None of the cars in this list on Forbes Magazine...

will be fixable after about 12 years...

because salvage yards are crushing cars over TEN years old...

No one is comparing them to our old cars...

thankfully they were made with interchangeable parts between several years... and the model style was not changed every year...

So if you get one of these cars... be sure to use up that 250,000 miles before the ten year period. And buy another car... so wasteful ...

10 Cars That Can Run For Over 250,000 Miles | Forbes

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/10414-help-i-need-check-stretch.html

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/156207-photo-step-step-post-showing-w123-evaporator-removal-1983-240d-1982-300td.html?highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

true.They want to show how much they think engines have improved,but what about automatics.Same trans in my 83 with 366000 miles,just change fluid.Modern auto's are junk.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran

We are a disposable society. To many people take more time deciding on what kind of soup they are going to purchase at grocery store than they do a car.

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BENZ THERE DONE THAThttp://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/...c/progress.gif
15 VW Passat TDI
00 E420
98 E300 DT
97 E420 Donor Car - NEED PARTS? PM ME!
97 S500
97 E300D
86 Holden Jackaroo Turbo D
86 300SDL
(o\|/o)

A heavy diesel technician friend of mine is pretty sure that most companies are making engines lighter and for shorter lifecycle. His experience is with Fords and their longer engine service intervals. He says he never seen so many warranty repairs, especially engine teardown repairs that could have been avoided by just servicing the vehicle more often.

These people/companies are following the recommended service intervals and still having to do engine rebuilds. This seems a world away from the world that built our older diesels.

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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat

I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes!


1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k
1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered
1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold]

It comes from fear too. Buying used represents a gamble and you have to learn about cars to buy something any good. I guess most people would rather sign away their money instead with interest. Not that used cars aren't going to cost you money in the end. But I'd rather drive an old yacht than a subcompact that shuffles whichever way the wind blows.

This one got me: how hard is it to glue fabric?
Tesla Model X Approaches Old Jaguar Levels Of Build Quality

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1983 300TD 240k Thistle Green Auto (Euro) [sold]
1984 300D 240k Petrol Green Auto
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"You know, times are changing. Ladies can do stuff now and you're going to have to learn how to deal with it."
"What? Were you saying something? Look, I don't speak Spanish."

...seems to fly straight in the face of "Reduce Reuse Recycle".

Wonder how much is wasted re-manufacturing this trash?


snapped_bolt

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'81 240D For now, a good place to borrow new parts
'80 300TD Probably will be put back into service!
'79 240D BACK IN SERVICE SINCE 09/16; limited use, oil leak. Guide pin r/sealed/replaced. Still a leak. Front crank seal....

While it's true that newer cars are not as well made, a good deal of it is because the government keeps adding tougher and tougher restrictions on fuel efficiency. Cars MUST get x per gallon or they can't be sold. Simply speaking, that means engines/cars as a whole must be lighter which often translates to weaker.

I mean, if an EPA guy pulled up to a new car lot and saw the iron monster that is a W123... well, let's just say Maytag doesn't make washers tough enough to handle those pants.

Just another lesson from yer Uncle Bob: the government doesn't give a right damn about the people that put it there.

Run for over 250,000 miles, but with how much 100 dollar per hour dealer maintenance? Those things are so complicated no one else can work on them.

I have a 1984 Isuzu diesel I-Mark sedan that my wife bought new. I have replaced the ball joints, the glow plugs, the calipers, the rear brake drums, and that is about all. Except I do replace the belt every 60,000 miles. It's an interference engine. Absolutely the best car ever built.

Richard

I wish they were still available. The absolute most reliable car in my driveway right now is a 1995 E300 with the 97 Ford F150 holding its own.

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Jim

Did Forbes take a payout from Toyota when they wrote that article? 6 of the 10 vehicles in the list were Toyota/Lexus, 2 were VW/Audi, 1 was Mazda (Ford), and the last was a Subaru.

Having driven several of the cars on their list, I beg to differ with their opinions, but I digress. I'm still surprised there's not a Honda on the list. Maybe they figured that was a "well duh" and was too cliché to list.

If you want some true garbage, buy something from the "big 3". Having WON lemon-lawsuits against Ford not once, but TWICE, I can honestly say I will NEVER own another "domestic" vehicle again!

Japanese (Mitsubishi not included), or Mercedes, that's it. I want something reliable, comfortable, and long-lasting in my garage. There's enough trash in there without adding some rust from Detroit (Mexico, China, Canada, certainly not US).

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

I dunno. I've got three Dodge pick ups from the 90's - 1 diesel, 2 gassers, 250xxx, 235xxx, 350xxx. Three Jeeps, all with more than 250xxx. And a couple of MB's 183xxx, 250xxx. The jeeps take the least amount of work to keep rolling. The Dodges eat trans at 75k but the engines may never die. The w126 keeps my wrenches exercised and the w123 is OK if you don't want a/c. Don't get me wrong, I like my cars but I don't kid myself and I don't fall in love with cars. They are just a tool. Some are better than others. Over the years I've made a good living fixing all makes. There is no denying that some of the new stuff is way better, just look at the latest safety features. On the other hand, nobody has figured out how to make these tin cans stand up to salt & rust.

Forbes is just clickbait anymore, I would take it with a grain of salt.


Sent from an abacus

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

Here's an interesting article regarding durability vs reliability.

There Is a Difference Between a Reliable Car and a Durable Car

In my opinion, our classic Mercedes are very durable, but not necessarily very reliable, in that they may last forever, but they do need a lot of TLC during that period. Modern car's are more reliable, in my experience, but are more prone to falling apart with age due running at much higher stresses (More hp/liter output, more computer controlled systems, etc)

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'85 300D - federal spec, built in late 84. 85 300D Complete AC System Rebuild

Good article, thanks!

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"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970

For years I played the new car games.Every 5 years got a new one to keep up with the neighbors.Then I moved to a rural area,and been happy since 1995 buying used.No payments,no high priced insurance.Vehicles have gotten so high in price now that you really need to mortgage them.Like my state Tennessee your lucky to make $9. and hour anywhere.

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1999 w140, quit voting to old, and to old to fight, a god damned veteran