Old Mercedes Road Trip Reliablity

[mrwvo]

I hope you guys dont get too sick of my postings. I would love to learn all I can about these cars, and own them and my primary cars as long as I can.

I would love to go on a road trip, say 1000 miles in my 81 300sd, and while I know the engines in these cars are great, and very reliable, I question how safe I would be on a long trip.

I dont care if ac goes out, or if cruise control stops working, and I know I need to bring an extra set of fuel filters with me, but overall, with the age of the car, is there anything I should be worried about with reliablity?

Other than fuel filters, would anything else be appropriate to carry with me?

Thanks!

[log673]

A bicycle.

[rebreath]

Originally Posted by mrwvo

I hope you guys dont get too sick of my postings. I would love to learn all I can about these cars, and own them and my primary cars as long as I can.

I would love to go on a road trip, say 1000 miles in my 81 300sd, and while I know the engines in these cars are great, and very reliable, I question how safe I would be on a long trip.

I dont care if ac goes out, or if cruise control stops working, and I know I need to bring an extra set of fuel filters with me, but overall, with the age of the car, is there anything I should be worried about with reliablity?

Other than fuel filters, would anything else be appropriate to carry with me?

Thanks!

shortly after getting mine,we went on a trip from pittsburgh to northern maine for 2 weeks.had not a problem.since then we have moved to syracuse and the car brokedown three different times on the way.separate trips.do YOU think it will make it?The first trip I absolutely had no doubts.now,we will see after I change my rear passenger axle.good luck,take tools and as previously posted a bike is a good idea(weather dependant of course)

[vstech]

wow, that really depends on the condition and how regular the maintenance is on the car. if you are using diesel in the tank, filters should not be needed. possibly a prefilter for the occasional bad fuel/tank gunk. Does your fuel gauge work? take a spare fuel tank with you. have you replaced the return hoses on your injectors? How old are the rubber fuel lines from tank to pump? have you flushed the brake fluid? is your tranny fluid due for a change? are your belts in good shape? how is your battery? are you going north? will you be driving through cold weather? take an extension cord for the block heater. how many miles do you have on the motor? has the timing chain been replaced? of course check the tires treadwear and air pressure. spare glow plugs? spare glow plug fuse? wrenches/screwdrivers to change all this.
John

Check condition of the vacuum pump. One does NOT want a vac pump failure on a long road trip!!

With a 617 engine.....get in and go!

[rrgrassi]

How many miles per day are you driving? My driving schedule is the same every other week. Week 1 I put on 150 miles. Week 2 I put on 600 miles. The equates to about 1500 miles a month.

The only long term down time I had was 6 days waiting for a special order glow plug fuse. I'm getting close to 228k now. I've put 11,000 miles on her since I bought her at the end of July 2006.

I'd say the OM617 with the w123 or w126 chassis is pretty reliable.

Things I have done so far...replaced water pump & thermostat, replaced engine mounts/shocks, glow plugs and glow plug fuse, oil changes, fuel filters, banjo bolt cleaned, turbo switchover valve replaced, A/C compressor, dryer and high pressure hose replaced, egr and 3-2 valves disabled. New tires, and a standyne fuel water separator added.

[DieselJim]

Only problem you have with a diesel is fuel getting to the pump. The only time in 25K plus miles of driving mine was that I did not fully understand how to keep it running when I picked it up in a neglected state in alabama. Once I Cleaned out the breathing tube for the tank, the filters and fixed the lift pump I never had problems again. I did have a radiator failure but thankfully that was close to home. I would regularly inspect the transmission line that runs through the radiator and the oil cooler lines. If those fail on a trip you are SOL. Obviously the brakes too. Keep those things in good condition and I would drive that car anywhere, anytime.

[rs899]

The transmission is probably one of the most likely show-stoppers. Other than that (and apart from the on-board stuff like filters, belts ) you should be good to go. Most things will give you fair warning and you can limp home or to someone who knows what they are doing.

Rick

[arcticathlon]

i bought my 300d and cleaned her up. new filters, oil, valve adjustment...

took many road trips, from arkansas to ohio 3 times (850miles each way), then from arkansas to california (2300 miles each way)

i had no problems, (except for cops), and as long as your vehicle is not totally falling appart or you are not ignoring any issues, then i would say you are good to go.

[DslBnz]

I know my Benzes so well I wouldn't hesitate to take any of them cross country and back any time of the year. Despite the fact two of them are actually bordering 300K miles.

Get involved with your car's maintenance, and check all the items necessary to check before any long trip. Follow the MB service checklist, and you should be OK.

Fuel filters can fail on the road, carry AAA Plus for extended towing coverage, carry a serpentine belt, adjustable wrench, set of metric sockets, good spare wheel, etc.

Really, if you've kept a careful eye, nothing will strand you with either the 617 or 603 mechanically injected diesel engines.

Most of all: KNOW YOUR BENZ!

[H-townbenzoboy]

Originally Posted by DslBnz

I know my Benzes so well I wouldn't hesitate to take any of them cross country and back any time of the year. Despite the fact two of them are actually bordering 300K miles.

Get involved with your car's maintenance, and check all the items necessary to check before any long trip. Follow the MB service checklist, and you should be OK.

Fuel filters can fail on the road, carry AAA Plus for extended towing coverage, carry a serpentine belt, adjustable wrench, set of metric sockets, good spare wheel, etc.

Really, if you've kept a careful eye, nothing will strand you with either the 617 or 603 mechanically injected diesel engines.

Most of all: KNOW YOUR BENZ!

Good info! I'd like to add that AAA Premier gives you the longest towing distance, 200 mi so it would be enough to get you to a good MB indy if the worst comes on the open highway, whereas AAA Plus gives you 100 mi towing.

Also, make sure you get all of your fuel from somewhere that's busy, ie: truck stops. You have a better chance of finding good fuel there that won't give your fuel system problems.

[vstech]

Originally Posted by H-townbenzoboy

Good info! I'd like to add that AAA Premier gives you the longest towing distance, 200 mi so it would be enough to get you to a good MB indy if the worst comes on the open highway, whereas AAA Plus gives you 100 mi towing.

Also, make sure you get all of your fuel from somewhere that's busy, ie: truck stops. You have a better chance of finding good fuel there that won't give your fuel system problems.

don't forget 1-800-4-mercedes is there for a jump, some fuel, and if needed a tow to the nearest MB authorized repair center...
John

I drove my 300D about 1000 miles on Sunday (Denver to Chicago). It's all about maintenance and condition. Take a good look at the belts and hoses, it's likely to be the little stuff that gets you in trouble. Carry a set of basic tools and spare fuel filters. As you get to know the car better, you will be more comfortable taking long trips.

[Astroman]

My 79 300D sat 9 years in an old ladies garage without starting. Oil in the cylinders, new filters, fluids, tires and a tow start and I drove it 700 miles home the next day.. Same story with the 81 SD. I wouldn't hesitate to get into either one and go across the country, they've never ever let me down.