Do We Rely On Benz? Well, Here Are The Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Engines Ever Built

We look at the most popular Mercedes engines and give you the most and least reliable of the bunch.

In 1982, Mercedes-Benz unleashed its most reliable car ever, the 190E. The 190E resulted from Diamler's £600 million project to produce the bulletproof W201 and set the foundations for the W124. The 190E became the C-Class we know and love today, while the W124 was renamed the E-Class in the early '90s. Mercedes-Benz of the '70s and '80s regularly touted the phrase 'over-engineered' when marketing their products. A Greek taxi driver, Gregorios Sachinidis, proved this by taking his 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D over 2.8 million miles.

However, today a Mercedes-Benz product has a 35.87% chance of requiring major repairs during its first ten years of service; this places them average among fellow luxury car brands. Adding further fuel to the fire is maintenance costs. For example, a product from Daimler will cost consumers around $15,986 during its first ten years in action, regarding maintenance and repairs.

Compare that to luxury industry leaders Lexus, who average $7,786 to maintain one of their products over the same period. Let's look at the best and worse power plants housed within a Mercedes-Benz engine bay to explain their fluctuating reputation.

6 Most Reliable Mercedes-Benz Engines Ever Built (6 To Stay Away From)

Written by: Matt Wood
VO by: Jean Bernard
Edited by: Eugene Serhachev

Our Social Media:

[davidbestea]

Are you nuts? 2.1 /2.2 diesel are bulletproof. They can run forever, in Europe they are known for how good they are

[LeonardoZZZ]

M113 and M112 are legendary for reliability, ,yet they get no mention here ?

[damian-]

OM642 is not an emissions nightmare, also it is a great engine and can do 1 million miles . It has to be maintained well

[Wargasm]

M273 is a beast of an engine. I’ve owned 3 (5.5L) and have never had a hint of problems with them. Still currently own 1 (E550). I’ve had problems with the air suspension, but engine and drivetrain have always been solid.

[bfreal]

Excellent video, I'm a Benz fan for like decade and I've owned OM646 and now I'm owning OM605.

[ArttillaZ]

Hi im newbie, is the mercedes e300 diesel turbo bluetec is all right kind of engine? Or id have to avoid in 2024?

[izuyan]

I own an OM606 NA engine car. This engine is indestructible!

[axeljansson]

the om651 is a great engine have seen many past 500.000 km

[Member]

I own 2 cars with M272 engines, W221 S350 + W164 ML350, the ML reached 300K+ mileage with 0 issues, not even the most rumor about the failed timing chain. I know.. when you source your info based on some issues in a number of factory reclaled 2006s engings not even all 2006 😅.. But the M272 was continue in production for almost 10 years 🧐 which say somthing about this rumors about it by Toyota Fans 😂!

[elpresidente]

What about the OM646? It makes even with bad maintenance 400k km and with good one until the million.

[Klatt]

Never had a problem with the M273 ... it's a great engine with a good performance

[gvnefqi]

My man what a shitty list. Here, have some corrections:
- OM617 came in the 300D from '74 until '85, and in the military Hagglund until '91
- The M111 had NOTHING to do with the OM617 as it was a gas engine while the OM617 was a diesel engine. The M111 was made to replace the M102 engine.
- The M111 isnt among the most reliable engines Mercedes has made due to the intake camshaft snapping upon tensioner failure and the problematic injection systems it came with: PMS and HFM.
- The OM606 engine in its stock form is an absolute garbage engine in terms of reliability. It is a brutal powerhouse when properly modified though.
- When the OM603 is mentioned, the picture shown is of an OM601, 4 cylinder (pretty much the same anyways).
- The M116 pre-1984 had timing chain problems
- The M116 never came in the W124 chassis as suggested in the pictures
- The M116 had its bigger brother M117 which came up to 5.5L displacement and is much preferred by the comunity due to its significantly higher power
- M272 engines had the balance shaft reliability issues fixed in 2009 and beyond, thus making them pretty reliable engines, same with the M273.

[MrEddiedk]

I have a W124 with the M103 2.6 - it has run well for almost 500.000 km's in 34 years, and still going strong. I bought a second hand engine for years back, but it seems like that was a waste of money and space in the workshop, as the one in the car just keeps going... and going... and going...

[jerrywithaj]

Worng on the om642. Super reliable and can handke loads of boost. Mine had and made over 620nm of torque

[ayz]

2:08
Its worth to mention that the M103 was made in two sizes. 2.6l and 3.0l.

As mentioned in the video it made 166hp. But thats with 2.6l.
The 3.0 made 188hp with 260Nm = 192 ft lb of torque.

[tonychavez]

Some minor mis information but good video 👍🏼

[totome]

Om642 2011 265hp 250000km
I love this engine
Up to now not much cost except routine maintenance

[jesushurtado]

I had a w123 with fhe 5 cylinder 3.0 diesel, very reliable until my timing chain tensioner fail at 130mph, that was the las time saw that engine running😅. Then I had a w220 with the m113 and literally not a single problem even treating it very bad with the maintenance and my driving... I sell it with 280k miles, running like Switch watch. Currently I'm driving a w209 with the om642 v6 and the only problem I've got was the turbo actuator that i change myself in half an hour for 80bucks and a few fuel hoses that needed replacement for the rest the engine is a beast it pulls like a rocket without any fuel consumption, it has great mpg idk if it is because of fhe 7g but great car overall with 200k plus milles on the clock.

[liamhawkins]

Please tell me more about my Mercedes engine . 2.9 diesel . Gle350d

[sahuvikramindia]

I have to disagree here. Late year M272 and M273 are just superb engines with no major flaws. OM642 is one of the best engines ever, it has some oil leaks but other than that it's just a powerful and relaible beast.