I wanted to put this in this forum for you technical guys to appreciate.
I have a customer that I have been performing the mobile maintenance for about four years.
He has a 97 E-320 that just rolled over 320-k miles.
He is a traveling salesman and puts all highway miles on the car.
He never had a head gasket yet and has zero oil leaks and never did.
I put a water pump on the car two years ago.
I drove all the way to Huntsville to rescue him from a failed alternator on a deserted road last summer, and he had a transmission replaced at 275-k.
Two days ago the car was overheating big time, and I put a new thermostat and a fan viscous clutch on it since the old one was weak.
Yeah it cost him a little money every now and then, but I'm just amazed at how great this car look and runs.
While test driving it the other day,I almost made him an offer for it since it drives like it's brand new with tons of pick up and shifts like a dream.
It is due for some motor mounts and rear shocks are getting a little weak,but overall it is amazingly solid.
The key is sticking to the service schedule religiously and not beating the living tar out of the vehicle.
He told me if his wife drove it ,it would have died at 30-k miles Haha.
He plans on selling it at 400-k.
Sorry no pictures,but it is a beauty. Black with beige interior.
Just thought i would share that with y'all.