The E-Class is one of the most iconic cars to grace the Kenyan roads from Mercedes-Benz. For the longest time it has been one of the most practical car from the Mercedes-Benz lineup. It represents a near perfect combination of value, comfort and size. It’s well capable of hauling the family across the country as well as handling the daily commute. It’s an ultimate do-anything vehicle. However, it’s not cheap to buy but it’s well built to provide decades of reliable service.
If you’re in the market for an E-Class Mercedes, the options range is quite large. From classic units to modern units with cutting-edge tech.
Your primary goal when acquiring a used/ imported unit should be to buy the ‘cleanest’ unit you can find. Ideally, this means one with a clean and original appearance both inside and out. If possible a well-documented history of maintenance records as well as accidents or major repairs done such as engine swaps or suspension overhauls. In short, just acquire a vehicle that looks like it was well taken care of by its previous owner(s). One that stands out from the rest. It may come with a higher than average price which should not scare you since paying for a top-notch unit makes sense. Well, unless you’re an expert mechanic, Arsenal fan or used to a ton of heart-breaks (top tier Nairobian), an excellent well-running unit is a nice place to start.
But first, take out your notebooks for a brief history class:
The Mercedes-Benz 124 Generation:
Mercedes-Benz has been developing midsize sedans for 70+ years, however, it was not until the early 1990s when the E-Class badge officially appeared. That’s when the marketing executives changed the naming convention for all Mercedes-Benz models, changing from numbers followed by letters – for example “300E” – to letters followed by numbers – for example “E300”. That’s how the E-Class was born.
The first model to be called an E-Class dates back to 1986, when the W124 generation debuted replacing the ageing W123 series. The W124 prompted the mid size Mercedes into the modern era. Its sleek and corresponding unadorned skin, designed by the legendary Bruno Sacco was a dramatic departure from the traditional look of the outgoing car. Mercedes-Benz kept it simple and straightforward inside the W124 cabin, where luxury was defined more by the quality of the materials than by the number of fancy features. Offered in sedan, wagon, coupe, and even convertible variants, the W124 offered something for almost every buyer — as long as they had some serious cash on hand. Even so, the W124 sold well through its 10-year run. Thanks to its popularity and its famously robust build quality, you can still find good examples on the road today.
The Mercedes-Benz W210 Generation:
The brilliant W124 series, which proved to be one of the best-selling models in Mercedes-Benz history, was quite a tough act to craft to follow. Nevertheless, the W210-generation E-Class made a remarkable effort – especially considering the circumstances under which it was developed. During the 1990s, Mercedes went through significant changes. The German automaker was facing steep competition from upstarts such as Lexus that were delivering Benz-like level of quality for thousands less. That pressured Mercedes to bring to a halt their long-standing approach to car building. No longer would they engineer the best car possible no matter the cost. Instead, they would build cars to strict cost targets. This resulted in the W210 being in the unfortunate position as the first E-Class from Mercedes’ new budget-conscious era. The build-quality, especially around the cabin, isn’t quite up to the high bar set by the W124. However, the W210 surpassed its successor the W124 in other ways.
Due to the slightly longer wheelbase and better overall packaging , the W210 is roomier inside. The rear seat passengers were the beneficiaries, gaining almost three additional inches of legroom. Otherwise, the cabin retains the W124’s traditional Mercedes-Benz look and feel, with simple and easily readable gauges, supportive seats, and a large greenhouse offering excellent outward visibility.
The W210 also enjoys a host of mechanical upgrades over the W124. In 1997, Mercedes added a fifth cog and electronic control to the automatic transmission, making it more responsive than the W124’s old-school hydraulic unit. In 1998, the W210 gained a series of new engines, offering boosts in both power and fuel efficiency, plus an optional all-wheel drive system, dubbed 4Matic. Safety too, improved with the W210. New features including the standard side airbags (in addition to driver and passenger airbags), traction control, and emergency braking assist.
The Mercedes-Benz W211 Generation:
Mercedes-Benz launched the third-gen E-Class in 2002 however as a 2003 in most parts of the world. It continued in the same trajectory as the outgoing version, offering more room, power and features, while updating – and to our eyes improving – its classic round-headlamp styling.
Despite its sleeker and more aerodynamic shape, the W211 E-Class manages to retain the W210’s generous interior dimensions. Its structure is notably stouter, thanks to the extensive use of high-strength steel and aluminium. In fact, the latter makes up 60% of the body (compared to just 6% for the W210). That helps to keep weight gain to almost zero, despite the addition of many new features.
Those new features are most evident once you settle behind the steering wheel. Where earlier E-Class cabins can feel a bit austere, the W211 by contrast lavishes its occupants with modern amenities. Including but not limited to heated and ventilated seats, four-zone automatic climate control, voice-controlled navigation, adaptive cruise control, and a panoramic sunroof.
The W211 also had a few new tricks up its wheel wells. The most significant was an available adaptive air suspension borrowed from the S-Class. Known as Airmatic, the system offers three stiffness settings (Comfort, Sport I, and Sport II) and actively manages the car’s motions over bumps and around bends. Additionally, a new seven-speed automatic gearbox found its way into the third-gen E-Class starting in 2006.
As with the W210, most W211 buyers opted for the sedan, though a long-roof version remained available for those Mercedes wagon die-hards. Most also went for the V6 engine, which initially produced 221 horsepower but for the 2006 model year got a bump in displacement, upping power to 268 ponies. A muscular V8 was available, too, as was a surprisingly thrifty turbodiesel.
The Mercedes-Benz W212 Generation:
With the fourth generation, the E-Class completed its evolution into a fully modern car. The most obvious change was in the looks department. The W212’s angular lines and trapezoidal face depart sharply from the elegant curves of the prior generation. The result is a more aggressive-looking E-Class that’s lower, wider, and longer than its predecessor. The new shape helps the W212 cut through the air better than most other cars on the road, even today, earning a remarkably low drag coefficient of 0.25. That means, despite using the same powertrain from the outgoing model, the fourth-gen E-Class still improves upon it in both acceleration and fuel economy. The W212’s structure is also 30% stiffer, thanks to the use of additional high-strength steel, ensuring that bank vault solidity remains an E-Class trademark. Inside the cabin, a large screen takes centre stage, featuring Benz’s relatively easy-to-use Command interface for navigation and audio. Quality abounds, with large expanses of wood, soft-touch plastics, and weighty switchgear. The seats retain their excellent levels of long-haul support, while the gearshift lever moves to the steering column, freeing up space in the centre console for more storage. Mercedes again focused on sharpening the E-Class’ competitive edge through new features, especially on the safety front. Attention Assist, a first of its kind, monitors the driver’s alertness and issues warnings if drowsiness is detected. And other available tech, such as a blind-spot warning system, adaptive cruise control, lane-keeping assist, and even infrared night vision, makes it hard to believe the W212 debuted over ten years ago. The 2014 model year also brought a significant refresh to the W212, featuring a more streamlined exterior design and a more upscale interior.
The Mercedes-Benz W213 Generation:
The current iteration of the E-Class, known as the W213 generation, debuted in 2017. Building on the prior version’s 2014 refresh, the W213 looks sleeker still, with swept-back curves from bow to stern. And it doesn’t just look sleek. Its ultra-low 0.23 coefficient of drag makes it one of the most aerodynamic cars ever produced.
The W213 is the first E-Class generation since the W124 to offer four different body styles: sedan, wagon, coupe, and convertible. Yes, between the W124 and the W213, Mercedes sold coupes and convertibles badged as E-Classes; however, they were actually based on the smaller C-Class chassis. With the W213, they’re the real deal. The E-Class cabin makes the leap to a fully digital experience with the W213. A pair of 12.3-inch screens mounted side-by-side offer the driver a set of configurable digital gauges plus a massive infotainment touchscreen, both in high definition. All that sophisticated tech is complemented by warm touches of old-world luxury, such as sweeping wood accents, round metal air vents, a top-stitched dash, and an analog clock. The W213 is also a showcase of active safety tech, much of it borrowed from its big brother, the flagship S-Class. Among the available options are semi-autonomous driving with lane-change assist, adaptive LED headlights, head-up display, and evasive steering assist, which helps the driver retain control of the car during emergency manoeuvres.
Mercedes has made some notable changes to the W213 since its 2017 debut. Those seeking additional oomph can find it in a smooth and powerful turbocharged six-cylinder model, the E400 (later renamed the E450), which first appeared for 2018. The base four-cylinder model also got a slight bump in power (to 255 hp) for the 2020 model year, earning it a new E350 badge. And for 2021, Mercedes refreshed the entire W213 line with revised exterior styling plus a new infotainment system, dubbed MBUX.
Pricing:
This segment will be rather short. Buying any unit that debuted earlier than 2013 currently is an extreme sport in Kenya. However, with great pre-inspection, you’d save yourself a lot of car related drama. Most of the units being sold right now in Kenyan showrooms are mostly 2014 – 2019 models. Price for most imported units depends on vehicle auction grade, mileage and year of manufacture. The W212 is the most sought after E-Class in the Kenyan auto-market at the moment. Its price ranges from about KES 3,900,000 to even KES 7,000,000. The price of course increases according to the mileage and year of manufacture mostly. Elite Autos Kenya ensures the client gets proper value for their hard earned money. We have both locally used and fresh-import units available. If you are also keen on importing a unit directly, we can definitely make that happen for you. Financing options are also available. For enquiries, feel free to contact us on +254 705798117.