REVIEW : MERCEDES W212 E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (2009-2011)

The W212 is the 4th iteration of the Mercedes E class, an emblematic midsize “luxury” sedan. Coming just after the W211 model, it brings new features and engines.

It was first unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show (10 January 2009) to some members of the press, then it was put on public display at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show. It was introduced in March 2009 for European market and in July 2009 for North America.

This new model features a multitude of innovations in the fields of safety, comfort and environmental compatibility, among them the drowsiness detection system ATTENTION ASSIST, Adaptive Highbeam Assist and enhanced PRE-SAFE Brake, which triggers automatic full braking to mitigate the consequences of an accident that is no longer avoidable.

Prefer to watch it in action? Skip straight to my full POV test drive at the bottom of this page — or keep reading for the full breakdown first.

Petrol Engines

CAR	ENGINE	POWER	TORQUE	0-100km/h (0-62mph)
E 200 BlueEFFICIENCY	1.8l turbocharged I4 M271 DE18 LA	181 hp – 135 kW	270 Nm (199 lb-ft)	8.5s
E 250 BlueEFFICIENCY	1.8l turbocharged I4 M271 DE18 LA	201 hp – 150 kW	310 Nm (229 lb-ft)	7.7s
E 300	3.0l V6 M272 KE30	228 hp – 170 kW	300 Nm (221 lb-ft)	7.4s
E 350 CGI BlueEFFICIENCY	3.5l V6 M272 DE35	288 hp – 215 kW	365 Nm (258 lb-ft)	6.8s
E 350	3.5l V6 M272 KE35	268 hp – 200 kW	350 Nm (258 lb-ft)	6.5s
E 500	4.7l twin-turbo V8 M278 DE46 LA red.	383 hp – 285 kw	530 Nm (391 lb-ft)	5.2s (5.4s 4MATIC)
E63 AMG	6.2l M156 V8 M156 E 63	518 hp – 386 kW	630 Nm (465 lb-ft)	4.5s

Diesel Engines

CAR	ENGINE	POWER	TORQUE	0-100km/h (0-62mph)
E200 CDI	2.1l I4 OM651 DE22 LA red.	136 hp – 100 kW	360 Nm (266 lb-ft)	9.5s
E220 CDI	2.1l I4 OM651 DE22 LA	168 hp – 125 kW	400 Nm (295 lb-ft)	8.4s
E250 CDI	2.1l I4 OM651 DE22 LA	201 hp – 150 kW	500 Nm (369 lb-ft)	7.5s (7.9s 4MATIC)
E300 CDI	3l V6 OM642 DE30 LA	201 hp – 150 kW	500 Nm (369 lb-ft)	7.9s
E350 CDI	3l V6 OM642 DE30 LA	228 hp – 170 kW	540 Nm (398 lb-ft)	6.8s (7.1s 4MATIC)
E 350 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY	3l V6 OM642 LS DE30 LA	261 hp – 195 kW	620 Nm (457 lb-ft)	6.2s (6.7s 4 MATIC)

Gearboxes

Gearbox	Car model
6-speed manual	E200 – E200 CDI – E220 CDI – E250 CDI
5G-TRONIC	E200 – E250 – E200 CDI – E220 CDI – E250 CDI
7G-TRONIC	E300 – E350 – E500 – E250 CDI – E300 CDI
7G-TRONIC Plus (evolution of the 7G-TRONIC)	E250 – E300 – E350 – E500 – E200CDI – E220 CDI – E300 CDI – E350 CDI
SPEEDSHIFT MTC 7-speed	E63 AMG

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My test drive of the W212 E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY (It’s my own car)

Spec	Details
Car	Mercedes E220 Avantgarde – 2009-2011 (Prefacelift)
Engine	Inline 4 – 170 hp – 400 Nm – Diesel
Gearbox	7 speed auto (7G-TRONIC Plus) – RWD
Weight	1750kg
Performance	0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) in 8.8s and a top speed of 232 km/h (tested on the German Autobahn)

We got the Mercedes E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY for a long period of time, so it’s a car that I’ve driven a lot.
It’s the one with the second “entry-level” diesel engine, but I think it’s the best choice if you daily this car (even if I will daily the E63 if I can afford it :D).

A 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) achieved in 8.8s, not bad for a midsize saloon (even if with today’s EV standards, it’s pretty common to have cars this big doing below 6s)

I don’t think you should consider the E200 CDI as the engine can be underpowered for the weight of the car, but it will be enough to move the car if you live in a country with some strict regulations or taxes.

(Full POV drive is linked at the end of this article if you’d rather see it than read it.)

Reliability & Ownership Notes

The OM651 has a solid reputation overall — well-maintained examples regularly clear 300,000+ km, and some owners report going well beyond that. That said, it’s not without known weak points, and a few of them are specifically relevant to a 2009-2011 example like mine, since early production years carry more risk than later ones.

Timing chain — Unlike most engines, the timing chain sits at the rear of the block, which makes replacement significantly more labor-intensive (and expensive) than on a typical front-mounted setup. Chain stretch and tensioner wear tend to show up somewhere between 100,000 and 150,000 km, announcing themselves with a rattle on cold start that fades once oil pressure builds. Left unaddressed, it can escalate to serious engine damage — so this is the single most important thing to check before buying.

Injectors — Pre-2012 cars (which includes this generation) were fitted with early Delphi piezo injectors that had a rockier reliability record than the units introduced later — rough idle, limp mode, and high-pressure rail faults being the most common symptoms, usually surfacing from around 100,000 km onward. Budget for this as a realistic ownership cost rather than a remote possibility.

EGR & DPF — Like most diesels of this era, carbon and soot buildup in the EGR valve is a routine maintenance item rather than a red flag on its own. DPF clogging is more of a concern if the car has spent its life on short trips or heavy stop-start driving rather than sustained highway use — worth asking about the previous owner’s typical usage.

Cooling system — Some early OM651 units suffer from a plastic coolant manifold prone to cracking over time, leading to slow coolant loss. Not catastrophic if caught early, but worth a visual check for coolant residue around the manifold area.

Buying tips:

• Ask for documented service history, specifically anything related to the timing chain
• Listen carefully for a rattle on a cold start (engine that’s been off for several hours)
• Check for coolant staining/residue near the engine block
• Don’t be alarmed by these points in isolation — they’re well documented, manageable with proper maintenance, and reflect an engine that’s fundamentally sound rather than one to avoid
• Pay attention to any signs of rust that may be present on the suspension arms and chassis (especially for cars driven on salted roads in cold weather).

Verdict

The E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY strikes a good balance for anyone wanting to daily a W212 without the running costs of the bigger six-cylinder diesels. It’s not the most exciting choice on paper, but the combination of usable torque, genuine comfort over distance, and reasonable running costs make it an easy car to live with day to day. The known OM651 weak points are real, but they’re well documented and manageable with the right pre-purchase checks and a bit of maintenance budget set aside.

I personally did a few long trips (I already did a 10000km road trip in 3 weeks). So far, I’ve never had a single failure or sign of fatigue. It’s really important to do the maintenance in time. (And you should not drive it like an E63 AMG, it will not like that)

Rating: 8/10 — a sensible, comfortable, and characterful daily, as long as you go in with your eyes open on the timing chain and injectors.

My POV test drive: