Another KZfaq mechanic with over 50 years of experience told me to stay away from them all. He also recommends a 1994 Toyota Celica constantly.

Scotty Kilmer has left the chat

Bought a 2005 S500 4Matic 10 years ago for $14k. It had 104k miles on the odometer. It now has over 200k miles on it and over the 10 year period, I spent about $5-6k in repairs including 2 or 3 sets of tires. $20k, 10 years, 100k miles driving an S500. I call that a deal.

Benz tech, retired after 34 years. I agree with your choices 100%. I truly enjoy your videos. Thanks!

Instead of hearing/reading endless Mercedes 'horror stories', The Wizard makes an informed, rational comparison video based on his mechanical 'real world' experience ... THANK YOU !!

What not to buy: anything that was featured in Hoovie's video

I've owned an 06 E500 and currently have a 2013 S550. The 06 began to suffer from the brittle wiring issue and I got rid of it. On the S550 I've had to replace the front air ride for about $1600. These have been great cars. Big, fast, silent. My tip? always look for the last year of a model run. Most things have been perfected and you get a price break if the new model is out on the market.

I love these avoid and buy videos it really cuts to the chase and helps narrow down what to look for. Keep them coming!

Scotty: DON'T BUY ANY BENZ! Wizard: Mercedes is cool, I'll tell you which one you should buy cause I know you love them anyways!

This man is a national treasure.

2013 c300 owner here, really enjoy everything about the car, so far I have not done anything other than regular maintenance, has decent power for daily driving and the steering is smoother than any other car I’ve driven.

Honest advice and real world not only mechanical knowledge but also cost conscious knowledge. Thanks bro 😎

It's so calming listening to this guy.

Casually replacing an air conditioner compressor in a Lambo.... this guy is awesome!👍

I have a 2011 E350 (not 4 Matic, less moving parts is good especially here in AZ) and its been a solid car so far! Spark plugs were a breeze to do myself too. Some things you have to take in to the dealer like changing the transmission fluid because it has to be put back in at a certain temp...but overall, I love this car!

My family has had a 2008 ml 350 since about 2011 and it has out lived and out worked every other car we’ve had, we’ve put probably 100k km on it and haven’t had any major problems which is insane, absolute work horse

Your spot on wizard. Owning a shop for 15 years I've worked on and have fixed many different Mercedes models. I 100 percent agree with your recommendations. Nice job 🖒I'll back that 100 %.

IMO, if daily driver resale value is $3k but repair is $2k, I'd fix especially if the car is paid in full, beats another 3 to 5 years in car and higher insurance payments and or the risk in buying another used car. Bottom line, know your vehicles potential trouble spots and proactively address them. Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance.

I just paid 2500 for a 2005 E500 4matic!! I converted the air ride to struts and shocks and springs and no more leaking air. The car has 226,000 miles garage kept and meticulously serviced by the previous owner. Interior is all leather and in great condition. I'm very happy with my New, old, ride! Thanks for giving me the 411 on my car. I really appreciate everything you do here on your KZfaq channel. Sincerely JY

I had 2006 C230 Spport and I drove that car for 14 years and daily driver. That was great car and loved it .

When this guys talks, i listen. Calm and collective. The opposite of scotty.sounds like hes on coke all the time.

Supercars and a tractor. He is a true wizard.

Spot on as a German tech myself. The early e class description is perfect. Those cars are tanks.

On the E-class you're recomending a car with SBC which is known to go bad 100% of the times over a car that does not have it. If you want a reliable W211 the best option is the E320 gasoline option from 2007-2009. V6 230 hp 0 reliability issues, no SBC, buy it with coventional suspension (not airmatic) and it is a bulletproof car overall. You can go to the 320 cdi but keep in mind these engines will suffer oil leaks from the oil cooler (all of them, 100% of the engines, sooner or later). It is a 10 hour job and if your mechanic is the car wizard, of course you will pay more than the car is worth, but otherwise great engines and great cars.

0:00 Intro and Lamborghini Update 0:33 Tractor Update 1:07 Theme Song 1:53 Sport Cars 3:31 Small Cars 4:53 Mid Size Cars 6:34 Large Cars 8:33 SUVs

Car Wizard do a video about the AMG Mercedes models

I TRULY value you opinion as I'm in the market of buying my daughter her first car. I'm actually looking at a 2008 Mercedes C300 and have done my due-diligence in researching it. Your recommendation helps in my decision on purchasing it as I work on my own vehicles as well. Thanks Car Wizard!!!!!!!!!!!

got my '08 ml350 4matic about 8 months ago for $7k in excellent condition w/ 173k miles & i absolutely couldn't be any happier. it rides & drives beautifully, the fit & finish is phenomenal, the design inside & out is aging *extremely* well, & it's just a supremely reliable & well-engineered/well thought out suv. it's my first mercedes (and i definitely intend on driving it for quite some time to come) but with the owner experience i'm having, i never want to drive anything but a benz again for the rest of my life

I'ma stick with my 1995 Mercedes W124, really well-built cars!

i was sweeting bullets there for a minute I have a 09 s550 thank god it is wizard approved

"The e class w211 doesn't have good reliability" My e270 cdi: *laughs in reliability*

Thanks Car Wizard. Owned a 300E, E430 and a CLK500 (those M113 blocks are superb!), so I know the Mercedes experience. Just bought a 2008 C300 going on your recommendation. Happy miles ahead!

*Scotty Kilmer wants to know your location*

I love the slightly older Mercedes: 1987-93 190e 2.6 and 300e/400e/500e and 1989-1991 w126 S Class Series II ( 300se/420sel/560sel) Bulletproof, quality built, beautiful cars manufactured when MBZ built cars to a standard and not to a price.

2007 GL450. Now 164k.Everything works, Loads of room in the 3 rows of seats. Replaced front air shocks, repainted left rear fender (clearcoat was coming off) and the occasional light bulb. Looks great, pleasure to drive. I use liqui-moly in the engine coolant and oil (just me). Highly recommend Michelin tires. Cons: uses premium and gets 14-18 mpg.

You are bang on about the C Class. Went from a 2007 E Class to a 2017 C Class. Honestly, the new C Class is very similar to the old E Class. They really upgraded it as the CLA seems to have replaced the old C Class.

The (sub)frame in that Lambo looks like something welded in a backyard

This is 100% correct. The 2003-2006 E-Class is an incredible buy. They are reliable, powerful, have great interiors, and MB just warrantied the SBC brake system for 25 years as well!

I have a 2008 GL 450, just hit 170k miles. Timing chain is not an issue, they fixed it for the 2008 and on-wards engines. Air suspension is an issue, but if replaced with arnott air components, you get a lifetime warranty. All in all, if you can DIY it, its just maintenance that keeps the car going.

This guy’s knowledge is off the charts, i could only dream of having such extensive experience, a true professional

I am based in the UK and this is one of the best channels on KZfaq! Wizard is simple and straightforward in explaining stuff and has such a relaxed and calming voice. Best of all, I know which S to look for! Thanks chap.

You haven’t mentioned the Golden era of E class diesels cdi 320 05-09 Those are bulletproof, mine is on 290k miles They drive them in Europe as a taxi cars

Just bought a 2013 550 AMG sport pack and I love it! I was glad to hear the timing chain issue was taken care of! Thank you for your golden advice!

When he said Mrs. Wizard has one of the Mercedes jeep I melteddddd! So cute. Very informative video always a great help he truly is a wizard.

My dream Benz is a Unimog

C230K does not have a Turbo, it has a supercharger and in my experience is very reliable. 238,000 miles and it runs perfect

I think this is a great channel for high school & college kids who are on a budget looking for advice on older dependable cars they can afford.

I love your vids. They're informative and give an experienced look into the ownership of these cars. That being said your comment section is a hoot. I worked in a benz dealer as a tech, we had two kinds of customers. Ones who maintained their car and those who didn't. I don't have to tell you which of the customers had the most trouble with their cars. Now nearly all the mechanics I know are gearheads so it wasn't a stretch to imagine a bulk of us got great deals on stuff most people threw away thinking This car is trash. Literally almost any car can be a money pit, if you can't/wont maintain them. So all of this "This brand is unreliable ..." ...or... That make & model is trash only tells me your knowledge is wasted on a lot of your audience. I'm glad you don't get into it so often in the comments. It's a lost cause in there.

2010 E350 - bought with 150k and full service history, I know who maintained it for the last 8 years. Owned for 2 years now with another 20k. Fantastic car for £4k.

Your voice instantly lowers my cortisol. Smooth like butter!! Thanks for the info also. I’m thinking twice about a used Mercedes now.

Have a 2014 E63 AMG wagon... Here it is 9 years later... still smile when I drive it... still get waves from car guys. No issues other than the tailgate gears losing a tooth but was replaced by an extended warrantee. Gone through a fair amount of tires :) and have made a couple of upgrade to intake and exhaust but that's it. 98k miles and have zero fear of it breaking down.

Thank you for this Mercedes-Benz review! In 2018 I had the opportunity to purchase a 2004 E320 with 126,000 miles on her at a very low price. Before I bought it Mercedes-Benz covered the replacement of the SBC Braking System and the Gas Tank through a Mercedes-Benz extended warranty. In the 5+ years that I've had the car I've had to do some maintenance to it almost every year but the car still drives and handles much better than a Toyota Camry or Honda Accord. The Japanese do make very reliable cars but in my experience Mercedes-Benz and BMW automobiles are much more fun and engaging to drive. Thank you for your reviews they are much appreciated!

Mercedes has three "E"s in it and they all pronounced differently.

Thanks guy. its really helpful. i used to be afraid of buying a Mercedes, inspite of the fact that they are my favourite cars. but with this video, i can carefully choose which one is good for me.

Just perfect, I was looking into C-class and loved the 08-14 designs. Great to hear a second opinion

To add my two cents, I own a 01 s500. It’s had its fair share of problems but it’s genuinely the best car I’ve ever owned. It’s got amazing speed, comfort, and it’s decently sporty. Can keep up with modern cars, sports or otherwise in both function and speed. But like this wonderful video mentioned, you’ll 100% have issues you never thought would happen due to the electrical components. When I first got my car, shortly after it went into limp mode. I took it to Mercedes and a few other shops who all tried to charge me 6k for a new transmission. Luckily I kept looking around because my now go to shop looked at it for a day and said the transmission just needed to be recoded. Paid 1k and the car drove like new. If you ever get an s class from these years, expect the pse pump(soft close) to go out, at least 1 airbag suspension to go out(1k a corner), ABS light will probably turn on, etc. They just get problems with age. Luckily there is an amazing forum that will always answer you within the day about any problems or questions you have and can probably tell you exactly what you need to do to fix it. If you have the means to, I’d highly recommend an s class from this gen.

I owned my W203 for over 3 years and it was really good and reliable car. Its got OM611 220cdi 105kw almost no money spent on engine only maintenance like glow plugs oil ang belt. Only thing that keeps breaking is the motors directing air vents. Its easy fix but takes a bit longer to dismantle the dasboard. Otherwise its really cheap to maintain almot bullet proof. Bigest downside is rust which can be prevented if you choose healthy one to start with. The interior looks dated and maybe cheap but does not creak as much as newer cars.

I must say Wizard. I have a 2001 C320 and a 04 E500. Both great cars! My c320 has 195k miles and still runs great. And it’s got some decent power. Only issue it’s given me was the fuel pump and crank shaft position sensor. Both easy and cheap fixes.

I have a 2003 CL 500 and absolutely love the car. 74,000 miles. Had the ABC deleted to coil overs and has been an amazing car. Almost the same thing as the E-500 you talked about. Definitely bulletproof cars.

I’m an old truck guy, I have 8 of them, but I was just passed down a ‘93 400E and I’ve been really happy with it. Didn’t think I’d be into it very much but it still scratches my V8 itch and it doesn’t feel too fancy for me to where I don’t feel like myself. The more I learn about the cars, the more similarities I find between it and the 500E and honestly it’s really cool.

Im so happy i got the 2009 s550. Thank you my friend. A sigh of relief hearing that from you. I only put 4k miles on it since june 2020. My favorite car ever

Love the vibe of all these videos,sounds like a very trustworthy guy

Never stressed, always calm regardless of mechanical issues. Great teacher Love to watch ur show

Guess I am flying under the radar with Wifey’s 2014 GLK350 bought in 2017 with 40k miles coming off original owners 3 year lease. Getting set to turn 100k and this is a keeper for sure. Just bought a set of Michelins and a new battery. Going to get brakes all around and shooing for another trouble-free 50k.

Your opinions are completely on point, as usual!! Thank You for doing these videos @carwizard

Please make a part two of this vid! More comparisons between Mercedes Benz models. We love u wizard!

love your vids, they are VERY helpful, thank you.

with regards to the pre-facelift e-class they had big problems with the sbc pumps and they are the ones that should be avoided. the later facelift model had essentially none to minimal known problems. the suspension bushes wore out quicker than normal but that's about it. the diesel engines especially the early straight 6 and the later v6 diesels were bulletproof. very well equipped very comfortable and surprisingly good on fuel.

My W204 agrees with you completely! Running strong at 110k and the Masta Plasta was perfect to repair the busted MB-Tex seam. Thanks a million for that tip!

STOP DRIVING THE PRICES UP DAMNIT

I bought my 2010 S500 little over 2 years ago after this review. Very happy I tell ya. Very reliable car. Thakns Wizard

I'm in the market for an S550 and happy to see it's endorsed by Car Wizard. Sounds like a great car for the money!

A BMW version of this should be in order. I almost bought a 60,000-mile 2012 BMW 750i the other day up until the mechanic from the shop literally ran up to me and said to avoid buying that car at all costs. I left the dealer and went to the forums to find out the N63 engine is on a soft recall with the turbochargers and the valve stem seals and BMW refuses to inform their owners. Glad I followed the mechanic's advice. Time to buy an S550!

My 2001 e430 was bulletproof, never had a problem great car!

We’ve got a 2005 E320, 2006 ML350 and a 2017 GLS550. All 3 very reliable. The M112 and 5spd auto in the E320 is almost the exact same as the powertrain in the E500 and it’s pretty much bulletproof. The E has some minor issues I have to work out but in general the powertrain is rock solid. The ML, despite being an 06, has been very reliable, really only needing little wear and tear things replaced. At 164k miles, we’re very pleased with how that car has lasted. And lastly our GLS, which is so new we can’t really judge the reliability too much, but from what I’ve read they’re very good, new enough to where most of the little things have been worked out.

I have a 2008 gl420 since 2014. No big issues. Various wheel parts wore out. Three of four suspension bag/struts needed replacing. Outside of wheels maybe 2 sensors in total and that has been it on mechanical items. Had a power drain on bluetoooth controller and water leak on glass roof.

Extremely happy to hear my 2011 C300 and 2003 E500 are on his good lists!! Thanks car wizard

I think I'll just buy an AMG SL65 Black Series.

99' W202 supercharged owner here. I love my sling around buddy and Scotty Kilmer can go .... do something... only problem I've ever had was the ignition. That's it.

I drive a 2001 c200 kompressor, currently sitting on 270,000kms, no issues so far besides sway bar linkages. Thats my cheap daily benz and i must have gotten lucky with it because its been great and held up good inside and out. My other car is a 1978 w116 280se, that too is a gem, although starting to get a little tired haha!

I got an 02 ML320. Has 203000 miles on it in perfect condition except for the hitch cover plate one of the tabs broke. Amazing reliable vehicles. Best part is I only paid 500 dollars for it.

I would point your attention to om 642 engine.It's a 3 litre V6 turbo with enough torque.In Europe we can get this engine in the facelifted w211 and the w204 with a 6 manual.I have driven one quite a lot.It's a cracking car,with smooth shifts and a huge amount of low end torque.

My mom had a pre DI injection C350 and liked it so much she replace it with a facelifted model in the same color when the first one. I never thought they were better than an Accord or Camry let alone an IS350. The second one developed an expensive issue with the keyless igntion that required a dealer to solve.

2007 c230 is a good car if you stay away from the turbo model. I get around 30 miles per gallon on the highway doing 60 mph. Smooth engine and it was taken care of. Much depends on maintenance. The later model 2007's are not bad at all.

Another excellent buy is the W212 E-Class Pre-facelift, especially model years 2012 and 2013. Assembled in Germany, and excellent ratings on consumer reports.

Owner of a 2017 c300, had a valve break but that was as soon as I got it. That was a year ago and I bought it used but flawless and very luxurious since then. Also dad has a 2015 s550 and has been flawless.

Thankfully I saw your insightful videos! Thank you kindly

Love your channel cant get enough of it🙌🙌. I just recently bought a 2015 c class, I heard they are reliable but wish me luck 🤞🤞

On my second w211 e class, m271 Kompressor. Great solid well engineered cars, watch the sbc pump on the 02-06 cars as they have a limited life span and cost €€€ to rebuild or replace. 06-09 are properly sorted and v reliable, Merc did away with the sbc and redesigned the electrics that was prone to trouble.....result one of the most reliable mercs ever

I love seeing that E21 in the background, same color as mine, would love to hear more thoughts on that generation. Really enjoyed the standalone video you did on it.

Wizard, very good episode. you missed one very bad era for Mercedes, from 2006-2007 and some 08's, of any class 350 engines, there's a list of engine serial numbers available that have balance shaft problems; the shaft gear is made of the wrong material and it wears causing the chain to jump and destroy the engine. The warning sign is a CEL that won't clear and is related to timing. The fix is to pull the engine and change the shaft; about a $5k repair. Keep up the good work.

_I have no idea if the 'Car Wizard' even reads these comments, let alone after 5 years and 4,887 previous comments._ _But (about half way down, at the big "BUT") I challenge a mindset I see quite often re: _*_do 'cheaper' models of cars have inferior parts to the top models?_* _You'd think 'yes, of course', but hear me out..._ _And apologies for the length! I have formatted so that it's easier to skip to parts that might be relevant to the reader._ I find you very believable in your opinions and I don't doubt your experience. But I'm a little puzzled about *your comments about the C230s from 2000 to 2007.* [3:40 to 4:20] I owned a 2002 C320 (the bigger, non-turbo engine model). I agree about some interior parts being _"cheaply made"!_ Certain plastics and switchgear, for example, were worse than any American car I've owned (and worse than some European & British cars I've had too). The following are a few examples. There were others. 1) Certain *electronics* were abysmal. ~The *digital, orange readouts* in between the two analogue dials, for example, simply faded to nothingness in hot weather. ~The *'adaptive' transmission electronics,* which were supposed to adapt the shifting of the automatic to your driving style---never worked well. ~The *'rain sensing wipers'* were abysmal---alternately going at high speed for a few, microscopic drops, and not wiping at all when the windshield was completely covered with big raindrops. 2) General, not-very-complicated-or-technical *mechanical parts also failed WAY before any of them should have.* ~Some of the *front end / steering parts* gave out at about 50,000 kms, when a much older Pontiac van I owned didn't need those parts fixed until approx. 170,000 kms. *BUT I'm puzzled when reviewers and lay-people say cheaper models have inferior parts / worse quality than top end models.* Here's why. Certain components on top models may obviously be more expensive, or higher quality. The S-Class might use more expensive leather for seats (or leather at all---can you say "MB Tex"), more wood trim, larger sizes of most of the above, and extra accessories or more elaborate versions of radios, trim, etcetera. *_But what about parts 'shared' between models?_* I highly doubt manufacturers use different kinds of metal for the front end steering parts, for instance. So, are an S-Class's steering components 'higher quality'? What about the switchgear, instrument clusters' electronics, sheet metal, paint, door handles, seat components, interior plastics, heating/cooling fan blowers, exhaust system parts, exterior plastics, wheels, engine components(!), *and hundreds of other parts that are identical in makeup and design between a "cheap compact" C-Class and a top of the line S-Class?* To be fair, the 'Car Wizard' only mentioned a few specifics. But he and Hoovie did state the general cheapness, or inferiority of this model, presumably compared to the top model(s) from this generation? And also presumably that the lowest models will necessarily be worse quality than top models generally? As a general rule, I just can't buy it, for my reasons given above. If I'm wrong, I'd sure like to be educated on this.

Just bought a 2005 E320 CDI! Absolutely amazing! Super tough and surprisingly fast!! Almost 400lbs of torque! Thanks for the vid Wizzy! Very helpful!

I actually had a w203 c class with the 2.0 kompressor for a few years. It had only 1 problem-the godawful ESP. It worked only for 3 moths and that's it, nothing helped. Otherwise it was really cheap to keep and was surprisingly nice on the highway. With a set of more sporty tires and wheels and coilovers ,she cornered quite nicely.

I have a 98 C230!! It’s a great car but I’m planning on upgrading soon This video helped out a lot thank you!

I lived in Germany when I was in the Air Force and bought a new C-230 Sport back in 2004. I picked it up from the factory in Stuttgart. I kept it for around 7 years and had almost no issues at all. The cam shaft adjustment solenoids leak around the o-rings and the plug that connects to the transmission leaks. The solenoids were about $45 bucks each and are held on by 3 bolts. The transmission plug was around $10 bucks and only had one little screw. I always changed my own oil with Mobile 1 and did a drain and fill on the transmission fluid. I had no other issues with it the whole time. I put quite a few miles on it too. We traded it for a for a new C-250 Coupe in 2012 and we still have that car. I also get the base versions without all the upgrades so there is less electronic stuff to break. They are solid cars if you take care of them. I wouldn't trust the new ones as much though.

I have a 1991 500SE (W140) and it's still awesome after all these years

2008 C300 owner here, it's my second car and I love it so much. Drives so smooth still

Yessirrrrrrr I got a E55 AMG this car hasn’t given me problems and it’s bulletproof and stupid quick💪🏽 had this car for 3 years and is still running strong!

My concern about Mercedes is the expensive maintenance and costly repairs, specially the air ride suspension. I usually do my own maintenance basic maintenance on my Mazda and Ford. It seems that German cars make DIY a little bit harder. The vehicle that I'm thinking about purchasing is the 2012 to 2014 E-350 wagon, because of it being one of the extremely rare and stylish wagons with that rear-facing seat.