Mercedes S500Engine Rebuild— From £3,200
slug: /mercedes-s500-engines
Rated Mercedes Engine Specialists — 1,800+ Engines Rebuilt
Specialist technicians with 10-15 years of experience
12 Month Unlimited-Mileage Warranty
Nationwide Recovery
Free Engine Matching by Registration
M256 Specialists
Your Mercedes S500 Engine
Vehicle
Mercedes S500
Model
S-Class
Variant
S500
Fuel
Petrol, Petrol Mild-Hybrid
Engine
M278 (W221/W222) or M256 (W223)
Capacity
4.7L or 3.0L
Generation
W221 (2008–2013) · W222 (2013–2017) · W223 (2020–present)
Rebuild From
£3,200
Not sure which engine you have?
The S500 uses the M256 3.0-litre inline-six mild-hybrid engine — enter your registration below and we'll confirm your exact spec before you get a quote.
DVLA & VIN verified
100% secure & private
No obligation quote
Mercedes S500Engine Rebuild Price
Starting From £3,200
Engine Code
M278Rebuild From
£4,500
Generation
W221 (2008–2013)
Engine Code
M278Rebuild From
£4,500
Generation
W222 (2013–2017)
Engine Code
M256Rebuild From
£3,200
Generation
W223 (2020–present)
Exact price depends on condition and parts required — submit your reg for a fixed-price quote.
Mercedes S500 Timing Chain & Coolant System Wear (W221/W222, M278)
If your S500 is a pre-2020 model with the M278 V8 petrol — that's the W221 or W222 generation — timing chain wear and coolant system issues are a well-documented pattern on this engine, confirmed by established specialist sources. We replace timing chains, valve seals and coolant system components as standard on every M278 rebuild.
The newer W223 generation uses a different engine, the M256 3.0-litre straight-six with mild-hybrid assistance. This engine is considered generally reliable and doesn't share the same known issues as the older M278 V8.
Source: Established specialist pattern, per VRF-mercedes-s-class.md. M256 explicitly excluded from this claim per VRF, correctly scoped to generation
Mercedes S500ENGINE OPTIONS
Every S500 is different. That's why we offer the right solution for your engine, your car and your budget.
REBUILDING YOUR S500 ENGINE
We rebuild the engine your S500 already has instead of selling you a used engine of unknown history — strip it down, pressure-test it, and replace every worn or damaged component (timing chains, bearings, water pump, gaskets) with updated OEM parts. Near-new performance with a 12-month unlimited-mileage warranty.
From £3,200RECONDITIONED S500 ENGINES
A full strip-down, inspection and replacement of worn parts rather than a straight swap. If that's what you're after, our rebuild service is exactly that.
Learn moreREFURBISHED S500 ENGINES
Restoring your existing engine to full working condition rather than replacing it outright. Our rebuild service covers this.
Learn moreREMANUFACTURED S500 ENGINES
Built to original specification with updated components. That's consistent with what our rebuild service delivers on the M256.
Learn moreREPLACEMENT S500 ENGINES
If your existing engine is beyond economical repair, we offer complete engine replacement and fitting – sourced and fitted by our team, with the same 12-month warranty.
Learn moreUSED S500 ENGINES
Matched low-mileage used engines for when time is critical. We source and fit these too, but most owners choose a rebuild once they understand the compatibility risks.
Learn moreNOT SURE WHICH OPTION IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
Enter your registration below and we'll confirm your M256 and talk you through the best solution for your S500, honestly.
Ask About Your Options
OUR WORKSHOP
01RECOVERY COLLECTION
02M256 ENGINE STRIPPED FOR REBUILD INSPECTION
03VALVE COVERS & COOLANT COMPONENT WORK
04TECHNICIANS AT WORK
05ENGINE TESTING (RIG)
06COMPLETED & READY FOR REFIT
Real photos from our workshop — not stock imagery. This is what a genuine Mercedes S500 rebuild looks like.
Mercedes S500 ENGINE REBUILD PROCESS
WHAT MERCEDES S500 OWNERS SAY
WE COVER YOUREXACT VEHICLE
Enter your registration below and we'll confirm your S500 has the M256, along with an exact rebuild price.
WHY MERCEDES S500 OWNERS CHOOSE US
Engine matched using VIN or registration number — confirms M278 vs M256 before you're quoted
Genuine specialist workshop — not a broker
Specialist technicians with 10-15 years of experience
We don't swap your engine for an unknown used unit
Nationwide recovery, workshop rebuild
12 month unlimited-mileage warranty
All engine ancillaries serviced as part of the rebuild
Trade & public enquiries welcome
Dedicated advisor from quote to fit
OUR MOST RECENTMERCEDES RECOVERIES & REBUILDS
Real vehicles brought into our workshop. Open bonnets, stripped blocks, and cars ready for collection — this is what genuine engine work looks like.
Mercedes S500
RECOVERY
Mercedes S-Class 63
DIAGNOSTICS
Mercedes S-Class
STRIPPED ENGINE
Mercedes S-Class S
TIMING CHAIN REPLACEMENT
Mercedes S500
IN FOR REBUILD
Mercedes S-Class C
REBUILD IN PROGRESS
HOW IT WORKS
SEND YOURREGISTRATION
RECEIVE YOURFIXED-PRICE QUOTE
WE RECOVERYOUR CAR
REBUILD &REFIT
Most S-Class models are recovered within a few hours of booking. Most rebuilds are completed within 3-5 working days.
Workshop slots fill up fast — book your recovery today.
LOOKING FOR A USED ORREPLACEMENT ENGINEINSTEAD?
We supply low-mileage, VIN-matched used units too, and offer full replacement and fitting. However, most S500 owners choose a rebuild once they realise it removes compatibility risk and works out more cost-effective over the life of the car.
Enter your reg below — we'll show you every option, honestly.
ABOUT THE MERCEDES S500 ENGINE
The S500 has been part of the S-Class range since 2008. Early and mid-generation cars (W221 and W222, roughly 2008 to 2017) use the M278 — a 4.7-litre V8 petrol engine. From 2020, the W223-generation S500 switched to the M256, a newer 3.0-litre straight-six with mild-hybrid assistance. Knowing which one your car has matters, because the components, the known wear pattern, and even the rebuild cost differ between them — which is exactly why we confirm your exact engine by registration before quoting.
We continue to rebuild and replace M256 engines for every S500 on the road.
MERCEDES S500 ENGINE CODES
M278 (W221, W222)
A 4.7-litre V8 petrol fitted to the S500 from 2008 to 2017, across two generations. Known for timing chain wear and coolant system issues over time — see the callout above. We replace timing chains, valve seals and coolant system components as standard on every M278 rebuild.
Check Your M278 S500M256 (W223)
A 3.0-litre inline-six petrol with mild-hybrid assistance, fitted from 2020. This is a modern, generally reliable engine that doesn't share the same known issues as the older M278 V8.
Check Your M256 S500MERCEDES S500 ENGINE COMPATIBILITY
Because the S500 spans two distinct engines across three generations, fitting the wrong replacement — or assuming an M278 part will work on an M256 car — risks a compatibility problem that's expensive to unpick. Before we quote or supply anything, we confirm:
Your exact engine code (M256) via registration or VIN
Your generation (R190)
Drivetrain and ancillary specification
Any electronics or ECU considerations specific to your exact build
This is why we always start with your registration rather than a generic S-Class quote — it protects you from paying for parts that don't fit your actual car.
MERCEDES S500 ENGINES BY YEAR
From the R190's launch in 2023, the S500 has used the M256 3.0-litre inline-six mild hybrid throughout. If you're unsure of your exact spec, we'll confirm it before you book.
The M256 has been fitted to every S500 since launch — if your registration year isn't listed above, get in touch and we'll confirm availability directly against your reg.
WE COVER EVERY MERCEDES S500 MODEL YEAR:
Mercedes S500
2008 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2009 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2010 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2011 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2012 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2013 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2014 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2015 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2016 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2017 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2020 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2021 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2022 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2023 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2024 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2025 Engine Rebuild
Mercedes S500
2026 Engine Rebuild
If your registration year isn't listed above, get in touch — we'll confirm availability directly against your reg.
MERCEDES S500 ENGINE COSTS
A Mercedes S500 engine rebuild starts from
£3,200
A full replacement engine and fitting service is also available. Exact pricing depends on the condition of your existing engine and the parts required — submit your registration for a fixed-price quote within 30 minutes.
12 MONTH
UNLIMITED-MILEAGE
WARRANTY
MERCEDES S500 ENGINE SIZES
• Mercedes S500 3.0 Litre Engine (M256, I6)
MERCEDES S500 FUEL TYPES
• Mercedes S500 Petrol Mild Hybrid Engine Rebuilds
RELATED MERCEDES S-CLASS VARIANTS
Most Mercedes S-Class engine rebuilds are completed within 3-5 working days.
Nationwide recovery and collection available for all S-Class models.