One way to verify mileage is to look at the history of maintenance records. If the corresponding mileage info that is written on each invoice is chronologically in order from first sold to present, then there's an excellent chance that the mileage is correct. That is how I confirmed the 173K on my '83 300D when I bought it. The previous mechanic was meticulous at recording the mileage at the time of work, and he recorded the change of odometer and the mileage difference on the face of the odometers at the time of the replacement. And there's never anything wrong with trying to negotiate the price down . . . LOL. But in 2005 I paid $2400 for my '83, which had a newly rebuilt tranny (7K miles), a rebuilt front end, however, needed paint, and almost every sensor and relay replaced!!!! Also, I never bought a car without taking it (or having it taken to) to a shop of MY choice, to do a complete inspection, detailing on the invoice everything that was found. This saved me from buying a car that was leaking from EVERY component that the seller tried to mask by washing the car/undercarriage when I came to look at it. It was certainly worth the $50 I was charged . . . saved me thousands of dolars in repairs had I bought the car.

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1983 300D, the "Avocado"
1976 240D, 4-spd the "Pumpkin", SOLD to Pierre
1984 190D, 2.2L, 5-spd, my intro to MBZ diesels, crashed into in 2002