Mercedes-Benz Engine
M156
The Mercedes-Benz M156 is a DOHC V8 gasoline piston engine.
- Years
- 2006–2011
- Configuration
- V8
- Fuel
- Gasoline
- Top power
- 525 PS

AMG's first engine from a blank sheet — a 6.2-liter, naturally aspirated V8 built one man, one engine in Affalterbach.
Designed by Bernd Ramler (who had drawn the Porsche Carrera GT's V10), the M156 shared almost nothing with Stuttgart's production V8s: closed-deck silicon-aluminum block, unique bore spacing, DOHC 32 valves with electro-hydraulic cam phasing, bucket followers and a variable-length intake. Displacement was 6,208 cc, yet AMG badged every car “6.3” in honor of the historic M100. It debuted for 2007 in the E 63 AMG and went on to power the R230 SL 63 AMG, the CLK 63, CL 63, CLS 63 and ML 63.
Hand-assembled under the one-man-one-engine plate, the M156 was the last great naturally aspirated AMG road V8 before the twin-turbo M157 took over. Its dry-sump racing cousin, the M159, lived on in the SLS AMG.
Versions.
Every factory version of the M156.
| Version | Displacement | Bore × Stroke | Compression | Power | Torque |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 156.981 | 6,208 cc | 102.2 × 94.6 mm | 11.3 | 386 kW (518 hp; 525 PS) at 6,800 rpm | 630 N·m (465 lb·ft) at 5,200 rpm |
Applications.
Every model powered by the M156.
- 2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Cabriolet A209
- 2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz CLK 63 AMG Coupé C209
- 2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz CL 63 AMG Coupé C216
- 2008–2011 Mercedes-Benz SL 63 AMG Roadster R230
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz R 63 AMG 4MATIC LWB W251
- 2006–2008 Mercedes-Benz ML 63 AMG 4MATIC SUV W164
- 2006–2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG 4-Door Coupé C219
- 2007–2010 Mercedes-Benz CLS 63 AMG Black Series 4-Door Coupé C219
- 2007 Mercedes-Benz R 63 AMG 4MATIC Sedan W251
- 2007–2014 Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG Sedan W204
- 2002–2009 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Sedan W211
- 2009–2016 Mercedes-Benz E 63 AMG Sedan W212
- 2005–2013 Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Sedan W221