Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz E-Class build years & generations

Coverage 2002-present4 named generationsSaloonPETROL / DIESEL / HYBRID ELECTRIC / UNKNOWN

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class spans several build years and named generations (2002-present). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Newest Mercedes-Benz E-Class generation shown; older shapes are pictured on the cards below.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 2002-2004
Generation
W211/S211
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
Built 2005-2008
Generation
W211/S211
Figures from
cars built 2005-2008
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2009-2012
Generation
W212/S212/C207/A207
Figures from
cars built 2009-2012
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2013-2015
Generation
W212/S212/C207/A207
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238 cars built in the same years.
Built 2016
Generation
W213/S213/C238/A238
Figures from
cars built 2013-2016
Counted together with W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238 cars built in the same years.
Built 2017-2020
Generation
W213/S213/C238/A238
Figures from
cars built 2017-2020
Counted with this generation only.
Built 2021-2022
Generation
W213/S213/C238/A238
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted together with W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214 cars built in the same years.
Built 2023+
Generation
W214/S214
Figures from
cars built 2021 onwards
Counted together with W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214 cars built in the same years.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
2002-2004	W211/S211	Before 2005	Counted with every car built before 2005, so much older cars can affect the figures.
2005-2008	W211/S211	2005-2008	Counted with this generation only.
2009-2012	W212/S212/C207/A207	2009-2012	Counted with this generation only.
2013-2015	W212/S212/C207/A207	2013-2016	Counted together with W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238 cars built in the same years.
2016	W213/S213/C238/A238	2013-2016	Counted together with W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238 cars built in the same years.
2017-2020	W213/S213/C238/A238	2017-2020	Counted with this generation only.
2021-2022	W213/S213/C238/A238	2021 onwards	Counted together with W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214 cars built in the same years.
2023+	W214/S214	2021 onwards	Counted together with W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214 cars built in the same years.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Mercedes-Benz E-Class build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

2021 onwards

A mix of W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214

These build years include both W213/S213/C238/A238 and W214/S214 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 4 years old (latest age)

11.0%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 8 (12.5%)

Ages with data

3 to 4 years old

MOT tests counted

3,221

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

3 years

1,32512.0%

4 years

1,89611.0%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 3 years old.

Built

2017-2020

W213/S213/C238/A238 only

These build years are all W213/S213/C238/A238, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 7 years old

14.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 6 (17.1%)

Ages with data

4 to 8 years old

MOT tests counted

78,207

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

4 years

3,01911.2%

5 years

11,61911.7%

6 years

23,33413.5%

7 years

24,90014.5%

8 years

15,33514.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 8 years old.

Built

2013-2016

A mix of W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238

These build years include both W212/S212/C207/A207 and W213/S213/C238/A238 cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 12 years old (latest age)

23.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (25.9%)

Ages with data

8 to 12 years old

MOT tests counted

95,991

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

8 years

8,93815.1%

9 years

25,53017.1%

10 years

24,66019.5%

11 years

23,58921.6%

12 years

13,27423.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2009-2012

W212/S212/C207/A207 only

These build years are all W212/S212/C207/A207, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 16 years old (latest age)

23.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30%)

Ages with data

12 to 16 years old

MOT tests counted

54,820

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

12 years

7,20424.8%

13 years

17,55424.4%

14 years

15,17824.3%

15 years

11,14324.7%

16 years

3,74123.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 12 years old.

Built

2005-2008

W211/S211 only

These build years are all W211/S211, so the figures are almost all from that generation.

Fail rate at 20 years old (latest age)

26.2%

UK average for cars this age: about 3 in 10 (30.3%)

Ages with data

16 to 20 years old

MOT tests counted

19,110

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

16 years

1,93823.6%

17 years

5,56023.5%

18 years

5,17223.4%

19 years

4,34325.5%

20 years

2,09726.2%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 20 years old.

Built

Before 2005

W211/S211 only

Counts every car built before 2005, so older cars with the same model name can be included as well as the W211/S211.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

22.5%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

20 to 25+ years old

MOT tests counted

13,405

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

20 years

1,88124.7%

21 years

3,97625.8%

22 years

2,00625.8%

23 years

75525.0%

24 years

69825.8%

25+ years

4,08922.5%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 24 years old.