Ok, turning in my Cadillac SRX at lease end in January,. We are going to Florida for a month in February and I plan on taking the 85 380SE for this trip. Car has 107K and everything, and I mean everything, is up to date plus I will have the chain, tensioner and upper guides replaced before taking off. The car runs beautifully, just had caster joints replaced, and I can;t think of anything else to do before leaving. My wife is skeptical by taking the 380 on this trip but I would trust it better than the Cadillac I am turning in. For example, on my last rip to Houston to visit my daughter, the transmission lines sprung a leak and if I had not been pulling in my driveway at home when this happened I would have been stranded. This is a 2004 SRX by the way. I figure I could drive the 380 for a few months until we decide what car she wants to replace the SRX and save a few months car payments to boot.

Have others taken their older W126's on extended vacations and what have been their experience? thanks

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95 E420 ( 76K) SOLD
85 380SE(125k)
95 SL500(72k)

I have the same concerns with my '91.
It has never left me stranded; the problems seem to develop
slowly, like a weeping water pump or a failing AC dashpot.
However, I did have an alternator die about 10 miles from home, and that could have been catastrophic if I had been in Hobbs, New Mexico or somewhere like that.

My biggest concern is getting parts/repairs if something on a 20-year-old MB fails. Any older car, even a beautifully maintained MB, is susceptable to a failure at any moment. If the alternator failed in New Mexico, and you were in a 1985 Chevy pickup, probably no big deal. But getting a part for an old MB could take a few days possibly.

I try to head off some of the risk by carrying a few vital spares, such as a belt, hoses, voltage regulator, etc. And I try to make sure the running gear is in great shape (hoses, electrical, accessoriy bearings, seals, flex joints, fluids) but I still hesitate to take it more than a couple hundred miles from home.

Ha, guess I'm losing my sense of adventure as I get older.

DG

I have complete confidence in my cars and (if I had to) drive them anywhere there was a road. Not a big fan of long road trips anymore
You sound like you have a good technical understanding of the 380. Pack a few essential hand tools and hit the road!~

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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)

I think you will be fine! Take a few day drives or trips and how the car behaves. Take a re-built alternator, starter, H2O pump, etc., if you think parts may be a problem. NAPA has these parts, sometimes in stock, but an overnight wait, usually better than the dealer. Hoses and belts you have.
MB Road Service 24hrs. a day, what more can you do to prepare?

Gary, your tires may give you a bigger concern. Their age and condition?
Go, enjoy!!!

I made the round trip from Montreal to Florida (3,200mi) last spring with my 1989 260E with more than 400K on the clock.
Since I had not made a long trip with my W124 in a very long time, I did not hesitate to leave my newer Benz home.
Not-a-single-problem, not-a-single-sign-of-old-age, not-a-single-strange-noise.
The old faithfull cruised along the newer cars on the road, never loosing a beat.
Have a nice trip.

I'll take the '84 or the '86 on a 600 mile trip on a moment's notice.

Sure, sometimes you'll have some issues, but, they normally won't strand you. On the last trip with the '86, it cracked the #6 injection line and eventually lost all pressure to #6. Had to drive it on 5 for about 150 miles and order the injection line from the dealer in Raleigh. Two days to get it.

I agree with the problems of obtaining parts.........sometimes it's difficult.

I take my '59 on long trips all the time. Any car that is properly serviced and runs well around town ought to do just fine on a trip.

Len
'59 220S Cabriolet - been to Tampa, Orlando, Atlanta, Birmingham, Jacksonville, Raleigh, Knoxville, Indianapolis, Columbus, Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, Boston among others

I'd drive my SDL anywhere anytime. I have been doing one or two long trips(500+ miles)a year for the past couple of years. Always ran perfectly.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

As would I. I am of the opinion that the cars that have proven themselves, day in, day out are the ones I want to take on long trips - not the ones that haven't.

When I drove my 4.5 daily, I didn't hesitate to go anywhere. Even a last-minute trip to Atlantic City. Not an issue, not a hiccup at all - not even in the heavy snow that seemingly came out of nowhere about 10 minutes after I left and quickly resulted in the whole trip being in a minimum of 1" of snow. If you have faith in it, then you - knowing your car better than anyone else - are the best judge of all. Go for it

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Current:
2021 Charger Scat Pack Widebody "Sinabee"
2024 CR-V Hybrid

Previous:
1972 280SE 4.5
2018 Durango R/T, 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited "Hefe", 1992 Jeep Cherokee Laredo "Jeepy", 2006 Charger R/T "Hemi"
1999 Chrysler 300M - RIP @ 221k

i've taken 2 roadtrips (1300 miles, and 600 miles) in my 'new-to-me' 1997 E420 with 108k miles, she drove like a dream!! great gas mileage, very comfy, and i love how the big 4.2L just purrs when cruising at 80mph. My S2000 runs at 5000rpm at 80mph!! LOL!!!

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Current cars:
2001 MB E55 AMG
2003 Honda S2000
2000 Honda CRV

Gone but not forgotten:
2004 BMW 325i 5sp sport
1999 BMW 540i sport
1997 MB E420
1995 BMW M3 coupe

I see lots of older Mercede Benz still on the road. Yesterday I saw a 1966 280SL Pagoda orginal conditon, not pampered by the looks of the body & chrome but it
owner around town and my be beyon.
I have a 1992 300-E solid as a tank rock steady on the freeway a pleasure to drive. Ya I think I want a new car some day, but fail to see how I can live with the computer hardware they put in , I keep telling my self people don't buy these cars they lease them. When the computer go hay wire you better have deep pockets and most of the mechnics I have meet have not studied up on the new CAN computer electronics systems, nor have they made an investment in new equipment because its so expensive.
I think the older Mercedes-Benz are more reliable and will get you home even in limp mode.
Bob Geco

If you can get towing added to your insurance, make sure its there. I already had to use mine. Carry some tools, jumper cables, extra wire, maybe a list of dealerships that are along your route. I would not start loading up on spare parts. If you have to do that, you should probably not take that car.

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1985 380SE Blue/Blue - 230,000 miles
2012 Subaru Forester 5-speed
2005 Toyota Sienna
2004 Chrysler Sebring convertible
1999 Toyota Tacoma

I'd take my 1995 w124 or my 1984 w123 to Alaska tomorrow without hesitation, but I'd rather do that drive in my w124!

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- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Just 2 things I take/check before a long roadtrip.
1. My toolbox ( with some basic handtools ) comes with me.
2. Check the airpressure in the sparetire.

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2007 C 230 Sport.

Thanks to all.....I do have towing on insurance, have jumpers and tools always on hand. I will take the 380 and when we return home will tell the wife.."see I told you so"

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95 E420 ( 76K) SOLD
85 380SE(125k)
95 SL500(72k)