Mercedes-Maybach S600 vs S650: what changed, and what to ask for before you buy
Two Maybachs, one body. The S600 was the launch V12 of the modern Mercedes-Maybach line in 2016. The S650 replaced it for the 2018 model year. On the used market they can sit only a few thousand dollars apart, so the question is whether the later car is worth paying for. Here is what actually changed.
The verdict in sixty words
Buy on condition and records first, badge second. The S650 brings the AMG-tuned V12 with more output and the 2018 facelift, and it is the one most buyers will want if the price gap is small. A documented, lower-mile S600 with a clean service file is the better car than a thin-history S650 every time.
Engine: the real difference
Both cars use a 6.0-liter twin-turbocharged V12 driving the rear wheels through Mercedes' seven-speed automatic. The S600 engine is the M277 as fitted to the S600 sedan, rated by Mercedes at 523 horsepower and 612 lb-ft of torque. The S650 moved to the AMG-developed version of that V12 (the M279 as used in the S65), which Mercedes rated at 621 horsepower and 738 lb-ft. In a car this heavy you feel it as effortlessness rather than violence: the S650 pulls harder from a roll and the engine note is a little deeper. Neither is slow.
Exterior and cabin
The S650 arrived with the 2018 S-Class facelift: the vertical-slat Maybach grille, revised bumpers, new headlamp graphics and the updated twin 12.3-inch widescreen cockpit with the newer steering wheel and touch controls. The S600 has the earlier grille and the first-generation widescreen layout. Both have the long-wheelbase rear cabin with reclining executive seats; options such as the refrigerator, folding tables and the Burmester high-end system were available on both, so check the window sticker or the build sheet for the specific car rather than assuming.
Which holds up better
Mechanically these cars are closely related, and the things that cost money are shared: Airmatic or Magic Body Control components, the V12 ignition coils and plugs, and the cost of twelve-cylinder servicing. The newer car has newer rubber and electronics simply by age. If both candidates have complete dealer service records, the S650 is the easier car to own for the next five years. If the S650 has gaps, that advantage disappears.
Records to request for either car
- Full service history, ideally Mercedes dealer or a known V12 specialist, with dates and mileage.
- The original window sticker or a build sheet decoded from the VIN, so you know which rear-seat packages are actually fitted.
- Air suspension history: any strut, compressor or valve block replacement.
- Tire date codes and brake measurements. These cars are heavy and go through both.
- A pre-purchase inspection by a Mercedes specialist. We can arrange one for any car on The Motor Block.
What we have right now
The Motor Block currently lists three 2016 Mercedes-Maybach S600 sedans and one 2018 Mercedes-Maybach S650. Open the listings below for photos, VIN-decoded specs and an inquiry form. Specifications above are factory figures for the model; the equipment on any specific car is confirmed from its records.
