Carsieve All versions
Show all 27 variants
At a glance
- Years: 2009 to 2016, with a facelift in 2013.
- Reliability: 3/5. Engines and gearboxes last well, but air suspension, steering and oil pressure faults cost money.
- DIY: 2/5. Air suspension and keyless work need a scanner; chain jobs need a workshop.
- Biggest risks: air suspension failure, low oil pressure on the M276 V6, oil leaks on the OM642 diesel, and rust at sills and arches.
- Prefer: cars with service records and gearbox oil changed every 30,000-40,000 km. Avoid: air-sprung cars that sag after parking, and cars with rust on the sills.
Engines and gearboxes
- OM651 2.1 diesel: see the OM651 guide.
- OM642 3.0 V6 diesel: the heat-exchanger seal leaks oil, after about 200,000 km.
- M271 1.8 petrol: the timing chain can stretch before 100,000 km. Oil can leak at the filter housing.
- M272 3.5 V6: balance-shaft sprockets wear.
- M273 V8 (to 2011): no confirmed fault. Ask for the service history.
- M274 2.0 petrol: no confirmed fault.
- M276 3.0 and 3.5 V6: low oil pump pressure damages bearings and the crankshaft. CarWiki says the chain tensioner was poorly oiled until 2014.
- M278 V8: no confirmed fault.
- 5-speed automatic 722.6: often lasts 250,000-300,000 km with timely oil changes.
- 7G-Tronic 722.9: see the 7G-Tronic guide.
- 9G-Tronic 725.0: early jerking at low mileage is often fixed by a software update.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear air suspension leaks and failures | Cars with air suspension; estate rear only | About 130,000-160,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Body rust at sills and arches | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Steering leaks and rack knocks | Hydraulic to 2013, electric after | 140,000-300,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Shocks, bushes and ball joints wear | All cars | 70,000-130,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Water pump leak | Some cars; engines not given | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Brake pads and discs wear fast | All cars | 20,000-60,000 km | No confirmed price |
| Rear SAM damage from blocked sunroof drains | Cars with a sunroof | Not stated | No confirmed price |
| Battery drain and keyless faults | All cars | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Air suspension: a sag after parking or a "vehicle too low" warning points to a fault. A scanner reads it and runs a leak test. Bad result: two air springs or a compressor.
- M276: start cold and listen for chain rattle, and check the oil pressure warning. Bad result: rattling or low pressure.
- M271: start cold and listen for clicks. Ask whether the chain was replaced.
- OM642: look for fresh oil around the heat exchanger and filter housing.
- On a lift, check sills, arches, lower door edges, tailgate and jacking points for bubbling or holed metal, or signs of crash repair.
- Turn the wheel lock to lock. Bad result: whine, rack knock or fluid under the steering gear.
- On a lift, check ball joints and bushes for play, leaks or knocks.
- Check coolant level and temperature on a warm drive. Bad result: low coolant, overheating, or a noisy pump.
- Check the sunroof drains are clear, then test the boot release, rear lamps and reversing camera. A scanner reads data-network (CAN) faults.
- Test keyless opening from each door and the boot, then check the battery after the car has stood. A scanner reads antenna code 889, according to Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich.
Running costs
| Operational | €210 |
|---|---|
| Workshop | €162 |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €179 |
| Total per month | €551 |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | €118 |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 3,149
- 25th percentile
- €7,400
- Median price
- €9,800
- 75th percentile
- €12,800
- Median mileage
- 210,000 km
- Median first registration
- 2011
- Dealer share
- 39.8%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €14,522
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Rear air suspension leaks and failures
Symptoms: the car sags after parking, the compressor runs all the time, or a "vehicle too low" warning appears. Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says a one-sided sag points to a bellows leak; an even sag points to the valve block or accumulator.
Cause: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says the air springs (bellows) become brittle after 10 to 15 years. Valves, air lines and the height sensor also fail, and a leak overloads the compressor.
Which cars: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says the estate has air suspension on the rear axle only, and that on the saloon the front struts with built-in bellows are often affected too.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: CarWiki: Airmatic problems, Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: Airmatic, Auto.ru: W212 reliability, facelift
Body rust at sills and arches
Symptoms: rust at the sills, wheel arch edges, lower door edges, jacking points, tailgate and underbody seams. Bubbling on arches and sills can also hide a crash repair.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 what owners should know, Auto.ru: used W212 body
Steering leaks and rack knocks
Symptoms: a whine from the hydraulic pump, knocks from the rack, leaks at the steering gear, and weaker assistance when fluid is low.
Cause: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says the steering gear is prone to leaks. Auto.ru says that on electric steering, fitted after the 2013 facelift, wiring contacts loosen with age.
Mileage: Auto.ru says whine or rack knocks usually start at about 140,000-160,000 km. It also says tie rods and ends wear at about 100,000-120,000 km.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 what owners should know, Auto.ru: W212 overview, Kolesa.ru: used W212
Shocks, bushes and ball joints wear
Symptoms: knocks over bumps and play in the front joints.
Cause: the car is heavy, so suspension parts wear quickly. Auto.ru says stabiliser struts are usually replaced after about 80,000 km, ball joints around 100,000 km and shocks around 130,000 km. The ball joint is pressed into the arm, so the whole arm is usually replaced.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: WhoCanFixMyCar: common Mercedes E-Class problems, Auto.ru: W212 reliability, facelift, Kolesa.ru: used W212
Water pump leak
Symptoms: coolant loss, overheating, and a whining or grinding noise from the pump.
Cause: the water pump can fail or leak. WhoCanFixMyCar says "some 212 models"; engines are not given.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: WhoCanFixMyCar: common Mercedes E-Class problems, CarWiki: E-Klasse problems
Brake pads and discs wear fast
Symptoms: pads and discs worn well before normal service intervals.
Cause: the car is heavy and goes through brake parts quickly. Auto.ru says front pads last about 20,000-30,000 km, front discs 40,000-60,000 km and rear discs 70,000-80,000 km.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: WhoCanFixMyCar: common Mercedes E-Class problems, Auto.ru: W212 reliability, facelift
Rear SAM damage from blocked sunroof drains
Symptoms: the boot release drops out, rear lamps fail, the reversing camera goes dead, and a data-network (CAN) fault appears.
Cause: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says the sunroof has four drains. When they block, water reaches the rear SAM (the rear electronics box).
Fix: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says clean the board or resolder it. If that fails, replace the module and code it to the car (SCN coding). Clean the drains every year.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 typical problems, Kolesa.ru: used W212
Battery drain and keyless faults
Symptoms: the key works only in some positions, the tailgate does not release, and the battery is flat after a day or two.
Cause: the auxiliary battery in the front panel, which powers the door locks, wears out. Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says a faulty keyless antenna (code 889) is another cause.
Fix: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich says replace the keyless antenna and code it (SCA coding). Replace the auxiliary battery if its warnings keep coming back.
Sources: Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 typical problems, CarWiki: E-Klasse problems, Kolesa.ru: used W212
Recalls
| Country | Code | Years | What is done |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | PRA 2010/12193 | Built 2009-2010 | Fuel filter may leak diesel (OM651); repair not given. |
| Australia | PRA 2012/13002 | Built 2009-2011 | Fuel filter may leak diesel (OM642); repair not given. |
| Australia | PRA 2015/14509 | Sold 2014 | Timing chain tensioner seal may leak oil (OM651); repair not given. |
| Australia | PRA 2015/14588 | Sold 2012-2014 | Bulkhead seal may come loose; repair not given. |
| Australia | PRA 2015/14888 | Sold April-May 2015 | A damaged bulkhead seal may have been fitted; repair not given. |
Check open campaigns for your VIN with a Mercedes dealer.
Maintenance
- Change the automatic gearbox oil every 30,000-40,000 km.
- Clean the sunroof drains every year to keep water out of the rear SAM.
- Ask whether the 9G-Tronic software is up to date. Early jerking was often fixed this way.
Sources
English
- WhoCanFixMyCar: common Mercedes E-Class problems
- Australian Car Reviews: W212 recalls
- MBClub: rear subframe recall discussion
German
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 typical problems
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: W212 what owners should know
- Kfz-Meisterbetrieb Dietrich: Airmatic
- CarWiki: Airmatic problems
- CarWiki: E-Klasse problems