I'm new to the diesel realm (just bought '95 E300D with 140K) but you don't have to have a diesel to get high miles. I just retired my '89 Mazda 626 turbo, first new car I ever bought. It had just over 300,000 miles. Original turbo, never opened the engine. Timing belt every 60K, plugs about every 50 - 75K, oil change every 3K with dino. Still running fine when retired, the electrical gremlins were getting to me.

Just goes to show that a well maintained car, gas or diesel, will do the miles. 'Course it's gotta be decently engineered and manufactured in the first place too!

Rgds,
Chris W.