Mercedes Benz 280E

70 registered in New Zealand · 1972–1998 · 66% from Not Known

The Mercedes Benz 280E is a recognisable name on New Zealand roads, with 70 registered across model years 1972 to 1998. Most are petrol-powered saloons with a 2.8L engine.

Below you'll find a complete breakdown of fuel types, body styles, drivetrain options, regional distribution, and estimated running costs. Select a specific model year to see detailed specs, buyer insights, and variant-level data for that generation of the 280E.

Select Year

70 On NZ Roads
2.8L Engine

Fuel Types

Mercedes Benz 280E fuel type breakdown: PETROL 93%, DIESEL 7%.

Drivetrain

Engine Size

Mercedes Benz 280E engine sizes: 2.8L 41%, 2.7L 20%, 2.8L 13%, 2.8L 6%, 3.0L 4%.

Imported From

Mercedes Benz 280E imported from: Not Known 66%, Germany 33%, Japan 1%.

When They Arrived in NZ

When Mercedes Benz 280E vehicles were first registered in New Zealand — showing import waves and buying trends.

Mercedes Benz 280E NZ arrival timeline: 2009: 1, 2015: 1, 2019: 1, 2020: 1, 2022: 1.

Colours

BLUE 13 (19%)
YELLOW 9 (13%)
WHITE 8 (11%)
SILVER 7 (10%)
RED 7 (10%)
GREEN 7 (10%)
GREY 5 (7%)
BROWN 4 (6%)

Colours shown are approximate representations of NZTA basic colour categories, not exact manufacturer paint codes.

Where They Are in NZ

Mercedes Benz 280E regional distribution: AUCKLAND: 20, CHRISTCHURCH: 4, DUNEDIN: 4, MARLBOROUGH: 4, WHANGAREI: 3.

Body Types

Similar Cars

1 Holden logo
Holden Commodore 49,259
1978–2022 11.1 L/100km
2 Ford logo
Ford Falcon 33,206
1960–2020 11.5 L/100km
3 Toyota logo
Toyota Camry 30,957
1980–2026 7.3 L/100km
4 Toyota logo
Toyota Corolla 24,532
1956–2023 5.8 L/100km
5 Honda logo
Honda Accord 20,130
1978–2020 7.9 L/100km

Frequently Asked Questions

How many Mercedes Benz 280E are there in New Zealand?

There are 70 Mercedes Benz 280E vehicles registered in New Zealand as of March 2026, making up 0% of the total passenger fleet. Model years range from 1972 to 1998.

What body type is the Mercedes Benz 280E?

The Mercedes Benz 280E is primarily classified as a saloon in the NZTA fleet register. The most common fuel type is petrol.

Are Mercedes Benz 280E cars imported or NZ-new?

66% of Mercedes Benz 280E vehicles in New Zealand originated from Not Known. A mix of NZ-new and imported vehicles make up the fleet. Check the import status and origin country for the specific year you're considering on the individual year pages.