Used car guide

2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs, from 434 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 434 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

434MOT tests in 2025
72%pass first time (all 2000 cars: 63%)
4,100typical miles a year
2.1×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs than on all cars registered in 2000.

  • Sub-frame2.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz E-Class
    8.8% All 2000 cars
    4.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.2% of all 2000 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

By area

The share of 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Class MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Suspension
    36% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Brakes
    30% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Lights and electrics
    28% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    24% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    17% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2023207Tyres 11%
20222,836Tyres 22%
20216,400Tyres 22%
202010,448Tyres 24%
201920,915Tyres 24%
201820,781Tyres 26%
201721,829Tyres 26%
201619,961Tyres 28%
201520,754Tyres 31%
201419,486Brakes 33%
201317,910Brakes 38%
201213,734Brakes 39%
201112,484Brakes 38%
201010,496Brakes 38%
20096,067Brakes 39%
20083,840Brakes 40%
20074,720Brakes 39%
20063,060Brakes 40%
20053,390Suspension 42%
20043,368Suspension 42%
20032,458Suspension 43%
2002805Suspension 44%
2001590Suspension 37%
1999396Suspension 40%
1998440Suspension 35%
1997264Suspension 36%
1996457Brakes 30%
1995679Suspension 28%
1994586Brakes 27%
1993175Suspension 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2000 Mercedes-Benz E-Classs registered in 2000. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score