They were intended for service on the northern lines from Stettiner Station to the rural towns Bernau, Oranienburg and Velten.

In 1920 the Prussian state railways ordered six test trains, which were first pulled by steam locomotives until electrification commenced in 1923.

In everyday operation, however, the engines soon proved to be too weak and already in 1925 upgraded versions (the later DR Class ET 168 and ET 165) were ordered in large numbers.

Moreover, the ET 169 railcars were too large to pass the Berlin Nord-Süd Tunnel opened in 1936, and had to be deployed on the Ringbahn line.

Some components were re-used for the rolling stock of the East Berlin U-Bahn line E. Motor unit ET 169 005b, withdrawn as early as 1943, survived as a grounded body.