1978 High Mileage Search - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Brad123D · #1 05-04-2003, 01:59 AM

In May of 1978 Mercedes-Benz launched a search for the highest mileage( and oldest) Mercedes in the U.S. They received 70 entries with 300,000 miles or more. The top honor went to Robert O'Reilly of Olympia, WA...a1957 180D that had been driven 1,184,880 miles- 750,000 on the original engine- and it was claimed to still deliver 37-41 mpg on the road.
The runner-up was Edward Donaldson of Eugene,OR and his 1968 220D with 912,000 miles - 902,000 on the original diesel engine.
A 1953 170SD had 845,289 miles.
The top 20 entries had a total of 12,188,533 miles, an average of about 609,000 miles each.
Luv them D's

#2 05-04-2003, 04:59 AM

WOW.. a 10 year old car with 900k. Very impressive. I wish they'd do a high mileage search again..

#3 05-05-2003, 08:44 AM

There has been a much newer search. In about early 1996, a survey was done by the Star magazine. I missed it by one month, and my 240D with over a half million miles would have been about number 10. In the same issue there was an article about Mr. Donaldsons 220D which had been traded to MBUSA for a new 300SD. At that time it had over 1.1 million miles.

There were a number of MB's in the survey with well over 300,000 miles.

Good luck,

Capt Kirk · #4 05-06-2003, 12:49 AM

I was just reading the back issues and came along that article. Pretty interesting read. They also had a section of the cars with the fewest miles per year. There were no Diesels in that part.