Million Mile Car - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

strelnik · #16 09-10-2015, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

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.

In a previous life with Chrysler I put on 42,000 on my xc lease car a year. Had to turn it in after three years with a minimum of 100,000.

It was a New Yorker with the 3.0L Mitsubishi engine, great gas car, best I ever owned that was not a Cit or a Benz.

Mimzer · #17 09-10-2015, 12:41 PM

Does seem like a lot of driving for a CPA, maybe his wife had a job that required a lot of time behind the wheel.

Maxbumpo · #18 09-10-2015, 12:46 PM

There was a great story in MBCA's magazine "The Star" in the last couple of years about a fellow purchasing a 108 coupe that had over a million miles. The total mileage never came up during his inspection and negotiation, as he was focused solely on condition and originality. It wasn't until after he'd purchased the car and really started digging into the records that he realized how high the mileage must be.

dkr · #19 09-10-2015, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by guyonabuffalo

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

On that note, if someone was lying, what are some reasonable ways to estimate true mileage?

The maintenance records ought to show the story. If it is the original owner, I'm sure he has some cabinets of files that could put most of us to shame. I think this is what Mercedes uses to give the high mileage awards.

Dkr.

Skid Row Joe · #20 09-10-2015, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

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!

It'd be even BETTER, if they were all documented with the parts and service work completed to get to that mileage. I'd bet large the engine's been opened-up to get there. That's what they don't tell ya - the $$$ it's cost on that car.

mach4 · #21 09-10-2015, 10:49 PM

I ran into the owner again this morning. So the car is used for business and with clients all over the west it results in considerable mileage. A man after my own heart - hates flying and drives whenever possible. We discussed maintenance and repairs and it was rather interesting to hear how proactive this was over the years. Early on much of the work was done by him but the most recent mechanical restoration was done by a reputable local indy and paint by a body shop. The only significant repair was a piston that was burnt through due to a defective injector. I didn't inquire about records, but I'll bet they're meticulous.

Skid Row Joe · #22 09-10-2015, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

I ran into the owner again this morning. So the car is used for business and with clients all over the west it results in considerable mileage. A man after my own heart - hates flying and drives whenever possible. We discussed maintenance and repairs and it was rather interesting to hear how proactive this was over the years. Early on much of the work was done by him but the most recent ((((mechanical restoration)))) was done by a reputable local indy and paint by a body shop. The only significant repair was a piston that was burnt through due to a defective injector. I didn't inquire about records, but I'll bet they're meticulous.

*Asterisk. Engine opened-up for mechanical parts replacement(s). I was right......

We had two MB diesels well over 300K w/o any engine internals R&Red. But 1M>? 0-o skeptical.......

MB mileage badges? Any interior wear pics? Just wondering......?

RE: The guy that enquired about the odometer cable. I've never seen one that didn't break/fail. Our 240D's cable (we bought new) failed in the 300K range. Lord only knows how many miles were on the car driving it soo many more years after.

Mölyapina · #23 09-10-2015, 11:07 PM

Wow, thanks for posting this. It's so cool to see these cars passing 1 million miles! I don't know if I'm more impressed that he has 1.2 million on the car, or that he's driven the same car for 1.2 million miles/33 years!

Ah, the blessings of rust-free CA...

Mölyapina · #24 09-10-2015, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skid Row Joe

RE: The guy that enquired about the odometer cable. I've never seen one that didn't break/fail. Our 240D's cable (we bought new) failed in the 300K range. Lord only knows how many miles were on the car driving it soo many more years after.

Actually, the part that most often fails and goes unreplaced is one or more of the plastic gears in the odo itself... a busted speedo cable (What I'm assuming you mean by odo cable? There is no "odometer cable", per se.) would result in a non-working speedo as well, something that people are somewhat more concerned about replacing.

sd300td · #25 09-12-2015, 01:52 PM

As pointed out before, that engine looks to be a more recent example than 82. Black cowl vents also confirm. Maybe it's an early 83 with an 82 build date. ..?

t walgamuth · #26 09-12-2015, 06:31 PM

These cars are so well built if you take care of them you about cannot wear them out.

Nice car. Thanks for sharing Mach4!

mach4 · #27 09-12-2015, 07:23 PM

The owner has read this thread, maybe he'll register and add some first-person data and additional information on the car. It has been in a couple of unfortunate accidents over the years. It's on its fourth transmission (the most durable going 500k), the head gasket has been replaced a couple times, the cam was replaced, three sets of CV axles, interior recently redone, at least one valve job... Oil change interval is 2500, differential oil 30k and transmission 30k, fuel filters 15k miles.

Tom is right, assuming rust doesn't take these cars out, they can be maintained/repaired virtually forever.

t walgamuth · #28 09-12-2015, 08:05 PM

In my line of work you never know or knew when you might face hard times. Having a 240D around is always a hedge against hard times since it is the simplist, highest quality and easiest to work on car that I'd want to drive. Its what I'd pick if told I could never buy another car and had to choose just one.

Skid Row Joe · #29 09-12-2015, 10:02 PM

.

Quote:

Originally Posted by mach4

The owner has read this thread, maybe he'll register and add some first-person data and additional information on the car. It has been in a couple of unfortunate accidents over the years. It's on its fourth transmission (the most durable going 500k), the head gasket has been replaced a couple times, the cam was replaced, three sets of CV axles, interior recently redone, at least one valve job... Oil change interval is 2500, differential oil 30k and transmission 30k, fuel filters 15k miles.

Tom is right, assuming rust doesn't take these cars out, they can be maintained/repaired virtually forever.

He's had some unfortunate incidents with that car over the years of ownership. I'd be very interested in why he went through 4 transmissions?! Seems unlikely that each of the MB transmissions won't each go at least 500K miles. The timelines would be interesting too. The under the hood pic of the engine/surroundings is gorgeous, I must say. Were the OEM factory springs painted the car's exterior color? I don't recall that as OEM, since the ones in the pic are yellow. Might ask him if the engine was pulled for the engine compartment surround to be repainted. If so, they did fantastic work in the cleanliness of the entire area. Two head gaskets too? Wow. Wonder what caused all those failures?

dkr · #30 09-12-2015, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Four head gaskets too? Wow. Wonder what caused all those failures?

He mentioned replacing a piston and the camshaft. If you're digging that far into the engine, I suspect you might as well replace the head gasket while you're in there as PM.

Dkr.