Mercedes-Benz road test reports and car reviews

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C270 CDI Aventgarde SE Auto 2003

I have had this car for 3 years. Only things changed are the thermostat (Oct 2012 ) and both rear springs broken (March 2013), which were only found out at MOT. It has never failed to start and I average 38-40 mpg local driving and the best on a motorway run is 50.4 mpg. It has covered 93,000 miles and is a joy to own and drive. I wish they still made this 5 cylinder engine.

Mercedes-Benz Vaneo 1.6 2002

I’ve owned this car for over 3 yrs and I don’t know how many times the size and space have been a great advantage. I’ve done multiple trips to the tip and moved all kinds of items from fridges to snooker tables. She’s had all the usual wear and tear items; brake disks, pads and tyre’s but keeps on going, smoothly in comfort and with great visibility from the higher driving position. She’s almost 13 years old now, but still looks great and I know she’ll have to go one day, but it’ll be a sad day when that happens and I’ll be looking for something just as versatile next time too. If you’ve got one then you know what a great vehicle they are, if you’re considering getting one, go for it!

Mercedes-Benz Vito Extra Long 2008

I had bought my first van a 109 extra long in 2004 and was ok with some small problems. It had 5 speed manual and had averaged 27 to 30 MGP, with 0 to 12L/100km. It was a bit slow but ecnomical and used for satellite and antenna installation with Rhino Rack ladder rack with extension and step ladder and several pipes on top. I followed a B-double semi around a rural road T intersection and could barely overtake the two long trailers; I always drove it hard to make it go as it appeared to be sluggish (underpowered). Traded it in on a new 2008 111cdi extra long now with automatic trans, which has much more go. I now drive this van easy and steady to help economy and speeding fines. I now get about 25 to 28 MPG, 11 to 13 l/100km and after four years I have had no real problems. For all the problems and solutions YOU MUST properly rotate all of your tyres in the one go at 10000km or sooner or you will wear out the front with bad scuffing on the insides and totally wreck them up before you get 30000km out of the whole set. I only use Michelin or Contenential. The 109 was hard shift into first, but was adjusted and a knock in the front suspension at the drivers side tyre was proved to be a tie rod. The ignition unscrewed and fell through the dash, but was retightened. The headliner was replaced along with tail gate struts. No major problems at all, BUT I have heard of many horror stories of other owners vans. My advice is to only buy new and look after it, driving hard off from traffic lights will only put unnecessary strain on the engine, transmission and on drive line. Maintenance at the dealership is expensive even for a basic service, so find elsewhere to go, get spares on line or at an auto part store such as Repco or Bursons. Find a good local mechanic . My extra long Vito is a great van with lots of room in the cab and in the back. I would buy another one again, but resale value is low because of all the cheaper Hyundai iLoads, which are selling compared with second hand Vitos.

Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Coupe CLK 240 2003

I purchased this 2 years ago when I retired and I have completed 30000 miles in that time in a comfortable quiet car that is a pleasure to drive. Having driven BMW’s most of my life I was slightly apprehensive owning my first Mercedes. It has been one of the best cars I have ever owned and having had just one scheduled service in that time one,of the most economical. I am just about to part exchange the CLK for a low mileage 350 SL and if it is as reliable as the CLK I will have have become a Mercedes convert!

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2004

Ok, I started as a contract courier and so bought a 2004 Sprinter 313 Cdi. It’s a money pit! I got it in July 2012 and I have run it for 5 months and 80,000 klm and its been serviced every 10,000. So far it’s had a new turbo at a cost of $1000 imported from the UK as they are $4600 here in Oz and now it’s burnt a hole in piston 3 and cracked piston 4! A total bag of rubbish! I’ve spent $5000 since purchasing it from a Sydney Parramatta rd dealership and now I’m looking at another bill of $10,000 for a bottom end engine. Totally fed up . Thing is I bought a new 2012 long wheelbase Sprinter too, but the build quality is very poor, the panels don’t line up leaving door gaps, and it is now very slow. Another 313cdi with blue Eco technology talk about ripped off! Do not buy Mercedes!

Responses to this review

My friend I totally agree with you, crap at its best. I replaced my engine with a Toyota Lexus V8 and boy, what a pleasure. Paying school fees as I did the conversion myself, but do not mind to share trade secrets. Replacement engine now only about R5500 about $950 US - Peter Hattingh from South Africa

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Estate Avante Garde 2001

This car cost me almost £40,000. Mercedes full service and I still had to take Mercedes-Benz U.K. to the SMMT in an attempt to get the corrosion rectified. The latest quote from Mercedes-Benz approved bodyshop just over £7000 for works required to all four passenger doors with n/s/r to be replaced, this was after having two front wings fitted when the car was four years old along with the front sub frame and the bottom end of the boot area behind the rear bumper on both sides, which is where one never looks; the breather panels had fallen into the boot area because the bodywork had corroded away. May I add at no time were any of the corrosion problems pointed out to me by the dealers, I had to find them all myself. The SMMT Arbitrater would only agree for the first quote of £2000 + by this time I had sold the car on. The car had an almost unconditional 30 year anti-corrosion warranty and I had kept my side of the contract but Mercedes-Benz ratted on their side.

Mercedes-Benz Vito 109 cdi 2007

Couldnt agree more with previous reviews. I’ve seen about 3/4 of the problems listed with my own van! Very depressing, I’ll never buy one again!

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sports Coupe Petrol 2007

This is my first Merc, which I bought second-hand with 29000 on the clock. Fuel consumption was a bit of a shock to begin with, (23mpg), but techniques were soon learnt regarding ’milking’ the auto-box, which now attains around 35/40mpg for urban/mw mix. The finish is great, close to my previous BMW 325 and I enjoy driving and owning it. As a poser, I find arriving in the Merc a big bonus!

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 311cdi 2008

Bought this 311cdi brand new in 2008, and can honestly say its been the best van we’ve owned by far. Great to drive in town and long journeys, it’s far superior to our previous Renault master with the only issue I have being that I should have gone for a larger engine/power; because the van carries a lot of weight and gets used for towing and at times could do with extra power/torque. Highly recommend Mercedes commercial vehicles to anyone.

Responses to this review

If you have power issues, you could consider getting it remapped or chipped. This will improve power, torque and MPG. Best wishes, Matt Natt from England

Ok, update. It appears the two new injectors I had fitted in July and August are faulty, they have holed piston 3 and cracked piston 4 warranty claim approved however hunter star mercedes in bennets green Nsw have lied and messed me about since the 11.12.12 only picked up the van 4.3.13 after engine and head replaced under warranty hunter star mercedes claimed no engines in Australia hence the wait. Complete bull my usual guys Lismore mercedes tell me they confirmed engines in stock in jan for the claim they approved. Now the clutch has issues due to the oil sprayed over it when engine compressed and poured our dipstick and the new turbo I fitted has blade damage due to the melted piston had the van looked at yesterday by Lismore who advised these items should be replaced under warranty off to hunter star for more bullshot today, they even pulled the wires out the UHF radio antenna and destroyed it and didn’t connect spot lights after the last work. Bloody worst dealer in Australia - Gez Wheeler from Australia

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Saloon C200 SE 2.2 Cdi Manual 2012

I had this car for 7 months, as a replacement for my Golf. The positives? There are some great deals on leasing for either a 200 or 220 and they seem to be well built and have a decent sized boot for a car this size. However, the car is sluggish and the manual feels heavy duty, may be a C220 automatic may overcome this? The foot operated parking brake rather than either a button or hand brake is a pain. I also have the option Becker Sat Nav, which feels as though the software is from the early 2000’s as, although I have updated it as advised, the data is dated and the operation at best clunky. Although the Becker was included at no extra cost, I would not recommend paying for it as in my opinion the money is better spent on a Tom-Tom or the like as a stand alone system.

Mercedes-Benz A-Class Elegance a150 2008

I was a bit apprehensive at first, but after 12 months I like the car very much. I spoke to Mercedes mechanics before buying, who gave favorable reports. I carried out the four year service myself as the dealer quotes were heartstopping. My wife loves the car - I hope this is not the kiss of death. It is like a tardis, with megga room inside. I will look at new look A-Class in the near future.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Luton 2007

They are a working tool for most of us. Rust is an issue, but no more than any other make. If you ever have a windscreen changed watch how they take it out; ever wondered why there’s so much rust around the windscreen of the older Sprinters? (Screw drivers).

Responses to this review

I have a 06 XLWB Vito that rotted in front of my eyes. Purchased it when 4 years old with only 45k on the clock and was privately owned and had a small amount of rust around the rear wash wipe. Took it to Merc dealership in Osbaldwick York who where worse than useless, losing the information on paint thickness, my details, chassis nr etc 3 times and on the 4th visit they broke the bonnet catch and cobbled a repair which broke as soon as I checked the repair and lord knows why they needed to be under the bonnet. In the 4 months it took to get a response the rust has grown like a rash and holed the door with Merc saying it needs a new door! In the end got sickened off with their ridiculous excuses not to carry the repair under the bodywork warranty and paid for the repair myself. Some 2 years later it would be pebble dashed with rust spots if it wasn’t for the visits to the spray shop. It remains privately owned with only 67k on the clock. Great van apart from paintwork and mickey mouse Mrc dealership. Never again will I go to a Merc dealer!! Carl Hallam from Yorkshire

Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class 350CDi 2011

Twenty years of E-classes, the last being a 320CDi sport, superb steering after the vague steering of previous models. The CLS blows it away! Fast, incredibly smooth and quiet, once warmed up it is very quiet indeed. The steering is electric and -I cannot believe I am writing this- is absolutely superb; beautifully weighted and precise. The car is, to my mind, a perfect blend of form and function, I found the previous model a little overhung at the ends, the new shape is modern and a little more aggressive, especially in Sport guise. The biggest surprise to someone of my age - who can remember diesels of old, as slow rattly and smoky - is the huge torque available. Overtaking, filtering into main roads or getting up to speed is effortless, no waiting for the engine to reach the power band. Just a smooth, awesome , silent shove. Diesel is much better than petrol, really! Gripes? Rear glass is small and it’s a big car. You need the reversing sensors, but after a few days it is, like the E-class and surprisingly easy to park.

Mercedes-Benz B-Class 1.6 SE CVT 2009

I bought the car with 10,800 miles on the clock at 10 months old and my Wife and I have been happy with the car. At 19,000 miles The Mercedes Garage changed the front pads and discs at a cost of £380 - excessive I think. Also I fitted two new front tyres at 11,583 miles as the winter was approaching and the tyres were down to just under 4mm of tread. Not good. The tyres are continental 205/55HR 16 now at 20,000 miles the treads are again down to 4 mm with less than 2mm on the nearside outer. The Mercedes Garage have told me this is ok, the nearside outer wear is due to the road camber in the UK and roundabouts. I am not happy with this explaination, nevertheless the car has been very reliable and suits us, but the tyre wear is an issue.

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter LWB high roof 2004

Updating my first report over my Sprinter. Having now had three engines fitted, a new turbo and a new intercooler, which has blown up again I am now fed up to back teeth of this van and have decided enough is enough! I’m scrapping the van and starting again. When these go wrong they’re a money pit I think a different van this time!

Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 316cdi 2010

I’ve read positives and negatives with regards to Sprinters. This is my second Sprinter, the first was a 1998 310d LWB which I clocked up 290k with just regular servicing and replacment of clutch slave. Currently I have a new shape 316 cdi. I think this van is brilliant. Never purchased these vans from new, but I’ve always been a second owner. I am a careful driver and don’t really put the vans through abuse, however, would I ever purchase a Transit, Renault or other budget van.? Hell no! Sprinters are the King of vans. UPS, DPD, Interlink and other major fleets don’t have these vans to waste money, but to have a van that will endure the requirements of a commercial vehicle and stand having different drivers handle and abuse them. Any vehicle will go faulty if mis-used. If you look after it they will go on and on. Its like a Merc c class or a Mondeo. You definitely feel and see the difference of the build and engineering. Sprinters all day long.

Responses to this review

Well, I feel I must take issue with your remarks re quality of Mercedes v Mondeo! I run a C class estate and clock up approx 8000 miles per year. It has a full annual service every June and a further oil change in between every January. At two years and fifty weeks old (two weeks inside the three year warranty) the gear box failed (an automatic one).This was replaced with a new box sent from Germany which I was then told had a warranty of two weeks, although being a brand new box, fantastic! Although it was a warranty job I still received an invoice showing the price to dealer of £3,640 being the TRADE price being paid for by Mercedes. The day I collected car from dealer I was present when another chap appeared at reception with the same complaint, tinkling sound from underneath the car on start up, when I told him I was collecting my car which had had the same symptom and had to have new box he nearly fainted, his car was not under warranty! The paintwork on new Mercedes is wafer thin, unlike my old 190 Mercedes which was like enamel! I have a friend who runs petrol Mondeo`s as his taxi fleet and as a matter of course replaces each vehicle when they reach 300,000 miles. They all seem to achieve this without any major problems, and body work is still always good, to be fair they are all put through car wash at the end of every shift. So, do not try to tell me that Mercedes are the "ultimate" when choosing a new car, they are living on their past glory days and are in fact no better than any other more "mundane" make of car. This current C class Mercedes will definitely be the last one that I ever purchase - Michael Spendelow from Yorkshire

Mercedes-Benz Vito Traveliner 2008

I am a taxi driver and I bought this vehicle second-hand. It’s 5 years old now, I’ve had 2 1/2 years of trouble free motoring and just clocked up miles after miles. Very well built, should last me few more years...

Mercedes-Benz Vito XLWB 2005

I purchased my 115CDI New in 2005. I now have 387000+ Ks on it. In this time I have had to replace the rear wiper motor, both electric window runners, starter motor and the drivers seat due to the fabric wearing, and that’s about it. I am on my 3rd set of brake pads and 4th set of tyres. I gave up on trying to stop a knock in the front suspension, just couldn’t find what it was. I have changed the oil and filter every time it asked for it. Each year I think I going to update, but keep saying I will keep it for another year. I still get 850+ ks to a tank of diesel and for a Van it drives really well. I would buy another one any day of the week.

Responses to this review

Your front suspension knock is probably the torsion bar that needs its rubber mountings replaced. It shifts to one side when the rubber mounts are worn - and makes an annoying knock when going over speed bumps - Brad Smith from South Africa

The knock from the front of the Vito will be the anti roll bar. The Mercedes technicians never grease it properly and your roll bar tie rod ends will have worn as well. Grease, replace the ball jointed rods and the knocking noise should dissapear - Brendan Kehoe from Australia

Mercedes-Benz Vito 2005

I have a new Mercedes-Benz Vito, but I am not totally satisfied with it. It’s a very expensive van, but some parts are not well done, for instance the electric windows and braking pads. It is still very good for long trips, but I hope the Mercedes Benz improve the service. Otherwise excellent.

Mercedes-Benz Vito 109 dci 2009

40,000 miles on the clock and the tyre wear is excessive. It has broken rear springs, turbo pipes blowing off, the tracking is never correct and the thing vibrates at 60 mph. Also the interior lights never work, the door locks jam so it has a permanently locked rear door, the gas struts fail and on and on..

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Sports Coupe C200 1.6 Kompressor Automatic 2003

I am the third owner, but it had only 55k when I bought it. I agree it drives well, but gives a bumpy ride if there are the slightest pot holes in the road. I also agree there are too many warnings on the dash, which are distracting and frequently unnecessary and there does not appear to be a facility to disable them. The auto gearbox is relatively smooth but it is very difficult to fool it into changing into high shift manually if the conditions don’t suit the computer, consequently town and urban driving will return nearer to 25 MPG; it drops out of high too frequently when you are in a restricted area and need to keep to 30 MPH. D.I.Y work is almost impossible, which of course Mercedes have intended as at their prices they expect you to be well healed and take it to an agent for the slightest thing. It seems that you have to raise the car and remove the under tray to get at almost all the components. I had to buy a Haynes manual just to find where to top up the various fluid levels as they are not mentioned in their handbook! For all that I found it to have a well finished body and trim without bodysqueaks, but the low profile tyres can be very noisy.

Responses to this review

I agree, the Mercs are nice, please don’t get me wrong. But some times just to locate a bottle to top up fluids is very silly indeed, again only to get you to take it to Merc to have done, well you might as well chop off your arm and your right leg and a week’s wages to pay for it, it’s completely silly, all they do is turn a top lid and inspection, if that is what they do, as the modern day generation to my experience are terrible at car diagnostics. It’s all far far over complex and silly actions just to get the job done, problem is they work on cars every single day, so why are they not recording what they did on repairs to educate their brains to help them solve it next time, write it down in a book or folder so you can read up on it later. To me I don’t go back to Mercedes, I have had far too many bad experiences with their mechanics. A local ordinary guy I use, who is Merc certified, and is just a 4 man garage team, has got all my repairs done first time every time, he even showed me what part had failed and why it failed, unlike Merc who always like to show you a huge list of bills which is just over the top stupid and a rip off. I go back to my local guy every time, when I see how he diagnoses cars to Merc, it’s very clear Mercedes are completely over looking the how to diagnose by hand and eyes, they rely on computers far too much and half the time the computer has got it wrong and playing its safe, in other words the pc is just guessing of what it could be, not what it really is. The local guy does it better by miles and he even explained why it works and gave me some great tips and what to look for and some old fashioned actions I can carry out to locate faults my self and I tell you what they work much much much better than Mercs way of doing things. I love Mercs, but the modern day way of doing it, is far too lengthy and complex and all they say is I’ll just pass you on to my colleague or I’ll go and ask my colleague when they come back. It’s clear from the words they use they haven’t got a clue as to what is going on, they only talk in that silly voice and false tone. I don’t know about you guys but I want real world answers not a conversation of guessing, you’re supposed to be Merc mechanics who do this every day on lots of Merc cars, it does not look good for you, when you have a fancy looking garage and you can’t find the fault yet my local garage guy did it first time round on several faults on my Merc they could not find. I took it to my now local guy and had it solved in less than an hour, really embarresing Mercedes Benz isn’t it? So really the picture and thinking process in your brains is not tallying up to what actions you use to diagnose, you can’t be an engineer if you can’t diagnose correctly and how to do it and with what tools and what you observe and everyday use. I think you have become to much like a central processing unit, but you don,t konw how to do the calculation when its needed, that is the bit you are lacking these days and your charges on repairs and service is just down right stupid, some parts I now do my self for pounds not hundreds like you guys do, it’s only an oil change and flush not an F1 race, you need to rethink your charges and it is time you started to bring them down inline correctly, oil is just oil not gold, get it together Mercedes you’re slipping, especially on repairs, learn to diagnose better, yes you can bolt some thing on a car and I can do that, but your last several diagnostics for me was terrible, so all credit my local garage guy, he blew you out the water completely. Mr Chips Spud from England

Mercedes-Benz B-Class 200 dti s 2012

The Sports model has plastic seats, which make you sweat. Travel: You have to take it to dealership to convert head lights left to right. Radar: Just a gimmick, an iPad style controller that’s just a radio unless you spend big money. The car is otherwise great, the 2l dti has power and economy. They may get it right, but wait until they do.

Mercedes-Benz Vito Dualiner V6 120 2007

Good Condition outside. Panels in rear have some scraches from push bikes being in it. 70,000 miles on the clock and a very practical vehicle that goes exceptionally well. Auto, air con, alloys, colour coded bumpers, comfort pack. Rear doors with privacy glass.

Mercedes-Benz C-Class Estate C250 2010

Really dissapointed with my C250. The car is generally nice to drive with impressive torque, but it has been plagued with faults. The car has an intermittent misfire, which gets worse in warm conditions. I have has Mercedes breakdown out 3 times and have raised the issue at every service, but to date I am continuosly told that no fault can be found. Other failures have been loss of coolant, seat electrics failing and an intermittent alarm fault, which again cannot be found. I now sleep with the spare key in the bedside drawer, so that I can turn it off without having to get up. Back to Audi I am afraid for my next car.

Mercedes-Benz S-Class 2012

Best car I have ever driven and I have had many makes! A Great Automobile In Every Sense.

Mercedes-Benz Vito 111CDi 2005

I have owned this van for 7 months and what a money pit/pile of junk it is. By far the worst vehicle I have ever bought. There was a problem with the gear linkages as we couldnt get 2nd gear and then the others stared to become hard/impossibe to get. The rust is ridiculous for a van that has only done 110k miles. Injector 1 then failed. The drivers electric window mechanism failed resulting in the window being stuck open during last winter. Now the flywheel has just failed. It knocks tyres out and eats brake pads quicker than a race car. Nearly £3k in repairs in 7 months. And do Merc dealerships want to know? Nope... The most unhelpful, underhand and expensive dealership I have ever had the isfortune of dealing with. I can’t wait to sell it and will definitely never buy a Merc van again. Lesson learned.

Responses to this review

Just get rid of it! We got one from new 2005, still got it and had nothing but problems from day one. All to do with bad suspension causing numerous other problems. Mercedes are a waste of time, no help. At the moment it still keeps going when the key is removed!! It will beat you! - Deniz Bagot from London.

Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class Coupe 220CDI 2008

I have owned this car for 2 yrs now, initially without any problems. However, after 12 months ownership, the air con unit failed, which was no real problem as Merc were happy to repair it under the 3 yr warranty (nice gloss over the fact that it failed in the first place after 25k miles). Subsequently, the air con unit has again failed only this time the car has just come out of warranty (after an additional 6k miles). Despite extensive discussions with my MB dealer and MBUK, the issue remains unresolved. MB insist that I agree to approx £1600 worth of repair work, at which time they will consider whether or not they could contribute to the repairs. I do not consider this to be particularly good customer service. This is my third Merc, all of which have been purchased from and fully maintained by Mercedes dealers - so, customer loyalty counts for very little with Mercedes Benz. Guess what? I won’t be buying another Mercedes!

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Saloon E320cdi Avantgarde 2006

Hideous car, vague steering and soft suspension (and this has sports suspension), great engine however, but only 36mpg on mostly long runs. I prefer sporty cars and this reminded me why I got rid of my last Merc. Sorry but it’s BMW every day for me.