German performance cars are among the best-engineered vehicles in the automotive world. German automakers like Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and BMW have always been at the forefront of some of the most advanced technologies in the automotive world, which explains why they've always dominated motorsport with some of the fastest vehicles ever created by man. As such, German performance cars can be great investments for anyone shopping for used cars.

Updated April 2023: As with everything in the world, time and new information have led to German automobile reliability figures changing in the last few months and years. While most of the cars stay the same, some have shown some new issues which only time could reveal. As a result, here is an updated list of the most and least reliable German performance cars on the used market.

However, before buying a used German car, it's important to do your due diligence to ensure that they're reliable, as their maintenance costs are usually much higher when compared to American and Japanese cars. On one hand, some German cars are over-engineered, making them as reliable as the sun – given proper maintenance. On the other hand, some have horrible reliability issues that will cause headaches down the road and use up any money you might have saved by buying a used car.

So, without further ado, here are some of the most reliable German sports cars on the used market which are still good value for money and a few to stay far away from if you don’t want to drain your bank account with recurring repairs.

14 Most Reliable: 1990 Porsche 944

1990 Porsche 944 S2
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The 944 came from the era when Porsche still tried to establish its engineering dominance among German manufacturers. The car which the 944 replaced, the 924, originally started out as a VW sports car. Instead, VW designed its own sports car, using its parts bin, and called it the Corrado. Porsche then took their car and sold it as the 924, which morphed into the 944 and eventually, the 968.

With it being a Porsche, it was reliable and economical through its four-cylinder engine, which later received a turbo and displacement increases for almost each updated version. As with any performance-oriented car, maintenance is the key to reliability. Today, 944s are among the cheapest Porsche models and are available on the used car market for around $25,000.

Related: 10 Proper German Sports Cars That Are Surprisingly Cheap To Own And Maintain

13 Least Reliable: 2011 BMW M5

The front of the F10 M5
Via: BMW

The BMW M5 F10 was the first turbocharged M5 in production and featured the new S63 engine, which first debuted in the X5M. It was one of the few performance cars which offered the rare combination of refinement, comfort, performance, and fuel efficiency. As with many German automakers, the claimed performance figures were quite conservative, with dynos attaining more power than advertised.

The S63 is not without problems though, as owners have reported that they had to replace the engine oil every 4,000-5,000 miles and that the pipe carrying coolant to the turbos sometimes develops a leak, resulting in decreased engine efficiency. Luckily, BMW’s iDrive system informs the driver of any service parts which need replacing well before they fail. The S63 is nowhere near as finicky as the S85 V10 it replaced, but regular maintenance is still recommended.

12 Most Reliable: 2016 VW Scirocco R

The front of the Scirocco R
VW Group

The Scirocco can trace its history all the way back to the Golf Mk1, when Volkswagen chose to build its own new sports car instead of using one engineered by Porsche (this one became the 914). VW designed the Scirocco to be a sleeker coupé alternative to the Golf, featuring many of the same features and engines. VW discontinued the model in 1992, only to resurface in 2008 and stop production again in 2017. The last generation followed the original trend of being Golf-based, sharing most of the parts and engines.

The top-spec Scirocco R shared the engine and most of the drivetrain from the Golf R, bar the all-wheel-drive system. Instead, it had all 260 horses go through the front wheels. Apart from some typical VW oil leaks, the Scirocco is a very reliable car, which it has to be as it’s based on the Golf. Sciroccos cost around $20,000 to buy, but make sure to have some money left in case the car requires a bit of TLC.

Related: 5 German Sports Cars We'd Buy Over Any Muscle Car (5 We Wouldn't)

11 Least Reliable: 2001 Audi S4

1999 Audi S4 Avant
Audi

The Audi S4 was a worthy alternative, compared to this generation’s BMW M3 E36 or Mercedes C43 AMG. It featured a 2.7-liter twin-turbocharged V6, a manual transmission, and Audi’s brilliant Quattro all-wheel-drive system. No, it did not sound nearly as good as the C43’s 4.3-liter V8, but thanks to the turbos, it could keep up with it.

That is where the good news ended for the S4. While it was among the fastest wagons, it lacked the reliability to be a viable choice compared to the Merc and Bimmer. The engine needed new oil every 5,000 miles, the turbos are almost guaranteed to fail, the ignition is prone to overheating, the instrument cluster electronics are prone to failure and the optional Alcantara seats wear out easily. The list goes on. Wheel bearings fail, spark plugs and ignition coils fail, valve cover gaskets fail, the chain tensioner fails, the coolant temperature sensor gives wildly inaccurate readings, and worst of all – the timing belt and water pump fail constantly.

10 Most Reliable: 2016 Porsche Boxster

2016 Porsche Boxster
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The third-generation Boxster picked up right where its predecessor had left off when it debuted in 2012. Dubbed the 981, the third-generation Boxster had many changes that gearheads loved, including a new design language and revised engine and transmission specifications.

At the heart of the 981 was a new 2.7-liter flat-six engine developing 260 hp, paired with either a six-speed manual or a reworked seven-speed PDK transmission. Porsche has a reputation for making reliable sports cars that gearheads can drive every day, but the 981 exceeded expectations, as it had a perfect reliability rating score of 5.0 on Kelley Blue Book.

9 Least Reliable: 2006 Mercedes-Benz E350

Grey 2007 Mercedes-Benz E350
Mercedes-Benz

The W211 Mercedes-Benz E-Class is one of the best executive sedans of the 2000s thanks to its styling, engineering, and build quality. The normal versions were great, and even the entry-level E200 Kompressor did an adequate job of hauling the premium hunk of German metal around. The best of the lot was the AMG, the E55, and the E63 – the former of which housed the nearly bulletproof M113k 5.4-liter supercharged V8.

Unfortunately, the mid-range model, the E350, had some major issues which caused many to heavily criticize the brand. The biggest problem was with the engine balance shafts, which would fail and result in a nearly $5,000 repair bill. Some owners also reported issues with the idler gears, and one customer even needed a full engine rebuild. Not the greatest engineering from such a prestigious German automaker.

Related: 10 German Sports Cars We'd Drive Over A Muscle Car Any Day

8 Most Reliable: 2003 BMW M3

The front of a yellow E46 M3
BMW

The E46 M3 is the best BMW M3 of all time to many in the automotive community, and even the best BMW by some. This is mostly due to the fact that it was the last naturally aspirated straight-six M3, before the E90’s V8 and the twin-turbo F30. The E46 M3 featured the legendary S54 3.2-liter straight-six, with a choice of either a six-speed manual or a six-speed SMG automated-manual transmission. The SMG gearbox was the biggest issue with the car, as it failed in various ways.

Luckily, BMW made the conversion procedure quite easy, utilizing the same gearbox to do it with – all while the transmission is still in the car. The E46 M3 is available from around $15,000 to $30,000 for a decent one. It is certainly better and less prone to unforeseen repairs than the E36 M3, which preceded it. Something to take into account with the E46 M3 is that it needs maintenance according to the recommendation. Otherwise, issues may develop which could lead to seriously expensive repairs.

7 Least Reliable: 1995 BMW M3

BMW E36 M3 - Front Quarter
BMW 

The E36 M3 was the second-generation M3 and the first to use a straight-six engine layout – a feature that made the M3 famous and an engine that it uses to this day. The E36 featured the S50, and later the S52, due to US regulations making the European-spec M3 too expensive to sell. The solution was for BMW to sell the M3 with a less expensive engine, generating around 80 hp less than the Euro-spec model, even when the facelifted version arrived in 1995.

The reliability of the European E36 M3 is at the bottom end of the M3 list as it was expensive to maintain and if not done properly, could lead to rather expensive repairs. Overall, it is a good car, however, if at all possible, stretch for an E46, as BMW solved most of the major issues with the S52 by then, or just get a US-spec model E36.

Related: 5 German Sports Cars We'd Daily Drive (5 We'd Stay Far Away From)

6 Most Reliable: 2006 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG

1-Via-YouTube-Cropped-1
Mercedes-Benz

The final generation CLK was among the last of the over-engineered Mercedes-Benz cars to leave the factory. As a result of this, the CLK of this era is remarkably reliable for a luxury car, with many of the issues of the previous model sorted out. Interestingly, the CLK was much better equipped than its main rival, the BMW E46 3 Series. The CLK was available with a choice of engines, from supercharged inline-fours to V6s and great big V8s – the coolest of these being the CLK55 AMG and CLK63 AMG.

While the M157 featured in the CLK63 had some issues (fixed on later models fitted with the engine), the M113 fitted in the CLK55 is one of the best engines Mercedes ever made. It isn’t without fault though, as some engines develop an oil leak at the rear, although this is easily repairable, allowing the engine to continue in its merry way. All-in-all, the 55 AMG models are pretty cheap to maintain – given that they are thoroughly checked at the manufacturer's recommended intervals.

5 Least Reliable: 2005 BMW M5

The front of an E60 M5 on a twisty road
Via: BMW

Oh boy, the S85. During the 2000s, the three big automotive giants – BMW, Mercedes, and Audi – tried to out-perform each other with ridiculously cool cars. Mercedes had their new 6.2-liter V8, Audi used their new Lamborghini-inspired twin-turbo V10 and put it in a family wagon, and BMW unveiled probably the best engine they have ever produced, the S85 V10. It produced 500 hp and made a sound similar to a supercar.

The downside of all this awesomeness, though, was that the engine had major issues. Some of these were small and easily repairable, while others required the entire engine to be rebuilt. The biggest of these issues is the prematurely wearing rod bearings. The genuine BMW replacement parts are not as expensive as one might expect, however getting to the area to replace them, can result in extremely expensive labor bills, making the S85 one of the least reliable German engines ever made.

Related: 10 Classic German Sports Cars Every Gearhead Should Drive At Least Once

4 Most Reliable: 2020 Porsche 911

2020-porsche-911
Porsche

The Porsche 911 has been the standard for sports cars for most of its life. Over the years, it received some major updates with new models – some built from the ground up, however, the basic philosophy of the 911 has remained the same.

The current 992 generation of the 911 is rapidly becoming one of the most reliable German cars in the market – both new and used. It has exceptional performance and although it is still quite expensive, the car is worth every penny. While expected from the lower models, the high-performance trims also showcase this dependability, making it the best German sports car to buy on the used market.

3 Least Reliable: Porsche 996

Porsche-911_Carrera_Coupe
Porsche

The 996 has to be the most hated generation of the iconic 911. When the 996 debuted in the late 1990s, it received a lot of criticism for its ugly headlight design and the fact that it used water cooling rather than air cooling.

The 996 used the M96 engine, which had quite a few problems, especially in early models. According to Porsche-mania.com, the 996's most common issues were IMS bearing failure, cylinder cracking and scoring, and rear main seal leaks. All of these were costly to repair, which is one of the reasons why the 996 is still cheap, with a Hagerty value of under $30,000.

2 Most Reliable: 2012 Audi TT RS

White 2012 Audi TT RS
Audi

The Audi TT impressed many when it debuted in the late '90s. It was a well-engineered sports car with a unique design, reliable engines, and an attractive price tag. However, many gearheads always thought the TT would have been a much better sports car if it had more power, which is why the Audi RS division built the TT RS in 2009.

Audi equipped the TT RS with a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-five engine sending 330 hp to all wheels via a close-ratio six-speed manual transmission, making it a joy to drive. The TT RS is just as reliable as the TT, earning a Kelley Blue Book reliability rating of 4.6.

1 Least Reliable: 2008 Audi S6

2008 Audi S6 Blue Rear
Audi

When BMW built the crazy E60 M5 in the mid-2000s, it didn't take long for Audi to respond with a super sedan of their own – the third-generation S6. Audi wanted the S6 to be among the fastest four-door sedans of the day, so they equipped it with a proper engine.

At the heart of the 2006 S6 was a 5.2-liter odd-firing V10 producing 423 hp. This is an insane power to work with in a sedan, but the tradeoff is higher maintenance costs. As such, the 2008 Audi S6 is worth around $10,000 according to Edmunds.