Used 1996 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan Consumer Reviews

Easy to repair.. and you better be good at it.

Trans went out at 150000 miles. Electrical problems and an emission gremlin that has never gone away. At 200000+ miles. Oil seep that I've just lived with for 6+ years of ownership. Annoying but easy to deal with. Squeaky belt but since none of the components running off the belt has ever been replaced.. guess its not that big of a deal. Fuel pump went out but easy to repair plus it was the original. Again not a big deal.. Lots of little things but parts are easy to find, just as cheap/expensive as any car. But easier to repair than any Japanese car I've ever owned. Just need to figure out the little tricks the engineers designed to make repairs easy. This car will go 300K miles.

My first MB and most likely the last!

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

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.

Excellent Automobile

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.

Very reliable! 24.5MPG @ 245K Miles

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.

The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly

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.

Electronic Nightmare

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.

The best selling Mercedes!

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!

Love car, HATE the electrical problems!!

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).

Christmas tree

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.

Great Ride!

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.

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