If you’ve landed here looking for a Mercedes M276 engine for sale, there’s a good chance your C-Class, E-Class or ML is sitting in a workshop with a bad diagnosis. Maybe the timing chain stretched, maybe an early 3.5 threw a rod after years of short trips, or maybe the car overheated and warped the heads. Whatever happened, the rest of the car is usually fine, and that’s the whole point of an engine swap.
The M276 went into a huge range of Mercedes models, so there are plenty of good cars out there with one tired engine holding them back. Putting a known-good engine in is often far cheaper than replacing the car.
We’re NJ Global Auto Parts. We sell used and rebuilt engines and ship them to buyers all over the world. This guide is what we’d tell you if you rang us up about a Mercedes M276 engine for sale: the different versions, full specs, which cars take which engine, what we check, what goes wrong, prices, shipping and fitting advice.
What You’re Getting With a Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale
The M276 is Mercedes’ V6 family from around 2010 onward. It replaced the older M272, and it’s a different animal. The M272 was a 90 degree V6 with a balance shaft. The M276 moved to a 60 degree bank angle, direct injection and a much more modern design overall. It was built to use less fuel and meet tougher emissions rules without losing power.
There are two main branches. The 3.5 litre naturally aspirated engine went into cars like the C350, E350 and ML350. The 3.0 litre twin-turbo version came later and went into the C400, E400, GLE400, S450 and the AMG 43 models. They all carry the M276 name, but they’re not interchangeable without work, so knowing exactly which one you need is the first step when you shop for a Mercedes M276 engine for sale.
For a bit of history on the family, the Mercedes-Benz M276 engine page lists the variants. For buying, the VIN tells you more than any website.
Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale: Full Specifications
These are the figures we get asked for most. Outputs changed between years, markets and models, so read them as ranges rather than exact numbers for your car.
| Engine family | M276 (DE 35 and DE 30 LA) |
| Layout | 60 degree V6, petrol |
| Displacement, 3.5 | 3,498 cc |
| Bore x stroke, 3.5 | 92.9 mm x 86.0 mm |
| Displacement, 3.0 | 2,996 cc |
| Bore x stroke, 3.0 | 88.0 mm x 82.1 mm |
| Valvetrain | DOHC per bank, 24 valves, variable timing on all four camshafts |
| Cam drive | Timing chain |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated (3.5) or twin turbochargers (3.0) |
| Fuel system | Direct injection with piezo injectors |
| Block and heads | Aluminium block with sprayed cylinder liners, aluminium heads |
| Power, 3.5 NA | About 225 kW (306 PS) |
| Power, 3.0 biturbo | About 245 kW (333 PS) up to around 287 kW (390 PS) in AMG 43 form |
| Torque | About 370 Nm (3.5 NA) to 520 Nm (3.0 biturbo, AMG) |
| Gearbox pairing | 7G-Tronic (722.9), later 9G-Tronic (725.0) |
| Drive | Rear-wheel drive or 4MATIC |
| Production | Roughly 2010 to 2020 |
The twin-turbo 3.0 is the one most people are after these days, mostly for C400, E400 and AMG 43 cars. The 3.5 is simpler and still a very good engine if it’s been looked after. Whichever you need, check the version against your VIN before you commit to a Mercedes M276 engine for sale.
Which Cars Take the M276
This list covers the models we get most requests for. Some markets used different engines in the same model, so please send us the VIN before you buy a Mercedes M276 engine for sale from anyone.
3.5 litre naturally aspirated
- C-Class W204 C350 (facelift, around 2011 to 2014)
- E-Class W212 E350 and C207 E350 coupe / cabriolet
- CLS-Class W218 CLS350
- M-Class W166 ML350 and GLE350
- GLK-Class X204 GLK350
- SLK-Class R172 SLK350
- S-Class W222 S400 Hybrid
- R-Class R350 in some markets
3.0 litre twin-turbo
- C-Class W205 C400, C450 AMG and C43 AMG
- E-Class W212 and W213 E400 and E43 AMG
- CLS-Class W218 CLS400
- GLE W166 GLE400 and GLE43 AMG
- GL / GLS X166 GL400, GL450 and GLS450
- GLC X253 GLC43 AMG
- SLC R172 SLC43 AMG
- SL R231 SL400
- S-Class W222 S400 / S450 in some years
Rear-drive and 4MATIC versions use different sumps and some different parts. A C400 engine from a rear-drive car won’t just drop into a 4MATIC GLE without changes. When we match a Mercedes M276 engine for sale to your VIN, this is one of the first things we check.
Replace or Rebuild? What Makes Sense on an M276
Plenty of people ask whether they should just fix what they’ve got. Sometimes that’s the right move, if it’s a leaking cooler or a bad coil. But when the damage is inside the engine, a few things tend to push people toward a replacement:
- Sprayed cylinder liners. The M276 doesn’t use traditional iron sleeves. If the bores are scored, repair means specialist work or a new block, and that gets expensive fast.
- Labour. Chains, guides and adjusters mean taking a lot apart. On some models the engine comes out anyway.
- Parts. Piezo injectors, turbos on the 3.0, chains and adjusters all cost real money.
- Downtime. A replacement goes in quickly. A rebuild can take weeks.
So for a lot of owners, a tested Mercedes M276 engine for sale is the faster and cheaper path back on the road.
Used, Rebuilt or Long Block
Every Mercedes M276 engine for sale we offer falls into one of these groups. Which one suits you depends on budget and how long you’ll keep the car.
Used engine
Pulled from a donor car, usually one written off for body damage. It’s the cheapest option. The checks we do are what separate a good used engine from a gamble. For most daily drivers, a clean used unit is the sensible choice.
Rebuilt engine
Stripped, measured and rebuilt with new bearings, rings, seals, gaskets and normally new chains and guides. More money up front, but you know where you stand. If you plan to keep the car a long time, it’s worth a look.
Long block or complete
A long block is the core engine. A complete engine usually adds the intake, injectors, and on the 3.0, the turbos. We list exactly what’s in the crate on the quote.
7 Checks We Make on Every Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale
Here’s what happens before we offer an engine to anyone.
- Engine number and donor VIN. We confirm exactly which M276 it is, the year and the car it came from.
- Compression or leak-down on all six cylinders. Uneven readings mean the engine doesn’t get sold as a good runner.
- Borescope inspection. We look at the cylinder walls for scoring and at the piston tops for signs of injector trouble.
- Timing chain and adjusters. We check the tensioner, guides and cam timing and note any wear.
- Turbos on 3.0 engines. Shaft play, oil in the intake and the condition of the wastegates.
- Oil and coolant. Any sign of mixing, or metal on the drain plug, and it’s out.
- Outside of the engine. Cracked plastics, broken sensors, oil leaks and damaged connectors get photographed and listed.
You get real photos of the engine you’re buying and a written summary of what we found. No stock pictures, no guessing.
Common M276 Problems Worth Knowing
Every engine has its weak points. If you’re looking at a Mercedes M276 engine for sale anywhere, these are the things to ask about.
Timing chain and cam adjusters
Early engines in particular can suffer chain stretch and worn adjusters, especially after long oil change intervals. The usual signs are rattles on a cold start and cam and crank correlation codes. If the history is unknown, do the chain while the engine is out.
Oil leaks from the oil cooler and filter housing
The seals at the oil filter housing and cooler go hard with age and seep. Not a big job on its own, but worth doing with a swap.
Camshaft solenoids leaking oil into the harness
Like other Mercedes engines of this era, oil can wick through the cam adjuster magnets into the wiring. Check the harness when you swap, or you might carry the problem over.
Early 3.5 injector and running issues
Some early 3.5 engines ran a lean-burn mode and had injector and rough-running complaints, mostly in markets with poor fuel. Software updates and injector replacements sorted most of them. It’s one reason we test carefully and ask where the car ran.
Turbo issues on the 3.0
Wastegate wear and oil feed leaks show up on high-mileage twin-turbo engines. We check both turbos before any 3.0 goes out.
None of this means the M276 is a bad engine. It’s actually one of the better Mercedes V6s. It just means you want a seller who knows these faults and tests for them.
How to Tell Your Engine Is Done
Before you order a Mercedes M276 engine for sale, make sure the old one really is finished. Here’s what usually tells us an engine isn’t worth saving:
- Low compression on a cylinder that doesn’t change with a wet test
- Scoring on the cylinder walls
- Metal in the oil or on the drain plug
- Oil and coolant mixing with no cooler or pipe to blame
- A deep knock from the bottom end
- A chain that skipped and let valves hit pistons
If you see one of these, don’t spend more on diagnosis. Put that money toward a good engine.
What Comes With a Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale
Ask this before you pay, every time. Every Mercedes M276 engine for sale we quote comes with a written list of what’s included. It usually covers:
- The long block: block, heads, crank, pistons, rods and camshafts
- Timing chains, guides and cam adjusters in place
- Intake manifold, injectors and fuel pump if quoted as a complete engine
- Both turbochargers on 3.0 engines quoted as complete
- Sensors that were fitted when the engine came out of the donor
The ECU, wiring harness, radiator and gearbox usually aren’t included unless we agree it. If you need them, just ask. We can often pull them from the same car so everything matches.
Questions to Ask Any Seller
Whether you buy from us or somewhere else, these questions will save you trouble. A good seller answers them without fuss. If someone offering a Mercedes M276 engine for sale can’t or won’t answer, walk away.
- What’s the engine number, and which car and year did it come from?
- Was it running when the car came in, and do you have compression figures?
- Can I see photos of this exact engine, not a catalogue image?
- Is it 3.5 or 3.0, and rear-drive or 4MATIC?
- What’s included, and what isn’t?
- How is it packed, and what does freight cost to my port or door?
- What happens if it arrives damaged or doesn’t match?
We answer every one of these in writing before you pay. It’s the least a buyer should expect from anyone selling a Mercedes M276 engine for sale.
A Quick Note on Workshops and Trade Buyers
A lot of our M276 orders come from independent Mercedes specialists and small garages. If that’s you, tell us. We can hold an engine while your customer decides, send extra photos of anything you want to see, and quote more than one option so you can offer your customer a choice. If you need a Mercedes M276 engine for sale on a regular basis, we’re happy to keep an eye out for the versions you see most.
How Much Does a Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale Cost?
We don’t post one fixed price because stock and condition change all the time. These are the things that set the price:
- Version. The 3.0 twin-turbo usually costs more than the 3.5 naturally aspirated engine, and AMG 43 versions more again.
- Mileage and test results. Clean, lower-mileage engines cost more.
- Used or rebuilt. Rebuilt costs more but comes with new wear parts.
- What’s attached. Turbos, intake, injectors and ancillaries change the price.
- Freight. Where you are, sea or air, and port or door delivery.
Send us your VIN and we’ll give you an honest price with freight included. The current stock is on our Mercedes M276 engine for sale product page. For more reading, see our notes on affordable M276 engine replacement and genuine M276 suppliers.
Shipping a Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale Worldwide
We ship every Mercedes M276 engine for sale worldwide, by sea or air. Sea freight is the cheaper option for most people. Air is there if the car is off the road and you need it fast.
Each engine is drained, sealed, strapped down on a pallet or boxed in a crate, and wrapped against dust and water. We photograph it before it leaves. You’ll get the paperwork you need for customs, though import duties depend on your own country’s rules. If you want to read up first, the World Customs Organization explains how engine imports are generally classified.
Our shipping policy has the details, and our refund and returns policy covers what happens if there’s a problem.
Fitting Advice for Your Mechanic
A good engine can still be let down by a quick install. Pass this list on to whoever is fitting it:
- Fresh oil and filter, and prime the oil system before the first start.
- New spark plugs, and check the coils.
- New thermostat, and check the water pump and coolant hoses.
- On the 3.0, flush the intercooler and charge pipes if the old engine lost a turbo.
- Check the wiring harness for oil from the cam solenoids.
- Check engine mounts, the flexplate and all sensors.
- Clear codes, check live data and do a proper road test.
An extra hour here protects the money you spent on your Mercedes M276 engine for sale.
Keeping the New Engine Healthy
Most M276 failures we see trace back to oil. So keep it simple:
- Change the oil more often than the service reminder suggests, especially on short-trip cars. Every 8,000 to 10,000 km is a good habit.
- Use oil with the right Mercedes approval number for your engine.
- Let the engine warm up before you use full power.
- On twin-turbo engines, give it a short idle after a hard drive before shutting it off.
- Deal with warning lights and misfires straight away.
Do that and a good Mercedes M276 engine for sale can give you years of easy driving.
M276 vs M272 vs M278: Can You Swap Them?
We get asked this when someone finds a cheaper engine from a related model.
The M272 is the older 90 degree V6. It looks similar in name but it’s a completely different engine with different mounts, electronics and cooling. If your car has an M272, look at our Mercedes M272 engine instead, or read M272 specs and reliability.
The M278 is the V8 sibling from the same generation. Same basic ideas, two more cylinders. Our Mercedes M278 engine page has those.
The M256 is the inline six that replaced the M276 in many models. Different again.
Bottom line: buy the engine your car was built with. If it came with an M276, a Mercedes M276 engine for sale in the same version is what you want.
How to Order a Mercedes M276 Engine for Sale
We don’t ask for payment until we’re sure the engine is right for your car.
- Send your VIN through our contact page or the site chat, with your model and location.
- We match the engine to your car and confirm the version.
- You get photos and a quote with test results and freight.
- You confirm and pay. See our billing terms for payment options.
- We pack and ship, and you get tracking and documents.
Finding the right Mercedes M276 engine for sale is the hard part. We do that for you.
More Mercedes Engines From NJ Global Auto Parts
Need something else? Have a look at the Mercedes M273 V8, the M271 buying guide, the M157 AMG guide or the M176, M177 and M178 V8s. Everything sits under Mercedes engines and our wider used engines range.
Not sure whether used or rebuilt is right for you? Read rebuilt vs used engines. For official model details, the Mercedes-Benz site is the best place to check.
Why Buy From Us
We match every Mercedes M276 engine for sale to the buyer’s VIN, send real photos and honest notes, and quote freight before any money changes hands. If we don’t have the right engine, we tell you instead of trying to make the wrong one fit.
A lot of our customers are workshops who’ve bought from us before and come back when the next car rolls in. That’s the kind of trust we want with everyone. Read more about us or browse the shop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between the 3.5 and 3.0 M276?
The 3.5 is naturally aspirated with about 225 kW. The 3.0 has twin turbos and makes roughly 245 kW up to around 287 kW in AMG form, with much more torque.
Can I put a 3.0 biturbo into a car that had the 3.5?
Not as a simple swap. The wiring, cooling, intake and software are all different. Buy the version your car came with.
Is your Mercedes M276 engine for sale used or rebuilt?
Both are available. The quote always says which and lists what’s included.
Should I change the timing chain on a used M276?
If the history is unknown or we note any wear, yes. It’s much easier with the engine out.
Do you ship to my country?
Yes, worldwide by sea or air, with freight quoted up front.
How long does delivery take?
It depends on your location and the shipping method. We give you an estimate with the quote.
What if it arrives damaged?
Contact us straight away with photos. We’ll work it out using our packing photos and your quote.
A Mercedes M276 engine for sale should come with real photos, honest test results and a seller who knows these engines. That’s what we aim to give every buyer. Send us your VIN through the contact page, and we’ll tell you what we have and what it costs to get it to your door.