Mercedes-benz 500 vs Mercedes-benz E: reliability comparison
MOT pass rates, common faults and mileage compared from real UK MOT data.
Mercedes-benz 500
77%
MOT pass rate · 4,340 vehicles
Mercedes-benz E
79%
MOT pass rate · 429,719 vehicles
More reliable
Verdict: On MOT pass rate, the Mercedes-benz E is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Head to head
| Measure | Mercedes-benz 500 | Mercedes-benz E |
|---|---|---|
| MOT pass rate | 77% | 79% ✓ |
| MOT failure rate | 23% | 21% ✓ |
| Faults & advisories per test | 1.8 | 1.6 ✓ |
| Dangerous-fault share | 1% ✓ | 3% |
| Average mileage | 125,366 mi | 124,278 mi |
| Sample size (vehicles) | 4,340 | 429,719 |
Most common faults
Mercedes-benz 500
- Oil leak
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Brake pipe slightly corroded (3.6.B.2c)
Mercedes-benz E
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (5.2.3 (e))
- Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
- Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit (4.1.E.1)
Reliability FAQ
On MOT pass rate, the Mercedes-benz E is the more reliable of the two — 79% pass first time versus 77%. It's one signal among several; check the full breakdown below.
Full Mercedes-benz 500 report Full Mercedes-benz E report Most reliable cars
Pass rates are computed over completed (pass/fail) MOT tests. Reliability also depends on age, mileage and upkeep — see each model's page for the full picture.