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Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW 5-Series Lemon Odds and Nada Odds for the Year Ending June 30, 2018

An asterisk (*) marks results based on small sample sizes.

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Year Make/Model Nada Odds per 100 Cars Lemon Odds per 100 Cars    
26 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 69300 miles driven

First year for F10 5-Series.2011		 BMW 5-Series Join or sign in to view   see reported repairs
  26 vehicles, 11.4 months per vehicle, 69300 miles driven

First year for F10 5-Series.

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Mercedes-Benz GLK vs. BMW 5-Series Lemon Odds and Nada Odds

Other sources of Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW 5-Series reliability data provide only averages, which can conceal as much as they reveal. So we also report the percentage of Mercedes-Benz GLKs and BMW 5-Seriess with no repairs at all in the past year and the percentage of Mercedes-Benz GLKs and BMW 5-Seriess that are lemons (required three or more repair trips in the past year). These figures might surprise you.

These stats are promptly updated four times a year, to closely track Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW 5-Series lemon odds as the cars age. Others can be over a year behind. Only TrueDelta tells you how reliable the Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW 5-Series have been recently.

To see how frequently Mercedes-Benz GLK and BMW 5-Series problems occur, check out our car reliability stats.

TrueDelta Reviews the Brand Reputation of the Mercedes-Benz GLK

Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros
YearComment
2013 The smaller the Mercedes, the more heavily it tends to trade on the three-pointed star. So the #1 reason to consider a GLK250 carries over from the GLK350 review (text from the previous review in italics): I don't personally put much stock in brands, with cars or anything else. But each time I have a Mercedes-Benz for a week the continuing power of the marque has been unavoidable. Audi and BMW now command similar prices, but haven't yet acquired the same mystique. They probably never will for people born before 1980. Until the final years of the twentieth century, Audis were largely ignored as troublesome, modestly upgraded VWs and BMW was mostly known for the compact, still semi-affordable 3-Series. Neither could hold a candle to the company that invented the mass-produced automobile and that has been strongly associated with large, top-shelf automobiles ever since. Gayla (the site's programmer, my wife) is not a car person. Her take on the GLK: "Of course it's a good car, it's a Mercedes." Some of my friends who are more into cars--and who own competing makes--similarly employ a different tone when asking about "the Mercedes." They could afford one, so why don't they own one? Partly because the brand's mystique cuts both ways. They're not interested in making such a strong status statement. Can even a compact crossover make a strong status statement? Mercedes-Benz has done its best to make this so--check out the size of the three-pointed star on the GLK's grille. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the Mercedes-Benz GLK

Mercedes-Benz GLK Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2010 4dr SUV 268-horsepower 3.5L V6
7-speed shiftable automatic AWD		 Trickle-down reputation from the more expensive M-Bs. see full Mercedes-Benz GLK review
 

What Our Members Are Saying about the Brand Reputation of the BMW 5-Series

BMW 5-Series Brand Reputation: Pros
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2009 4dr Sedan 360-horsepower 4.8L V8
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 Strong repuatation for prestige and quality. see full BMW 5-Series review
2007 4dr Sedan 255-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic AWD		 worth the extra price, very high resale, very reliable see full BMW 5-Series review
2006 4dr Sedan 255-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 BMW has a long standing reputation for handling and performance, and the experience did match the reputation see full BMW 5-Series review
2004 4dr Sedan 225-horsepower 3.0L I6
6-speed automated manual RWD		 Projects success see full BMW 5-Series review
2004 4dr Sedan 184-horsepower 2.5L I6
6-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 The Ultimate Driving Machine - it says it all... see full BMW 5-Series review
2002 4dr Sedan 184-horsepower 2.5L I6
5-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 BMW has an implied image to most people. Saying you own a 5 series made those in the know nod their head. The frame was welded aluminum and even after 8+ years showed almost no rust. Buyers of the car were amazed and bought it after a short drive. see full BMW 5-Series review
2002 4dr Sedan 184-horsepower 2.5L I6
5-speed shiftable automatic RWD		 BMW is supposed to be a great car. see full BMW 5-Series review
BMW 5-Series Brand Reputation: Cons
YearBody/PowertrainComment
2002 4dr Sedan 225-horsepower 3.0L I6
5-speed manual RWD		 BMW drivers are universally despised. Just Google "BMW drivers" to see what I mean. They are thought to have almost malicious disregard for anyone but themselves, as well as for any traffic laws. see full BMW 5-Series review