The 6.0-liter 12-cylinder Mercedes M279 engine was first introduced in 2012 and is installed on top versions of CL, G, S and SL models, including the G65, S65 or SL65. There are two modifications of this power unit: stock for 530 hp and AMG for 630 hp.
The V12-family includes: M120, M137, M275, M279.
Specifications
| Production years | since 2012 |
| Displacement, cc | 5980 |
| Fuel system | distributed injection |
| Power output, hp | 530 (M 279 E 60 AL) 612 – 630 (AMG M 279 E 60 AL) |
| Torque output, Nm | 830 (M 279 E 60 AL) 1000 (AMG M 279 E 60 AL) |
| Cylinder block | aluminum V12 |
| Block head | aluminum 36v |
| Cylinder bore, mm | 82.6 |
| Piston stroke, mm | 93 |
| Compression ratio | 9.0 |
| Features | no |
| Hydraulic lifters | yes |
| Timing drive | chain |
| Phase regulator | no |
| Turbocharging | Biturbo |
| Recommended engine oil | 5W-30 |
| Engine oil capacity, liter | 10.5 |
| Fuel type | petrol |
| Euro standards | EURO 5/6 |
| Fuel consumption, L/100 km (for Mercedes AMG S65 2017) — city — highway — combined |
19.9 10.9 14.2 |
| Engine lifespan, km | ~270 000 |
| Weight, kg | 280 |
The engine was installed on:
- Mercedes CL-Class C217 in 2014 – 2019;
- Mercedes G-Class W463 in 2012 – 2018;
- Mercedes S-Class W222 since 2014;
- Mercedes SL-Class R231 in 2012 – 2018.
Disadvantages of the Mercedes M279 engine
- Finally expensive ignition blocks are a thing of the past and now there are dual coils.
- Thanks to the distributed fuel injection, the engine has no problems with coking.
- There are already reports on the specialized forums about the sleeve of such a unit after scuffing.
- There are also complaints from owners about stretching the timing chain even up to 150,000 km.
