Mercedes-Benz Engines

OM606

3.0L NA Diesel I6

1993–2001

300D, E 300D

Legendary. 500k+ miles documented. Tunable to 500hp. One of most reliable engine...

M112/M113

V6/V8 NA

1997–2006

E-Class, C-Class, S-Class, CLK, SL, G-Class, ML 320, ML 350

Last simple MB V6/V8. Over-engineered. Cheap to maintain. 250k+ km.

OM648

3.2L CDI Diesel I6

2002–2006

E-Class, C-Class, S-Class, E 320 CDI

Modern OM606 successor. Excellent highway cruiser. Strong torque.

OM654

2.0L Diesel I4

2016–present

B-Class, A-Class, GLA, C-Class, GLC, E-Class, GLE, CLA, S-Class, G-Class, C 220d Wagon, E 220d Wagon, GLC 220d Coupe

Best modern MB diesel. Aluminium block, low friction. Long-distance champion.

M104

M104 2.8/3.2 I6

1990–1997

W124/R129/W140 inline-6. One of Mercedes' most reliable engines. Bulletproof bot...

OM656

3.0L Diesel I6

2017–present

E 400d, GLE 350d, S 350d

Flagship modern MB diesel. Inline-6 smoothness returns. MHEV. GLE/GLS/S-Class. E...

OM642

3.0L V6 Diesel

2005–2020

E-Class, S-Class, GLE, C-Class, CLK, G-Class, ML 350 CDI

Legendary V6 diesel. 250k+ km. Fix swirl flaps and enjoy.

M256

3.0L Turbo 48V I6

2017–present

E-Class, GLE, AMG GT, S-Class, G-Class, GLE 450, S 450

MB returns to I6. EQ Boost. Smooth, powerful. Still proving itself.

M264

2.0L Turbo 48V I4

2017–present

E-Class, C-Class, GLC, A 250, E 200 Wagon

M274 evolution with 48V mild hybrid. More refined, fewer known issues.

M276

V6 3.0/3.5L

2010–2019

G-Class, SL, S-Class, SLK, GLE, GLC, C-Class, E-Class, GLK

Refined M272 successor. Direct injection. 200k+ km with care.

M111

M111 1.8/2.0/2.3 I4

1992–2003

W202/W210 4-cyl. Supercharged Kompressor versions. Simple, reliable. Head gasket...

OM608

OM608 1.5 Diesel

2018–present

A-Class, B-Class

W177 A-Class, W247 B-Class. Renault K9K sourced and rebadged. Same proven diesel...

M119

M119 5.0 V8

1989–1998

W124 500E/E500, R129 SL500, W140 S500 V8. DOHC 32V. Wiring harness issue (biodeg...

OM611

OM611 2.2 CDI I4

1998–2006

W203/W210 C/E 200/220 CDI. Common rail diesel. Injector seal leak ('black death'...

OM651 (late)

2.1L Diesel I4

2014–2020

A 180d, B 180d, C 200d, C 220d, C 220d Wagon, E 200d, E 220d, GLA 200d, GLC 220d, GLC 250d Coupe

Post-2014: updated injectors + pump. Much improved. Highway excellent.

M274

2.0L Turbo I4

2012–2019

C-Class, E-Class, GLK, GLC, C 200 Wagon, GLC 200 Coupe

Improved over M271. Dual-row chain. Thermostat main issue. Reliable with care.

OM612

OM612 2.7 CDI I5

1999–2005

E-Class

W210/W211 E270 CDI. 5-cylinder diesel. Smooth, torquey. Injector seal 'black dea...

M270

1.6/2.0L Turbo I4

2012–2018

GLC, C-Class, CLA, A-Class, GLA, B-Class

Transverse M274. Solid compact MB. Chain lifespan ~130k km.

M282

1.3L Turbo I4

2018–present

A 180, A 200, B 180, B 200, CLA 180, CLA 200, GLA 180, GLA 200

Renault HR13 in a Mercedes suit. Adequate city power, surprisingly refined. Reli...

OM613

OM613 3.2 CDI I6

1999–2005

W210/W211 E320 CDI. Inline-6 diesel. Same 'black death' injector seal concern as...

M177 AMG

4.0L TT V8

2014–present

GLA, CLA, A-Class, SL, GLC, C-Class, E-Class, S-Class, GLE, G-Class, AMG GT

Handcrafted AMG V8. Massive power. AMG-level care needed. Expensive when wrong.

M278

M278 4.7 V8 Biturbo

2010–2018

SL, S-Class

W222 S500, W166 GLE500, W212 E550. Hot-V twin-turbo. Timing chain guides. Turbo ...

M266

M266 1.7/2.0 (W245 B-Class)

2005–2011

A-Class

W245 B-Class. Inclined engine (at 57°). Unusual design. Balance shaft chain can ...

M156

M156 6.2 V8 AMG

2006–2015

CLK, E-Class, C-Class

C63/E63/S63 W204/W212/W221. Head bolt failure on early units (2007-2008). Intake...

OM668

OM668 1.7 Diesel

1998–2004

A-Class

W168 A-Class. Same era as M166 petrol. Injector issues. Head gasket concerns. Tu...

M279

M279 6.0 V12 Biturbo

2013–2020

S-Class

S65/SL65/G65 AMG. Twin-turbo V12. Turbo failure. ABC suspension fluid leaks cont...

M166

M166 A-Class 1.4/1.6

1997–2004

A-Class

W168 A-Class. Infamous moose test rollover era. Engine itself is adequate but he...

M272

V6 NA 2.5-3.5L

2004–2012

C-Class, E-Class, SLK, CLK, S-Class, SL, CLK 350, E 350, ML 350

Smooth V6. Early models: balance shaft defect (class-action). Post-2008: better.

M273

V8 NA 4.7-5.5L

2005–2012

S-Class

Same sprocket problem as M272. Powerful but risky early models.

OM651 (early)

2.1L Diesel I4

2008–2014

E-Class, C-Class, A-Class, CLK, GLA, CLA, GLK, GLC, B-Class, GLE

Pre-2014: injectors, timing chain, DPF. Hard to work on.

M271

1.8L SC I4

2002–2014

C-Class, E-Class, SLK, CLK, CLK 200 Kompressor

Single-row timing chain stretches causing catastrophic failure. Avoid.