Diesel Mercedes-Benz E: MOT pass rate
79.3% of diesel Mercedes-Benz Es pass the MOT first time, measured across 193,962 DVSA tests on that fuel type alone. Average mileage at test was 99,243.
Diesel against the other Mercedes-Benz E versions
| Fuel | Pass rate | Tests |
|---|---|---|
| Diesel | 79.3% | 193,962 |
| Petrol | 81.2% | 26,387 |
| Hybrid | 88% | 3,503 |
| All Mercedes-Benz E | 79.8% | 229,472 |
Why the fuel type changes the number
Diesels carry DPFs, EGR valves and stricter smoke limits, so emissions and exhaust faults account for failures petrol cars never see.
On the Mercedes-Benz E specifically, hybrid is the strongest at 88%, and this diesel version sits 0.5 points below the 79.8% model average.
What it means if you are buying one
There is little to choose between fuel types on this model, so decide on running costs and mileage rather than MOT record. Check the exact car, decode the VIN and check the mileage before you bid.
Mileage is part of the answer
The average diesel Mercedes-Benz E had covered 99,243 miles at test, against 74,025 for the petrol and 60,791 for the hybrid. That is above average and into the range where cambelts and water pumps are due if they have not already been done, so ask for the service history rather than take the mileage on trust.
Fuel type and mileage are tangled together: diesels are usually bought by higher-mileage drivers, so some of any gap between fuels is the miles rather than the engine. The per-year figures on the Mercedes-Benz E page separate age from fuel if you want to isolate one.
Other Mercedes-Benz E fuel types
- Petrol Mercedes-Benz E - 81.2%
- Hybrid Mercedes-Benz E - 88%