I'd just like to hear from you especially with Diesel models if you have
200K plus miles and what if any troubles have
you had, or replacements.

Mines an '81 300D 243,000 miles. Runs very
good, just got back from 1500 mile trip and
she purred all the way just purdy as could be. Only problems so far, was transmission was replaced 5k ago, because it was changing gears very hard, and I think I'm having troubles with the fuel pump now, which I'm going to have a MB guy look at it this week and see what we come up with.

Phill,

I remember when my 240D got to about 250,000 miles starting to ask around about engines and overhauls. I was sure that it wouldn't go much further. There was nothing to indicate that it wouldn't, but that's what I thought.

I guess I was a little pessimistic, it went over 500,000 before it came unwound. I have an engine that runs in it now, and have yet to do exploratory surgery on the original engine.

If it runs good and not using oil, don't give up on it yet, it may surprise you.

One thing though, my car runs about 98% of it's miles on the highway.

Good luck,
Larry

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Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

85 300TD Turbo w/ 260k miles. I have had it for only 6 mos but it runs strong, no leaks, some cosmetic scrapes and dings, a little play in the steering but other than that it is sound. It isn't going to win ANY races but I love it. With regular oil changes and mostly highway miles I hope to see 500k (or more?).

Alec.

Ahh, Larry, I like the sound of that!
Thanks for your note. I guess when we get
up over 200K we start getting a little
nervous. I know I listen out for every
little click and pop. I guess people may
think I'm a mb hypochondriac! One old
guy who is a retired mb mechanic tells me
if I would just leave it alone it will do just fine! :) It does use about a quart of oil 1000 miles or so, but compression is good and it starts off quicker than a gas engine.

I am hoping to make the 500K mark and then
see how far I can go from there. Overall, I'm
very pleased with it.

I am new to this board, but have had a few MB cars in the past. Currently have two diesel models: a 76 240 with over 545K miles and a 78 300 with unknown mileage (I feel it is around 200K).
The 76 has had no problems to speak of, except for the replacement of the trans. at around 400K and new floor pans. Rust has been a major problem, but the previous owner lived near the Atlantic Ocean in upper New England (I don't think they ever washed her). I recently had the entire body restored.... She looks show-room new.
The 78 300 was purchased from a local MB mechanic. The car is in great shape mechannically, but could use a little TLC on the interior.
Overall, I am very pleased with them and will never own another American car.

------------------
76 240D - 545K miles
78 300D - ?K miles

My dad wants to get one of the new V10 diesel if it comes out in the E-class or S-class. I personally like the power from the S600 he is on the waiting list for, but if they offer a strong diesel, I think he is going to jump for it. He hasn't made up his mind yet, but it looks like the ML430 might get traded in for his "dream" car.

We have been through many Mercedes. Thats becuase we have been through alot of miles. My dad put about 25k miles a year on a car, and for the early 80s, he used to commute from Richmond to Baltimore.

He is self-employed now and doesn't do much driving which is why he is finally settling down on a car. My mom wanted a 4wd SUV in the family so we got it for her on Mothers Day, but she really doesn't want to drive anything that big. She would rather have a car (C320 4matic) then drive the SUV. So my dad uses it off and on, but he really wants an S-class (either a 5.8 V12 or V10 diesel) and we don't know what we will do with the ML. Hey I hope they give it to me :D Doubt it though.

------------------
Chirag (Charlie) Patel

- 99 Mercedes-Benx ML 430 V8 w/custom TV, Video, UHF, speaker system
- 93 190E 2.6 (4-sale) w/ an amp, equalizer, and CD-changer, integrated w. stock stereo for integrated cellular phone speaker system
- had a 93 190E m103 3.2, 5-speed trans,
- had a 88 300E 2.6
- had a 84 300TD w/275k+ miles
- 2001 C-Class - Maybe (if 190E sells)

It is really amazing that you guys have so many miles on your cars. I feel like I have a brand new car, since my '85 300D only has 157,000 on her. I guess I have a long way to go to catch up!
BTW, where does everyone get those nifty grill emblems showing mileage milestones? I saw an SD with one and would like to get one. Thanks.

My wife has 359,000 miles on her 83 300SD. A stainless exhaust at 112,000, a new waterpump at 165,000, and a timing chain at 338,000. Only other parts are the normal consumables. It still gets 26mpg on the highway and leaks more oil than it burns.

You should be able to get a mileage badge from your local MB dealer. If you have the records books or a 6 digit odometer. The first badge is awarded at 150,000 miles(250,000 KM [Ithink]). The dealer will fill out the form(s) and send them to Mercedes, Mercedes in turn will send you the appropriate badge.

The second badge, someone correct me if I'm wrong, comes at either 300,000 or 350,000 miles.

Mine is a gas engine, came with no records, unknown muber of owners and only a 5 digit odometer, which now shows 43,650 +/-. Can safely assume that's at least 143,650, who knows how high for sure, especially since the odometer only registers about 1/2 the mileage driven. That is until I get it pulled and shipped to the speedo shop.

------------------
Mike Tangas
73 280 SEL

I bought my '85 300D about 2 months ago with 267K on the odometer. I went to the previous owners dealer and went thru all the service records for it and it never had any major problems. I figure that with regular oil changes and a little TLC it will run FOREVER!

I don't plan on ever owning another vehicle. I will be buried in this thing. To borrow a line from the movie APOCOLYPSE NOW, "I love the smell of DIESEL in the morning". :)



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FrankieZ
84 500SEL EURO 87K
85 300D 267K (and still goin' strong)

The badges are called high mileage awards. I'm not sure why, since they indicate in kilometers. Yes, go to a dealer and ask for a high mileage award application.

I got one for my 240D at 200,000km, just before they changed the first one to 250,000km. The next milestones are 500,000km and 1,000,000km. So I now have 200,000, 250,000 and 500,000 on my grille, the rate I'm driving the car now, the 1,000,000 should come up in about two years, unless an eighteen wheeler gets the best of Ole' Silver and myself.

Phill, you're doing the right thing if you want high mileage, listen for every strange sound, and investigate. Let them call you a "worry wart". You'll have the last laugh while your car is still running and they're paying car payments.

------------------
Larry Bible
'84 Euro 240D, 516K miles
'88 300E 5 Speed
'81 300D Daughter's Car
Over 800,000 miles in
Mercedes automobiles

TxBill,

To my knowledge, there is no HP difference between US and Euro diesels. The original engine (pin type glow plug, late engine) is supposed to have 67. The temporary engine I have in it now came from an '80 Euro car, and is serial glow plug, it is supposed to have 62. I can really feel the loss of the 5 HP. Of course the 62 HP engine is pretty tired, feels like it has about 20.

Have a great day,
Larry

I had to laugh at the above post because I'LL BET Larry's 240 feels like it has about 20hp...

The closer I get to moving "over the hill" (Santa Cruz) and thus a long-er commute, the closer I'm getting to purchasing another diesel. My 83 300SDT was a great car. Pretty much gave it away to my tech with almost 250k miles on the clock.

It dripped oil and even some tranny fluid EVERYWHERE, but used very little (though if starting after a week unused it would bomb everyone behind me for a couple of miles cropduster-style). Did all the scheduled maintenace (with exception of regular valve work - see above comment) and added a water pump around 125k and a radiator due to cracked-neck-syndrome at 210k. Brakes, rubber, fluids, filters, two batteries and belts were all it needed other than that. I don't even know if it got a flex-disc or not.

Oh yeah - and it got sheepskins. The leather did a pretty good shrink-and-crack act about year 12. Then again, it went 12 years without garage or Lexol, so...

Great car although I thought ugly - bronze, with the 'new' (124?) body style. I prefer the 123s for looks and size. Anyway, it was still pulling strong when I gave it up though the first major expenses were coming.

Namely, turbo seals and tranny. The tranny started to simultaneously hard-shift on the 1-2 (good for loosening up my neck) and lose the 3-4 at about 210k. By manually using my sport mode (not a bad idea for city streets anyway), I could avoid it and letting off slightly on the 3-4 would help it engage. Strange thing: it never slipped on a 4-3 downshift, just when moving UP, and the higher I held 3 into the revs the less it slipped going to 4. Anyway, was still driveable but annoying by 240k...

I've got the antenna up for some old lady's 123 with low miles (read: anything around 100k). I'm not certain if the simple passing of time has dried out these cars and made them prone to failure, but there MUST be a few good, always-garaged models up for sale...

It's the 123 Coupe Diesels I never find - and I'd really really like one of those.
Matt

All of mine have been "low-milage", too:

80 240D purchased new Nov, 79; broken exhaust pipe @ 42 kmi (due to vibration); crank/idler pulley came off @ 65k; new clutch @ 69k; new AC compressor @ 85k: new vac pump @ 120k; NEW manny tranny @ 145k; three NEW starters (wife burned up one, and I burned up one - master switch stuck in START position)switch; one new master switch; totaled @ 185k - nobody hurt - wished many times I had kept it and replaced front sheetmetal myself. I'll bet somebody has salvaged it is driving it now.

91 350SDL purchased @ 79k; broken timing chain @ 89k, resulting in much repair to top of engine, none to bottom; now @ 135k and doing very nicely. Best-handling and best-riding car I've known - fantastic car!!

81 300D purchased couple of months ago from friend @ 123k ('remember when he bought it new 19 years ago); new starter and MB rebuilt tranny @ 118k; new Bilstein shocks @ 124k; sway bar links @ 124k; rebuilt steering gear box @ 124k; new AC compressor @ 124.5k; now @ 125k and doing nicely.

------------------
Wilton Strickland
Goldsboro, NC
91 350 SDL. 81 300D

I have a 1988 300E with 223,000 miles. The car had a valve job at 150,000 miles. At 210,000 miles, I had the timing chain replaced (for precautionary measures only) and new rockers, a new camshaft (two of the lobes showed serious wear, resulting in a tapping sound above 3000 rpms) and lifters. I also had the front pump seal to the trans resealed at 210,000 miles, along with replacement of the rear suspension links and rear differential mounting bushings.

I've put 13,000 miles on her since this last major work, and I am looking forward to the next 200,000 miles! I do expect the transmission to go at some point, though my mechanic looked inside her when he did the front pump seal, and he recommended NOT rebuilding the transmission at that time! So far so good!


Ed