What Oil Should I Put In My W212 E-Class

Introduction

When it comes to oil, its a bit of slippery slope if you just put anything in. By not using the correct oil the most probable future problem is carbon build up, probably in the exhaust/DPF, maybe in the EGR system or in the inlet manifold. Using the right oil (at the right intervals) is key to making your engine last.

The best advice I can give is to make sure you use the correct specification that is approved for for your engine. By this I mean the Mercedes-Benz specification number, mainly 229.52 (for diesels (and some petrols)). See below for brands / products that are approved by MB.

Whilst the topic of engine oil grades is important, its a whole different scope not for this post (see MB info here). You can have the same specification with different grades. You must ensure that you use the correct grade – I’ve been using 5W30 in the UK. Other climates need the correct grade accordingly.

Another thing not for this post is the technical regarding the spec. I did come across this for the 229.52 spec, worth a read.

MB Spec Sheets

Back to specifications – Mercedes-Benz make this nice and easy with this little specification chart;

For Petrol (click to enlarge)

For Diesel: (click to enlarge)

There are multiple listed for some, but the lower numbers are basically earlier specifications, that have been superseded by the later numbers.

Simplified spec list for W212

If your not sure on the above table; For W212 E Class’s;

Petrols
M271 Engine – 229.3 / 229.31 / 229.5 / 229.51 / 229.52
M271 EVO Engine – 229.3 / 229.5 / 229.51 / 229.52
M274 Engine – 229.3 / 229.5 / 229.51 / 229.52 / 229.6
M272 / M273 Engine – 229.3 / 229.5
M276 Engine – 229.5 / 229.6
M278 (E500 4663cc) Engine – 229.5
M156 (E63) Engine – 229.5 / 229.51
M157 (E63) Engine – 229.5

Diesels
OM642 (V6) Engine – 229.52
OM651 (4 cylinder) Engine – 228.51 / 229.31 / 229.51 / 229.52

229.52

In a lot of cases, always with a diesel, 229.52 is what you want. Pick the suitable grade for your climate. Remember me mentioning ‘Approved’. Well what better than genuine. Never bad on the price either.

If you don’t fancy genuine then you need to head over here and take a look at MBs list of approved 229.52 oil. To pick a few names off the list that you will know – Castrol, Fuchs, LIQUI MOLY, Mobil, Motul, Petronas, Valvoline. Check the sheet and see the exact product that can be used.

Remember that genuine oil I said about;

229.5

229.5 covers most of the other cases. As can be seen below, genuine is not bad on price. Or head over to here for MBs list.

It has the same usual names that you know, Castrol, Fuchs, LIQUI MOLY, Mobil, Motul, Petronas, Valvoline + more.

Final thoughts

Ultimately its a preference on what brand oil to use. As long as your using the right specification that is approved, I wouldn’t expect a problem.

For me, the brand that I trust is Fuchs. Since service one, my E Class has had Fuchs Titan Supersyn / GT1 in it. Its now at just shy of 365,000 miles – see here; 2016 W212 OM651 E-Class Now Up to 350,000 Miles / 7 Years Old – What’s gone on

I think that says it all. Signing out.

Ps Fuchs Titan GT1 Flex C23 5W30 Below.