2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class | Car Model History

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What do you need to know?

This page covers the whole 2008 Mercedes-Benz S-Class model year. Choose your task first; exact trims and engines are separated where the factory offered different versions.

Complete, source-verified lineup

Find your exact 2008 S-Class

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

5factory 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 Public Archive — 221-series S-Class model history.

Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 550 Automatic

Body: Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine: 5.5-liter V8
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Built: Regular production

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Four-door 4MATIC all-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 550 4MATIC Automatic

Body: Four-door 4MATIC all-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine: 5.5-liter V8
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Built: Regular production

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Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 600 Automatic

Body: Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12
Gearbox: 5-speed automatic
Built: Regular production

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Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Automatic

Body: Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine: 6.2-liter AMG V8
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Built: Regular production

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Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan

Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG Automatic

Body: Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan
Engine: 6.0-liter twin-turbo AMG V12
Gearbox: 5-speed automatic
Built: Regular production

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The 2008 model year

Overview

For 2008, the U.S. W221 roster expanded to five configurations with the S 63 AMG joining the S 550, S 550 4MATIC, S 600, and S 65 AMG. The naturally aspirated AMG V8 and twin-turbo AMG V12 are separate powertrains, not equipment packages on one car.

Specifications

Engines: 5.5-liter V8
5.5-liter twin-turbo V12
6.2-liter AMG V8
6.0-liter twin-turbo AMG V12
Transmissions: 7-speed automatic, 5-speed automatic
Body styles: Four-door rear-wheel drive luxury sedan, Four-door 4MATIC all-wheel drive luxury sedan

Year over year

What changed

The S 63 AMG joined with a 6.2-liter AMG V8 and seven-speed transmission.
The S 550 drivetrain split and both V12 sedans continued.

Worth knowing

Notable

The two AMG badges identify materially different engine and transmission applications.

Living with it

Reliability & ownership notes

Inspect Airmatic or Active Body Control operation, electronics, cooling-system condition, and documented service history on the individual car; a generation-level reputation is not evidence that every example has a fault.
Match filters, fluids, ignition or diesel-service parts, brakes, and transmission service items to the exact engine, drivetrain, build date, and VIN before ordering.

Maintenance & service parts

Keep your 2008 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 topics: 7
Factory intervals: 7
Fitment-scoped: 7
Exact references: 1

Before orderingIdentify 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 filter
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 13,000 mi / 20,800 km / 12 months · At each US Service 3; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 3 — Every 13,000 Miles or 1 Year · checked 2026-08-05
Combination cabin filter
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 26,000 mi / 41,600 km / 24 months · At each US Service 5; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 5 — Every 26,000 Miles or 2 Years · checked 2026-08-05
Brake fluid
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 24 months · At each US Service 4.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 4 — Every 2 Years · checked 2026-08-05
Engine air-cleaner insert
Exact reference available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 52,000 mi / 83,200 km / 48 months · At each US Service 8; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 8 — Every 52,000 Miles or 4 Years · checked 2026-08-05
S 550 — 5.5-liter V8
K&N 33-2181
Applies to: 2008 · 5.5-liter V8 · S 550 · Exact 2008 S 550 engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 550, 2008 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N 33-2181
  Qty. 2 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
  K&N lists two elements for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
  Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 550, 2008 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
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S 550 4MATIC — 5.5-liter V8
K&N 33-2181
Applies to: 2008 · 5.5-liter V8 · S 550 4MATIC · Exact 2008 S 550 4MATIC engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 550 4MATIC, 2008 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N 33-2181
  Qty. 2 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
  K&N lists two elements for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
  Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 550 4MATIC, 2008 — 33-2181 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
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S 600 — 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12
K&N 33-2412
Applies to: 2008 · 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12 · S 600 · Exact 2008 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) · W221 S-Class table — S 600, 2008 — 33-2412 · checked 2026-09-01
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N 33-2412
  Qty. 1 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
  K&N lists one element for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
  Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 600, 2008 — 33-2412 · checked 2026-09-01
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S 63 AMG — 6.2-liter AMG V8
K&N 33-2405
Applies to: 2008 · 6.2-liter AMG V8 · S 63 AMG · Exact 2008 S 63 AMG engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 63 AMG 6.3i, 2008 — 33-2405 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N 33-2405
  Qty. 2 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
  K&N lists two elements for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
  Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 63 AMG 6.3i, 2008 — 33-2405 (two required) · checked 2026-09-01
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S 65 AMG — 6.0-liter twin-turbo AMG V12
K&N 33-2412
Applies to: 2008 · 6.0-liter twin-turbo AMG V12 · S 65 AMG · Exact 2008 S 65 AMG engine application. Confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
Source: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 65 AMG, 2008 — 33-2412 · checked 2026-09-01
Verified ordering references
- Service replacementK&N 33-2412
  Qty. 1 · Reusable engine air-filter element · catalog-listed
  K&N lists one element for this application; confirm VIN and build date before ordering.
  Catalog: K&N Engineering — 2017 European Automotive Catalog, S-Class application tables (archived copy) · W221 S-Class table — S 65 AMG, 2008 — 33-2412 · checked 2026-09-01
  Search this part on Amazon
Fuel filter
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 143,000 mi / 228,800 km / 180 months · At each US Service 11; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 11 — Every 143,000 Miles or 15 Years · checked 2026-08-05
Spark plugs
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 91,000 mi / 145,600 km / 60 months · At each US Service 12; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 12 — Every 91,000 Miles or 5 Years · checked 2026-08-05
Engine coolant
Sourced interval available
Applies to: 2008 · M273.961 5.5L V8 · S 550 sedan (221.171) · United States · Exact 2008 rear-wheel-drive S 550 factory record; 4MATIC, V12, and AMG configurations are not claimed.
Published interval: 143,000 mi / 228,800 km / 180 months · At each US Service 13; whichever comes first.
Source: Mercedes-Benz — 2008 S 550 (W221/M273) service schedule, preserved by Operation CHARM · US Service 13 — Every 143,000 Miles or 15 Years · checked 2026-08-05

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2008Mercedes-Benz S-Class

What do you need to know?

Find your exact 2008 S-Class

Mercedes-Benz S 550 Automatic

Mercedes-Benz S 550 4MATIC Automatic

Mercedes-Benz S 600 Automatic

Mercedes-Benz S 63 AMG Automatic

Mercedes-Benz S 65 AMG Automatic

Overview

Specifications

What changed

Notable

Reliability & ownership notes

Keep your 2008 S-Class on the road

What this car needs & when

Bring this model year home

Sources