The inspected 2012 Mercedes E-Class saloon manual lists 6.5 litres for an E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY oil change including the filter. Its DPF-diesel table includes MB-Approval 229.51. These are references from that edition: its disclaimer limits coverage to German-market vehicles, so confirm the match with the manual supplied with your car before filling or ordering.
This article focuses on the E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY saloon represented by that manual, with parts context for the 125 kW/170 hp OM651.924. It does not apply the 2012 figure to every later E220 BlueTEC, to an E-Class coupé, or to another diesel engine simply because the badge is similar.
Is 6.5 litres with or without the filter?
With the filter. On printed page 441, Mercedes places E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY in the 6.5-litre capacity group beneath the oil-change-with-filter heading. This is a named model entry, rather than an estimate taken from an owner’s refill.
| Quantity question | Answer for the documented example |
|---|---|
| Complete oil change with filter | 6.5-litre reference from the 2012 saloon manual. |
| Oil top-up | Not 6.5 litres: establish the existing level and required addition. |
| One five-litre bottle | Less than the documented complete-change quantity. |
| Estate, different engine or later variant | Confirm the applicable capacity separately. |
For purchasing, compare seven litres supplied as a five-litre bottle plus two one-litre bottles with other packs. Buy sufficient volume, then use the correct filling and level-checking process. Extra oil bought is not extra oil to pour in.
What Mercedes approval should the oil carry?
The manual’s DPF-diesel group includes E220 CDI BlueEFFICIENCY and lists approvals 228.51, 229.31 and 229.51. MB 229.51 is therefore one documented route for choosing oil for a matching application.
Look for the specific MB-Approval statement for the exact product and grade, not a broad “Mercedes diesel” description. SAE viscosity and Mercedes approval answer different questions. A 5W-30 label alone does not establish the approval; equally, a reference to an approval alone does not replace the manual’s viscosity guidance for the operating conditions.
The same page includes a 0W-40/5W-40 instruction expressly for AMG vehicles. It is not an E220 CDI viscosity rule. Its emergency substitute-oil allowance is also a limited top-up provision, not a recipe for a complete service fill.
One specific product to compare
Mobil’s current UK product information lists MB-Approval 229.51 for Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30. If that specification and grade match your vehicle’s requirements, this is a defined product to compare rather than a search for unspecified engine oil.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Unusual Cars earns from qualifying purchases. Links open searches, so check the exact item, application, quantity and seller before ordering.
Search Amazon for Mobil 1 ESP 5W-30The search may show other Mobil products, different grades or assorted bottle sizes. Check the exact ESP 5W-30 formulation and its current approval, then compare the total litres and delivered price. There is no need to choose a more expensive pack solely because its listing title includes the car’s name.
Oil selection and service completion are separate
Use the vehicle’s stated level-checking procedure and avoid overfilling. Capacity is a reference, not a command to empty containers into the engine without checking the final level. Keep the product name, approval, quantity and mileage in the service record.
The service reminder does not measure oil level. Changing oil also does not establish that every other item due at the service has been completed. Use the W212 E220 CDI maintenance guide to plan the work and the filter guide to check HU 7010 z and the separate air/cabin-filter applications.
Sources and coverage
- Mercedes 2012 saloon manual: disclaimer and printed pp. 441–442, approvals and capacities
- Mobil UK ESP 5W-30: Specifications and Approvals
Checked 16 October 2026. The Mercedes PDF explicitly limits its vehicle coverage to the German market and says it does not replace the manual supplied with the car. Its figures are documented references, not a blanket UK specification or schedule. Check your own vehicle documents for applicability. MANN catalogue dates describe parts applications, not replacement intervals.
Find more vehicle guides in the Mercedes servicing and maintenance hub. For fault-reading equipment, see our Mercedes diagnostic scanner guides; confirm a tool supports the required function on your car.
