Mercedes Benz

Mercedes Benz E (2019)

17,876 real MOT outcomes analysed • 89.8% first-time pass rate

2019 Mercedes Benz E

CarHunch analysed 17,876 real MOT records for the 2019 Mercedes Benz E. Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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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 2019 Mercedes-Benz E passes its first MOT 89.8% of the time—nearly 10 points above the UK average of 80%—which is a strong result for a five-year-old premium saloon. However, 29.2% of these vehicles have recorded at least one dangerous defect during their MOT history, a notably high figure that warrants a pre-purchase inspection by a qualified technician.

At 43,203 miles median mileage, these cars have been driven reasonably lightly for their age, yet they still accumulate an average of 3.3 advisories per vehicle, suggesting wear in suspension, brakes, and lighting is common. Diesel models edge out petrol variants (90.0% vs 89.0% pass rate), so if you're choosing between them, the diesel is marginally the safer bet—but either way, budget for preventative maintenance and always request the full MOT history before committing to a purchase.

The 2019 Mercedes Benz E has a decent first-time pass rate (89.8%), 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
89.8%
UK average ~80%
Better than average
Dangerous (ever)
29.2%
At least once in MOT history
Check this vehicle
Avg failures / car
0.59
Over 5.2 tests on record
Moderate
Typical mileage
43k
Middle half: 31k–61k
For context
Good baseline reliability. A 89.8% 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 3.3 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 17,876 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 17,876 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.

Tyre wear 24.8%
Nearside Rear Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge · Offside 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 13.4%
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 5.1%
Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view
Suspension & steering 4.5%
Nearside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play · Offside Front Lower Suspension arm ball joint has slight play
Harder to spot without a ramp — this is a good reason to book a pre-purchase inspection.

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2019.

See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches

Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 17,876 Mercedes Benz E cars.

UK

Before you buy a 2019 Mercedes Benz E

Based on MOT data from 17,876 vehicles — here's what to check.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. 29.2% 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 ClickMechanic
  • 📄 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 carVertical Get 20% off via CarHunch

Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Diesel (67%) 11,939 90% 0.6
Petrol (23%) 4,086 89% 0.6
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (5%) 977 89.7% 0.58
Electric Diesel (5%) 874 91.7% 0.53

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 2019 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.

43,203
typical
30,900
low mileage
60,623
high mileage

Half of all 2019 Mercedes Benz E vehicles fall between 30,900 and 60,623 miles.

Is the mileage you're seeing normal?
Under 30,900 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.
30,900–60,623 miles — normal for age. This is where most 2019 Mercedes Benz Es sit.
Over 81,841 miles — higher than typical. Not necessarily a problem, but check service history and look out for advisory build-up on tyres and brakes.

2019 Mercedes Benz E — Still on the Road

Almost all 2019 Mercedes Benz Es are still on the road.

Strong survival — 16,254 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 95% of the peak.

949 16,254 2020 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2020–2025.
* 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

5.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
0.59
Avg failures per vehicle
3.3
Avg advisories per vehicle
Other model years — Mercedes Benz E: All E years → Which year to buy? →
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Watch for defects — worth knowing