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Mercedes-Benz is known for making high-quality cars, but even they have messed up a few times.

Mercedes-Benz has to be in the top three when naming the greatest German automakers. In fact, many gearheads would argue that Mercedes-Benz is the greatest German automaker, as its founder - Carl Benz - built the first-ever gas-powered vehicle in 1886.

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Having been in business for more than a century, Mercedes-Benz has built many fantastic cars, including icons like the 1950s 300SL Gullwing, the 190E, the AMG GT, and many others. However, like every other manufacturer, Mercedes-Benz has had its fair share of bad models. If you're shopping for a used Mercedes-Benz car, you've come to the right place, since we've compiled a list of five awesome Mercedes-Benz models you can buy in the used cars market versus five horrible ones you should stay far away from.

In 1989, Mercedes-Benz wanted to build a high-performance version of the E-Class that could take on the best compact luxury sedans. However, since its engineering department was busy coming up with a new S-Class, Mercedes-Benz asked Porsche to assist them on the project, resulting in the 500E.

To build the 500E, Porsche needed to modify the W124 in such a way that would make it possible to equip it with a V8 engine. Porsche was successful, and in the end, the 500E had an impressive output of 322 ponies and 354 lb-ft of torque. It's no surprise that the 500E is considered to be one of the coolest sleeper cars.

The SUV market has grown tremendously in the last three decades. Mercedes-Benz has introduced several SUV models to take advantage of the demand, with one of the most popular being the GLC.

The GLC impressed many when it debuted in 2015, but it didn't take long for the model to start losing quality. The 2018 model was the first to disappoint gearheads, followed by an even worse 2019 model. The 2019 GLC had almost a dozen recalls, which is a good indicator of how bad it was. ​​​​​​​

Every gearhead knows that the Germans are the kings of engineering. One car that shows that perfectly is the Mercedes-Benz S-Class W140 generation. If there ever was a perfect luxury sedan, the W140 would be it.

The W140 had a great design, high-quality interior, advanced technology, and lots of power to play with, especially if you can find the V12-powered versions.

The W140 above will go down in history as one of Mercedes-Benz's greatest models ever. Sadly, its successor - the W220 - was nowhere near as good. The W220 did have some positives, such as a new modern design and a massive V12 engine.

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However, unlike the W140, the W220 had a reputation for unreliability, particularly models produced before the 2002 face-lift. Due to these issues, the W220 has depreciated so much that it's cheaper than its predecessor. ​​​​​​​

The R129 stunned gearheads when it debuted in 1989. Its combination of a superb design, superb driving feel, advanced technology, and bulletproof reliability earned it many sales and made it one of the top European sports cars of the '90s.

There were several engine options for the R129, with the best being a massive 6.0-liter V12 blurting out 390 hp. You can still find a well-maintained R129 for less than $20,000, making it one of the cheapest V12-powered cars available today. ​​​​​​​

The 2012 C250 had many awesome features - a sleek design, luxurious interior, a comfortable ride, and a smooth 2.1-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine making 201 hp. All impressive for an entry-level luxury sedan.

Unfortunately, the 2012 C250 had a few glaring issues that made it a bad purchase today. If seven recalls are not enough to discourage you, fuel leak issues coupled with faulty sensors should be enough. ​​​​​​​

The E-Class W211 generation didn't have a great start to life in the early 2000s, as it had various reliability issues. Thankfully, Mercedes-Benz decided to give the W211 a much-needed face-lift in 2007, which fixed its issues and turned it into one of the best compact luxury cars.

2007-2009 W211s make excellent purchases today since they're affordable, solidly built, and reliable. Base models have decent engines, but you can opt for the AMG version if you want a more driver-focused model.

The second-generation C-Class was a fantastic car, especially after the 2004 refresh. However, the final model year ruined it, despite having great driving dynamics. ​​​​​​​

The 2007 C230's main problem was reliability or lack thereof. It received recalls for various issues, including an issue where a faulty engine balance shaft would cause punctures in the fuel area.

The CLS-Class is a series of executive sedans introduced by Mercedes-Benz in the early 2000s. The CLS is positioned between the S-Class and the E-Class and is meant to compete with the likes of the Audi A7 and BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe.

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Of all the fantastic CLS model years, the 2011 model is the best to buy used. It was lauded for having excellent exterior styling, a comfortable interior, and a super-reliable 5.5-liter V8 engine cranking out 382 hp. ​​​​​​​

The CLA250 is a luxury compact executive sedan that Mercedes-Benz introduced in 2013. The CLA250 was the company's first FWD vehicle sold in North America and was positioned above the A-Class and slightly below the C-Class.

While the CLA250 has a great design and top-class interior, many gearheads complained that it's too boring to drive for such an expensive car. The 2014 CLA250 also received five recalls over stalling, blown engines, and fuses.

Martin is a seasoned content creator who has been writing about cars for over a decade, and has been in love with them for even longer. Growing up, Martin was surrounded by gearheads who instilled a deep love and understanding for cars in him at a young age. He loves to learn and write about all the developments happening in the auto industry - especially in the EV space. When he's not writing about cars, he likes to spend quality time with his wife, kids, and fur baby.