E-Class W211
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Which Mercedes Benz E-Class W211 engine is the most reliable? See common problems, reviews and reliability verdicts across generations and engines.
Frequently asked questions
Which Mercedes Benz E-Class W211 engine is the most reliable?
E500 5.0 V8 (M113) — Reliable verdict. The M113 5.0 V8 — considered one of the best engines Mercedes ever built, exceptionally durable and good well past 400,000 km. Reliability genuinely isn't the issue; running costs and fuel are. The honest age-related items are oil leaks (rear main seal, valve covers, the oil-pressure test port and the power-steering pump, whose oil can get onto the belts), individual ignition coils that misfire when they fail, and the secondary-air-injection pump that can fail and light the engine-management lamp. Early (pre-2003) 5.0s also had some camshaft-lobe wear from marginal top-end oiling. Keep the leaks and coils in check and it's a robust, long-lived powerplant.
Which Mercedes Benz E-Class W211 engines should you avoid?
Engines with the weakest reliability verdicts: E200 Kompressor 1.8 (M271), E280 / E320 CDI 3.0 V6 (OM642).
What are the most common Mercedes Benz E-Class W211 problems?
The most commonly reported problems across all Mercedes Benz E-Class W211 generations and engines: Timing chain / cam gear wear, Intake swirl flap failure, Oil cooler seal leak, Injector failure, Balance shaft gear wear (affected serials).