Mercedes-Benz S 500 W221 — Reliability

W221 Sedan Luxury 2005–2013 1 engine

Reliability Summary

Engine M273 — 45/100 AVOID
Known Issues 2

Engine in this model

AVOID 45

M273

V8 NA 4.7-5.5L

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

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Known Issues Across All Engines

Issue Engine Severity Onset
Idler gear sprocket wear — same class-action as M272 M273 critical 60,000 km – 150,000 km
Spark plugs + ignition coils (8 of each) M273 minor 80,000 km – 150,000 km