2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Review: Fun, Classy, and Expensive to Maintain

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is everything you ever dreamed a Mercedes to be. It’s classy, comfortable, stylish, and fun to drive. But don’t let the low sticker price, starting below $6,000, fool you. Steep maintenance costs will more than make up for every dollar you save on the purchase.

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class a Good Used Car?

• Overall Rating 8/10 – It’s everything a Mercedes-Benz is meant to be, combining excellent performance with a first-class cabin experience.
• Interior, Comfort & Cargo 9/10 – Mercedes isn’t fooling around when it comes to comfort. The E-Class is hard to beat if you want a smooth ride.
• Reliability 7/10 – The car is reliable, but even oil changes cost more than you’re probably used to spending.
• Safety 8/10 – The 2008 E-Class boasts generous safety features and good crash test scores.
• Gas Mileage 7/10 – The most efficient model gets an impressive 23/32 miles to the gallon, while the AMG averages a meager 12/18.
• Value 6/10 – Sticker prices are nice and low, but don’t be fooled. Maintenance costs are out the wazoo.

What Do Critics Say About the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

Consumer Reports called the E350 they tested “a delight to drive.” They liked the smooth ride, the high-end interior, the practical design, and the good outward visibility. Their only concern: Some of the control layout could be a bit awkward.

Kelley Blue Book found the E-Class surprisingly versatile, capable of handling streets and highways with ease, and even the occasional back road. They note that the car gets a lot of mileage out of its brand name, however, and doesn’t offer much practical benefit over a more affordable Lexus or Cadillac.

Edmunds found the E-Class to be sleek and dignified in its design, with excellent handling and smooth riding suspension. They liked the powerful engines and the available all wheel drive configuration. They note some awkward control layouts, weak feeling brakes, and the premium price in the minus column.

What Common Problems Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Have?

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has generated 204 complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Around half of these are for the fuel system, with drivers reporting that the car smells like gasoline, usually owing to issues with the fuel tank.

A few drivers have reported the seat warmers melting right through the upholstery and burning the drivers and their clothes.

A handful of complaints see extensive corrosion in the frame of the car. These reports are more common in colder areas where you have a lot of road salt. This is easy to prevent with a coating of anti-corrosion spray, but impossible to fix without replacing the whole frame.

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class has been recalled 5 times in total, which is the median for a vehicle this old.

How Long Will the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Last?

An E-Class could last around 250,000 miles with excellent care, but given how expensive regular maintenance can be for a Mercedes you should expect to reach around 200,000 miles before it gets to be too expensive to bother repairing.

Repairpal estimate an annual maintenance cost of around $888, with the most expensive common repairs new air springs for the active suspension system, starting at around $2,282.

How Is the Technology?

Entertainment technology in the 2008 E-Class is characteristically generous for the automaker. You’ve got a large full-color LCD screen with a CD/MP3 player, LOGIC7 speakers courtesy Harman/Kardon, and it’s worth mentioning that the acoustics inside the cabin are excellent.

Safety technology is pretty good for the model year. Electronic stability control, occupant sensing airbags, and anti-lock brakes all make for a solid set of safety features.

Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class a Good Value?

There are really no good deals to be found in the used premium car market. That goes for BMW, and it definitely goes for Mercedes-Benz. An entry-level E350 typically sells for around $6,884, while a high-end 63 AMG will go for around $11,765.

Those prices might not sound so bad, but a Mercedes demands specialty service for even the most basic issues. If you’re willing to spend potentially hundreds of dollars a month on basic repairs and routine maintenance, you might as well spend hundreds of dollars a month on payments for a new car.

What are the Different Models of the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is offered in a wide range of models named for their engines, from the E350 to the E 63 AMG. The car is also available in rear or all wheel drive models, and in a sedan or wagon body type. But, they all come with the same standard features:

• Leather seating
• CD/MP3 player with Harman/Kardon speakers
• 10-way power adjust driver seat
• Heated front seats
• Heated mirrors
• Leather trimmed steering wheel with mounted audio controls
• Anti-lock brakes and stability control

What Engines Come In the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

• The 350 model E-Class packs a 3.5L V6 engine delivering 268 horsepower and 258 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic in rear/all wheel drive, and it averages 19/26 miles to the gallon, city/highway.
• In the 300 you’ll find a 3.0L turbocharged V6 delivering 208 horsepower and 388 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 7-speed automatic in rear wheel drive, and it averages 23/32 miles to the gallon.
• 550 models come with a 5.5L V8 delivering a whopping 382 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 5-speed automatic in rear/all wheel drive, and averages 15/23 miles to the gallon.
• AMG models are named for their 6.3L Aufecht, Melcher, and Großaspach engines delivering 507 horsepower and 465 lb.-ft. of torque. This is paired to a 7-speed automatic in rear wheel drive, averaging 14/20 miles to the gallon. The AMG htis zero to sixty in just 4.3 seconds.

What Colors Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Come In?

How Comfortable Is the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?

The 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class absolutely lives up to the automaker’s reputation for comfort. The back seat stretches about 57 inches across, the cabin is first-class from top to bottom, and the suspension is like riding on a cloud.

How Much Storage Space Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Have?

The sedan model E-Class packs 16 cubic feet of cargo in the trunk. The wagon goes up to 69 cubic feet with the seat area. This is typical of the size class. You probably didn’t buy a Mercedes to haul furniture.

What Are the Differences Between Years?

2008 was the second to last model year in the 3rd Generation for the E-Class, running from 2003 to 2009.

2006: Mercedes-Benz replaced the 3.2L engine with a 3.5L V6 for 2006.

2007: The biggest differences for 2007 came down to some subtle styling alterations, creating a more modern-looking front end.

2008: New for 2008 was an AMG Sport package with AMG branded wheels and shift paddles.

2009: 2009 saw the sound system getting an overhaul with a 4-gig hard drive for storing MP3s.

2010: 2010: The 2010 E-Class was redesigned with a more modern look and a more fuel-efficient powertrain.

How Does the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Compare to the Competition?

Anytime you’re considering a Mercedes or a BMW, consider a Volvo, Lexus, or Acura, first. The 2008 Volvo S40 is basically the same car as a mid-range E-Class, in more ways than not, but it’s a little cheaper, considerably more affordable to maintain, and one of the safest and most reliable cars on the road.

The Lexus ES sells for a little more than the Mercedes, but it makes up the difference with one of the most reliable engines on the market and fair fuel economy.

If you’ve always dreamed of buying a Mercedes, we’re probably not going to be able to talk you out of it. Just know what you’re getting yourself into. As fun as a Benz may be to drive, a used model is one of the least practical options available.

Do Owners Recommend the 2008 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?