444,444 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chris W. · #1 07-04-2015, 08:36 AM

Another milestone. And yes, my dash is dusty and dirty!

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D 444K

vstech · #2 07-04-2015, 08:40 AM

Aww, the trip is 1.5 miles off from 617... Soooooo close.

How does the car run? Ya figure you'll get another 555556 miles out of her?

Jeremy5848 · #3 07-04-2015, 12:07 PM

Congratulations, Chris! Tell us what work has been done to the car in all these miles.

Chris W. · #4 07-04-2015, 01:17 PM

What work has been done? A lot if you add it up, but the core engine and trans themselves are basically untouched. Glow plugs a few times. Fuel line O rings a few times. Injection pump seals once.

Just in the last year new alternator, radiator, fan, fan clutch, hoses. Last year water pump. Vacuum pump at ~275K.

Currently have 2-3 flare, but if I back off the throttle anticipating the shift it shifts fine. Changed B2 (B1?) piston, made shift itself firmer but still had flare. Using Amsoil synth trans fluid, have changed twice since 140K when I bought the car in 2004. Did all shocks and front suspension at 140K and it needs it again now.

Have a leaking AC which I charge periodically. Pods are dying, don't want to pull the dash but may have to. Currently have funky voltage situation with tach dropping out and idle dropping, changed OVP relay but no help. So far it always comes back. Original upper harness may be the reason.

Change oil+filter at 3-4K with Rotella 15-40 dino. I know this is probably overkill but it's good to be under the car every 6-8 weeks or so. Fuel filter changed when it won't pull 5 K rpm, maybe every 40-50K. Had LF strut tower fail.

Still run it pretty hard, 110 miles a day. Still getting 34-36 MPG. Still easily make an 800 mile tank if I want to. Best. car. ever. But slowly dying the death of a thousand cuts....

Rgds,
Chris W.

courtney · #5 07-04-2015, 04:39 PM

very impressive!!

and sounds like it has not needed many big repairs for those years and very high mileage

tyl604 · #6 07-04-2015, 11:23 PM

Congrats.

Jeremy5848 · #7 07-04-2015, 11:44 PM

I've done many of those same repairs on my '95 E300D, which is at about half your mileage. I've not yet replaced the water pump. Your transmission is probably approaching end-of-life; the average is perhaps 300,000 miles so yours is ready.

MBeige · #8 07-05-2015, 12:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

Aww, the trip is 1.5 miles off from 617... Soooooo close.

How does the car run? Ya figure you'll get another 555556 miles out of her?

Well it's a '95 E300D W124, so the more proper trip mileage is actually 606.....12 miles past.

chronometers · #9 07-05-2015, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeremy5848

I've done many of those same repairs on my '95 E300D, which is at about half your mileage. I've not yet replaced the water pump. Your transmission is probably approaching end-of-life; the average is perhaps 300,000 miles so yours is ready.

Changing out the ATF on a regular basis or at least occasionally probably helps the longevity of the tranny.

Have you had to deal with belt dampening system at all?

Way to go. Keep on trucking!

bsmuwk · #10 07-05-2015, 01:47 PM

For that mileage, that oil pressure at idle is fan-effing-tastic.

Chris W. · #11 07-05-2015, 03:37 PM

Doesn't use any oil between changes, but does drip a bit! I have replaced the belt tensioner shock twice, but not the idler. Oh yeah, my block heater is kaput. When I plug it in it trips my GFI outlet. But it starts fine without it just with the glow plugs (although I'd rather have the heater working). New wiper motor/transmission from a boneyard at some point - the old one really started to slow down. Both rear window regulators replaced with eBay chicom units which have been totally fine.

I'd love to make 500K.

Rgds,
Chris W.

Jeremy5848 · #12 07-05-2015, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chronometers

Changing out the ATF on a regular basis or at least occasionally probably helps the longevity of the tranny.

It's said that many cars go to the junkyard with their original fill of tranny fluid. I don't know if that's completely accurate (do new cars today get transmission fluid changes as part of some factory service?) but entirely possible.

The friction materials in the transmission wear out eventually but I'm sure regular fluid/filter changes help them last longer and when the transmission finally needs to be rebuilt the hard parts will be reusable.

The 722.4 tranny in my '96 E300D developed a front pump seal leak at 250,000 miles (partly my fault for trying to switch to synthetic fluid—it already had a slight leak and the synthetic fluid made it worse). The mechanic said the friction materials had another 50,000 miles in them but the hard parts were all good. All of the POs documented fluid/filter changes by the book (30K service) through at least 180,000 miles, which helped.

86-300sdl · #13 07-06-2015, 07:14 PM

Just plain cool....I'm 33k behind you....fun seeing the look of disbelief when people learn 400k+....

like you...lots of fresh oil seems to keep them rolling.