The Shocking Truth About Mercedes Benz Reliability... 

I get the feeling MOST brands nowdays dont make durable cars. Some 30 years ago Mercedes were very reliable, BMW too! Its all on purpose so we keep buying parts and fixing these things, and having to trade for new ones.

Cars built these days are throwaway consumables

My wife thought you were saying "Life's too short to drive foreign cars 🚗 " 😂.

I have a young man in our warehouse who recently bought a 2015 Mercedes-Benz with 80,000 miles from a used car lot. Unfortunately, he's already dealing with issues like timing chain rattle during the initial start-up, and there are clear signs of the transmission starting to slip. The most unfortunate part is that he's making payments on what was initially a nice car, which now seems to be turning into a money pit. Finding someone who can repair the vehicle without breaking the bank has become quite a challenge for him. What started as a nice car is on the verge of becoming a beached whale in some independent garage's parking lot.

sad to say I totally agree with your assessment of MB today. Bought a new 1997 E320. Bulletproof for 300,000 miles. Bought a Lexus ES and never regretted it. I miss my MB but would not own one for the reasons you gave. Thank you

The speaker falling off really pissed you off huh .

This dude is paid to slam the Mercedes benz. Why did you keep that car if it's as shitty as you put it . The Toyota that you are paid to praise keep killing people here due to unstability and always lose the moose tests, too many cheap servicing parts that don't last so these German cars are never cheap so if you buy it prepare to spend and when you spend it stays for years I have been driving BMWs ,Jaguars and Mercedes and of them all the Merc proved stronger. Toyota parts are so weak the body and chasis is so weak that when you crush chances of surviving is merely 0.1 % the Toyota that you praise most has taken a lot of people's lives here. Toyota engine smokes faster especially if you are a fast drive not so much a performance car. So 4yrs and you are complaining like this,what the hell is the reason for your keeping it that long especially if you care how much it costs to repair or service? Leave it to the Big Guys.

Fluid may be getting caught in the bottom panels. I bought a 2008 ML320 CDI new back in 2008, had nothing but problems the entire time - turbo seals cracking within 2 years, COMAND center stopped working - and the car stopped working because it controls the entire vehicle 1 week before warranty expired - a 5k repair under warranty, tailgate motor problems they could never resolve. Finally sold it after 4 years; stuck with Lexus, Toyota, Honda vehicles since - never been happier. Simple, reliable, and no unexpected or nagging problems.

I had a Mercedes c280 for 12 years. Minimum money on service. Donated the car with over 270 thousand miles and was still working wonderfully. Wish I didn’t give it away.

Interesting how things change over time. It wasn't that long ago that you rightly said that BMWs were poorly made, particularly in the engine area. Now, MB seems to have taken the top spot and BMW has improved. Strange how some manufacturers can go through cycles of producing problem cars, then improve quality, then decline again in quality. To address this, IMO consumers shouldn't just focus on the brand for their purchase decisions, but also the specific model year and its features/components. I own a Volvo (2020 V90 Inscription T6). LOL! I don't think this brand has been known for reliability, at least in his century. My V90 has been problem free, going on 4 years. Starting around 2015/2016, when the Geely/SPA models were introduced, these new models had a host of problems (e.g., defective oil rings that caused excessive oil usage, defective coolant O-rings that could cause an engine fire, spark plugs with exploding ceramic material that could trash the engine, poorly performing infotainment system, defective supercharger seals, weak brake pad springs contributing to premature brake wear, etc.). By the time of my 2020 model, the earlier issues were mostly addressed. Then, around the 2022 model year, Volvo's Google-based infotainment system introduced a host of serious issues. Even with Lexus, my 2007 ES350 (purchased new in 2007), it has been rock solid, AFTER they replaced its transmission after 6 months of initial ownership. Noticing that the front dashboard is prone to getting "sticky" and soft in extremely hot weather, I purchased a high quality windshield reflector to reduce sunlight intensity and cabin heat, and on particularly hot days cover the entire car. Yes, some Lexus cars have had a problem with the dashboard cracking. No car is perfect, and some cars are more-or-less perfect than others.

$908.00 repair cost/yr average? YOU KIDDING ME....? I got a 1992 Ford Tempo V6...I spend about $500-$600 every 4-5 yrs on the car on parts... THAT IS IT....- hoses,, starter motor, alternator, belts etc..(506K in it now original)

I have 2016 gla 45 amg. at 97.000 miles holding strong. oil pump replaced and very few minor issues.. perhaps amg has a better build quality...?

I had them for 20 yrs. when the "quality" was supposed to have been at its modern peak. Believe me, they were unreliable and trouble-prone then, too.

Mercedes are reliable, just certain models and years to buy. Same as BMW, DIY helps as well. Go to the dealership, and they will rob you blind especially if you don't know your car. Own an OBD 2 Scanner, these handy pieces of technology for vehicles are a godsend.

The W203 came under critism for quality which was addressed and improved with the W204 Class. We still own our W204 which is now 14 years old. The only major problem was an alternator. It's unlikely we'll get rid of it. This was back when if you paid for leather, you got genuine leather. solid as the day it was made.

Unfortunately most German cars are not suitable for daily use. I own a 3 series and an Audi TT for very very very light use once or twice a month

No problems with my 2020 GLE450.

I have owned about 9 and currently own an 2019 A220 I brought brand new and has 90,000 km on and and I have only had to do one recall service b and a New tires and brakes as well as an battery it’s never ever had any problems at all

Any car that you buy with high miles and don’t know the history of it is bound to be a pain in the ass!

2009 SL65. Kept my head in the SL forums 5 years. Bought the reference books. Everyone has the same problem areas. At the time I bought every area of vulnerability was upgraded before the risk became reality. I'd only buy another Mercedes from before 2012. Decontenting and cost cutting followed manifested as lower quality and resiliency of the [automatic start/stop, no fog lights, no spare tire] modern Mercedes era. Those features mark a mechanical shift in engineering philosophy prioritizing decontenting. Every year seems to get worse: now new SL's are backsliding to cheap fabric roofs without including any bolt on hardtop. My 2009 top is permanent and never needs replacing like a new SL's fabric roof every 4 years.

Yea sure completely ignore the many many modern Mercs with high miles I have put 430,000 km on my 2016 A-45 AMG not one issue

Is this the only type of video you make? lmao. bro you bought a cheap C class. S class, G class, E class are all a lot more solid that that tin can.

Your right. Not only MB but all manufacturers are using more and more cheap plastics everywhere. The under hood temperatures with turbo charged engines are rendering plastic connectors dry and brittle. I think the manufacturers know this but all they care about is getting the vehicle past the warrantee finish line.

I bought a 2013 C300, and I love it. I bought it used 6 years ago, and there’s no problem at all. I also bought a 2021 GLC300 3 years ago, and it’s still running amazingly. I love Mercedes Benz cars.

Hardcore Merc fan here. 1988 - 2007 ish are the Mercs to look for if you want to roll the ODO several times.

Mercedes NA engines are generally bullet proof. If you regularly change the oil; you should easily get 300k out of them. Same with BMW I6 NA engines. All the problems started when they started using Turbos.

Get used to it. Cost cutting is the name of the game. Everything is sheet metal, plastic, and felt paper glued together. Plastic is cheaper than steel. Stamped one piece sheet metal is cheaper than castings or forgings bolted or welded together. And Euro cars have never been know for electrical reliability. It hasn't been a big issued till about 20 years ago. Then, there was an exponential increase of electronics.

I agree totally with you... My Mercedes 2003 clk with 560.000 km on it (bulletproof) is one of the last well build Mercedes's ... I didn't played anything except regular mainstems. You didn't mention the fact how important is if they were build in Germany....

Yes you are 100% accurate. Some years ago I purchased a ML series Mercedes. At around 45,000 miles I needed water pump. Door motors required to be replaced. Also, window switches.

1986 Mercedes Benz 190D 2.5 that my family bought with 180 K kilometres and it was very reliable. It was sold with over 600 K kilometres and it was still running like a gem. Old Benzs were very good and I believe they are crap now.

But how does one get rid of such a vehicle that's worth $20K but needs a $15K engine replacement? Trade it in without mentioning the issue? How DO we inform a prospective buyer? Who would then buy it? Part of this may involve our morals.

I test drove this car to buy at the dealer except I discovered when I got back it was a 4 cylinder not a V6. I just assumed the 300 would be a V6 and I thought they just muffled the sound of the 6. That was the main reason why I didn’t buy it. Otherwise it was a lovely car

You should have never bought it. If you can afford to buy it you can afford to fix it.

I can actually hear the trade in / private sale price tumbling on ECPP’s Merc.

Listen bud, I have a 2021 class 250, runs like a charm with over 80k miles , I work on my own car , and the parts inexpensive, as a Mercedes owner, your paying for the prestige and brand , you’ll have to pay the cost of something as delicate a Mercedes. Absolutely love your content, but highly disagree with your point of view on Mercedes

Man I tested out a2008 or 2009 C63 AMG, and it was a hoot. The seats didn’t adjust width, too narrow. Lots of stuff busted. Wipers, ash tray, etc. Dozens of fault codes. PPI revealed a bent wheel, some plastic under body damage, but Jesus H. the engine was so epic. Exhaust note and crackle intoxicating. If the seats had fit, I’d probably have gotten it. Coulda had it for 17 grand. I still want one.

I have a 110k 2010 E350 4matic and it's fairly reliable, I have had a few expected issues like engine mounts, starter, front hub assembly, a couple of batteries, brake pads, crankshaft pulley, idler pulleys and tensioner.....but that's basic maintenance on an all wheel drive luxo sport sled. To be fair half of that work I did with the help of RU-vid Mechanic School and parts have been easy to source with Amazon and eBay. I drive my E Class like NASCAR almost everyday, so I'm good 🤠👍🏿

-29°C ... Cars are so much easier to drive and maintain in Australia.

This is a joke! lol 2017 GLE43 with 188k miles and still running strong. I can go on with my other Benz.

3% more efficiency, 5% more green, 90% less durable

Most of these Mercedes are made outside of Germany 🇩🇪. They’re poorly made which is why they breakdown so much. I could be wrong, but that’s my opinion.

The coolant could be Slowly evaporating out of the overfill box.......it is plastic as well as the cap.

12:23 safe to say piston number one is punching above its weight.

Uhhh, I would have said: “I thought Mercedes Benz were built for hundreds of thousands of miles; I thought they were bullet proof; I thought they were indestructible; I thought they were built like Panzer-kampf-wagen V (Panther) tanks,” not Sherman’s. 🤔😲😉 Yeah, that’s right; I’m very proud of my German heritage.🇩🇪

You, my friend, are absolutely right! My 2013 GL 550's engine is toast. I took care of it, but it knocked, bang, ticked at 135k. Their should be a class action suit to force a recall.

This is hilarious. My next door neighbor bought a used BMW X5 less than a month ago. She still has the 30 day paper plate and a tow truck towed it away yesterday. On her driveway there was a big puddle of fluid which she is now trying to soak up with kitty litter. Comedy gold.

I can definitely say, as a proud owner of a 2010 C350, it’s not without its faults. From the plastic fantastic interior to the Mars red paint class action lawsuit, there are definitely issues to be had… Interesting side note Mark, I bought an exact set of those rims you have there for my W204. They are staggered and cannot be rotated! 👎

Im on 84k miles on my 16 W205, super drama free. It is on its 3rd set of Spark plugs (did first at 45k, just did new ones), did the tranny service at the dealer, everything else easy Service A and B. It pulls solid just as it did on day 1 and knocking on wood planning to keep it for quite some time while i save for 911.

What's their incentive to make it last longer than warranty period? They are selling status symbols and images more than a vehicle. There are plenty of people willing to pay for that status symbol.

My friend had bought a brand new brand new Mercedes S 500 and maintained by the agents. He spent in US dollars 125,000/- for repairs for 80000 miles.

The beginning of the end was when Merc discontinued M112/M113 and 722.6. M272 and M273 were OK but not as good as previous. Forget about the turbo era.

My favorite Benzes are still the W123 and the R107.

Don't buy a Mercedes or any car with turbocharged engine. It won't last long. 💯

2017-2019 GLS 450 issues ?

Mercedes Benz's in the 1980's and 90's used to be the Pinnacle of Automobiles. They used to last 1,000,000 miles even. Now they're just another UGLY pile of crap driving the roads and as common as a Honda it seems. Not even something dream of any longer.

It is still a Mercedes Benz when the level engineering that built the company’s brand is not there?

Man I just bought a 2016 GLC 300 with a 100k 🤦🏾‍♂️ I have an extended warranty. But the engine is loud weird noise too

Hi, frm Denver: I have 2 MB- - 1985 300 Sd (5 cyl. turbo diesel) @ 322,000 mi. - 1997 E420(W210) V8 @ 68,000 mi. I've had a total of 4 cars, ea has averaged 290,000 mi. Drive older MB. 😊

Love this channel !! Adding >> Mercedes W164 - The original crossover CUV , ML350, ML500 starting in 2006 & thankfully ending 2011, have pretty much disappeared from the highway. Pretty easy to swap parts out if you have a good scanner , but many critical operating parts fall under 'SECURITY' , making these simple fixes MERCEDES DEALER ONLY , where parts must be registered via proprietary STAR system. On my ML500 , shift actuator solenoid failed (can't get in/out of gear) - that's part of the security system. ... bottom line- No exceptions , dealer proprietary software required = expensive , more than the failing vehicle worth , even after frequent oil changes, and allof the other part failures ( differentials, air springs & compressor, usual brakes, several crank sensors...etc..) I practically gave the $ pit away. If you want the real deal , get a W126, W140 - or earlier, when MB's driven like a a rolling piece of jewelry..

we have lots of 10 year old Mercedes in the junk yards here(Arkansas no salt roads) for "mechanical scrap"....it is just insane to see mint condition cars junked...I will keep my 03 Grand Marquis LS Ultimate, 440,000 miles, less than $1,000 in repairs since new... Great Video, beautiful Mercedes, but what a joke for the $$$$$...

I just hit a 180,000 miles on my c400 buy a cheap benz get cheap results… btw I’ve only done oil changes tune up and coolant replacing which is regular maintenance on a car I’ve been a Mercedes owner for 4 years now and i can’t relate to this video at all this car has lasted longer than any Honda or Acura I’ve owned very pleased with my experience 😌

Wow! WTH. Mercedes is ruining their reputation. German engineering is supposed to be the best in the world. I think it’s cost cutting and profit that’s driving the lower durability. Stick with Toyota/Lexus for the kind of money people are spending.

As long as it makes it through the 3-year lease...

I've driven the Mercedes GLC 2021 and the quality wasn't that great but the seats were very comfortable. Also, the BMW 330i 2022 was well put together, just the seats are not as comfortable as mercedes.

I know you hate maserati..but if you look at the failures with the levante..they are few and far between..check out the car wizard..I just pound my levante..and can't break it..and I've been a mechanic and engine builder for 40 years

The majority of luxury vehicle drivers lease those vehicles for the reasons that you’ve listed. They are not built to last and so most people know by now that it’s not a good idea to keep these vehicles for extended periods of time/ 3 years.

Totally disagree with proper maintenance and oil changes those motors will last 200000 minimum, also remember you have the base / entry model! The 3.0 l 6 cylinder engine is one of the best / long lasting engines available today, alsong with the BMW 6 cylinder , all these new 4 cylinder turbo engines that all manufacturers are using are the same platform, so Toyota, and other manufacturers are no longer lasting or better quality

Anti freeze/ Anti boil expands as it heats up and constricts when cooled.

I had the same crunchy noise from my previous 2016 c300 and it was those horrible continental run-flats. Once we replace them, the noise was gone. A year later moved to a 2019 c43, and guess what? Rear tires are noise with 60000km. Unreal.

All of the build issues you mention is done deliberately due to 'weight reduction'. Most of the new vehicles today have cheesy plastic parts all over the car. They are not building these the way the old days Mercedes were built. My 08 S Class is well made, but not as well made as the 1980s S Classes which lasted over 200k without issues. Its all about gas mileage and weight reduction.

Well I live in Germany. Hans or Fritz ,they don't work more on assembling line, just so you know.

Since have corporation with Renault the quality is 👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎👎

I have a W204, C220 CDI 2013 model, is that a good machine to keep? Got it from dealer brand new and has done 76000 km in mint condition

This is enough to scare anyone away from these turds. I think I will get a Lexus.

I have heard that Mercedes quality has gone down as BMW quality has increased. Glad I bought a BMW X5 45e. Great ride, handling, build quality, acceleration and comfort, as well as driving on electricity most of the time. It is almost like Chrysler quality infected Mercedes when Mercedes bought Chrysler.

Hi ECPP, are you Mercedes all built in the US or are they European made? Thanks

Word To The Wise, Buy A Used Car & Drive It To Work. Save The New Luxury Cars, Like Mercedes and BMWs For Retirement Or Recreational Purposes. Trust Me, You'll Save Yourself A Lot Of Headaches. Rock Solid Review !! 💯

Best Mercedes benz products are GLK 2013 to 2015 models

Agree 100% latest Mercs are expensive cheap junk

Built in America..yes it says a lot about American quality

I have to say that I disagree with the plastic quality of the newer models. Had the 2016 c300 and the interior was very nice, neat and robust. Now with the 2019 c43, plastics from the inside are flimsy and cheaper in appearance

-29 degrees, my god, how you living there 😢

What diesel car is good for commute 160 km per workday? I hear so many issues with a lot of car brands it getting me so confused. Any help would be appreciated.

My Ford fiesta makes that weird crunchy noise too its most probably a problem in the diff

I have BMW 528i at 105k miles cough up blood with engine leaking, check engine light and speedometer failed to work. It's very sad but I'm doing my best to get it fixing here and there. Just totally not a very reliable vehicle

dude, I bought a 2001 CL500 for grandma duty that has a bulletproof engine and transmission. Seems the crappy hoses they used to connect the ABC system (which is a PITA) have been extended further under the hood. These cheap plastic and hoses are really hurting resale but MB prolly doesn't care about that.

I've always heard Mercedes C class is another word for cheap class. Meh. All these modern German vehicles with their cheaply made parts and cheaply made vehicles, while charging ridiculous prices is insane. I wouldn't touch any of these vehicles new or used.

Odc i am with you on the overall qualitiy decent of Mercedes, but you engine noise isncolpletly fine. It sounds different that a classic port injection Naturally aspirated engine. So that "mechanical noise" you are hearing while your engine is idleing is actually just your direkt fuel injectors ticking noise. Your timing chain sounds just fine.

I have more faith in my 2018 Stelvio than any modern German branded car. Alfa Romeo quality seems to be going up in fact. Lots of Alfa owners who are perfectly happy with their ownership

I have 2008, c300 six cylinders, engine and transmission have been fine it’s the other parts that over time start going from alternator, belts, to starter and in between and while it’s nice and smooth to drive the maintenance cost is painful.

After I get rid of my current Mercedes I will stay well clear of the brand. Long list of issues and peculiar noises which like your experience, Mercedes were not able to diagnose or rectify. The most recent issue was that the car just cut whilst in the middle.of operating it. A message appeared "vehicle innapprotive. Read owner's manual" apparently a sensor with regards to voltage........it happened again with the same fault 6 months later. I've had coolant leaks with no dash notification. Cracks in the exhaust system. Numerous suspension issues. The brakes continually screech with no fault to pads or disks. No man, never again a Mercedes. Reliability is zero

Sounds like you could make a killing taking a 3D design course. $1250 for a top end home 3D printer, some ABS and carbon fiber filament and a few hours of your time and BOOM! Homemade after market parts for your Benz

It's not fault, it's customer's fault. As long as people keep buying they will keep making the thing. When Lexus goes up and MB goes down they will reconsider.

The South Koreans are beginning to mount a serious challenge to the Germans with their Genesis range. Germans used to produce reliable, well built vehicles, but not now. They hardly compete in quality now to Asian vehicles (not Chinese) which you can buy for half the price of superior quality.

will a 2020-2022 X5 last 100KM?

I think older cars are way more reliable. Both of my family had Hyundai's when they first came out late 1980's. They both drove their Hyundai's to about 400,000 miles and they were still running when they sold them. Hyundai's today won't last 100,000 miles.😮 They make cars today that look better, but break down much faster.

2016 w205 here with a crack cylinder 3🥹 74k miles

German engineering

what about new Audis ? ?

"Planned obsolescence" seems to be engineered in many high end European luxury vehicles like Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and others.. No longer worth the price IMO.