3K mile trip upcoming
 

So we're heading to a family wedding and will be traveling approximately 3K miles all said and done. Initially I thought we'd simply rent something like an impala or such but recently I've been entertaining the idea of just driving the 95 wagon. The car is butter-smooth on the highway and gets decent fuel mileage. It still turns heads as it's still a sharp car! So...

I'm not sure if that would be a good idea or not. The car has 146+K miles on it. It's not an oil consumer, but it's never had a water pump or fuel pump replaced. Nor a starter. Not sure if I should be concerned being stranded along the interstate at 3:00 AM with wife and my two teens. It's due for a tranny drain and filter change. I can do that.

My thinking is why not spend the rental car money on some PM items and drive it. The car has many many life/miles left so why not? Open to hearing some thoughts... [emoji624]

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Usually the last few thousand miles is a good predicter of the next few thousand. If you've been mechanically sound for awhile I don't think you'll have any trouble. I tend to worry about such things for no real good reason too. Probably just as well if you wait on the tranny fluid change until after the trip. Heck, 146k miles isn't really that many.

What he said.

About 10 years ago we went on a trip in our Honda Accord and it too was a very clean, reliable, 'older' (1992) car and everything was going really well until it decided not to start when trying to leave a place we had stopped at. Yep, starter. Fortunately I had the premium AAA towing service so they towed the car back to my relative's house where we were staying and I put a new starter on it. That's still, for some reason, in the back of my mind!! But I know this is a Mercedes! It's been a wonderful car, my wife's DD and the vehicle we take most often when going on a trip. Our trips are just not usually 3K milers!

Guess I just need some affirmation! Thanks for your replies [emoji106]

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You can over-think any decision. You obviously trust your wife daily in the car and if its been reliable thus far I would get in it and not look back. At the end of the day it has mechanical parts that could fail but you are traveling in one of the strongest cars Mercedes ever put into production from a safety and reliability standpoint.
Safe travels

We took a 2500 mile trip
 

with our 1983 300CD at about 280k miles. Previous responders a right. Your car is a daily driver as mine was and you can have as much or more confidence in it than a cramped, over accessorized modern car.

Few years ago I met couple and their dog traveling round trip Left Coast to Right and back in a 300CD towing a small travel trailer. No problems.

I recently took my 91 300TE with over 260k miles on a 1200 mile road trip and it preformed perfectly. I agree with the other posters. If it's been trouble free in daily service then it will most likely be fine on your trip. You could rent a new car and have it break down too.

Had a feeling these would be the kind of replies I'd get, so looks like I'll be taking 'her' on the trip! 'Highway miles' are truly the best and probably the easiest miles on a car so combine that with it being "...one of the best and most reliable..." we should be in good hands. Thanks again guys. I'll report back first of next month (June) to give a report on how we did. :)

You can tell if the water pump is on the way out by seeing if there is any water dripping out of the pump. If it is dripping, replace it before the trip. I wouldn't worry yet about the fuel pump at that mileage. More important is your cooling system and various vacuum hoses. I'd take a hard look at the water hoses. If you find a bad one, I would change ALL of them, flush the system and refill with Benz coolant and distilled water. I had a "check engine" light on a 4500 mile trip in my CL500. Found a bad vacuum hose when I got home.
Anziani

You bring up a good point and that is the hoses. I'll get in there and do some checking, and will likely do it as I plan to do a serpentine belt. We've owned the car since Aug 2009 and I haven't put one on it yet so I'm thinking it would be a smart move to do that pre-trip. Last coolant flush was 11/15/13, a bit under 1-1/2 years, at 130,300 miles. IDK, I may go ahead and do a coolant flush and new t-stat since it wasn't replaced at last flush.

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Dsel,
Forgot to mention the idler pulley when you change the belt. I had one go out in the middle of Eastern Washington with the nearest town 90 miles away. When I limped into Wenatchee there was no sign of a Benz dealer or even a foreign car repair shop. Asked the Chrysler service manager for help and he directed me to a local shop that did work on Benzes. We had to spend the next 2 nights there as the shop had to wait for UPS to deliver a part from Seattle. If you are going to travel in the "boonies", be prepared.
Anziani

I took my 1983 sd for a 2600 mile trip,in 2008.No problems.Of course I replaced all rubber parts,like flex disk,motor mounts,fuel hoses,and cooling hoses.

'95 E300 cross USA last fall....
 

I took my e300 with 190k on a cross US trip last fall....about 5k miles. I used a coupon for a free inspection at an MB dealer before leaving. All cked. ok.

After taking a number of hairpin turns in a National Park, the front wheel bearings started making noise. Made it home and had them replaced.

Pre-inspect, listen for unusual sounds and enjoy the trip! The W124 is a great road car!

You're exactly right, now is the time to change that when doing the belt! Guess what? I placed an order for numerous items for my two 124's and my E46 BMW and didn't THINK to include a tensioner! I'll have to check with the local Benz dealer to see how deep into my pockets they want to get :-) I figure with shipping added to a 'good' internet price, it may be about the same...

Any suggestions where to buy with free shipping will be most welcome [emoji52]

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Did you get a chance to look in Pelican's catalog.