2017 Mercedes-Benz E300 — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $24,000–$34,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Kestrel Take
A genuinely lovely midsize luxury sedan — the W213 E-Class rides beautifully, feels a class above, and the 2.0T (E300) is efficient and smooth. It's a used Mercedes, so budget for real service: electronics, air suspension (if fitted), and cooling. A documented E300 with full history is a superb, comfortable car; a cheap neglected one will drain you. Buy on records and keep a repair fund.
What we checked
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
We checked NHTSA for this exact year and model and it returned nothing. That is a fact about the database, not a clean bill of health — it usually means few of these were sold or few owners filed. What follows is our own write-up, unreconciled.
Known Issues for the 2017 Mercedes-Benz E300
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The extensive electronics and driver-assist systems can fault and cost real money; verify all work.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$1,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
The optional air suspension leaks and fails; verify it rides level and holds.
Repair cost (estimate): $800-$2,500
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Verify service and check for cooling-component and oil-gasket leaks.
Repair cost (estimate): $300-$1,200
Source: not yet checked against public records.
MB service, brakes, and tires cost more; budget accordingly.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗No service history (deal-breaker)
- ✗Air suspension sagging
- ✗Electronics faults
- ✗Oil/coolant leaks
Good Signs
- ✓Full documented MB service
- ✓Air suspension level (or coil)
- ✓All electronics working
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