5 Reliable Used Mercedes You Can Buy Surprisingly Cheap (And 5 You Should Never Get)

Jul 02, 2023

Some used Mercedes models that won't deplete your savings and a few others you shouldn't even give a look.

Being a brand that is quite well known for performance, luxury, and proper German build quality, Mercedes-Benz is a choice that many would crave. However, one of the major deterrents to buying a Mercedes-Benz is the base selling price of the vehicle. The expensive new car pricing and the associated costs make it a choice that is hard to attain. This is where the used examples of this German marque come into the picture.

You could have a Mercedes-Benz for as low as $2,000 if you go into Autotempest or any other online portals, which is quite a lot of value. The luxury and comfort factor offered by these monikers is going to be superior to any Toyotas or Hondas that are on sale at the same price range. With quite a lot of examples easily available on several used car trading platforms, is it a good idea to get a used Mercedes-Benz? Before going ahead with the purchase, here are 5 cheap Mercedeses you should buy and 5 you should avoid in the used car market.

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The earlier model years of the fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz SL550 came with many issues. However, the ones from 2008 to 2011 solved most of these issues. This made it a favorite among those who wanted to experience German luxury, performance, and elegance for not a lot of money.

The 5.5-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine which gave out 382 hp and 391 lb-ft of torque was fine-tuned, and the earlier timing chain tensioner issues were all solved with these model years. It was also a more fun-to-drive package. With prices starting from around the $14,000 mark, it is also one of the cheapest and most reliable European 2-seaters you could buy.

If you are in search of a Mercedes that is cheap to buy, pretty fuel efficient, and lasts a long time, look no further than the third-generation Mercedes-Benz C300. After the highly unreliable W202 and W203 generations, the W204 was the car that brought back the name to Mercedes for quality without compromising one bit on the luxury front.

The 3.0-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine produces a decent 228 hp and 221 lb-ft of torque and both the 6-speed manual and 5-speed automatic were available. Both the engine and transmission were quite reliable for a luxurious compact sedan. The interior quality and overall refinement level were also much superior to the W203. The prices start from around $3,000 and that makes the deal quite enticing, too.

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Unlike some of the monikers of the E-Class stable that came at the same time, the Mercedes-Benz E500 is a perfect choice. The reliability is much superior to the BMWs and Audis which were around the same price. The heavy depreciation and more than 15 years of age mean that the used car prices have tanked as well.

A clean example with around 150,000 miles can be had for around the same price as a used Toyota Matrix. The 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 came mated to an old-school 5-speed torque converter automatic, and both of them can last a long time when cared for. These models were also far superior to the mediocre W210 E-Classes. Better interior quality, superior engineering, and excellent cabin space are some of the other factors that make the E500 a luxurious and fast Mercedes that is hard to ignore.

Similar to the W204 generation of the Mercedes-Benz C-Class, the fourth generation W212 E-Class was also an excellent mid-size luxury sedan that ticked all the right boxes for Mercedes fans. The plush ride quality, contemporary design language, and solid build quality made it a perfect choice for new and used car buyers.

The E350 moniker is a reliable 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 engine putting out 268 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque. The 7-speed automatic transmission coupled with the RWD drivetrain helped the car to give out a decent combined gas mileage of 21 MPG as well. There are no major issues reported with the mechanicals and electronics of the E350 too. All of these, and the used car pricing that starts from as low as $4,000, makes the Mercedes-Benz E350 a hard choice to pass when looking out for a reliable Mercedes.

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The fifth-generation Mercedes-Benz S500 is one of the finest Mercedes to ever hit the market. The mechanicals of the S500 of this generation weren't troublesome, unlike the earlier generation which had timing chain issues with the 5.5-liter V8 engines. The 7-speed automatic transmission was also not a troublemaker.

With many of these cars doing duties around the world as premium taxis, it is not hard for them to reach six-digit mileage with not a lot of trouble. The unmatched luxury on the inside makes it a perfect example to get, even by 2022 standards. The 382 hp V8 engine is silky smooth and fast, too. The few common issues with the S550 come in the form of HVAC blower motor failure, camshaft adjuster solenoid failure, transmission drive selector issues, and minor electrical issues. Since this is an S-Class, these issues aren't going to be very cheap to fix.

The oddball design language and the exhilarating performance of the R500 AWD wagon with the 5.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 under the hood made a few folks buy the Mercedes-Benz R-Class back in the day. Launched back in 2006, it was also one of the least-selling regular Mercedes of the time. Fast-forward 15 years, and this is a Mercedes that you should never bother to look around in the used car portal.

The problems like turbo actuator issues, major rust on the fender and running board, fragile suspension components, and sensor issues meant that the used R-Class is going to spend more time in the garage than on the road. The only major upsides are that you could get your hands on an uncommon Mercedes that has decent performance for less than the price of a well-maintained 20-year-old Toyota Camry.

The W220 Mercedes-Benz S-Class is a full-size luxury sedan that you should never get, even if offered for free. This car was in production between 1998 and 2005 and was excellent for the time. However, as these cars aged, the complex mechatronics, powertrain, and suspension components failed, and repairing them costs more money than buying a used example off Craigslist.

You could still find a running and driving reasonably low mileage example for as low as $2,000 in Autotempest. With maximizing profits being the main mantra of Daimler Mercedes at the time, the problems related to transmission, fit and finish, and Air-Matic suspension would often total the car due to the insane repairing cost and complexity. The car was prone to heavy rust as well.

The XL 164 series of the Mercedes GL-Class which was in production between 2006 and 2012 is a model that you should avoid at all costs. These weren't such great cars when they came out and had all sorts of mechanical and electrical problems, making them terrible daily drivers back in the day. With such an old age, the used XL 164 GL-Class buyers are going to regret their decision very much.

The gasoline version of the GL-Class had many issues like oil leaks, crank position sensor problems, and variable valve timing actuator issues. These issues are going to be super expensive to fix, and many of the owners wouldn't even bother to fix them due to the exorbitant repair cost. The diesel version of the GL-Class also had quite a lot of problems. Even with such a low price in the used market, the GL-Class should never be present on your shortlist due to them being an endless money pit.

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Often referred to by many as the cheap class, the first generation W202 C-Class is a long-forgotten moniker that pretty much sums up why people associate cheapness with the C-Class. Even though these cars are quite affordable, with the prices starting at just over $4,000, there are many better and modern offerings that you could get for the same price.

The build quality was underwhelming, and they never hold up well after a few years, making it not very desirable for many. Most of the trims were pretty underpowered. Coupled with heavy curb weight, the C-Class was terrible on gas too. With many modern cars from Mercedes coming in for around the same price tag, there is no reason why you would need to spend the same amount on an underwhelming vehicle. Rust, fuel pump problems, exploding batteries, electrical issues, and other engine issues were common on these cars too.

The Mercedes-Benz E550 is something that you would buy if you don't want the bleeding edge luxury of the S-Class while you want a bit more panache and performance than the C-Class. With a high fan following for the W211 generation with the dual oval headlights, this generation of E-Class was a sales success too. However, the 2007 to 2009 E550 isn't going to be a great example if you wish to daily drive it.

These cars were famous for the timing chain and timing chain tensioner problems. When disregarded, it can destroy the entire engine as well since these are interference engines. The timing chain job is going to run the cost to over $2,000 and this is more than half the price of a running and driving E550 in the used car market. Finding a clean example is going to be pretty hard too.

Sources: Mercedes, Hemmings, Edmunds

Mohith is our in-house motorcycle mechanic and automotive geek. He loves riding and driving at the limits, and you would frequently notice him on racetracks at the weekends. Mohith is someone who would redline anything that comes with a motor - even our office lawnmower. He often does cross-country road trips in his trusted 300ZX and you could find him riding his CB750 quite often through the streets of Pasadena as well as on the Moore Motorsports racetrack.