Finally broke her in, or The 3rd hundred thousand miles
 

Finally made it just a few moments ago, passed the 200K mile mark in the 560. Only 110K more miles to go before the next award.

Here we are just fixing to turn

http://www.pe.net/~mktangas/199K.jpg

And here we are at the start of the next 100K

http://www.pe.net/~mktangas/200K.jpg

The 560 is running good. I just took a 1,200 mile trip this past weekend and my reward was an average mileage of 18.5 MPG. I've noticed that for the last coupple thousand miles my mileage has been increasing just a little. My year to date average is now 15.9 MPG.

way to go Mike

good shots too

Did you realize that your trip meter reads exactly 126?

Way to go, Mike!

And just think. You saved this one from the wrecking ball!

Nice, chalk one up for the M117 and your great work on the old girl. :)

Yea, I'm pleased with the results of what I did to save the beast from the crusher. With the exception of one shop visit, this has been a fairly inexpensive car to drive.

126.0 on the trip meter....why I hadn't noticed ;), only thing better would have been for the to happen on Highway 126 heading out to Ventura, but alas no Hwy 126 around this part of Michigan.

Mike,

Have you given any thought to how long this car will go?

No Paul I haven't given it a thought. I hear examples of the 560's going to 400K miles and feel that is attainable. Everything still works and none of the accessories are dead, in fact on the return leg of my trip I figured out why my center vents weren't blowing. I thought the 20 below temps this winter took there toll on the vacuum acuator, but duirng the drive I noticed the slider was closed. I had completely forgotten that I closed them off in the winter since warm air only comes from the side vents :o . Now I have cool air in my face again.

Secrets
 

Congratulations! What's your secret(s)?

I reckon you're prettly likely to do better than 400,000.

Stevebfl posted not too long ago that his shop has been doing all the maintenance since day one on a 420 SEL that has something like 650,000 miles.

I did a search. Here is the post. He lists what he has done on the car, too.

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=28178&highlight=420

Last year I met a fellow with a 560 with 530,000kms on the clock and the engine was original except for chains and some minor top end work. The tranny had been rebuilt, but only once, and the first owner had done no tranny maintenance.

He had some frustration with the self leveling rear suspension, but otherwise loves the car. He lives a few blocks over from me and I stil see him driving the car. It's the light silver and the body still looks great. It's an 88 if memory serves. I should stop by and see how he's doing.

Thanks for the reminder to go visit someone...

Good deal Mike. Print a copy of that pic and frame it. 126 miles, what a co-incidince. (sp?)

BTW, mile turned over 150,000 miles today, Monday.

A couple of months ago, the wife and I went to Charlottesville for a Central Va. GTG. There was a tour of Monticello, T. Jefferson's home, and I got ticket number 126.

BTW, good oil pressure too.

Very nice! :D

I see you stopped to take the photo -- I'll never forget taking my digital camera with me to snap my 200k mark while driving but couldn't get a steady shot in traffic.

It's funny now @ 240k I try to put mileage on my Benz to get it to the 315k mark for the final high mileage award. With depreciation in the rear view mirror, I'll drive her 'till she won't drive no more.

:)

Mike,

I'll add to the congrats! Nice pictures too!

I've got 250K on my 560 (although probably only 170-180K of that on the current engine). My goal is to get the car to at least 300K as I bought it at 200K and always try to put at least 100K on any car I drive on a daily basis.

jlc

I'm glad to see the odometer at 0 mph in the pictures... safety first!