Million Mile Car - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

mach4 · #1 09-09-2015, 01:15 PM

This morning I decided to go to a different coffee shop for my morning cup of joe due to the heat and humidity - the regular place has a swamp cooler that just can't cut it when it gets hot and humid. Walking up a couple and their dog were sitting outside having coffee. The gentleman commented on my car and in the course of conversation I learned that he was also a Mercedes enthusiast. He told me about his '82 300D with 1,127,000 that he has owned since new, still on the original engine. The dog is not allowed in the Mercedes so they had the Honda with them. I went in to have my coffee and he went off. Later he came back with the car; a fine specimen indeed - new paint, detailed engine, fresh wheels, clean interior.

The engine had fresh cad plating on the metal work, polished valve cover and oil filter housing, fresh rubber....and exceedingly clean.

He's not on Peachparts. Makes you wonder how many of these beauties are out there running around under the radar.

vstech · #2 09-09-2015, 01:23 PM

Wow...

what it makes ME wonder is how many MB's are out there with over 1,000,000 miles... that are undocumented, due to odometer slipping.

decently kept up, these cars will last an incredibly long time. the condition of this 1.13M vehicle is incredible!

MBeige · #3 09-09-2015, 01:32 PM

Interesting he said it's an '82 with original engine.

The dipstick is that from an '85, and the p/s cover is the updated '84 or '85.

Maxbumpo · #4 09-09-2015, 01:54 PM

dipstick: I think that MB updated / changed the dipstick at some point? This recently came up in another thread, has anyone researched this and knows the answer?

dkr · #5 09-09-2015, 02:28 PM

Did you ask how he put on that many miles? That's about 35,000 miles per year since new...

Dkr.

mach4 · #6 09-09-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dkr

Did you ask how he put on that many miles? That's about 35,000 miles per year since new...

No, I didn't. I'm sure I'll run into him again at some point and will be sure to ask. Have some other questions I've been thinking of too.

I'm currently putting on about 30k miles per annum on mine so it's not outside the realm of reasonableness.

BillGrissom · #7 09-09-2015, 04:52 PM

If you see it again, look at the IP on the engine side. If it has the rack position sensor (fairly big w/ a thick cable), I think the IP is 1984+. If the tranny bell-housing has a pickup wire on driver's side (slightly above half-way I recall), then it is ~1984+ also. If not 1982, he may have inherited and doesn't know or he could be phishing you for a future sale, though not sure how stating super-high mileage would help. Hard to tell the people who are truly nice and those who are con'ners. Seem every time I move to a new place, I meet many people who want to be my friend, then soon start shoving realtor cards at me or pitch partnering schemes.

mach4 · #8 09-09-2015, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillGrissom

If you see it again, look at the IP on the engine side. If it has the rack position sensor (fairly big w/ a thick cable), I think the IP is 1984+. If the tranny bell-housing has a pickup wire on driver's side (slightly above half-way I recall), then it is ~1984+ also.

The engine in my SL is an '85 617.952 so well familiar with the RPS and the tach pickup.

Quote:

If not 1982, he may have inherited and doesn't know or he could be phishing you for a future sale, though not sure how stating super-high mileage would help. Hard to tell the people who are truly nice and those who are con'ners. Seem every time I move to a new place, I meet many people who want to be my friend, then soon start shoving realtor cards at me or pitch partnering schemes.

I got no indication of anything untoward - genuine nice guy, very knowledgable and no reasonable possibility of an ulterior motive to sell it....not at his age - heck the guy is still working as a CPA in his own firm, probably 20 years past "normal" retirement age.

llensart · #9 09-09-2015, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBeige

Interesting he said it's an '82 with original engine.

The dipstick is that from an '85, and the p/s cover is the updated '84 or '85.

THe P/S cover looks just like mine on a 81 240 D

86-300sdl · #10 09-09-2015, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

This morning I decided to go to a different coffee shop for my morning cup of joe due to the heat and humidity - the regular place has a swamp cooler that just can't cut it when it gets hot and humid. Walking up a couple and their dog were sitting outside having coffee. The gentleman commented on my car and in the course of conversation I learned that he was also a Mercedes enthusiast. He told me about his '82 300D with 1,127,000 that he has owned since new, still on the original engine. The dog is not allowed in the Mercedes so they had the Honda with them. I went in to have my coffee and he went off. Later he came back with the car; a fine specimen indeed - new paint, detailed engine, fresh wheels, clean interior.

The engine had fresh cad plating on the metal work, polished valve cover and oil filter housing, fresh rubber....and exceedingly clean.

He's not on Peachparts. Makes you wonder how many of these beauties are out there running around under the radar.

Hey mach4,

Thanks for posting the story...lots of fun... kinda what many of us old mb diesels owners dream of.

Not sure why we need to pick the story apart (I know I know).

As for our current SD (that's San Diego) weather and your search for cooler digs the below photo is of my new air conditioner (no standard AC in my house here on the coast). It's a 2014 fan, 1980 bowl, and 2015 ice.

Hope no one from the HVAC Forums sees the photo...they'll probably flame me for saying the bowl was really manufactured in 1985...lol

Stay cool

mach4 · #11 09-09-2015, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 86-300sdl

.... 2014 fan, 1980 bowl, and 2015 ice....

Love it!

I'm inland so it was well over 100 - brutal.

pj67coll · #12 09-09-2015, 09:58 PM

Very interesting story on the car. Did it have mileage badges on the grille?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

I'm inland so it was well over 100 - brutal.

By the way, your comment above - hilarious

It was about 117 where I live just a couple of weeks back. I always say you can tell noobs to the valley because they start complaining it's hot when it's not even reached 110 yet.

- Peter.

uberwasser · #13 09-09-2015, 10:39 PM

A friend of mine in town met an older lady who had a W123 with close to 700,000 miles on it. She had no reason to lie, at all. When you've gone that far, what's another 427,000??

guyonabuffalo · #14 09-10-2015, 02:27 AM

Thats a great story! Although I share some of the suspicions voiced by others, yet awesome nonetheless.

Is it normal for odometers to function properly for that many miles? It seems relatively common for them to get stuck or slip etc. So I am wondering how common it is for them to fail or rather, work perfectly onto the millions.

On that note, if someone was lying, what are some reasonable ways to estimate true mileage?
I read the usual suggestions (pedal wear, seats etc) but those could easily be replaced.
My car has a "true mileage unknown" title, I bought it anyway because I fell in love and didnt care, could I potentially claim that I have 1,74 million miles ?

dieselbenz1 · #15 09-10-2015, 08:36 AM

Thanks for sharing Mack4. I would be interested in his thoughts when he first purchased the car was it something he really wanted long term or did it grow on him? Also it would seem very likely he has a very thick binder containing all of his repairs being a CPA. Sure would be interesting to know what he spent on repairs.