M279 vs OM606

Side-by-side reliability comparison

Higher reliability score
OM606 BEST 96/100
+41 points over M279
0 / 100
CAUTION M279 Mercedes-Benz
0 / 100
BEST OM606 Mercedes-Benz

Specifications

M279
OM606
Brand
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz
Verdict
CAUTION
BEST
Reliability
55
96
Years
2013--2020
1993--2001
Displacement
5980 cc
2996 cc
Layout
V12
I6
Type
Petrol Turbo
Diesel
Power
530--630 hp
134--174 hp
Known Issues
2
2
Total Risk Cost
€4,000--€15,000
€280--€700

Character

M279

"S65/SL65/G65 AMG. Twin-turbo V12. Turbo failure. ABC suspension fluid leaks contaminate engine bay. Timing chain. Catastrophically expensive to repair. Ultimate AMG but specialist only."

OM606

"Legendary. 500k+ miles documented. Tunable to 500hp. One of most reliable engines ever."

Issues Comparison

M279 2

◆ CRITICAL
Turbo failure €3,000--€10,000 60,000 km--120,000 km
▲ HIGH
ABC suspension fluid contamination €1,000--€5,000 40,000 km--100,000 km

OM606 2

○ MINOR
Glow plug failure (only meaningful issue) €80--€200 80,000 km--∞
○ MINOR
Injection pump seal wear (age-related) €200--€500 200,000 km--∞

Models

M279 1

S-Class W222 2014--2020

OM606 2

300D W124 1993--1997 Sedan E 300D W210 1995--2003 Sedan
Full M279 Report Full OM606 Report