Our Facebook video went viral. Here's the full story — what we found inside, and why we made the call to strip the car instead of fix it.
The car: Mercedes-Benz S600 W220
A Mercedes-Benz S600 W220 came into our workshop with an oil leak at the crankshaft seal. What followed was one of those jobs where every layer you pull back reveals something worse underneath — until the decision to repair it becomes impossible to justify.
We documented the entire process on video. The response on Facebook was something we didn't expect — thousands of views, hundreds of comments, and messages from W220 and CL600 owners across Europe asking about parts. So this month, we're giving you the full story: what was wrong, why we stripped it, and what's now available.
Specifications
| Engine | M137 6.0L V12 — 368 hp / 270 kW @ 5500 rpm |
| 0–100 km/h | 6.3 seconds (top speed 250 km/h) |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic |
| Built | 12 November 2000 — Grey |
| Original price | €157,008 new in 2000 |
How a seal became an engine strip
The fault developed in stages. Each repair revealed something deeper — until the crankshaft itself told us what had really been going on inside this engine for years.
- Oil leak at crank seal. Car arrived with oil loss at the front crankshaft seal. Appeared straightforward.
- Seal replaced, still leaking. New seal fitted. Leak returned almost immediately. Root cause clearly deeper.
- Bearing found in sump. Front main bearing discovered in the oil pan — spun out of position.
- Crankshaft scoring. Deep scratch marks found on the crankshaft journal. Extensive surface damage.
- Timing chain contact. Suspected: incorrectly replaced timing chain by previous owner ran against the crank over time.
Crankshaft journal — scoring clearly visible.
Why strip, not fix?
When a crankshaft journal is scored this badly, you're looking at either a crank regrind — if the metal is even salvageable — or sourcing a replacement M137 crankshaft. On a low-production V12, that's not a call you make lightly, and the cost quickly overtakes the car's value.
Stripping a W220 S600 is never the easy decision. But doing it carefully means the working parts — suspension components, drivetrain parts, electrical systems — get a second life rather than a scrapyard.
In this case the S600 parts are being used to restore a Mercedes CL600 — the coupé sibling built on the same W220 platform, sharing the same V12 and the majority of mechanical components. The CL600 gets a donor car. The parts live on.
The M137 V12 engine, removed from the W220 S600.
Parts available on request
All parts fit both the W220 S600 and C215 CL600 — same platform, same drivetrain.
Mechanical & electrical
- ABC hydraulic suspension parts
- Mercedes M137 V12 engine block and automatic transmission
- Electrical modules & control units
- Suspension arms, joints & bushings
- Brake components, front & rear
- Ride height sensors
Body & interior
- Front & rear doors (all four)
- Complete original seat set
- Front & rear bumpers
- Full dashboard assembly
- Headlights & rear lights
- Body panels & exterior trim
- Windscreen & side glass
Want to order?
Smaller mechanical and electrical parts are listed on our Marktplaats account. For body and interior parts, or if you're ordering from outside the Netherlands, just send us an email.
Tell us which parts you're looking for and where you're located, and we'll respond with availability, condition photos and a shipping quote.
