Well, we did stop for food and restroom, but NO FILL-UPS! This baby is absolutely awesome! The whole trip was approx. 725 miles and we averaged between 75 to 80 steady. By the time we reached our destination, we still had a little less than a quarter tank. Has anyone got a long distance mileage story. Would love to hear it.

1992 300SD 94,000 miles

From the very late eighties, 'til early '96 I drove my 240D, then for a couple of years after that in my '96 E300D, I was in Sales and traveling mostly Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Northern Louisiana. I also at times covered most of Missourri, Kansas and Eastern New Mexico. It was commonplace for me to get up early in the morning, fill my travel cup and get in the car for 200 miles or more to make an 8:30 or 9:00 meeting.

Once I left Dallas at the end of the business day and drove most all night long to the far corner of Arkansas. It was about 240 miles between my office in Dallas and my office in Houston and it was commonplace to go to Houston, do a days work and come back.

The MB diesels always got me to my meetings safely and on time. They purr down the road with incredible confidence.

Once in my 240D, when it was at about the 450,000 mile mark, I lost the alternator belt a couple of miles from Hope, Arkansas on the way to and IMPORTANT meeting. I kept going at highway speed the last two miles and went into an auto supply, got a belt, took off my cufflinks, rolled up my sleeves, put on the new belt in the parking lot, scrubbed in their washroom, got back on the road and was on time for my meeting. As I recall, that was the closest that the car ever came to letting me down.

When the car did have significant failure, it was ALWAYS real close to home. It was like it had a homing instinct. Part pigeon I guess.

I personally believe that an MB diesel is the ULTIMATE long distance road car. Dependabilty, fuel economy and even comfort. I have sat in my MB diesels many times for 6 or 8 hours at a stretch without stopping for anything but a tank of fuel and a cup of coffee. They are incredible.

My $0.02,

I purchased my '98 E300 in the Detroit, Michigan area through family connections to the auto business - it was a good value. Drove it back to Dallas, Texas. Filled it up in Grosse Pointe when leaving town. Made it to Plano with one fuel stop near St. Louis. It does about 625 miles on a tank with a comfortable reserve remaining - this at ~80MPH.

This past June we made a trip to Cape Cod, MA. It was a 350 mile drive. We stayed up there for a week, only when we were ready to come home did I need to fill up. My car routinely gets 29-30 mpg, and with a 21.7 gal tank, that's an easy 600 miles with enough left to start looking for a diesel pump.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

We did this trip last October. I got between 38 and 40 MPG on the Interstates. I usually get 30 to 33 MPH in the city with the a/c running. No doubt, I am now looking for a 400 series replacement for my wife's Volvo.
We are heading out tomorrow, August 20, for Nova Scotia again. I'll let you know how well it did. Not worried at all about the performance of this vehicle. It is without a doubt the finest piece of machinary I have ever owned.

__________________
Bob Morrison
92 300D 2.5 -197000 Miles
87 300D-170000 Miles The Californian
87 Volvo240DL-200000+MilesGrandson's Now

Just drove from Hartford, CT to Philadelphia on a tank. Round trip was over 500miles. Lots of fuel left

In my 500E, I would've had to tank up twice. But I would've made better time I assure you!

Love my Diesel, though....

__________________
"If God had meant for us to walk, why did he give us feet that fit car pedals?" Sir Sterling Moss

Michael
2014 E63S Estate
2006 SLK55
1995 E500
1986 Porsche 944 turbo

I just drove back from San Diego
(approx. 450 miles) and my 300D
did just fine. One tank will do it.

Normally I take the 300SE on this trip but the
long drive to and fro was good to
blow out carbon and awaken the need for
a valve adjustment. (this week).

As soon as I arrived home, I popped open the
oil drain plug and let this very hot
used oil with finely suspended debri
have its leave into a pan.
After 20 minutes, I poured a new quart of
oil through the engine to help drive out any
standing debri and let it continue draining for another half hour.
New filter, oil, inspection,carwash
and onto other stuff.
Yup, these are fine cars, so I go the extra mile
to maintain it!!

__________________
1979 300D 220 K miles
1995 C280 109 K miles
1992 Cadillac Eldorado Touring Coupe 57K miles SOLD
********************
1979 240D 140Kmiles (bought for parents) *SOLD.
SAN FRANCISCO/(*San Diego)
1989 300SE 148 K miles *SOLD

I thought I was doing exceptionally well with my 1982 240D to go over 530 miles on a tank, and 610 miles on a tank with the 350SD. And that is with an elaborate effort to wait for the Diesel foam to settle when I fill the car. to make sure I get a full tank of fuel. Of course once the reserve light comes on if I am in an unfamiliar place, I head for a highway to find a truck stop. These days finding Diesel is actually easier than it was thirty years ago. Which brings back memories of the fuel crisis and the even and odd day fill-ups with gas lines. There were never lines at the Diesel pumps and I used to drive right up and fill up. Many of the irritated customers in the long lines would see me and leave the line to fill up not knowing I was at a Diesel pump. When they found out they left a line after investing an hour or more with maybe half an hour or 45 minutes leget only to have to go back to the end, they nearly turned inside out. Back then the 220D could be filled up for less than $3.00, while last summer it was nearly that much for a gallon for a few weeks. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

We drove from our home in Ft. Worth Tx. To Santa Fe Nm. 635 miles on one tank of fuel in our 95 E300d. Still had enough fuel to drive around town for a couple of days before heading back.
That road trip was over 100,000 miles ago, but the car still gets
27-32 MPG as advertised in the sales brochure! MB diesels are the only way to go in my book. Perhaps MBUSA can be convinced to send us some new ones someday.

Steve

Just got back tonight at six thirty, we left at three pm last Monday. We averaged 34 MPG for the total trip, 3620 miles and 106 gallons of fuel. The a/c was on all the way and I was getting around 36 to 38mpg until somewhere in Maine when a line started leaking diesel in the engine. Anyway she got us home and she goes into the shop tomorrow to tighten a fitting or whatever. Ran like a top, but when that leak started, did we ever smell the diesel fuel when we started out, whew.

__________________
Bob Morrison
92 300D 2.5 -197000 Miles
87 300D-170000 Miles The Californian
87 Volvo240DL-200000+MilesGrandson's Now