8 Popular Mercedes Models Depreciation (1-12 Years)
Mercedes-Benz is one of the best car brand, but does it hold its value well?
I decided to check it out. I spent hours researching depreciation of the most popular Mercedes-Benz cars.
Let’s see how well they hold their value.
Do Mercedes Hold Their Value?
Because of high maintenance costs, big requirements, and a large supply of off-lease, Mercedes-Benz cars lose value quickly. On average, the most popular Mercedes-Benz cars hold 80% of their value in the first year, 61% in the third year, and only 49% in the fifth year from manufacture.
Moreover, Mercedes-Benz is one of the fastest depreciating car brands in the world!
If you don’t want to lose too much money buying your Mercedes-Benz car, you have to wait at least 5 years. This way, you’ll avoid the highest depreciation.
8 Popular Mercedes Models and Their Depreciation
If you’re interested in buying a Mercedes-Benz car, you might be wondering which model depreciates the fastest.
Some of them hold their value well, some don’t. Let’s take a look at it.
Keep in mind that the average depreciation is calculated on a car in good condition, making about 12.000 miles per year.
Mercedes S-Class
This is a real luxury car, but the problem is that it’s among cars that lose value quickest. It has strong engines, but if they break down, people are afraid to buy them- that’s why its depreciation is so high. But if you can afford to buy Mercedes S-Class, you can probably stand its rapid depreciation.
Mercedes S-Class depreciates on average 7.16% per year.
Selling price: $130.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81% | $24.700 | $105.300 |
| 2 | 73% | $35.100 | $94.900 |
| 3 | 55% | $58.500 | $71.500 |
| 4 | 50% | $65.000 | $65.000 |
| 5 | 46% | $70.200 | $59.800 |
| 6 | 43% | $74.100 | $55.900 |
| 7 | 38% | $80.600 | $49.400 |
| 8 | 27% | $94.900 | $35.100 |
| 9 | 23% | $100.100 | $29.900 |
| 10 | 20% | $104.000 | $26.000 |
| 11 | 18% | $106.100 | $23.400 |
| 12 | 14% | $111.800 | $18.200 |
Does BMW or Mercedes hold their value better? Here’s the comparison!
Mercedes CLA
I think it’s one of the best-looking Mercedes-Benz cars. Considering how expensive Mercedes-Benz are, the CLA is pretty cheap, but the depreciation is quite high.
Mercedes CLA depreciates on average 6,92% per year.
Selling price: $40.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 88% | $4.800 | $35.200 |
| 2 | 71% | $11.600 | $28.400 |
| 3 | 66% | $13.600 | $26.400 |
| 4 | 61% | $15.600 | $24.400 |
| 5 | 52% | $19.200 | $20.800 |
| 6 | 48% | $20.800 | $19.200 |
| 7 | 44% | $22.400 | $17.600 |
| 8 | 29% | $28.400 | $11.600 |
| 9 | 26% | $29.600 | $10.400 |
| 10 | 22% | $31.200 | $8.800 |
| 11 | 20% | $32.000 | $8.000 |
| 12 | 17% | $33.200 | $6.800 |
Mercedes GLS
If you hesitate to buy an S-Class or a GLS, it makes more sense to buy GLS because, in the first 3 years, you can save about $11.000!
Mercedes GLS depreciates on average 6,5% per year.
Selling price: $130.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 81% | $24.700 | $105.300 |
| 2 | 70% | $39.000 | $91.000 |
| 3 | 64% | $46.800 | $83.200 |
| 4 | 52% | $62.400 | $67.600 |
| 5 | 41% | $76.700 | $53.300 |
| 6 | 36% | $83.200 | $46.800 |
| 7 | 31% | $89.700 | $40.300 |
| 8 | 28% | $93.600 | $36.400 |
| 9 | 26% | $96.200 | $33.800 |
| 10 | 25% | $97.500 | $32.500 |
| 11 | 24% | $98.800 | $31.200 |
| 12 | 22% | $101.400 | $28.600 |
If you’re looking for a cheap to maintain Mercedes-Benz, check out these models.
Mercedes GLE
It’s a cheaper and alternative for GLS with similar depreciation rate that looks really good on the streets.
Mercedes GLE depreciates on average 6,6% per year.
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Selling price: $82.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72% | $22.960 | $59.040 |
| 2 | 66% | $27.880 | $54.120 |
| 3 | 54% | $37.720 | $44.280 |
| 4 | 44% | $45.920 | $36.080 |
| 5 | 36% | $52.480 | $29.520 |
| 6 | 33% | $54.940 | $27.060 |
| 7 | 31% | $56.580 | $25.420 |
| 8 | 28% | $59.040 | $22.960 |
| 9 | 26% | $60.680 | $21.320 |
| 10 | 24% | $62.320 | $19.680 |
| 11 | 23% | $63.140 | $18.860 |
| 12 | 20% | $65.500 | $16.400 |
Mercedes C-Class
C-Class has a similar problem to S-Class. Its average depreciation rate is more than 7% per year. That’s a lot, but you have to be over with it.
Mercedes C-Class depreciates on average 7,07% per year.
Selling price: $52.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83% | $8.840 | $43.160 |
| 2 | 75% | $13.000 | $39.000 |
| 3 | 66% | $17.860 | $34.320 |
| 4 | 55% | $23.400 | $28.600 |
| 5 | 50% | $26.000 | $26.000 |
| 6 | 43% | $29.640 | $22.360 |
| 7 | 30% | $36.400 | $15.600 |
| 8 | 27% | $37.960 | $14.040 |
| 9 | 24% | $39.520 | $12.480 |
| 10 | 20% | $41.600 | $10.400 |
| 11 | 18% | $42.640 | $9.360 |
| 12 | 15% | $44.200 | $7.800 |
Which Mercedes-Benz class is the best? Click here to get to know.
Mercedes A-Class
I think it’s the best-looking A-Class of all time. It’s a small car, but the depreciation is quite high.
Mercedes A-Class depreciates on average 6,92% per year.
Selling price: $41.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 84% | $6.560 | $34.440 |
| 2 | 74% | $10.660 | $30.340 |
| 3 | 62% | $15.580 | $25.420 |
| 4 | 56% | $18.040 | $22.960 |
| 5 | 49% | $20.910 | $20.090 |
| 6 | 44% | $22.960 | $18.040 |
| 7 | 37% | $25.830 | $15.170 |
| 8 | 29% | $29.110 | $11.890 |
| 9 | 26% | $30.340 | $10.660 |
| 10 | 22% | $31.980 | $9.020 |
| 11 | 20% | $32.800 | $8.200 |
| 12 | 17% | $34.030 | $6.970 |
Mercedes GLC
If you’re looking to buy a Mercedes-Benz SUV, you should consider Mercedes-Benz GLC. Its depreciation rate is the lowest in the top 8 most popular Mercedes models.
Mercedes GLC depreciates on average 6% per year.
Selling price: $68.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 75% | $17.000 | $51.000 |
| 2 | 63% | $26.160 | $42.840 |
| 3 | 62% | $25.840 | $42.160 |
| 4 | 58% | $28.560 | $39.440 |
| 5 | 49% | $34.680 | $33.320 |
| 6 | 42% | $39.440 | $28.560 |
| 7 | 39% | $41.480 | $26.520 |
| 8 | 37% | $42.840 | $25.160 |
| 9 | 36% | $43.520 | $24.480 |
| 10 | 33% | $45.560 | $22.440 |
| 11 | 31% | $46.920 | $21.080 |
| 12 | 28% | $48.960 | $19.040 |
Mercedes E-Class
You don’t buy a Mercedes-Benz car with a brain, but with a heart. But E-Class doesn’t lose its value so fast, and it can be a good option.
Mercedes E-Class depreciates on average 6,67% per year.
Selling price: $75.000
| Vehicle Age | Residual Value | Depreciation | Vehicle Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 77% | $17.250 | $57.750 |
| 2 | 71% | $21.750 | $53.250 |
| 3 | 60% | $30.000 | $45.000 |
| 4 | 53% | $35.250 | $39.750 |
| 5 | 52% | $36.000 | $39.000 |
| 6 | 44% | $42.000 | $33.000 |
| 7 | 38% | $46.500 | $28.500 |
| 8 | 30% | $52.500 | $22.500 |
| 9 | 27% | $54.750 | $20.250 |
| 10 | 25% | $56.250 | $18.750 |
| 11 | 23% | $57.750 | $17.250 |
| 12 | 20% | $60.000 | $15.000 |
Is it Worth to Buy a Brand-New Mercedes?
It’s not to buy a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, because it will lose 20% of its value in the first year and 39% after 3 years. It’s better to wait and buy a Mercedes-Benz after a 3-5 years old Mercedes when it is still relatively new.
Mercedes-Benz, like any other car, loses its value the most in the first year. However, the problem with Mercedes-Benz is that it depreciates much quicker than most car brands.
Let’s take Mazda as an example. Mazda in the first years loses on average 16% of its value and Mercedes-Benz 20%.
If that’s not a huge difference for you, I will tell you that after 3 years, Mazda loses 28% of its value, while Mercedes-Benz 39%! That’s a significant difference.
Also read: 6 Mercedes-Benz Models to Avoid (with Years)
When is the Best Time to Buy Mercedes?
The best time to buy a Mercedes-Benz car is 3 years or more after the manufacture. That’s because, in the first 3 years, Mercedes will lose 39% of its value. After 3 years, it loses only 4,6% per year on average.
It’s like with any other car. In the first 3 years, it’s not worth buying it. If you don’t want to lose too much money, you should buy a Mercedes-Benz after 3 years or more when the depreciation is not so rapid.
If you want to lose even less money and lose only 2-3% per year, it might be a good idea to buy an older, 9 years old Mercedes-Benz. The disadvantage is that older car is more likely to break down. In the long run, you might end up losing more because of repairs. You should always make sure that you buy your car from someone who took good care of it with low mileage.
Why Mercedes Lose its Value so Fast?
Mercedes loses value quickly because there is no demand for it due to high maintenance costs, requirements, and many off-leased models that cause a large supply.
The truth is that Mercedes-Benz is a luxury brand. Because of that, the demand for it is not so high as for Toyota, for example. It’s expensive to buy, the insurance is also not cheap, and if something breaks down, it might also be costly for you.
People don’t want a car that has so many requirements. Therefore, the Mercedes-Benz owners need to lower their prices if they want to sell their cars.
Mercedes-Benz cars depreciate so quickly because they’re commonly leased. If the leasing is over, a lot of Mercedes-Benz are for sale, which means the supply is high and the owners of Mercedes have to lower their prices.
Also, when you look at the used Mercedes-Benz cars, you might see that they have high mileage. Many Mercedes models have a higher than 120.000 miles mileage. That also contributes to higher depreciation.
Read it: Audi Depreciation: 11 Popular Models Depreciation Charts
How to Slow Down Mercedes Depreciation?
There are a couple of ways how you can slow down your Mercedes-Benz depreciation and sell it for more money.
- Don’t drive when you don’t need to.
As we know, when your car’s mileage is high, it will be worth less money. If you want to sell it more expensively, you should keep the mileage low. If the distance is low, ride your bike or walk. It will be better for your health and wallet. But don’t be too crazy about it. Saving even 100 miles a year is a good result. - Record a service history
Would you rather buy a car with a full record of service history or a car without any service documents? That’s right! If you keep records of services, you can increase the value of your car even by a few percent. - Don’t forget about the maintenance
Proper maintenance is key. If you don’t regularly change oil, filters, engine coolant, camshaft, etc, forget about selling your car at a reasonable price. If you do maintenance, your engine will last longer, and you won’t have to spend too much money on servicing. - Clean and wash your car at least twice a month
When your car looks good outside and inside, it has a way higher chance of being sold for a higher price. It is hard to clean or wash your car twice a month, but it’s definitely worth it. - Drive carefully to avoid scratches and dents
A scratch or a dent can happen to every car driver. And they lower your car’s value. If you want to avoid scratches or dents, drive carefully. And for example, when you’re parking in the parking lots, park your car far away from cars so that you can minimize the risk of a scratch.
How Well Do Mercedes Hold Their Value Compared to Other Luxury Car Brands?
Luxury cars don’t tend to lose their value well. Let’s compare Mercedes-Benz to other similar brands.
There is not much demand for Maserati or Lincoln, so they need to be sold way cheaper than they should be.
Mercedes is the 7th fastest losing value car brand in the world! But on the other side, it’s the car brand that holds value relatively well when it comes to luxury cars.
A car brand that holds its value the best is Toyota, with depreciation of only 42%. It means that Toyota depreciates 20% slower than Mercedes-Benz.
