So time finally came to part with my '87 300E. She served me well over the years and together we went up and down highways and byways for work. I slaved over the decision to restore it for months but I finally decided to donate it to charitable organization.

The tow truck was leaving with her in tow just as I pulled into the driveway coming home from dinner. I was glad to see her for the last time. I watched her going down the road with wheels rolling, as majestic looking as she was designed to be.

Hope the proceeds she generated will be put to good use for the needy. Funny how one gets so attached to an inanimated object.

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95 R129
04 Infiniti G35.5 BS
10 X204

I felt the same way when the new owner drove off in my 300E. That was a very special car to me. I was oddly sad watching it go.

Go figure.

Plans for a new replacement yet?

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Chris
2007 E550 4Matic - 61,000 Km - Iridium Silver, black leather, Sport package, Premium 2 package
2007 GL450 4Matic - 62,000 Km - Obsidian Black Metallic, black leather, all options
1998 E430 - sold
1989 300E - 333,000 Km - sold
1977 280E - sold
1971 250 - retired

"And a frign hat. They gave me a hat at the annual benefits meeting. I said. how does this benefit me. I dont have anything from the company.. So they gave me a hat." - TheDon

My 420SEL was totalled in the summer of 2004 at 198K miles. While it was parked, some *&*(&()&*(*& % teenager, probably drunk and probably yakking on her cell, scraped all the body panels along the driver's side. It still drove, but restoring it was beyond what I was prepared to get into.

Knowing I wouldn't be there to see it towed away, I left a note in the glove box:

To the new owner of this 1986 420SEL:

You’ve bought an excellent car. If you intend to fix it, drive it, and maintain it, as I hope you will, it will repay you with many miles of wonderful service.

I bought this car in May of 1999, and was forced to turn it over to my insurance company in August of 2004. In more than 5 years, this big grey beast never let me down. Keep it clean, change the oil and other fluids, and you will have a car to be proud of and which will collect many compliments from other drivers.

When you reach the 200,000-mile mark, or if you have questions about its condition and the services I’ve done, please drop me a line at [email].

Enjoy!

I never got an answer. Probably it wound up in a yard somewhere, instead of living out more of its Teutonic life on the road. I don't miss the mileage (17 mpg on premium), but otherwise I wish I still had it.

Funny, I never had the urge to leave a note for the next owner with any of my other cars. . . .

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-- Paul W. (The Benzadmiral)
('03 Buick Park Avenue, charcoal/cream)
Formerly:
'97 C230, smoke silver/parchment; '86 420SEL, anthracite/light grey; '84 280CE (W123), dark blue/palomino

The 400 and 320 are starting to have issues that are becoming problems that I am having trouble diagnosing,,,, but driving down the road they are both magnificent machines and I will have a real tough time parting with them when the time comes.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K