Car Model History

Fourth generation · W220 · 2000–2006

2001Mercedes-Benz S-Class

A lighter, sleeker S-Class with Airmatic air suspension, Distronic radar cruise, and the Pre-Safe pre-collision system (2002). Topped by the bi-turbo V12 S 600 and AMG S 65. US model years 2000–2006.

Fourth generation · W220

2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class (W220) — sedan, front three-quarter view

Photo: “2001 Mercedes-Benz S 430 (W 220) sedan (2010-09-23) 01” by OSX / Wikimedia Commons — Public domain. Cropped to 16:9.

The 2001 model year

Overview

For 2001, Mercedes-Benz USA's operator's manual identifies four W220 sedans: S 430, S 500, S 55 AMG, and S 600. The naturally aspirated AMG V8 and naturally aspirated V12 pages are kept separate from the later supercharged and twin-turbo versions because their service parts and performance hardware are not interchangeable.

Specifications

Engines
  • 4.3-liter M113 V8
  • 5.0-liter M113 V8
  • 5.4-liter AMG V8
  • 5.8-liter M137 V12
Transmissions
5-speed automatic
Body styles
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Year over year

What changed

  • The S 55 AMG and S 600 expanded the U.S. range above the S 430 and S 500.
  • All four cataloged configurations remained rear-wheel drive with five-speed automatics.

Worth knowing

Notable

  • The 2001 manual is the exact model-year source; later facelift engine specifications are not backdated onto these cars.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

  • Inspect the individual car's Airmatic or optional Active Body Control system, electronics, corrosion condition, and documented service history; generation reputation is not proof of a fault on every car.
  • Match filters, ignition parts, fluids, transmission service parts, and suspension components to the exact engine, drivetrain, chassis number, and build date before ordering.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 2001 S-Class on the road

Start with the service interval, then match the engine or exact version you own. Order links appear only when a catalog-backed part number is available, and every listing still needs a fitment check.

Service desk

What this car needs & when

Use this as a service-planning checklist for 2001 Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Start with the interval, confirm which engine or configuration you have, then use an exact ordering reference when one is verified.

Service topics
7
Scheduled topics
7
Applicability stated
7
Exact references
1

Before ordering Identify your engine, options and build date. Part numbers and sizes can change within one model year. Shopping links appear only for catalog-backed references; still verify the listing against your vehicle before ordering.

  • Engine oil and filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine oil and filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 10,000 mi / 15,000 km / 12 months · At each FSS-indicated A or B service; operating conditions can shorten the interval. The factory reset reference is 10,000 miles/365 days.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service A and B schedules; FSS description — oil/filter at both services and 10,000-mile/365-day reset reference · checked

  • Dust filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Dust filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 10,000 mi / 15,000 km / 12 months · At each FSS-indicated A or B service; operating conditions can shorten the interval.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Service A and B schedules — replace dust filter · checked

  • Brake fluidView intervals, applicability and sources

    Brake fluid

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 24 months · Replace every two years.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Supplemental Service Items — Every 2 Years · checked

  • Engine air-filter elementView intervals, applicability and sources

    Engine air-filter element

    Exact reference available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 60,000 mi / 96,000 km / 48 months · Approximately; whichever comes first.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Supplemental Service Items — Every 60,000 miles or 4 Years · checked

    S 430 — 4.3-liter M113 V8

    K&N 33-2181

    Applies to: 2001 · 4.3-liter M113 V8 · S 430 · Exact 2001 S 430 engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W220 S-Class table — S 430, 2001 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked

    Verified ordering references

    S 500 — 5.0-liter M113 V8

    K&N 33-2181

    Applies to: 2001 · 5.0-liter M113 V8 · S 500 · Exact 2001 S 500 engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W220 S-Class table — S 500, 2001 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked

    Verified ordering references

    S 55 AMG — 5.4-liter AMG V8

    K&N 33-2181

    Applies to: 2001 · 5.4-liter AMG V8 · S 55 AMG · Exact 2001 S 55 AMG engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W220 S-Class table — S 55 AMG, 2001 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked

    Verified ordering references

    S 600 — 5.8-liter M137 V12

    K&N 33-2217

    Applies to: 2001 · 5.8-liter M137 V12 · S 600 · Exact 2001 S 600 engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.

    Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W220 S-Class table — S 600, 2001 through 09/2002 — 33-2217 (two required) · checked

    Verified ordering references

  • Fuel filterView intervals, applicability and sources

    Fuel filter

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 60,000 mi / 96,000 km / 60 months · Approximately; whichever comes first.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Supplemental Service Items — Every 60,000 miles or 5 Years · checked

  • Spark plugsView intervals, applicability and sources

    Spark plugs

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 100,000 mi / 160,000 km / 60 months · Approximately; whichever comes first.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Supplemental Service Items — Every 100,000 miles or 5 Years · checked

  • Recirculated-air and activated-charcoal prefiltersView intervals, applicability and sources

    Recirculated-air and activated-charcoal prefilters

    Sourced interval available

    Applies to: 2001 · M113.960 5.0L V8 · S 500 sedan (220.175) · United States · Exact 2001 S 500 (220.175) factory record; S 430, S 600, 4MATIC, and other W220 configurations are not claimed.

    Published interval: 45,000 mi / 72,000 km / 24 months · Approximately; whichever comes first.

    Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2001 S 500 (W220/M113) FSS schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · Supplemental Service Items — Every 45,000 Miles or 2 Years · checked

Collect

Bring this model year home

Find a scale model using the exact year, make, and model—not a generic generation search.

Sources

  1. Mercedes-Benz Media — factory S-Class history and W126 design/safety chronology
  2. Mercedes-Benz Public Archive — 220-series S-Class model history
  3. Mercedes-Benz USA — 2001 S-Class operator's manual model roster

Other Fourth generation years

All Fourth generation · W220 years →

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 2001 S-Class

Start with a family, body style, or engine. Every card opens the facts and maintenance information for that factory version.

4factory configurations
Verified complete for the U.S.-marketHow this lineup was verified

We checked this U.S.-market lineup against period sources for factory sedan, coupe, cabriolet, drivetrain, and powertrain roster represented by the cited exact-year or factory-archive evidence. Every version shown below has its own detail page.

Verified 2026-09-01 from Mercedes-Benz USA — 2001 S-Class operator's manual model roster.

4versions shown
Browse 4 documented records — use the filters above to narrow the list
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 430 Automatic

Body
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine
4.3-liter M113 V8
Gearbox
5-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 500 Automatic

Body
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine
5.0-liter M113 V8
Gearbox
5-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 55 AMG Automatic

Body
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine
5.4-liter AMG V8
Gearbox
5-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 600 Automatic

Body
Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine
5.8-liter M137 V12
Gearbox
5-speed automatic
Built
Regular production
Open exact version

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