So I always knew the history of my 1987 300TD was odd ever since I bought it in Ohio two years ago. I poured my life (and pockets) into this car over the last two years and I have decided to pick up another one in better condition. It has
never left me stranded and as a matter of fact a month after I owned it the alternator died but the car ran with no battery power to the shop.
Service, after service... after service the Panzer Wagon was it better and better shape every time it left
Bill Denson's Auto. You guys here have been instrumental in finding out and DIY fixes I have done on this car over the year and because of that I am now a diesel head and am replacing the Panzer Wagon with another 87' 300TD
(you guys aren't done with me yet).
Looking at another car I decided to buy the 5 car CARFAX report and put the Panzer Wagon's VIN to the test. I had given it a once through on the
Mercedes-Benz Club Russia | Mercedes-Benz / VIN checker but never an official CARFAX. I knew I'd find something screwy because driving the car back from Cincinnati the odometer stopped around 197,xxx miles.
What I wasn't ready for
was this...
Overview (date - odometer reading - notes):
- 1/30/95 - 101,382 - IL
- 1/29/97 - 138,328 - KY
- 8/7/97 - (no miles recorded) - TN
- 8/15/97 - 109,842 - OH
- 11/9/00 - (no miles recorded) - KY (Not actual mileage title issued)
- 9/18/01 - 147,717 - KY
- 10/27/05 - 196,051 - OH
- 11/28/05 - 200,000 - OH (Inspection)
- 5/19/06 - 196,100 - OH
- 3/7/08 - I bought the car with what I thought was around 196,xxx miles, the owner didn't mention the odometer and I really didn't care either (or else I would have carfax'd it)
Any takers on how many miles my car does have? I estimated 250,000 when I replaced the odometer with one that had 150,000 (made it easy to just add 100,000 miles). I am willing to bet it's OVER 300,000 miles.
Most would be mad, I think it's hilarious and explains a lot of the random things I have had to deal with over time.
I am afraid to total up how much I have put into this car over the last two years but will do it soon. So there you have it... The Legendary Panzer Wagon LIVES!