Should I check the MOT history before buying a 2018 Mercedes Benz E?

Yes. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. A full MOT history analysis will highlight patterns that a single test result won't reveal.

What corrosion should I look for when inspecting a 2018 Mercedes Benz E?

Check brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that is expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.

How are tyres and brakes typically on a 2018 Mercedes Benz E?

Tyres and brakes are the most common advisory items on vehicles of this age. Budget for replacement if they are near the limit, and factor this into your offer price.

How many 2018 Mercedes Benz E vehicles have had dangerous defects recorded?

34% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Search the registration on CarHunch — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.

Is the 2018 Mercedes Benz E reliable?

Based on MOT data from 21,116 vehicles, the 2018 Mercedes Benz E has a first-time MOT pass rate of 88.9%, indicating generally reliable for its class. Always check the full MOT history of any specific vehicle before buying.

What are common problems with the 2018 Mercedes Benz E?

The most frequently recorded MOT issues on the 2018 Mercedes Benz E are: Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.9% of vehicles), Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (37.7% of vehicles), Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge (24% of vehicles). These figures are based on actual MOT test records — search a specific registration on CarHunch to see its individual history.

Do I need an HPI check when buying a 2018 Mercedes Benz E?

Yes. The MOT history will not show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status. An HPI check covers these areas and should be part of any used car purchase.

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Mercedes Benz E (2018)

21,116 real MOT outcomes analysed • 88.9% first-time pass rate

2018 Mercedes Benz E

CarHunch analysed 21,116 real MOT records for the 2018 Mercedes Benz E. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
Which year to buy? →

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AI Analysis Reliability Overview Common Issues Check a Specific Reg Buyer's Checklist Pass Rate by Fuel Mileage Distribution Still on the Road MOT Averages Colour Breakdown Compare Models

The 2018 Mercedes-Benz E passes its MOT first time at 88.8%, well ahead of the UK average of 80%, which is a solid endorsement of reliability—though one in three of these cars will eventually pick up a dangerous defect during ownership, which is worth factoring into your decision. Petrol and diesel variants perform almost identically (88.7% and 88.8%), so fuel type isn't a differentiator here.

At 46,346 miles median, these cars are running fairly light for their age, yet they're still averaging 0.78 failures per vehicle, suggesting that when things do go wrong, they tend to be real faults rather than wear-and-tear. The 4.2 advisories per test point to multiple minor niggles—typical for a German premium sedan—so budget for preventive maintenance and have any pre-purchase inspection focus on the suspension, brakes, and electrical systems where most advisories cluster.

The 2018 Mercedes Benz E has a decent first-time pass rate (88.9%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.

⚠️ Over 1 in 5 of these vehicles have had a dangerous MOT failure at some point — usually tyres or brakes, and often a one-off issue rather than a persistent problem. The group stats won't tell you which one you're looking at.

First-time pass

88.9%

UK average ~80%

Better than average

Dangerous (ever)

33.9%

At least once in MOT history

Check this vehicle

Avg failures / car

0.78

Over 6.2 tests on record

Moderate

Typical mileage

46k

Middle half: 34k–65k

For context

✅ Good baseline reliability. A 88.9% first-time pass rate puts this well above the UK average — it's a well-sorted vehicle in this age bracket.

🔧 Expect consumable spend. An average of 4.2 advisories per vehicle tells you wear items (tyres, brakes) get flagged regularly. Budget for them — they're not surprises.

🔍 The dangerous defect figure is real. Most are one-off tyre failures or brake issues — not structural problems. But it's exactly why checking the individual vehicle's history is essential, not optional.

These stats describe 21,116 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.

Watch for defects — worth knowing

What tends to go wrong

Across 21,116 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 37.9%

Offside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · …

Budget for a full set — on a vehicle this age, tyres are expected consumables. An inspection will confirm how much is left.

Brake wear 23.3%

Rear Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin · Front Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened · …

Ask the seller when brakes were last serviced. If they don't know, factor in the cost.

Other issues 10.1%

COVID-19 6 MONTH EXTENSION · Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view · Engine MIL inoperative or indicates a malfunction · …

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2018.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 21,116 Mercedes Benz E cars.

Before you buy a 2018 Mercedes Benz E

Based on MOT data from 21,116 vehicles — here's what to check.

📋 Check the full MOT history. 33.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded - recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle.
🔍 Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price. Inspection →
📄 Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically. History Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type	Vehicles	Pass rate	Avg failures
Diesel (80%)	16,945	88.8%	0.79
Petrol (17%)	3,638	88.7%	0.73
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (3%)	532	91.8%	0.61

Colour Breakdown

Based on 425,623 Mercedes Benz E vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.

Silver 34.4%

146,376

Black 24.2%

102,943

Blue 13.2%

56,174

Grey 11.7%

49,991

White 8.9%

38,055

Red 3.4%

14,354

Green 2.5%

10,833

Purple 0.6%

2,342

Beige 0.4%

1,522

Gold 0.4%

1,490

Brown 0.3%

1,309

Cream 0.1%

234

Mileage Distribution

Most 2018 Mercedes Benz E vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

46,346

typical

33,646

low mileage

64,646

high mileage

Half of all 2018 Mercedes Benz E vehicles fall between 33,646 and 64,646 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?

✓ Under 33,646 miles — lower than most. Could be great, or could be a vehicle that rarely moved. Check test frequency and mileage progression in the MOT history.

✓ 33,646–64,646 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2018 Mercedes Benz Es sit.

⚠ Over 87,272 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2018 Mercedes Benz E — Still on the Road

Almost all 2018 Mercedes Benz Es are still on the road.

Strong survival — 18,664 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 94% of the peak.

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2019–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.

MOT History Averages

6.2

Avg MOT tests per vehicle

0.78

Avg failures per vehicle

4.2

Avg advisories per vehicle

Other model years — Mercedes Benz E: All E years → Which year to buy? →

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Compare with another model

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Watch for defects — worth knowing