Mercedes-Benz E320/E350 CDI 3.0L CDI
is it a safe used buy?

The diesel-powered E-Class — a genuinely well-regarded motorway companion, paired with one of Mercedes's most dependable engines of the modern era.

GENERATIONW212 (2007–2013)

ENGINE3.0L OM642

POWER211–265 hp

USED PRICE$12,000–21,000

How the engine fits this car

The E-Class's substantial executive body is a comfortable, well-matched load for this diesel's genuinely strong torque output — a large part of why this combination has earned such a strong reputation among long-distance drivers.

This engine's reliability reputation, detailed in full on the dedicated engine page, is a meaningful point of reassurance given some of the more cautionary diesel engines covered elsewhere on this site.

Mercedes-Benz E320/E350 CDI-specific pros and cons

This is about the car itself — for engine-specific failure points, see the dedicated engine page below.

WHAT HOLDS UP WELL

OM642's genuinely strong reliability reputation, detailed on the engine page, is a meaningful point in this car's favour
Excellent motorway comfort and refinement, a hallmark of this model line
Strong real-world fuel economy for a car of this size and performance
Strong specialist and parts support given shared engine use across Mercedes's wider lineup

WHAT TO WATCH

Swirl flap wear, covered on the engine page, is a known and manageable concern on some production years
Air suspension (where fitted on higher trims) is costly to repair if it fails
Not the engine to pick for mostly short, urban use — EGR considerations apply as with other modern diesels
Adaptive features (lighting, advanced driver assist) are expensive to repair if faulty

Pricing on the used market

Mileage band

Typical price

What to expect

Under 90,000 mi

$17,000–21,000

Lower-mileage, well-kept examples

90,000–150,000 mi

$14,000–17,000

Sweet spot, verify basic maintenance history

150,000+ mi

$12,000–14,000

Still a confident buy with documented maintenance

The engine itself

This E-Class is a defining application of the OM642. Full detail on this engine's strong reliability track record lives on the dedicated engine page.

FULL ENGINE BREAKDOWNMercedes-Benz OM642 3.0L Diesel — Reliable or Not →

Pre-purchase checklist for this generation

Ask directly about driving pattern — as with other modern diesels, a mostly-urban history raises EGR risk meaningfully.

If the car has air suspension, cycle it through its settings and confirm it holds height overnight.

Ask for a complete service history, though this engine is generally forgiving of reasonable maintenance gaps.