I was wondering if any of you guys had any interesting methods for determining a ballpark figure in say within 50,000 miles or better, on an 617.95 engine. In the case of a P.O. that changed the odometer in which the miles were undocumented from replaced odometer and the miles of the replacement odometer put in. Some of the cars repair history is known and can be inferred.
I was thinking something like the timing chain stretch or some other internal engine parts that last 100,000's miles The problem is assuming the previous owner changed oil regularly etc. etc. The trick is the ease of measument without an engine teardown and then the inverse accuracy of it's measument.
I'm not trilled about the North American insurance accutaries that use something like, what is it, 12,000 miles driven per year for indiviuals in the US. Using that formula my 1982 300d would have 384,000 REAL miles. 32 years X 12,000= 384,000

I really don't subscribe to any way, that I'd believe. There are too many variables, mostly to do with maintenance. A high mileage well maintained engine, will probably look like a lower mileage poorly maintained engine. It's just one reason, I'll shy away from any TMU (true mileage unknown) car, unless it's an incredible deal.

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1983 W123 300TD US spec Turbo engine, with Euro bumpers and manual climate control, and manual transmission.

There are simply too many variables to point at one thing and say if this = X, then you have Y miles. I usually judge a car's mileage by the wear on the steering wheel. Of course, that is assuming it has not been replaced and in your case does not guarantee the engine has not been replaced or rebuilt. In your case, you can only go off the compression of the engine to determine if it is serviceable. If the vehicle was well maintained, the true mileage is not an issue other than having a figure to make you feel good or bad about.

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1991 F250 super-cab 7.3 IDI. (rebuilt by me) Banks Sidewinder turbo, hydroboost brakes, new IP and injectors.
2003 S430 - 107K
1983 300SD - Tanoshii - mostly restored ~400K+.
1983 300SD - Good interior. Engine finally tamed ~250K.
Monark Nozzle Install Video - http://tinyurl.com/ptd2tge

Yes your both so right. I was also thinking about preparing for any future maintanance or longevity

If you have the VIN number, just look it up in Carfax. They may not have a complete record, but it should fill in some gaps. When I was considering buying a 'new' car last year, 100% of the lower mileage cars I saw had bad odometer readings...it's a plague.

Thats a good way to fill in some of the gaps I am looking at!

Do a compression check, that could give you some idea...

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x2 .... and chain stretch

.

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w126 500SEC gen II euro, powered by OM617 turbo stolen from 84 300SD 2.88 diff,EGR blinded
next wish/project: w114 coupe OM603 powered

Condition of steering wheel and pedals are often indication of mileage....although of course difficult to quantify.

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14 E250 Bluetec 4Matic "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 154k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 172k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife