Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
476–612 PS
4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG Benzin
571 hp business saloon — understated AWD madness
Fun to Drive!408–455 PS
4.7L V8 BiTurbo Benzin
9 weaknesses
Stay Away!Body Variants
The Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 is available as Limousine and T-Modell and Coupé and Cabrio — choose your body type for specific insurance data:
Generations
Engine Overview
The Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 is available with 19 engine variants — from 90 to 612 hp. 4 variants had engine changes — the model year is crucial.
The Mercedes-Benz E 200d (Diesel, 150–160 PS) comes with 2 different engines: OM654 (2016–2023, Be Careful) und OM608 (2019–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the E 200d!
The Mercedes-Benz E 220d (Diesel, 194–200 PS) comes with 2 different engines: OM654 (2016–2023, Be Careful) und OM654 (2016–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the E 220d!
The Mercedes-Benz E 300d (Diesel, 245 PS) has the OM654 (2.0L Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 11 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 350d (Diesel, 286 PS) has the OM656 (2.9L R6 Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 400 d (Diesel, 330 PS) has the OM656 (2.9L R6 Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 400d (Diesel, 340 PS) has the OM656 (2.9L R6 Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 43 (Benziner, 401 PS) has the M276 (3.0-3.5L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63 (Benziner, 571 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 63 S (Benziner, 612 PS) has the M177 (4.0L V8 BiTurbo AMG) — rated: "Be Careful", 8 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 200 (Benziner, 184–204 PS) comes with 3 different engines: M264 (2016–2023, Be Careful) und M264 (2017–2023, Be Careful) und M264 (2017–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the E 200!
The Mercedes-Benz E 300 (Benziner, 258 PS) comes with 2 different engines: M264 (2016–2023, Be Careful) und M276 (2017–2023, Be Careful). Pay attention to the model year for the E 300!
The Mercedes-Benz E 400 (Benziner, 333 PS) has the M276 (3.0-3.5L V6) — rated: "Be Careful", 10 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz AMG E 53 (Benziner Mild-Hybrid, 435 PS) has the M256 (3.0L I6 Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 9 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 300 (Benziner Mild-Hybrid, 272 PS) has the M254 (2.0L Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 6 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 350 (Benziner Mild-Hybrid, 299 PS) has the M264 (2.0L Turbo EQ Boost) — rated: "Be Careful", 12 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 450 (Benziner Mild-Hybrid, 367 PS) has the M256 (3.0L I6 Turbo) — rated: "Be Careful", 9 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 300e (Benziner Plug-in-Hybrid, 320 PS) has the M264 (2.0L Turbo EQ Boost) — rated: "Be Careful", 12 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 300 d 4MATIC (Diesel Mild-Hybrid, 265 PS) has the OM654 (2.0L Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 11 known weaknesses.
The Mercedes-Benz E 220 d (Diesel Plug-in-Hybrid, 163 PS) has the OM654 (2.0L Diesel) — rated: "Be Careful", 11 known weaknesses.
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Soft-top tension cables snap A serial design defect: the tension cables in the soft-top headliner fray and snap after approximately 200–300 roof cycles. Mercedes revised the design from May 2020. Symptoms: Sagging headliner, soft-top does not close fully, visibly broken cables | High | |
| Fabric Roof Tension Cords Snap The soft-top tension cords fray after just a few hundred opening cycles. A design fault that led Mercedes to carry out goodwill repairs. Symptoms: Roof headliner sags. Visibly frayed black cables when the roof is in the raised position. from 30,000 km | Medium | |
| Roof Tension Cords: Headliner Threads Snap After 200–300 Cycles The headliner tension cords fray and snap after approximately 200–300 roof cycles. Design fault present until the facelift in 05/2020. Mercedes repair approx. 1,200 EUR, upholstery shop approx. 300 EUR. Symptoms: Headliner visibly sagging. Black sheathing dissolved, white core fibre visible. Roof does not close completely. from 30,000 km | Medium | |
| Roof Seal Drainage: Water Runs onto Seat When Door Opens Hollow-section seals at the side window frame collect rainwater. When the door is opened the collected water runs onto the seat. Particularly with the Easy Entry function. Symptoms: Flood of water onto the driver's seat when opening the door after rain. Wet seat surface despite closed roof. from 40,000 km | Low |
Top Reported Issues
Alternatives
BMW i4 G26
Mittelklasse (2021–2026)
BMW 4er G22
Mittelklasse (2020–2026)
Subaru Legacy BT
Mittelklasse (2020–2025)
Audi S7 4K
Mittelklasse (2019–2024)
BMW 3er G20
Mittelklasse (2019–2026)
Toyota Camry XV70
Mittelklasse (2019–2025)
Known Problems and Issues
A total of 121 weaknesses have been documented for the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 (2016–2023) — 105 engine-related and 16 vehicle-related. 4 problem engines: OM651DE22 (2.1L Diesel), OM642 (3.0L V6 Diesel), M156 (6.2L V8 AMG), M278 (4.7L V8 BiTurbo). Typical issues affect Body, Electronics, Interior, Brakes.
E-Klasse (OM651DE22, 2009–2017) — Stay Away!: Chain Tensioner Seal Leaking — Recall, Timing Chain Stretch (Simplex Chain), Piezo Injector Faults. Power: 163–177 PS.
E-Klasse (OM642, 2009–2017) — Stay Away!: Oil Cooler Gaskets Leaking — Oil and Coolant Loss, Swirl Flap Linkage Breaks — Plastic Joint Fails, Injector Seal Leaking — Soot Deposits and Diesel in Oil. Power: 258–265 PS.
E-Klasse (OM642, 2010–2017) — Stay Away!: Oil Cooler Gaskets Leaking — Oil and Coolant Loss, Swirl Flap Linkage Breaks — Plastic Joint Fails, Injector Seal Leaking — Soot Deposits and Diesel in Oil. Power: 252–258 PS.
E-Klasse (OM654, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker Arm and Camshaft Wear, Electric Coolant Pump Leaking — Recall, NOx Sensor Defective — AdBlue Fault and Start Inhibit. Power: 150 PS.
E-Klasse (OM654, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker Arm and Camshaft Wear, Electric Coolant Pump Leaking — Recall, NOx Sensor Defective — AdBlue Fault and Start Inhibit. Power: 194–200 PS.
E-Klasse (OM654, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker Arm and Camshaft Wear, Electric Coolant Pump Leaking — Recall, NOx Sensor Defective — AdBlue Fault and Start Inhibit. Power: 245 PS.
E-Klasse (OM656, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Recall Coolant Pump — Fire Hazard (Action Code 2090008), Bosch CP4 Pump Sensitive to Fuel Quality, Coolant Pump Leaking — Fire Risk (Recall). Power: 286 PS.
E-Klasse (OM656, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Recall Coolant Pump — Fire Hazard (Action Code 2090008), Bosch CP4 Pump Sensitive to Fuel Quality, Coolant Pump Leaking — Fire Risk (Recall). Power: 340 PS.
E-Klasse (OM656, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Recall Coolant Pump — Fire Hazard (Action Code 2090008), Bosch CP4 Pump Sensitive to Fuel Quality, Coolant Pump Leaking — Fire Risk (Recall). Power: 330 PS.
E-Klasse (OM608, 2019–2023) — Be Careful: Timing belt maintenance obligation, Timing belt change critical, Increased oil consumption / turbo shaft seal. Power: 160 PS.
E-Klasse (M156, 2009–2017) — Stay Away!: Head Bolt Corrosion — Coolant in Combustion Chamber, Camshaft Wear — Cold-Start Lubrication Deficit, Camshaft Adjuster — Locking Plate Wears Out. Power: 525 PS.
E-Klasse (M278, 2009–2017) — Stay Away!: Timing chain tensioner failure (early production), Cylinder bore scoring (Silitec coating), Camshaft adjuster solenoid — oil destroys ECU. Power: 408 PS.
E-Klasse (M276, 2010–2017) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 272 PS.
E-Klasse (M276, 2011–2017) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 252 PS.
E-Klasse (M274, 2013–2017) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Electric thermostat failure. Power: 184 PS.
E-Klasse (M274, 2013–2017) — Be Careful: High-Pressure Pump Faulty or Noisy, Camshaft Adjuster Leaks — Oil in Wiring Harness, Electric thermostat failure. Power: 211 PS.
E-Klasse (M276, 2016–2018) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 333 PS.
E-Klasse (M276, 2016–2018) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 401 PS.
E-Klasse (M177, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: MCT Gearbox — Clutch Wears in City Traffic, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Draws Oil into Wiring Harness, Camshaft Cover Gasket Leaking — Hot-V Area. Power: 571 PS.
E-Klasse (M177, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: MCT Gearbox — Clutch Wears in City Traffic, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Draws Oil into Wiring Harness, Camshaft Cover Gasket Leaking — Hot-V Area. Power: 612 PS.
E-Klasse (M264, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage (Serial Defect), HV Cables and E-Motor Integration Defective (PHEV), Chain Tensioner Loses Tension — Chain Rattling. Power: 184 PS.
E-Klasse (M264, 2016–2023) — Be Careful: Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage (Serial Defect), HV Cables and E-Motor Integration Defective (PHEV), Chain Tensioner Loses Tension — Chain Rattling. Power: 252–258 PS.
E-Klasse (M276, 2017–2023) — Be Careful: Oil cooler leaking in the V-block, Camshaft adjuster leaking — wiring harness contaminated, Piston slap (early 3.5L variants). Power: 252–258 PS.
E-Klasse (M264, 2017–2023) — Be Careful: Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage (Serial Defect), HV Cables and E-Motor Integration Defective (PHEV), Chain Tensioner Loses Tension — Chain Rattling. Power: 194–204 PS.
E-Klasse (M256, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: 48V ISG Battery Failure, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Leaking — Oil in Wiring Harness, Elevated Oil Consumption at Higher Mileage. Power: 367 PS.
E-Klasse (M256, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: 48V ISG Battery Failure, Camshaft Adjuster Solenoid Leaking — Oil in Wiring Harness, Elevated Oil Consumption at Higher Mileage. Power: 435 PS.
E-Klasse (M264, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage (Serial Defect), HV Cables and E-Motor Integration Defective (PHEV), Chain Tensioner Loses Tension — Chain Rattling. Power: 299 PS.
E-Klasse (M254, 2020–2023) — Be Careful: Oil Consumption from Piston Rings (Early Production), Timing Chain — Rattle and Premature Wear, Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage. Power: 272 PS.
E-Klasse (M264, 2018–2023) — Be Careful: Exhaust Valves Defective — Cylinder Head Damage (Serial Defect), HV Cables and E-Motor Integration Defective (PHEV), Chain Tensioner Loses Tension — Chain Rattling. Power: 203–211 PS.
E-Klasse (OM654, 2020–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker Arm and Camshaft Wear, Electric Coolant Pump Leaking — Recall, NOx Sensor Defective — AdBlue Fault and Start Inhibit. Power: 265 PS.
E-Klasse (OM654, 2019–2023) — Be Careful: Rocker Arm and Camshaft Wear, Electric Coolant Pump Leaking — Recall, NOx Sensor Defective — AdBlue Fault and Start Inhibit. Power: 163 PS.
What to watch out for with the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What problems and weaknesses does the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 have? +
What should I look for when buying a used Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213? +
Which engine is recommended? +
Which Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 engine is the most fun? +
Is the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213 worth buying used? +
What horsepower variants are available for the Mercedes-Benz E-Klasse W213? +
Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee