Mercedes S212 engines

The Mercedes E-Class S212 was launched in 2009 as an estate version of the W212 model series and quickly established itself as a premium long-distance vehicle with an impressive range of engines. Over the production period up to 2016, Mercedes offered a wide range from economical four-cylinder diesels to powerful V8 petrol engines and developed pioneering technologies such as BlueTEC and hybrid drives.

Mercedes S212 engines (2009-2016)

The first and only generation of the Mercedes S212 was characterized by technical diversity and high quality standards that are typical of Mercedes-Benz. The mileage of the Mercedes S212 engines varies considerably depending on the type of drive: while the robust diesel engines can easily reach 400,000 to 600,000 kilometers with proper maintenance, the more complex V8 petrol engines often require costly repairs to the air suspension or engine mounts between 150,000 and 250,000 kilometers. The absolute top engine of this generation was the E 350 CDI with 265 hp - a V6 diesel that optimally combined power, reliability and still acceptable fuel consumption figures. Technical highlights were the introduction of BlueTEC technology for clean diesels and the first hybrid experiments, while typical problem areas were the complex air suspension and electronic systems. In the premium segment, the S212 competed successfully with the BMW 5 Series Touring and Audi A6 Avant.

Mercedes S212 petrol engines (2009-2016)

The Mercedes S212 petrol engine range comprised a wide selection of four to eight-cylinder engines. The entry-level model was the E 200 with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder and 184 hp (from 2013), followed by the E 250 with 204 hp. These smaller Mercedes S212 engines proved to be the most reliable petrol engines in the range, with only occasional problems with the ignition coils. The E 350 offered a 3.5-liter V6 with 306 hp and was considered a well-balanced all-rounder, while the V8 models E 500 (408 hp) and E 63 AMG (up to 585 hp) provided sporty performance. However, the Mercedes S212 V8 engines suffered from typical problems such as wear-prone engine mounts, expensive air suspension repairs and high fuel consumption of over 12 liters per 100 km.

Mercedes S212 diesel engines (2009-2016)

The proven CDI technology with common-rail injection dominated the Mercedes S212 diesels. The E 200 CDI started with 136 hp, followed by the E 220 CDI (170 hp) and E 250 CDI (204 hp) as popular four-cylinder variants. These smaller Mercedes S212 CDI engines developed into the most reliable drive units in the entire model series and often reached over 500,000 kilometers with proper maintenance. As V6 diesels, the E 300 CDI with 231 hp and especially the E 350 CDI with 265 hp offered the best combination of performance and smooth running. From 2012, Mercedes introduced BlueTEC technology, which significantly improved emission values thanks to the SCR catalytic converter and AdBlue injection. The Mercedes S212 E 350 BlueTEC was regarded as the pinnacle of diesel technology with excellent long-distance suitability.

Mercedes S212 hybrid drive (2009-2016)

From 2012, Mercedes offered the E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid as the first full hybrid in the model series. This combined a 2.1-liter four-cylinder diesel engine (204 hp) with a 20 kW electric motor to produce a system output of 231 hp. The Mercedes S212 Hybrid achieved a standard consumption of just 4.1 liters per 100 km, but suffered from the complex technology with occasional problems with the hybrid battery and the complex electronics.

Conclusion: The best Mercedes S212 engines of all generations

The Mercedes S212 engines demonstrated the typical Mercedes quality with particularly outstanding diesel engines. While the petrol engines had different strengths and weaknesses depending on the number of cylinders, the CDI diesels established themselves as long-distance champions with exceptional durability. Hybrid technology was not yet fully developed, but already showed the potential for efficient drives.

• Best Mercedes S212 gasoline engine:

The E 250 (204 hp) combined adequate power with the highest reliability among the gasoline engines and offered the best price-performance ratio.

• Best Mercedes S212 diesel engine:

The E 350 CDI/BlueTEC (265 hp) offered the perfect balance of powerful performance, excellent long-distance suitability and legendary Mercedes diesel reliability.

• Best Mercedes S212 hybrid engine:

The E 300 BlueTEC Hybrid (231 hp) was the only hybrid available and, despite its complex technology, was an interesting efficiency champion for frequent drivers.

For maintenance and spare parts for all Mercedes S212 generations, AUTODOC offers a comprehensive range of original and quality spare parts with fast delivery and expert advice.