Mercedes Benz E (2015)
2015 Mercedes Benz E
CarHunch analysed 23,918 real MOT records for the 2015 Mercedes Benz E. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.
The 2015 Mercedes-Benz E passes its MOT first time in 86.4% of cases, comfortably above the UK average of 80%, but that headline hides a serious concern: 40.6% of these vehicles have suffered a dangerous defect at some point, which is substantially higher than typical and signals persistent structural or safety issues worth investigating on any example you're considering. Petrol and diesel variants perform similarly (88.2% and 86.3% pass rates respectively), so fuel type isn't a deciding factor here.
At nearly 70,000 miles on average, these cars are carrying genuine mileage for their age, yet they're still racking up an average of 1.37 failures and 8.6 advisories per test—most commonly suspension, lighting, and brake wear problems that accumulate steadily. Before committing to purchase, get a full pre-buy inspection that specifically checks the suspension geometry and brake condition, since the data suggests these are the weak points on this generation.
Petrol vs Diesel
Pass rate difference of 2 percentage points — worth knowing if you're choosing between the two.
What to check before buying a 2015 Mercedes Benz E
Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.
- 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
- 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
- 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
- ⚠️ 40.6% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
- 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.
Before you buy a Mercedes Benz E
MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel (92%) | 21,901 | 86.3% | 1.39 |
| Petrol (5%) | 1,187 | 88.3% | 1.12 |
| Electric Diesel (3%) | 822 | 86.1% | 1.34 |
| Hybrid Electric (Clean) (0%) | 7 | 87.2% | 1.43 |
| Other (0%) | 1 | 75% | 1 |
Mileage Distribution
Most 2015 Mercedes Benz E vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2015 Mercedes Benz E vehicles fall between 44,786 and 84,818 miles.
2015 Mercedes Benz E — Still on the Road
Strong survival — 19,501 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 88% of the peak.
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2016–2025.
MOT History Averages
Most Common MOT Issues — 2015 Mercedes Benz E
Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.
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43.7%
Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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43.1%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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31.6%
Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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29.8%
Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
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29%
Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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23.1%
Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
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22.1%
Nearside Front Wheel bearing has slight play
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21.3%
Offside Front Wheel bearing has slight play
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2015. Counts include advisories and failures.
Found a specific Mercedes Benz E?
Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.