Mercedes E-Class S212Estate2009–2016

Mercedes E-Class S212 Engines — The Complete UK Guide

Every engine fitted to the E-Class estate — from the frugal four-cylinder diesels to the twin-turbo V8s and the 2013 facelift's 9G-Tronic upgrades. Backed by real UK enquiries in 2025 [MB-VERIFIED].

Explore S212 Engines
S212Enquiries (2025)
Estate
10+Engine Codes
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Mercedes E-Class S212 Engine Codes — The Complete Database

Every engine fitted to the E-Class estate specifically — from the pre-facelift M271/M272 units to the post-2013 M274/M276 replacements and the AMG V8s.

Engine CodeFuelPowerYearsReliabilityEnquiriesAvg. Recon Cost
M271.860M271Petrol, turbo184 bhp (135 kW)2009–2013★★★☆☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£1,500–£2,800 [MB-QUOTE]
M274.920M274Petrol, turbo184 bhp (135 kW)2013–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£1,800–£3,200 [MB-QUOTE]
M272.980M272Petrol V6231 bhp (170 kW)2009–2011★★★☆☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£2,500–£4,500 [MB-QUOTE]
M276.952M276Petrol V6306 bhp (225 kW)2011–2013★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£3,500–£6,000 [MB-QUOTE]
M276.820M276Petrol V6333 bhp (245 kW)2013–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£3,500–£6,000 [MB-QUOTE]
M278.922M278Petrol V8408 bhp (300 kW)2011–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£5,000–£9,000 [MB-QUOTE]
M157.981M157Petrol V8525–585 bhp (386–430 kW)2011–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£8,000–£14,000 [MB-QUOTE]
OM651.921OM651Diesel I4136 bhp (100 kW)2009–2013★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£2,200–£3,800 [MB-QUOTE]
OM651.922OM651Diesel I4163 bhp (120 kW)2009–2013★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£2,200–£3,800 [MB-QUOTE]
OM651.924OM651Diesel I4204 bhp (150 kW)2009–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£2,500–£4,200 [MB-QUOTE]
OM651.925OM651Diesel I4204 bhp (150 kW)2013–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£2,500–£4,200 [MB-QUOTE]
OM642.852OM642Diesel V6265 bhp (195 kW)2009–2016★★★★☆ [PROVISIONAL — pending dedicated Engine Page]— (pattern data)£3,500–£6,000 [MB-QUOTE]
BMW 3 Series E90

Overview

Mercedes E-Class S212 — Overview

The Mercedes-Benz E-Class S212 — the estate version of the fourth-generation E-Class — was unveiled at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show and released for sale in Europe on 5 August 2009.

Based on the W212 platform, the S212 offered a class-leading 695 litres of boot space, rising to 1,950 litres with the rear seats folded. A significant facelift in 2013 brought updated styling, new engine options, the 9G-Tronic transmission and improved efficiency. The S212 was produced until 2016, when it was replaced by the S213.

Key Facts

Platform

Mercedes W212 (shared with saloon)

Predecessor

S211 (2003–2009)

Successor

S213 (2016–2023)

Sibling body styles in this generation

W212 Saloon, C207/A207 Coupé/Convertible

Market Intelligence

No [MB-VERIFIED] enquiry data exists for the E-Class S212 — the model is absent from EM_Proprietary_Data's per-model table, reflecting its lower-volume UK status compared to the W212 saloon.

Best & Worst Engines

 engine

Thin-Data Summary

The E-Class S212's engine range spans from economical four-cylinder diesels to fire-breathing AMG V8s. For most buyers, the E 350 CDI (OM642 V6 diesel) is the standout: smooth, refined and robust with few major failure modes beyond the well-documented oil cooler seal leak. The E 250 CDI (OM651) is the sensible diesel choice for most buyers: economical, well-supported and with 204 bhp, more than adequate for the estate's size. On the petrol side, the post-2013 E 400 (M276 twin-turbo V6) offers a sweet-spot balance of performance and refinement, though early M276 examples can suffer from timing chain and cam adjuster issues. The E 500 (M278 V8) delivers effortless V8 grunt, but the hot-vee design means higher running costs and potential turbo-related issues. The E 63 AMG (M157 V8) is a genuine performance icon — 525–585 bhp from a twin-turbo 5.5-litre V8 — but running costs are substantial and the engine is complex. The pre-facelift M272 V6 (E 300) carries balance shaft sprocket wear risk; the pre-facelift M271 (E 200 CGI) has timing chain concerns. Buying instruction: prioritise post-2013 facelift cars with the 9G-Tronic for better refinement; for long-term ownership, the OM642 diesel is the most reliable choice, followed by the post-2013 M276 petrols.

Who it's for:

Mercedes E-Class S212 — Ownership Economics

EngineTypical MileageCommon Major FailureRepair Cost (Specialist)Replacement Cost (Recon)Ownership Verdict
M271.860 (E 200 CGI)60k–100kTiming chain wear£800–£1,800£1,500–£2,800
Watch — pre-facelift chain risk
M274.920 (E 200)80k–150kGenerally reliable£1,800–£3,200
Solid — post-2013 improvement
M272.980 (E 300)60k–100kBalance shaft sprocket£1,500–£3,000£2,500–£4,500
Watch — pre-2011 balance shaft risk
M276.952 (E 350)60k–120kTiming chain wear£800–£2,000£3,500–£6,000
Good V6 — post-2011 improved
M276.820 (E 400)60k–120kTiming chain (less common)£800–£2,000£3,500–£6,000
Best petrol — facelift V6, 9G-Tronic
M278.922 (E 500)60k–100kTurbo coolant lines, valve seals£1,500–£3,000£5,000–£9,000
V8 luxury — fast, but costly to maintain
M157.981 (E 63 AMG)50k–80kValve seals, turbo issues£2,000–£4,000£8,000–£14,000
Performance icon — AMG tax applies
OM651.921/922/924 (CDI)100k–150k+Injector seal failure£400–£1,000£2,200–£4,200
Solid diesel — economical and well-supported
OM642.852 (E 350 CDI)100k–180kOil cooler seal leak£800–£1,500£3,500–£6,000
Best diesel — smooth, refined, reliable

The S212 rule

A £3,500–£6,000 E 350 CDI recon against a £5,000–£15,000 S212 sits at 23–120% of the car's value. On a sub-£7,000 example, that brushes our 70% Mercedes threshold — we'll honestly tell you to walk away. Against a well-kept £12,000+ example, the same recon drops to a more manageable 29–50% — a repair decision, not a financial one. Value the car first.

Key Takeaways

  • Which S212 Costs Least To Own?

    E 250 CDI (OM651) — simple diesel, robust, cheap parts.

  • Which S212 Costs Most To Own?

    E 63 AMG (M157) — twin-turbo V8 complexity, AMG-specific parts, high running costs.

  • Which S212 Is Best Value?

    E 350 CDI (OM642) — the most reliable engine in the range with strong economy and refinement.

Common Problems

S212 Engine Replacement Costs — By Engine and Condition

No Generation variance from the baseline figures — the S212 shares its engine bay layout with the W212 saloon, so costs are consistent.

Core Variants

Core Variants

Scope note: All variants listed are S212 (E-Class estate, 2009–2016) only. The W212 saloon shares the same engines but is covered on a separate Generation Page per the one-page-per-body-code rule. The E 63 AMG S-Model (585 bhp) was introduced post-facelift with 4MATIC all-wheel drive. The E 400 replaced the E 350 post-facelift (2013).

Market Intelligence

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