I am very curious now. Back in mid 1997, I was ready to replace a very old daily driver car with something else and ran into the current Diesel at an auction. 1979 300D with 42,200 miles and I bid right onto it, not knowing who much this car was going to affect my view (and love again) on cars!
CarFax was not available for these years, the sppedometer looked right, a friend out of the business judged the odometer to be accurate and the interior looked accordingly. My mechanic had no doubts about the mileage, but at 18 years of age this mileage? Car had been repainted and was involved in a fender-bender in the front, other than that, we find no faults.
Now, almost 200,000 miles into the car I am extremely curious is the "Brownie" of correct mileage or was I fooled into an older car with new odometer?
Supposedly, car had been standing in the sun for 18 years (So Cal!!), the transmission was rebuilt 100,000 miles ago.
How can we accurately, if it matters judge the mileage beyond the cosmetic things etc?

When you figure it out, write a book and retire on the profits. Of course the price of used cars will skyrocket since the duds flooding the market won't be around to hold down the prices of the gems.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I should setback my odometer 100,000miles and sell my car now, while I can make some money

.....I see. Not getting straightforward answers. Well...

How do guys get a picture underneath your ID in the posts, BTW, so I get a usefult answer

Well, the transmissions tend to last 150,000-200,000 miles(the first transmission on my car was replaced at about 125,000 miles). Interior is a big indcator, except if the car has been outside in a hot and sunny environment. The suspension components are also a good indicator of Mileage. Engine wear and related components can be another indicator of actual mileage...The best indicators for Mileage would be detailed records with every single oil change and every nut and bolt losened and tightened on the car...

Click the 'user cp' button near the top of the page, then 'Edit Profile' to get to the signature block which takes HTML code I think, or 'Edit Options' to get to the avatar block that allows you to attach an image under your user name in posts.

As to the comment on useful answers, were you expecting someone to say that there's a secret engine hours timer or wheel revolution counter? I think the best you can do is take the car to a reputable independent and have him/her make an assessment. Enrique in Encino seems to be the go to guy in SoCal. Maybe a Bosch shop can provide an estimate based on the level of wear in the IP. I think you'll be lucky to get an answer in the range of +/- 100K miles without taking the engine apart.

Sixto
95 S420
87 300SDL

I think you can get a pretty good idea of milage on a car by the old method of how worn is the brake pedal, the steering wheel,and the drivers side floor mats and drivers seat.The steering wheel on a 40K MB should show little wear on it's texture.........

William Rogers........

The steering wheel on my 308,000 MB shows no wear at all, and I do believe it is original.

The brake pads show moderate wear, but when were they last changed?

The car came with no mats, so I have added them. But the carpet throughout looks like new.

Driver's seat (and passenger seat also) are bad, bad. So you got me there.

__________________
1984 300SD 326,997 miles and counting . . . No wait, my odometer is still dead

two and one half out of four means you win........

William Rogers.......