1996 MERCEDES-BENZ E-Class

Very reliable! 24.5MPG @ 245K Miles

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I've had no mayor problems with the car, the biggest job was a transmission service @ 177,000 miles. The car has around 245,000 miles and it runs like new. It smogs fine and it does about 24 MPG. I dive it every day and about once a month i drive to LA from northern californa (about 300 miles) and it feels great. It has some minor issues like a stereo volume knob that is worn due to normal use and like any W210 the original head gasket leaks around the front of the engine (cyl 1) which didn't cause any problems other than the leak itself which if you had warranty it's fine if not its around 150usd for the gasket set.

Best Car I've Ever Owned

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

Bought for $22K. Wiring Harness is the only major issue ever ($1,700 to fix). This car regularly travels 800 mi RT to Gulf Shores, 300 mi RT to Spartanburg...and she just is great on the highway. Avg fuel is 28 in the city and 34 on the highway. I've put 120K miles on this car and she now has 223K total miles. Even my mechanic thinks this is an awesome car.

wish I had read here

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 1

This Mercedes has been the least reliable vehicle I have ever owned. The electronic engine control hooks to an antitheft interlock which fails randomly. The dealership is happy to take my money but unable to solve the problem. Hence I can be anywhere and try to start the car and have it disable the vehicle, leaving me stranded. The Mercedes club people know of this problem and tell me that Mercedes made a replacement computer that disables the lock out, but will not sell it to me. The us Mercedes people were uncooperative. Since I bought the vehicle used, they state that someone could have changed my computer before I bought it. Yeah, sure.

Excellent Automobile

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I just purchased the car recently but love it. I have heard about the quality & performance of the Mercedes-Benz brand but am thrilled to finally experience it first-hand. The car performs flawlesly and the comfort if among the best.

Christmas tree

Performance: 2 Comfort: 1 Fuel Economy: 2 Fun To Drive: 1 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 2 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 1 Performance Rating: 2 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

This car has so many problems it's hard to tell where to start. The common thread is the constant check engine message. So many pretty lights come on it's like a Christmas tree lighting up. Performance and mileage are a disappointment. Ride comfort is not at all what I would expect. My wife refuses to drive it, preferring a Saturn with over 200K.

Good reliability

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 5

I drive some 6000 miles every year on the snow and ice in the mountains and the electronics takes care of the occasional error. This car has has minor corrosion problems all corrected under guarantee at no cost to myself.

My first MB and most likely the last!

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 3 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 3 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 3 Reliability Rating: 1

This car was my first MB and due to the problems and quality most likely my last. At 100K the engine (in-line 6) began leaking oil at the head. I have also had electrical problems with the dash and rear tail-lights. I could live with these issues but the other day while driving down the road my front left spring fell out! The spring pearch had rusted off. If I was going faster someone could have been killed as my spring went bouncing down the road!

BENZIE 210

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I really enjoy this superb and silky smooth car. All aspects of the car has been positive. The car handles nicely and feels quite substancial. My only complaints are typical to many other Benz's of similar years both earlier and later. This car turns heads and is deserving of all the attention that it recieves. Mercedes really stepped up the look on the car. To date this is the best looking E-Class. The 2003 chassis doesn't look as beefy, beefy looks good for a mans car. The 1996 is a heavy and stiff car. This tank is built for the road and it superbly holds the road in all weather conditions. This is close to car heaven. That is so far.

Electronic Nightmare

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 3 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 3

This car looks and feels great. It's eye catching, and sturdy. The V6 can hold it's own but the maintenance especially the electrical problems are killing A dashboard light comes on every month. Notorious problems include faulty EGR valves, sensors, bulbs and a shoddy Bose stero system. I've owned the car for 8 months and have spent about 2k in minor repairs.

mercedes reliabilty

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 3 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 1

when we purchased this vehicle in nov of '96 we were so happy. then we found out it had a german smaller gas tank. the dealership replaced it tthe proper size tank. then we started to have a series of reliabilty problems, such as the following: glow plugs not working (8 times),care stalling while in motion (10 times), 3 blower motors, 2 control modules replaced, order pump for ww wipers.if you wish i can you copies of the work orders. It just to much effort to wrie here. MB did extend the warranty to 75,000 miles and the were good in providing a loaner car with no cost to me. The problems have with this car up to this writing. richard snyder

Great Ride!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

I've had this car for 8 years and am the first owner. All the major components have been ultra reliable. However, the light bulb socketing technology is the worst in the world. I've had 20+ light bulbs (headllamps, foglamps, dash lights, brake lights, running lights, etc) fail to light because of contact problems. A little persussion maintenance usually, but not always, fixed the problem.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 4 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 4

This is a great car to cruise the highway and indeed, a pleasure in L.A. traffic. It's very comfortable, turns heads, and will hold it's own in an accident. The V6 & 4-speed are srong and reliable, with no major issues at 160,000 miles. However, the electrical problems are a nightmare. A dashboard light comes on every 3-4,000 miles. Notorious problems include faulty EGR valves, sensors, rattles, and a stereo amplifier that will eventually die. The only ugly thing about this car was the cost to maintain it. 10 months = $3,000, without a major repair.

What a workhorse

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

With gas prices going up, it's nice to be getting 35 mpg with less expensive fuel. It's safe, nice to look at, and very economical.

Love car, HATE the electrical problems!!

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 5 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 1 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 1

I love the car. I have owned it since 1997, and the style still turns heads. Hovever, the constant electrical problems reflect a Yugo, not a Mercedes Benz!! Nearly once a month something electronic fails. Thank God I bought an extended warranty. Next time, I am buying the Lexus LS430, (less problems).

Great cross country car

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 5 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 5

We have owned several MB diesels. Our '96 300D is a fantastic road car. We have made many cross country runs from Minnesota to Maine and always find this car able to offers us a dependable and comfortable ride.

Bad MBZusa service and warranty

Performance: 4 Comfort: 4 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 1 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 4 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

I have believed MB but so disapointed this time when the engine blowed out at 31000 miles, a screw linked gear and oil pump got broken then oil pump stopped working......... while there is no engine oil pressure indicator! I got a lemon car with poor assembling quality but MBZusa didn't want to be responsible for their design failure as well as manufacturing failure. Buy BMW!, it is much better in quality and service, I have had a 525i since 1990 and have no problem.

The deisel that wasn't

Performance: 4 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 5 Fun To Drive: 3 Interior Design: 4 Exterior Design: 4 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 2 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 4 Interior Rating: 4 Reliability Rating: 2

The new 4 valve deisel is a work of art. There is plenty of power for accelerating and the broad tourque curve makes highway cruising at 75 effortless. Unforntunately, many little problems with various systems have had the car spending days at the dealer. The dealer took several tries to get it right each time! very bad. At 95,000 miles the legendary Mercedes deisel stopped! I was informed that the bad fuel in this country gummed up the vanes in the induction unit and it cost $3,500 to repair. This is rediculous. One buys a deisel to prevent this sort of thing.

The best selling Mercedes!

Performance: 5 Comfort: 5 Fuel Economy: 4 Fun To Drive: 4 Interior Design: 5 Exterior Design: 5 Build Quality: 5 Reliability: 4 Comfort Rating: 5 Performance Rating: 5 Interior Rating: 5 Reliability Rating: 4

I've had this car for 2 years and it is perfect! It is a heavy car, but with an excellent V6 engine pushing out 217hp with 229 lb/ft of torque this car really goes, especially on the freeway. The passing power of this car is superb! It is built for the German Autobahn and it's like a beast on the Freeway!