Being an ardent admirer of the three-pointed star, and a lucky owner of a Mercedes, I was looking forward to the renovation in the model line. And the inevitable occurred! The new model saw the light. I was one of the first to purchase in December 2002 the long-awaited Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Vanguard integration, engine E-200 Compressor from an official representative of Mercedes-Benz Daimler Chrysler. The exterior of the vehicle proved to be outstanding and beautiful, not blatant - true representative class. I was one of the first owners of the model in my city, and I was beyond myself with pride. Other auto owners looked at it with envy and interest at the same time. Some of them would come up to me and ask about novelties, engineering solutions, and general impressions.
But the future brought the problems I had neither wanted nor expected from a Mercedes. Below you will find a short list of deficiencies, which arouse in the process of exploitation. I must also mention that although the car was bought in December 2002, I kept it for three months in the garage in perfect conditions. The automobile was put into use in March 2003.
July 18, 2003
Run - 2584 km.
First visit to the service station.
In the early morning I left my home, got into my car and tried to start it, but nothing of the sort! The engine wouldn't start. I turned off the ignition system; and after the second attempt I achieved the desired result. The engine started working, but not without fault, I could feel strong vibration. The engine constantly knocked. Since it was impossible to run the automobile in that condition, I had to address the service station of the regional Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The diagnostics revealed breakage of the oxygen lambda particle sensor till the catalyst.
Result: recommendation to replace the lambda particle sensor.
August 8, 2003.
Run - 3661 km.
Second visit to the service station.
The engine started working irregularly again, it conked.
The diagnostics revealed breakage of the oxygen lambda particle sensor.
Result: the lambda particle sensor had to be replaced.
August 14, 2003
Run: 3984 km.
Third visit to the service station.
In accordance with the previous diagnostics results and recommendations the oxygen lambda particle sensor was replaced.
September 23, 2003
Run: 6683 km.
Fourth visit to the service station.
Noise and substantial rattle in the front suspension, the vehicle became unstable on the road. Oil spots began to appear occasionally under the car. I had to address the service station of the regional Mercedes-Benz dealer again.
The diagnostics revealed: trailing arms of the front axle failed. (This kind of breakage usually happens after 100000 km. run).
Result: the failed arms were replaced.
October 13, 2003.
Run: 7959 km.
Fifth visit to the service station.
Again I could hear strong noise in front and from the rear of the vehicle in motion. I had to address the service station of the regional Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The diagnostics revealed: shock-absorbers had broken down.
Result: two front and two rear shock-absorbers were replaced. Also two shock-absorber bearers were replaced. (This kind of breakage usually happens after 150000 km. run).
November 14, 2003
Run: 11369 km.
Sixth visit to the service station.
The audio system and the mobile phone turned off spontaneously. When the audio system was on, I could hear outside noise and din.
The diagnostics revealed electronic error of acoustic gravity waves control unit, malfunction of the mobile phone support.
Result: recommendation to replace the acoustic gravity waves control unit and the mobile phone console.
December 1, 2003
Run: 12151 km.
Seventh visit to the service station.
Lubricant leakage at the center of the left wheel.
The diagnostics revealed: leakage at the center of the left front wheel.
Result: the leakage was eliminated; the bearing of the left center was pulled tight.
December 24, 2003
Run: 13743 km.
Eighth visit to the service station.
2374 km. after the vehicle inspection another case of disrepair revealed. The display panel constantly showed the message, accompanied by sound signal, informing that the level of oil in the engine was too high.
The diagnostics revealed: the level of oil was normal; it was electronic error. The reason of the malfunction was the faultiness of the oil level sensor.
Result: recommendation to replace the oil level sensor. In accordance with the previous diagnostics and the replacement recommendation the amplifier (acoustic gravity waves control board) and the mobile phone console were replaced.
January 10, 2004
Run: 14192 km.
Ninth visit to the service station.
Noise and strong squeak when braking.
The diagnostics revealed: Noise and strong squeak in the front axle when braking.
Result: brake pads were reinstalled, but the noise and squeaking remained. In accordance with the previous diagnostics and recommendations the oil level sensor was replaced.
January 21, 2004
Run: 1468 km.
Tenth visit to the service station.
I started having problems when using the mobile phone: it turned off spontaneously, sometimes it would not turn on. From time to time the mobile phone system would stop functioning, and the automobile did not recognize the telephone.
The diagnostics revealed soft fault. The mobile phone control unit went out of order periodically.
Result: recommendation to replace the mobile phone control unit.
March 11, 2004
Run: 16200 km.
Eleventh visit to the service station.
In accordance with the previous diagnostics results and replacement recommendations the telecommunications unit was replaced. I would like to remind that the replacement was caused by soft fault, which led to the telecommunication unit's unstable functioning.
March 24, 2004
Run: 16720 km.
Twelfth visit to the service station.
Soft fault happened in the engine control unit as well as in the acoustic gravity waves communication system control unit. It happened to be difficult to start the engine, and it stalled. The display panel gave the trouble signal CHECK ENGINE. I had problems using the telephone, radio and CD player. While I was listening to the CD player, the radio would turn on spontaneously and then turn off, and the CD payer would resume working.
The diagnostics revealed soft fault in the engine control unit and in the acoustic gravity waves communication system control unit.
Result: codes in the engine control and the communication system (acoustic gravity waves) control units were changed.
May 7, 2003
Run: 19873 km.
Thirteenth visit to the service station..
I noticed noise and rumble in the chassis. Again I had to address the service station of the regional Mercedes-Benz dealer.
The diagnostics revealed: the bottom hinges of the steering knuckle went out of order.
Result: the lower left and right hinges were replaced; decreasing the length of the impingement plates eliminated the rattle in the front shock-absorber struts.
June 7, 2004
Run: 22482 km.
Fourteenth visit to the service station.
Again I observed irregular functioning of the engine, vibration. The computer sent the warning CHECK ENGINE. Also lubricant started leaking at the left hub of the front axle.
The diagnostics revealed soft fault in the engine control unit; and lubricant leakage at the left hub of the front axle. The reflector in the left fog-lamp had fallen out (defective fastening).
Result: the soft fault in the engine control unit was eliminated. The defective fastening of the reflector in the left fog-lamp was removed. The leakage at the left hub of the front axle was eliminated.
June 23, 2004
Run: 23607 km.
Fifteenth visit to the service station.
Again I observed lubricant leakage at the left front hub.
The diagnostics revealed lubricant leakage at the left front hub. Codes of the hydraulic unit were changed.
Result: the cover of the left front hub was replaced, and the leakage was eliminated. The hydraulic unit program was changed.
August 17, 2004
Run: 28000 km.
Sixteenth visit to the service station.
Lubricant leakage at the right front hub of the front axle.
The diagnostics revealed lubricant leakage at the right front hub.
Result: the cover of the right front hub was replaced, and the leakage was eliminated.
September 20, 2004
Run: 30615 km.
Seventeenth visit to the service station.
Once again I noted lubricant leakage at the right hub of the front axle. Also I could hear grinding sound when the car was in motion.
The diagnostics revealed lubricant leakage at the right front hub. The spring of the right block of the front axle had broken.
Result: the cover of the right front hub was hermetically sealed, and the leakage was eliminated. The broken spring was replaced.
September 25, 2004
Run: 30979 km.
Eighteenth visit to the service station.
When the climate control unit was on, only cold air came inside.
The diagnostics revealed air-conditioning electric system error. The stove valve had gone out of order.
Result: the stove valve was replaced, and the electric system was adjusted.
November 9, 2004
Run: 33439 km.
Nineteenth visit to the service station.
The display panel informed of the safety system system malfunction (safety bags).
When the automobile is on rough road, I can clearly hear rattle on the
chassis and in the area of the front axle.
The diagnostics revealed defective contact member in the airbag safety system wiring
in the right rear door.
The engine mounting rear foot had slumped.
Increased gap in the bottom right and left spherical joints.
Result: case bearer was replaced.
The bottom left and right spherical joints were replaced.
The airbag safety system wiring was repaired.
The top right wishbone was replaced.
Within the described space of time I had to visit the service station about 4 times a quarter.
Conclusion:
such problems with a "Mercedes-Benz" automobile made an unexpected and unpleasant surprise. But this is a proven fact. All necessary repairs were performed at the company's service station and are confirmed with documents. It is evident that most troubles came from the chassis and electric system. Such a number of serious and petty troubles in view of comparatively small run are the result of technical imperfectness of the model. On my opinion, Daimler Chrysler admitted such imperfection coming as a result of designers' carelessness or any other reasons, but this does not mean that we, the customers, should discover and eliminate their mistakes.
I supply documents to prove every word of mine: http://www.auto-master.com.ua/eng/merc_e.html
You seem to have got a complete lemon. I have driven the latest E in with varying engines here in India. Although every one of the cars I drove here had fabulous build quality, it is entirely possible that a bad piece might be sold to someone somewhere. And the small supercharged engine in the E200K does not have that 'Mercedes' feel. The V6 though, is silky smooth, and the diesel is refined and an incredible performer.
You go into great detail. I wouldn't have put this time and effort in. It does seem that some cars have every fault under the sun and yours seems to have just that. What is crucial when owning a very complex machine is to know someone who really knows it - and this might not be your local MB dealer! Your faults remind me of why I never buy new, and always wait a few years past new model release. New car as new model is bound to be trouble!
I think this is a fantastic review and very well written. Judging by reviews I have seen on other sites (i.e. JD Power) the current batch of Mercs have shown some atrocious build quality issues. As some have written, the Germans have gone out of their way to stuff cars full of fancy items and new technology before ensuring they actually work. Unfortunately the newest series of E-Class seems to have actually made this worse. I own a '91 190E and was considering buying an '04 E-Class to update. However, my independent Merc mechanic who has had many years of repairing these cars strongly warned me away from the new E-Class, saying the new braking system is a major problem to say the least.
The problem is that Mercedes used to be a class leader in terms of quality and innovation, however during the 1990's the Japanese caught up and overtook them. So it is a case of Merc getting worse and the Japanese getting better (i.e. Lexus) that is making the divide seem so much more apparent.
I just now wonder how long will it take before the Mercedes brand catches up with its recently poor quality? Its not often you hear the CEO of a car company apologising for the quality of its cars (as has Daimler Chrysler's).
I am grateful that you and others took the time to record your problems. As a result I am reconsidering purchase of a Mercedes E series.
Most of the problems seem to be around suspension so I would expect you are not driving on good road surfaces; that's not your fault and car should be able to handle it but for others trying to decide whether they should buy or not it is an important factor to consider.
Where was your E-class built? - they are built in a number of locations around the world. I've heard the German ones are the best built.
Note: A Comments RSS Feed is available. New comments appear in the Members Area before the main site