a V6 with 296PS – while the top-of-the-range version is the thunderous E500. This is powered by a 5.5-litre V8 with an immense 393PS, and delivers a 0-62mph time of just 5.2 seconds.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Safety
Euro NCAP awarded this Mercedes E-Class a full five-star rating in 2010, and it remains a very safe car thanks to standard equipment such as nine airbags, ABS brakes, ESP traction and stability control, and a pop-up bonnet to cushion any pedestrian in a collision.
You also get front and rear parking sensors on all models, and Isofix child seat mounts in the two outer back chairs.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Towing
With an unbraked trailer, all Mercedes E-Class saloons of this generation are capable of towing up to 750kg.
Attach the car to a braked trailer, and that limit varies between 1800kg and 2100kg, depending on the exact model you drive.
| Engine | MPG | 0-62 | CO2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| E200 7G-Tronic | 46–48 mpg | 7.9 s | 138–142 g/km |
| E200 CDI BlueEfficiency | 55 mpg | 10.2 s | 134–141 g/km |
| E200 CDI BlueEfficiency Automatic | 55 mpg | 9.5 s | 134–141 g/km |
| E200 CGI BlueEfficiency | 40 mpg | 8.5 s | 165–172 g/km |
| E200 CGI BlueEfficiency Automatic | 44 mpg | 7.9 s | 152–160 g/km |
| E200 Kompressor | 34 mpg | 9.1 s | 195–210 g/km |
| E220 BlueTec 7G-Tronic | 64 mpg | 8.3 s | 121 g/km |
| E220 CDI | 46–61 mpg | 8.4–8.7 s | 120–167 g/km |
| E220 CDI 7G-Tronic | 61 mpg | 8.4 s | 120–131 g/km |
| E220 CDI Automatic | 61–64 mpg | 8.2 s | 116–121 g/km |
| E220 CDI BlueEfficiency | 57 mpg | 8.7 s | 130–139 g/km |
| E220 CDI BlueEfficiency Automatic | 58 mpg | 8.4 s | 129–138 g/km |
| E250 7G-Tronic | 46–48 mpg | 7.4 s | 138–142 g/km |
| E250 CDI 7G-Tronic | 55–58 mpg | 7.5 s | 129–134 g/km |
| E250 CDI BlueEfficiency | 57 mpg | 7.7 s | 130–139 g/km |
| E250 CDI BlueEfficiency Automatic | 58 mpg | 7.5 s | 129–138 g/km |
| E250 CGI BlueEfficiency | 43 mpg | 7.7 s | 154–162 g/km |
| E300 BlueTec Hybrid | 69 mpg | 7.1–7.5 s | 107–110 g/km |
| E300 BlueTec Hybrid 7G-Tronic | 67–69 mpg | 7.1 s | 107–110 g/km |
| E300 Hybrid | 66 mpg | 7.5 s | 111 g/km |
| E350 BlueEfficiency | 41 mpg | 6.3 s | 161–164 g/km |
| E350 BlueTec | 40–48 mpg | 6.6–7.8 s | 154–188 g/km |
| E350 BlueTec 9-speed Auto | 53 mpg | 6.4 s | 136 g/km |
| E350 CDI Automatic | 54 mpg | 6.4 s | 136 g/km |
| E350 CDI BlueEfficiency | 47 mpg | 6.2 s | 156–159 g/km |
| E500 | 26 mpg | 5.2 s | 253–261 g/km |
| E63 AMG | 29 mpg | 4.2–4.3 s | 227–230 g/km |
| E63 AMG S | 28 mpg | 4.2 s | 230 g/km |
Real MPG average for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016)
Real MPG was created following thousands of readers telling us that their cars could not match the official figures.
Real MPG gives real world data from drivers like you to show how much fuel a vehicle really uses.
Average performance
75%
Real MPG
18–56 mpg
MPGs submitted
1284
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016) interior
- Boot space is 490–540 litres
- Euro NCAP rating of five stars
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4856–4892 mm |
| Width | 1822–2071 mm |
| Height | 1450–1483 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2854–2874 mm |
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Practicality
The driving position is good in the Mercedes E-Class, and there’s lots of reach adjustment in the steering, while all cars get heated front seats as standard, which are very welcome in winter.
This generation is longer and wider than the previous model, which means extra legroom and elbow room for all passengers. But it’s most noticeable in the back, which feels much more spacious, especially in terms of legroom.
The boot is large, too, and the wide opening, along with a capacity of 540 litres – around the same as an Audi A6 – means you can fit in four sets of golf clubs or two large suitcases.
There’s a further 78 litres of stowage under the boot floor, which is ideal for keeping useful things (like de-icer) hidden away.
However, folding rear seats were an optional extra. Another useful option was the Easy-Pack Boot Box, which is ideal for looking after bags of shopping to stop them sliding about the boot.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Quality and finish
The interior of the Mercedes E-Class had a very modern appearance for the time, especially Sport models with their brushed aluminium trim and sports steering wheel, which is great to hold.
The sports seats offer decent side support too, but while the cabin has some nice details – such as the metal switches for the climate control – it’s a little soulless and lacks the warmth and individuality of alternatives such as the Jaguar XF.
There are some neat touches such as the ambient lighting (on Avantgarde and Sport models). Thanks to optical fibres behind certain parts of the trim on the dashboard and doors, they create a band of soft light, which is particularly soothing at night.
However, some of the plastics feel a little hard, and there are switches shared with the much cheaper Mercedes A-Class, which isn’t what you’d expect on an executive saloon.
There is no denying the build quality and this is an area Mercedes clearly focused on following criticism of some of its previous models.
It feels very hard-wearing and the finish is top notch. It’s surprising that this Mercedes E-Class uses a foot-operated parking brake, though, when most rivals feature an electric version.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Infotainment
Mercedes’ COMAND infotainment set-up was among the best when this car was launched and it still does the job today for most things, albeit with a dated look to the display.
The screen is worked via a rotary controller on the transmission tunnel, which is just as well as the display is set quite far into the upper centre of the dash.
Still, the graphics are clear and the menus easy to follow.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016) value for money
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Prices
Stick with the E220 CDI turbodiesel model of this generation of Mercedes E-Class, and you can find the saloon from around £5000 with just 65,000 miles on the clock for a 12-year-old car.
If you’d rather have the more potent V6 turbodiesel, you'll need to budget from £7500, while an E250 with its 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine will cost from £10,000 for a car of the same age and mileage.
Later Mercedes E-Class models cost up to £12,000 for an eight-year-old car with 50,000 miles on the clock. That’s the same sort of money you’ll need to spend to own a mild hybrid BlueTEC version.
The sensationally fast Mercedes-AMG E63 model begins at £18,000, but the twin-turbo version will cost from £25,000.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class (2009 – 2016): Running Costs
Quite a broad engine range was offered in the Mercedes E-Class, but the big sellers were the E220 CDI turbodiesel and the E250 petrol, and there was also the E300dh hybrid.
The E220 CDI offers up to a claimed 64.2mpg, which is impressive for a large luxury saloon. Our Real MPG data shows you should achieve 44mpg in normal driving.
The E250 petrol claimed up to 57.7mpg and returns a real-world 44mpg, while the E300dh promised 68.9mpg and offers a true 47mpg.
With the E220 CDI, you'll pay road tax of just £35 per annum, while the E250 petrol comes in at an annual rate of £160. With the hybrid E300dh, you'll pay a mere £10 per year – not bad at all for a car of this size and nature.
Insurance for the Mercedes E-Class begins in group 29, though most models sit in the mid-30s bracket (out of 50). However, if you go for one of the performance models, insurance will be calculated on a group 47 rating.
Looking after the Mercedes E-Class should be no more expensive than for any of its rivals. A good independent garage will cut the labour rates charged by Mercedes dealers, while parts prices are similar to those for Audi or BMW.
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The Mercedes E-Class SE is the entry-level variant (available only with four-cylinder models). It comes well equipped as standard with seven airbags, 16-inch alloy wheels, Artico upholstery, heated front seats, Advanced Parking Guide, aluminium interior trim, leather steering wheel, electric windows and door mirrors, plus climate control.
The Mercedes E-Class Avantgarde adds 17-inch alloy wheels, full leather upholstery, xenon headlights with LED daytime running lights, ambient cabin lighting, black ash wood trim, 15mm lower suspension, an auto-dimming rear view mirror and a bespoke lower front grille.
Mercedes E-Class Sport is the top-of-the-range trim and gets full AMG bodystyling, AMG floor mats and pedals, a sports steering wheel, sports seats, brushed aluminium interior trim and variable ratio direct steering.
It also has paddleshifters for the 7G-TRONIC automatic gearbox, sports suspension, uprated brakes and 18-inch AMG alloy wheels.
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| Length | 4856–4892 mm |
| Width | 1822–2071 mm |
| Height | 1450–1483 mm |
| Wheelbase | 2854–2874 mm |
| Miscellaneous | |
|---|---|
| Kerb Weight | 1580–1885 kg |
| Boot Space | 490–540 L |
| Warranty | 3 years |
| Servicing | 12500–15500 miles |
| Spare Wheel | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Space-saving spare wheel / Tyre-repair kit | ||
| Costs | |
|---|---|
| List Price | £27,563–£74,945 |
| Insurance Groups | 29–47 |
| Road Tax Bands | B–M |
| Official MPG | 26.2–68.9 mpg |
| Euro NCAP Safety Ratings | |
|---|---|
| Adult | 5 |
| Child | - |
| Pedestrian | 1 |
| Overall | 5 |
On sale until April 2016
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition Auto 4dr | £37,565 | 61.4 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition Premium Auto 4dr | £39,860 | 61.4 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition Premium Plus Auto 4dr | £41,060 | 61.4 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC SE Auto 4dr | £34,870 | 64.2 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC SE Premium Auto 4dr | £37,165 | 64.2 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E220 2.1 BlueTEC SE Premium Plus Auto 4dr | £38,365 | 64.2 mpg | 8.2 s |
| E350 3.0 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition 9G-Tronic Plus 4dr | £42,010 | 54.3 mpg | 6.4 s |
| E350 3.0 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition Premium 9G-Tronic Plus 4dr | £44,305 | 54.3 mpg | 6.4 s |
| E350 3.0 BlueTEC AMG Night Edition Premium Plus 9G-Tronic Plus 4dr | £45,505 | 54.3 mpg | 6.4 s |
| E63 5.5 557hp AMG Mct Auto 4dr | £74,725 | 28.3 mpg | 4.2 s |
On sale until October 2015
On sale until August 2014
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 200 AMG Sport 184 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £36,850 | 47.9 mpg | 7.9 s |
| 220 CDI AMG Sport 170 4dr | £35,245 | 61.4 mpg | 8.7 s |
| 220 CDI AMG Sport 170 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £36,895 | 61.4 mpg | 8.4 s |
| 220 CDI SE 170 4dr | £32,750 | 61.4 mpg | 8.7 s |
| 220 CDI SE 170 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £34,270 | 61.4 mpg | 8.4 s |
| 250 AMG Sport 211 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £37,980 | 47.9 mpg | 7.4 s |
| 250 CDI AMG Sport 204 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £39,445 | 57.7 mpg | 7.5 s |
| 300 BlueTEC Hybrid AMG Sport 204 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £42,375 | 68.9 mpg | 7.5 s |
| 350 BlueTEC AMG Sport 252 7G-Tronic Plus 4dr Auto | £41,260 | 47.9 mpg | 6.6 s |
On sale until March 2013
On sale until June 2012
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 350 BlueTEC Avantgarde 4dr Auto | £39,665 | 40.4 mpg | 7.8 s |
| 350 BlueTEC Sport 4dr Auto | £41,330 | 40.4 mpg | 7.8 s |
On sale until October 2011
| Saloon | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Version | List Price | MPG | 0-62 |
| 500 Avantgarde 4dr Auto | £49,260 | 26.2 mpg | 5.2 s |
| 500 Sport 4dr Auto | £51,000 | 26.2 mpg | 5.2 s |
On sale until May 2009
Model History
- April 2009
- August 2009
- December 2012: Revised E-Class unveiled including E300 hybrid.
- August 2014
- December 2014
April 2009
New E-Class launched With more than 20 new or further technical developments, this saloon further consolidates the leading position of Mercedes-Benz in the luxury class. They include trailblazing innovations for safe driving that are available from no other manufacturer worldwide in this combination. Examples include the standard Attention Assist, optional Adaptive High Beam Assist and automatic emergency braking, which is activated when there is acute danger of a collision.
Basic wheel and tyre size 16" with 225/55 R16 tyres.
With the high combined torque of 560Nm from its four-cylinder engine, the E300 Bluetec Hybrid surpasses many six-cylinder diesels. Fuel consumption of 55.4mpg and CO2 emissions of just 134g/km, make the it the cleanest and most economical executive saloon in the world.
W212 Engines and power outputs:
E200CGI (1,796cc) turbo petrol: 184PS; 250Nm torque
E250CGI (1,796cc) turbo petrol: 204PS; 300Nm torque
E200CDI (2,148cc) diesel: 136PS; 360Nm torque
E220CDI (2,148cc) diesel: 170PS; 400Nm torque
E250CDI (2,148cc) diesel: 205PS; 500Nm torque
E300 Bluetec diesel hybrid: 231PS; 750Nm torque (combined)
E350CDI (2,987cc) V6 diesel: 231PS; 540Nm torque
E350CGI (3,498cc) V6 petrol: 292PS; 350Nm torque
E500 (5,461cc) V8 petrol: 388PS; 530Nm torque
E63AMG (6,208cc) V8 petrol: 514PS; 630Nm torque
6-speed manual (200K/220CDI); 7-speed 7G-Tronic automatic transmission.
Mercedes-Benz has improved the already exemplary long-distance comfort of the E-Class even further in the new saloon, including intelligent bodyshell technology with up to 30% greater rigidity, further improved seats and a newly developed suspension whose shock absorbers automatically adjust to the current driving situation. The optional airmatic suspension now works together with an electronic damping system.
The outstanding safety and comfort of the E-Class are matched by its environmental compatibility and economy: the nine available engines are direct-injection units, and consume up to 23% less fuel than before. The combined consumption of the new four-cylinder diesel engines is 53.3mpg, which corresponds to 139g/km of CO2. All the engines for the new E-Class meet the EU5 emission standard.
Apart from the engines, the BlueEFFICIENCY (standard on all UK cars except the V8s) package for the E-Class is largely responsible for an average fuel consumption improvement of 3mpg. A drag coefficient of only 0.25 makes the new E-Class the world’s most aerodynamically efficient luxury saloon. It betters the already good Cd figure of the preceding model by another four percent.
Other BlueEFFICIENCY measures include newly developed tyres with up to 17 per cent lower rolling resistance, energy-saving control of the alternator, fuel pump, air conditioning compressor and power steering, and the ECO start/stop function (from late summer 2009) which switches the engine of the new E200 CGI off when idling. Displays in the speedometer inform the driver how much fuel is being consumed and when they should shift to the next higher gear.
There are three completely newly developed four-cylinder engines. These feature latest-generation common-rail direct injection, fast piezo-electric injectors, improved exhaust gas recirculation and an innovative twin turbocharger, making for improved responsiveness and good performance characteristics. To express this in figures, the E250 CDI with 205PS and 500Nm sees an improvement of 60Nm of torque over the previous E280 CDI V6 diesel engine, but uses around 23% fuel returning 53.3mpg.
August 2009
The new four-cylinder diesel engine also powers the E220 CDI with 170PS and the E200 CDI with 136PS which also have combined fuel consumption figures of 53.3mpg (available from late summer 2009).
The top model in the new E-Class diesel range is the six-cylinder E350 CDI with an output of 231PS, which returns 40.9mpg on the combined cycle, a 2mpg improvement over the previous E320 CDI.
The E200 CGI and E250 CGI are equipped with the newly developed four-cylinder direct-injection engine with a displacement of 1.8 litres, turbocharging and variable intake and exhaust camshafts. The E200 CGI (184bhp) is equipped with a six-speed manual transmission and the ECO start/stop function as standard, and returns 41.5mpg. This equates to 159 grams of CO2 per kilometre.
In the E250 CGI (204bhp), which has a five-speed automatic transmission as standard, maximum torque is now 310Nm, which represents an increase of more than 26% over the previous V6-engine. As before, the E350 CGI with direct petrol injection (292bhp) and the top-of-the-line E 500 (388bhp) are included in the range of engine variants in the new E-Class. Developments have improved the fuel economy on these V6/V8 models by up to 1mpg.
The V6 and V8-models are equipped with the seven-speed 7G-TRONIC automatic transmission and steering wheel Direct Select lever as standard. Executive SE comes on 17-inch wheels 245/55 R17 tyres.
December 2012
Revised E-Class unveiled including E300 hybrid.
Very significant facelift that transformed the look of the car. The front was completely revised with new one piece headlamps. Flowing light elements within the headlamps help to ensure that the "four-eyed" look which is typical of the E-Class has been graphically retained. The headlamps are fitted with partial LED lights as standard, while full LED technology is available for the first time in this class as an option.
The interior of the new-generation E-Class was also reworked. High-quality materials and refined, subdivided areas with precise joints and sharp curves underscore the high-quality overall impression of the generous interior.
A new feature is the two-part trim which stretches across the entire dashboard. It can be selected in a wood or aluminium look, irrespective of the equipment line. Also new are the 3-tube instrument cluster, the trapezoid-shaped, high-gloss framed display in the head unit with flat-frame look, the design of the air vents as well as an analogue clock between the two central air vents.
As standard, both Saloon and Estate models are fitted with Collision Prevention Assist, a radar-based collision warning system with adaptive brake assist systems. It helps to significantly reduce the risk of a rear-end collision. Also forming part of the standard equipment is Attention Assist, which is now able to warn of inattentiveness and drowsiness across a wider speed range, and also inform the driver about his level of fatigue and the amount of driving time which has elapsed since the last break. It also offers an adjustable sensitivity level.
A new element is the expansion of the BlueDirect petrol engine family with the addition of a four-cylinder petrol engine with spray-guided direct injection, based on the same trend-setting technology used in the latest generation of six and eight-cylinder engines from Mercedes-Benz. Its technology package includes fast-acting piezo injectors for multiple injection, quick multi-spark ignition, turbocharging, fully variable camshaft adjustment on the inlet and exhaust side, as well as a controlled oil pump.
The comprehensive engine range is supplemented with the E300 BlueTEC Hybrid. It combines the four-cylinder diesel engine with an electric motor, thereby producing a system output of 170 kW (231 hp) and 750 Nm of torque. The E300 BlueTEC HybridD returns 69.0mpg and emits CO2 emissions of 107g/km. As such it occupies the leading position among the most economical models in the upper medium-size category.
Mercedes-Benz also offers two transmissions for the E-Class in the future: a 6-speed manual transmission with high ease of shifting and short shift travel, and the 7G-Tronic Plus automatic transmission with Direct Select lever and shift paddles. This latest stage of evolution of the 7G-Tronic Plus provides significant advantages in terms of efficiency and ease of maintenance.
A new feature is the short-term M mode. The benefit of this: if the driver has shifted up or down manually, after a set period of time the transmission independently switches back to automatic, fuel-efficient shift mode.
For the new-generation E-Class, Mercedes-Benz is offering four suspension configurations:
- Configured for comfort, the Direct Control suspension with selective damping system
- The sportily configured Direct Control suspension with selective damping system is positioned 15 mm lower
- The lowered sports suspension is available in conjunction with the Exterior Sports package and AMG Sports package
- The Airmatic air suspension with electronically controlled damping The Estate is basically fitted with air suspension with integrated level control system on the rear axle
All suspension variants feature outstanding sensitivity and ride characteristics and help to ensure a high level of handling safety.
All of the models of the E-Class family will in future be fitted with an electromechanical Direct-Steer system as standard. This combines the speed-dependent power assistance of speed-sensitive steering with a variable ratio across the steering angle range. The rack and pinion steering gear is controlled on-demand and therefore contributes towards efficiency.
August 2014
Numerous revisions to E212 Mercedes E-Class from September 2014. E220CDI and E250CDI get an AdBlue filler, are called 'Bluetec' and conform to EU6. E300 Bluetec hybrid also gets the AdBlue treatment and ECDC economy goes up to 74.3mpg. E350 Bluetec V6 was already AdBlue, but gets a 6PS power boost and a 9-speed autobox. E400 petrol turbo gets a 3.5 litre V6. Prices up £1,500 +, starting at £34,270 for the E220 Bluetec SE saloon and £35,390 for the estate.
December 2014
AdBlue tank fitted to all 2015 MY diesels, including the C220 CDI, means that a spacesaver spare can no longer be carried in the spare wheel well.
What to watch out for
Report in September 2009 of passenger side door lock breaking after two weeks ownership, then the battery failing (possibly related), then a power steering problem involving a three week wait for parts.
28-01-2012:Report of injector problems and need for replacement in E250 CDI. Seems that all German makes are having problems with piezo electric injectors.
04-02-2012:Report of nearside wiper arm becoming detached on two occasions, both of which resulted in such severe damage to the screen that the screen had to be replaced. MB claimed that it was "impossible" and declined to contribute.
24-07-2012:Report of engine of 2010 E250 CDI Blue Efficiency, purchased on MB Fimance, repeatedly cutting out to the extend that MB eventually offered a generous buyback.
15-10-2012:Requirement for front brake disc replacement becoming alarmingly common. Can be needed after as little as 12,500 miles.
29-01-2013:Transmission clonks and shudders reported on new E350 CDI automatic.
06-02-2013:Another report of vibration from the automatic transmission. transmission flush and replacement sensor did not completely cure it.
08-02-2013:Lots of problems with Piezo electric injectors on E250 CDI. Replacing them seems to being more problems. Seems that to get maximum economy the tolerances are too fine for relaibility. This is becoming a serious issue with the cars.
22-03-2013:Yet another report of a clonky automatic transmission, this on a new E350 CDI.
04-07-2013:Automatics require a change of fluid every 3 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. There is also an emissions software upgrade. A reader took his car for these two jobs and a 3 year service and car came back with an oscillation on the rev counter between 1,200 - 1,400rpm. Dealer then diagnosed that the transmission had "lost its adaption" (some sort of software issue?). And that it now required a new instrument cluster to address the rev counter problem. They denied this had anything to do with the work they carried out, and as they said this some pigs flew past the window.
17-10-2013:Parking sensors of 2013 facelift E220 CDI fail intermittently (which makes them uselss) and dealer does not seem to want to know.
19-07-2014:2013 Mercedes E300 Bluetec hybrid has repeatedly failed 4 times, first showing a dashboard warning that the typre pressure monitor is inoperable, followed by a total loss of power. Software upgrades have not solved this.
26-07-2014:On a 25,000 mile 2010 E200 CGI (petrol) auto the 'gearbox park detent seals' were found to be leaking. Reader wrote to MB and received a cheque for £412 to cover the cost.
14-08-2014:Recurrent breakdowns of new Mercedes W212 E300 hybrid, first time after 3 days. Remains unfixed after 2nd time and cost of replacing hybrid battery pack is estimated at £9,000 + labour. With this model, a hybrid fault results in the car shutting down completely. It does not keep going on its internal combustion engine.
13-01-2015:Windscreens of 2009-2015 E Class can crack across. One reader suffered this twice in a two year old car in two years.
30-04-2015:Engine failure reported in 2010 Mercedes E200CDI Blue Efficiency. Despite full MB service hisory, timing chain tensioner failed sending chain through the block. MB has offered to pay 75% of cost, leaving owner with a bill of £4,153. The costs being quoted are: Parts - Engine (£7,489)+ Surcharge (£1,873) = £9,362 excluding VAT. Of this MB is paying 75%. They are asking the customer to pay £2,340+VAT = £2,808 Labour - £2,241 excluding VAT. Of this MB are paying 50%. They are asking customer to pay £1,120+ VAT = £1,344. Total bill = £4,153.
05-07-2015:Report of bang from transmission of 2014 Mercedes E220CDI SE auto when shifting from N to R or N to D. Dealer upgraded software but problem not cured. A 2014 would not yet be due for a change of ATF. Might be failed 'gearbox park detent seals' (see 26-7-2014 above).
05-09-2015:Random starting problems with 60k mile 2009 W212 E-Class traced to starter key locking barrel. Estimated £720 to replace. Similar to problem with C-Class.
12-10-2015:Two successive E220 estates had same problems. Rear air suspension failed on both, and waterpumps failed on both.
20-10-2015:Report of 2015 registered Mercedes Benz E-Class catching fire in reader's driveway for the same reason that E Class built between 1/7/2013 and 31/12/2014 were recalled. The VINs of the recalled cars were WDD2120342A703567 to WDD2122752B133129 and WDD2183592A062023 to WDD2189752A142862. But it appears that owners of cars built in 2014 but not registered until 2015 were not issued with the recall.
22-12-2015:Complaint of failed steering lock on 2009 E220CDI for which the owner was quoted £720 to replace turned out to be nothing more than a failed battery in the key. The spare key worked fine.
29-12-2015:Continuous starting problems with 2011 Mercedes E350 estate, purchased in September 2014 at 47,895 miles. Between May 2015 and December 2015, 5 fuel injectors replaced under warranty, then more starting problems in December 2015 at 62,622 miles. Told it needed a new ECU and that it would not be covered by warranty, but 'goodwill' reduced cost to £300. Car returned 28th December 2015, but again will not start.
30-12-2015:Timing chain failed on October 2010 S212 E200 CGI (petrol) estate at 89,000 miles. Had been fully serviced by MB dealer. Quoted £11,000 for a new engine or offered £6,000 to p/x for another car.
25-06-2016:Report of problems with DAB on 2015 W212 Mercedes Benz E-Class. The signal drops continually in the Watford area and elsewhere. Dealer said software fix would improve signal. It has not. Reader writes that seems to be a common problem with MB. He believes that a new antenna amp and proper coding of the tuner might work. Some late W212s have been banded for band L which is not used in the UK.
23-10-2016:Report of EML light on 2012 Mercedes-Benz E220CDI at 27k miles. Diagnosis reported "Requires upstream temp sensor turbocharger and Soot content of DPF filter 400% need a regeneration".
22-11-2016:Report of autobox of 2014/64 S212 E-Class estate not shifting up to the next gear but revving up to 3000rpm and then barely shifting - not all the time (usually okay after cold start), but especially after frequent start/stop (usually in the city or during traffic on motorways). It would also hold the shift down to a lower gear: thus it would struggle to shift to 7th, until 70+ mph, then it would shift down quickly to 6th when speed falls to 65mph. Owner took to MB dealer (still under warranty and has been fully MB serviced). They updated the software, but problem returned after about a week.
27-11-2016:Report of 'Pre-Safe' flashing up at 60mph in 2013 Mercedes-Benz W212 E-Class. Went into limp home mode, no accelerator, ESP not working. Stopped for 15 minutes. Re-started and all cleared.
07-01-2017:Report of running costs of 2010 Mercedes-Benz E250CDI now at 85,000 miles. In 4.5 years, maintenance and servicing costs have amounted to nearly £4,000, including a new water pump and EGR valve seal in 2016 (both apparently well-known faults to C and E-Class owners with this engine).
09-01-2017:Report of "unusually severe wear on the inner section of the front outside wheel tyre where canvas was exposed" on a 2014 Mercedes Benz E250CDI estate. The rest of the front tyre width had tread depth of around 3mm. It was recommended that the tyre be replaced urgently and also a four-wheel alignment check. This identified an issue with the camber on the O/S front wheel. But the camber was found to be non adjustable because straight bolts had been fitted. Replacement adjustable bolts cost £100 (happily financed by the dealer, Robinsons of Bury St Edmunds). This may help to explain the massive problem that owers are having with AWD C43 AMGs and GLCs.
01-03-2017:Report of sunroof seals of 2016 Mercedes-Benz E-Class failing and MB dealer blaming atmospheric conditions.
13-03-2017:Complaint that 2012 Mercedes Benz "E550" (E500?) needed brake discs and pads replaced at 17,000 miles due to lack of use and consequent corrosion of the discs. Owner referred to discs as "rotors" so may be American spec.
11-05-2017:Complaint of fuel smell from underbonnet area of 2013 W212 Mercedes-Benz E200 CGI petrol model with only 20,000 miles. Mercedes dealer had the car for a week, initially finding a loose fitting on the pump to the injectors, and then a 'leaking' linkage in the fuel line, that was running over the gearbox, both of which owner had to pay for. After these 'fixes', and leaving the vehicle overnight, they tell me the fuel small is still noticeable. Had to go back for further work.
21-05-2017:Complaint of corrosion around central badge of AMG line 5-double spoke alloy wheel on a 2014 Mercedes Benz E-Class after 18 months. Wheel was replaced without question, but now same is happeing to another.
07-06-2017:Report of injector of 32,000 mile 2011/61 Mercedes-Benz E220CDI sticking open, causing the engine to severely overfuel and eventually detonating the engine.
28-10-2017:Report of timing chain failure on 2010 Mercedes-Benz E200CGI estate. (1,796cc) turbo petrol. Happened without any warning. Cost £7,400 for a replacement engine.
22-01-2018:Report of engine management light of 2015 Mercedes-Benz E220CDI repeatedly coming on. NOx sensor replaced by MB dealer but light still coming on.
20-04-2018:Problem reported with ESP of 2010 Mercedes-Benz W212 E250 petrol: On roundabouts and long sweeping corners the ESP light comes and the car seems to wallow as the electronics try to take over. The power reduces and there is a clicking sound.
13-06-2018:Auxiliary battery light reported as coming on in 2015 Mercedes Benz E-Class.
25-08-2018:Report of failure of low pressure fuel tank sender pump in 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 at 36,000 miles.
27-08-2018:Minor faults with 2010 Mercedes S212 E200 petrol estate over 63,000 miles have included: A door lock replaced, the windscreen wipers don’t work correctly and now a window won’t open and close properly, plus the indicators and wipers stopped working altogether recently but worked again after owner turned the engine off.
10-10-2018:Report of serious fluid leak from steering rack of 2014 Mercedes Benz E-Class, now on an aftermarket warranty. MB dealer quoted £2,600 to replace it. We think a safty concern can be raised and that MB may either replace it outright or do a deal with the warranty insurer.
03-02-2019:Report of failure of oil pump 2013 Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI estate in December 2019 at 74,000 miles. It was last serviced by an independent at 53,350 miles in January 2018 so the rerason foer the failure is probably lack of servicing for 20,650 miles.
11-02-2019:Report of turbo intake seals of Mercedes Benz E350 CDI leaking and replaced at 29k service in January 2017. Then at 38k miles service in February 2019 the Turbo boost pipes were leaking and had to be replaced at a cost of £126.72.
24-02-2019:Report of repeated auxiliary battery failure in 2016 W212 Mercedes-Benz E220 BlueTEC SE 4dr 7G-Tronic saloon. Car bought used from MB dealer at 10,395 miles in April 2017.
21-06-2019:Report of problems with 2015 Mercedes Benz E350CDI, starting in 2017 with 9-speed auto refusing to change up and holding gears to 3,500rpm. This was while the car was 2 years old and therefore still under warranty. Fuel economy deteriorated from around 42mpg to around 36mpg.
28-07-2019:Report of a/c problem with 2014 Mercedes-Benz E300 Bluetech hybrid at 160,000 miles. Local specialist found refrigerant leak from a/c matrix behind the dashboard, which needs removing to investigate further.
05-08-2019:Report of A/C condenser, high pressure hose and cabin a/c heat exchanger matrix all failing in a 2012 Mercedes-Benz E250 CDI. A/C specialist quoted approx 13 hours to fit new a/c heat exchanger.
17-10-2019:Report of transmission failure in 2013 Mercedes-Benz E300 Blue Tech Hybrid at 65,000 miles. Drive between the engine and gearbox failed. Diagnostic ar MB dealership indicated the gearbox valve chest was at fault and should be replaced.
28-01-2020:Report of engine management light of 2015 Mercedes-BenzE220d BlueTec coming on and Eco stop/start stopped functioning. Local Bosch garage tested the car and identified two errors: P22AA00 The heater of NOx sensor 2 (cylinder bank 1) has a sporadic malfunction; P220F77 The heater of NOx sensor 2 (cylinder bank 1 ) has an electrical fault.
10-02-2020:Report of engine management light coming on in 2015 Mercedes Benz E220d BlueTec and stop/start ceased working.
23-09-2022:Sub-frame corrosion reported on 2011 250 CDI. Independent garage quoted £1700 to repair, but local Mercedes-Benz dealer fixed for free with contribution from MBUK after owner complained.
