Mercedes Benz is a prestigious car... What about it's quality, and reliability? Any owners out there?

Answer 1

my family and myself have been owners for decades.....although they arent what they used to be they are stil working hard to make the cars great. And they are doing just that. The german cars cost alot and cost alot to fix but the quality is neverending . They are sturdy cars and will get u from point a to b in style and wiht exitement. Mercedes had a downhill in the late 90's but they are now bringing themselves back up and even tho the cars are getting very expensive they are still wonderful.

Answer 2

Up through the late 80s and early 90s the quality was some of the best in the business. However since the mid 90s things have fallen off. The 2000 - 2005 model years are absolutely terrible when it comes to quality, especially the computer control systems.

Mercedes claims to have identified the cause as poor quality control practices from their suppliers but that would not have been too much of an issue if THEIR quality control had been up to par.

Mercedes claims that the QC issues have been resolved but it remains to be seen if this is actually the case. My brother has an 06 ML and it seems to be much better than his old 03 was but it's still too early to tell for sure.

One area that doesn't seem to have suffered is the build quality of the engines. They are the best on the road and with proper care can easily give half a million miles of trouble-free service. Their diesels are famous for easily exceeding a million miles with regular maintenance. Good thing there as replacements are breathtakingly expensive.

Answer 3

I don't own a Mercedes. But I have an uncle who owns a 2003 E500 and had a 1999 ML350 before.

Using my knowledge of Mercedes' from my experience with cars and my uncle's rides, I'd say that Mercedes is definitely a prestigious car. The quality of the cars are excellent. From the cupholders to the xenon headlamps, the quality of everything in and out of the car are superior to a lot of luxury automakers.

Reliability of Mercedes' cars on the other hand is an issue. Over the years, Mercedes has had that same trend of German/European poor reliability. They run good for a certain number of years, then become pretty much crap later on unless you've taken care of it extremely well. If you take care of it really well, they'll last.

I'd say go for a Mercedes if you want one and can afford one, but with great luxury comes great problems :)

Answer 4

Recently researched this myself, and here are my conclusions:

1. Don't buy ANY model built from 1996 to 2002.
2. Don't buy an M class from any year.
3. If you buy an E class built in 94 or 95 make CERTAIN the wiring has already been replaced; but this is the only serious issue for these year models.
4. Anything built 1993 or earlier was well designed and well made, it just depends on how well maintained and how well treated it has been.
5. Mileage numbers on pre-1994 models are nigh meaningless, you MUST inspect and test the car to determine is quality... you may find one with 600 thousand miles that is just as good as one with 50 thousand miles. Or, you may find one that is ready for the junkyard with just 200 thousand.
6. Post 2002 models no longer carry the incredible quality of pre-1994 models, but neither do they carry the Yugo-like stupidity of the 1996 to 2002 models; i.e. if you buy a 2002+ model expect a very, very pretty car of average quality.

And most importantly, do not be lured into buying a 96-02 E class or 98-02 M class by their great looks, luxurious interiors, and low price tags... a very significant portion of these cars can NOT be kept road worthy... it doesn't matter how many $6500 transfer cases you go through, or how many $3500 computers you replace; the new parts are just as poorly designed as the old parts and break just as quickly. There are more web pages maintained by irate owners of these two cars than any other car ever made. Feel the hatred and steer clear.

Answer 5

Mercedes are prestigious because they are of extremely high quality and reliabilty. German engineering on cars surpasses the work of many other countries, including Japan. The cars themselves are nice inside and out. They are a great drive. They are always stylish. They last for a long long time; I can't tell you how many mercedes I've seen with 300k+ miles and still running.
If you have the money, go for it.

Answer 6

I don't own a MB for the reasons given here.

Consumer Reports magazine publishes the results of an annual survey of car owners in it's April issue. In the most recent issue, Mercedes was 5th from the bottom in a list of 36 vehicle makes for reliability - terrible. Lexus is best, followed by Honda and Toyota.

Answer 7

Omg wow. you're an fool. have you ever been in a Mercedes-Benz? Even their maximum inexpensive vehicle, C-classification is stunning. It has suitable classification convenience,risk-free practices and technologies. it is why. additionally the costliest Honda and Citroen is like $33,000. Why no longer purchase a luxurious E-classification or S-classification in case you could arise with the money for it? Mercedes-Benz burns gasoline purifier than Toyota Prius. it is magnificent.

Answer 8

i have a 1997 mercedes benz E class and the car is remarkable and nothing short of awesome. the features itself will sell the car. will not buy anything but mercedes. the car runs great and very dependable

Answer 9

The car is absolutely gorgeous, and really good. It will last you for a long time, too! my dad had a mercedes, it was used but it still worked good after 5 years. it needs the most expensive gas tho, but if your willing to buy this car i guess that shouldnt be a problem.

Answer 10

I own a 1992 300CE, and I think I actually like this car better than my 911 Porsche.

It's extremely quiet, smooth, cranks out the power, rev's to a true 7000RPM, and has a great "stealth" factor.

I bought it off a 1-owner with 80K original miles for $8500, and I could not be happier.