Mercedes-Benz Engine

M120

The Mercedes-Benz M120 is a DOHC V12 gasoline piston engine.

Years: 1993–2002
Configuration: V12
Fuel: Gasoline
Top power: 525 PS

Mercedes-Benz’s first series-production V12 — built to answer Munich, and to end the argument.

When BMW revealed its 5.0-liter, 300-PS M70 V12 in 1987, Stuttgart replied with excess: a 6.0-liter, all-alloy 60° V12 with four overhead camshafts, 48 valves, adjustable intake timing and cylinder-selective knock control — the only production twelve-cylinder in the world to have it, and the reason it could run a 10:1 compression ratio. At its 1991 debut in the W140 600 SE and 600 SEL it delivered 408 PS and 580 N·m, with 500 N·m available from just 1,600 rpm — the most powerful passenger-car engine Mercedes-Benz had ever built.

From 1993 output was trimmed to 394 PS to meet emissions targets, and the engine went on to power the C140 coupés and the R129 600 SL. AMG had other ideas: stretched to 7.3 liters and 525 PS for the SL 73 AMG, the M120 began an unlikely second career — its AMG-built descendants powered the CLK GTR and every Pagani Zonda ever made.

Versions.

Every factory version of the M120.

Version	Displacement	Bore × Stroke	Compression	Power	Torque
120.980	5,987 cc	89 × 80.2 mm	10	300 kW (402 hp; 408 PS) at 5,200 rpm	580 N·m (428 lb·ft) at 3,800 rpm
120.981	5,987 cc	89 × 80.2 mm	10	290 kW (389 hp; 394 PS) at 5,200 rpm	570 N·m (420 lb·ft) at 3,800 rpm
120.982	5,987 cc	89 × 80.2 mm	10	290 kW (389 hp; 394 PS) at 5,200 rpm	570 N·m (420 lb·ft) at 3,800 rpm
120.983	5,987 cc	89 × 80.2 mm	10	290 kW (389 hp; 394 PS) at 5,200 rpm	570 N·m (420 lb·ft) at 3,800 rpm
120.990	7,291 cc	91.5 × 92.4 mm	10.5	386 kW (518 hp; 525 PS) at 5,500 rpm	750 N·m (553 lb·ft) at 4,000 rpm

Applications.

Every model powered by the M120.

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