howdy -- i'm a former owner of a 71 220d, and a 76 240d, and have decided its time to buy another(since they were the 2 best cars i've ever owned or worked on) -- i've looked all over the web trying to figure out when the diesel odometer switched from 5 to 6 digits, so i can tell how many 100,000s my new diesel will have(would like to stay under 200k) -- of course, i'm going to try and only buy from someone who has all the service records, but just in case, it would be nice to have an odometer that doesn't roll over at 100k(though i sure would love another 220d)

also, i'm assuming i'm correct that all the u.s. 300Ds were automatic? -- automatics scare me off, due to the shorter life span, plus i still have a spare 240d manual tranny

thanks for any feedback

bob

Good luck in your search. I have a 86 300sdl. It has 6 digits. I am pretty sure from early 80's and up they are 6. Also I would not be set on less than 200k. I am far from an expert but it seems a lot of these cars that have low milage have a lot more nuisance type leaks from dry seals etc. ]Good luck

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86 300SDL. 250,xxx on #14 Head. One eye always on temp gauge.. Cruising towards 300K

My '82 had (probably still has) a 6-digit odometer. However, it, like many, didn't work. Plenty have been swapped. I'm not sure setting a low mileage requirement from an odometer standpoint will really help you in the long run. I'd look at maintenance history / receipts to verify mileage.

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1982 240D, sold 9/17/2008
1987 300D TurboW124.133 - 603.960, 722.317 - Smoke Silver Metallic / Medium Red (702/177), acquired 8/15/2009
262,715 and counting

Nineteen seventy seven may have been the introduction of the six digit odometer. I am not sure as never had a nineteen seventy six diesel.

I'd be more concerned about maintenance than mileage. I bought my 85 that had 288k on the clock at purchase after swearing that I would not buy one with over 200k. The problem I found was that all the low mileage units were in worse shape than the higher milage ones. My assumption is that all the low mileage units were driven on short trips and around town while the higher mileage ones got more easy miles.
That has been my mb shopping experience.

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1985 300 TD 448K
1984 300 TD 278K

1983 240D euro 240k
1994 f-250 idi turbo 330K
1986 f-350 IDI
1987 F-350 IDI

1985 JD 1050 4wd
1965 IH 3660

There's a guy on here with a 1976 300D...it's red. Why can't I remember his name right now???

I have a 77' 240D, and it definitely has six digits.

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

'78 280CE has 6 digit odometer. '87 300D does as well, but that one is more obvious.

thanks much for all the feedback -- sounds like it was 77, the year after my old 240D -- but i sure do hear what you're saying about not using just that as an indicator of the cars value -- more importantly, i think i'll need to locate a seller i trust, with all the service records, and pay a fair price -- fortunately, half the year i'm in arizona, where rust usually isn't a problem(though dried rubber sure is) -- it was rust that killed my 76 -- and made years of working on old cars an extra pain in the butt

unfortuantely, much of what i'm finding is the 300, with an automatic -- i much prefer the manual 4spd 240, particularly since i still have the one out of my 76

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81 240D: Lola
77 toyota chinook: Carlito
93 chevy k1500: Cowboy

The odometer change from 5 to 6 digits didn't happen all in one year. The transition happened as new bodies were introduced. If memory serves correct, the R107 was the first MB to get the 6 digit odometer in 1971. Then the W116 in 1972 and the W123 in 1976.

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

Yup.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!

well, thanks, that makes it even clearer -- one thing i'm wondering is what is the average lifespan of a mercedes odometer, say in the 123, diesel? -- i know that the one in my 76 240D was still going when it rusted out beyond driveability in 2005, several hundred thousand miles were clocked on that -- isn't it realistic to expect that odometer readings on 6 digit odometers will at least, usually, make it to 200k? -- or was there a problem with mercedes odometers?

again, this is no substitute for buying from a reputable seller, but just in case i'm not so fortunate, it would seem that a diesel with less than 200k on the odometer is most likely showing accurate mileage, barring any modifications?

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81 240D: Lola
77 toyota chinook: Carlito
93 chevy k1500: Cowboy

Well a lot of them got modified when pretty new to enhance resale value. Spinning odometers back one way or another was a large part of the car business. It was only overtime it became illegal. Before that it was just considered unethical. Putting used car dealers and unethical in the same sentance should not upset anyone. Those two words where or still are almost synonamous.

Owners themselves participated as well in the deceptive practice. some cars like mercedes odometers were also easier to manipulate than others. Or you could purchase the service almost anywhere.

Anything that effects the almighty dollar has been done by mankind. Or if you had a dollar for ever odometer that has been set back. You could spare a million of them and hardly miss it if at all.

It is like a variation of an old story. My parents got really upset when they found I was working selling used cars. They were under the impression I had a steady respectable job playing piano in a cathouse.

yeah, i hear that -- having been a mechanic, i was allowed into the "inner circle" -- a good friend was a used car dealer -- he gave me fantastic deals, but whenever anyone asked me if they should buy a car from him, i had to tell them no way

no offence meant, of course -- call me naive, but when i buy now, i just try to find someone i trust -- they are out there, only they're not in the business, they're just honest people -- and when i sell now, i try to be fair -- i'm finally at the point in my life, thanks to social security, where i'm not rich, but i'm "wealthy" enough that i don't have to rip people off(except the federal government) -- i've twice had people pay me more than i was asking -- i guess they were rare?

sounds pretty out there, i guess -- what i do suspect, however, is that everyone has their price, whether they realize it or not -- its just that for me its a hell of a lot more than the price of a 240D

wait a minute, i just thought of a guy who's honest -- runs a shop in artesia, nm -- i had a twisted vw tow bar, and was totally at his mercy -- this guy didn't just straighten it out, he mig-welded new braces to strengthen it -- i'm figuring 100 at least -- charges me $10! -- i'm trying to give him more, he won't take it and says, "this is what i do -- i help people" -- never forgot that one

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81 240D: Lola
77 toyota chinook: Carlito
93 chevy k1500: Cowboy