What would be the most reliable old mercedes model (+30 years)

[gf]

I'm suspecting it would be the old w123 diesels so long as rust doesn't kill them. They certianly rake up intergalactic miles!

[gf]

I guess little things too like engine mounts would cop a battering, Starter motors would need more frequent replacing.

[13B]

I quite like the 190E these days, and found the engine reliability to be every bit as good as the old M110/117 engines, but the boody much less prone to rust.  I think the oldest W201s are nearly 30 years old, mine is a Jan 1984 so its practically a 30 year old car.

I.

[gf]

The 190E looks awesome for a small car too! gosh! 1984 seems like yesterday! do they have plastic radiator collars like many mercs of the era?

[John Hubertz]

I guess I'll cast my vote for the W123 as the "crowd favorite", but I'm very aware of plenty of extremely hi-mile 190 series cars.

What I also like about the W201 (the 190s) is that it seems the four cylinder gas and the diesel versions are equally bulletproof. 

In fact, on consideration, I'm changing my vote to the W201.... 

[jbrasile]

114's, 115's, 123's and 116's are probably some of the most bullet proof cars of all time, especially the diesels. If it wasn't for the problematic ACC installed in 300SD's, I think they would be the most reliable cars MB has ever built considering the level of luxury, performance, safety and fuel economy and overall package, just my opinion... oh.... and let's drop the US bumpers too.... hehehe

Tks,

Joe

[John Hubertz]

4.3 million km w115 diesel

http://www.worldcarfans.com/104092910195/proverbial-longevity-in-46-million-kilometers

will never forget that one...

That's just awesome.  I wonder what the record is on a W123 or W201

[JasonP]

He had three different engines. Do you think that's cheating?

[motec6.9]

About average for a Taxi i used to own 1 in Canberra. they average 250000km a year there. My old MB Sprinter hit 2million when it was removed from the road as it hit 8years of age. Which is the legal max age of a Taxi in Australia. This car did 4.6 as there is no age limit in most over sea's countrys for Taxi's . Geoff I believe the world record belongs to a Volvo 1800P in the USA 

[JasonP]

What if we had a meter for piston revolutions? A "pidometer." That would tell the real age of an engine. 

[Tony66_au]

Having driven a few million km plus cars in my life I can tell you than an engine is as replaceable as an oil filter...

Its the body condition at a million plus that dictates the feasibility of the car and having driven an XF Falcon taxi with 1.2 mill on the clock and having that same car punch the top of the rear shock absorber WITH top bracketry etc into the boot of the car that car was shagged.

I had a HQ Holden with 800'000 start tracking funny because one of the spring hangers came adrift and saw a BA Falcon (Ex Taxi) with 1.3 mill have a catastrophic rear suspension failure when mounts gave up the ghost and sent the rear end a good foot sideways and then halfway out the back lol

So any car body that survives more than a million miles is a damned good one in my book.

And that Greek cab (if its the unit im thinking of) is a legendary car.

[Tony66_au]

By the way, Automatic transmissions when serviced, flushed and filters checked at 50k will last the life of a car...

I flush mine 2 lt at a time running a hose from the coolant line into a bucket, Spurt out 2 lt, add 2 lt... Rinse and repeat till the oil is clean and this will even remove crud from the torque converter.

I thin stir the bucket with my telescopic rare earth magnet pick up tool and check for ferrous bits in the old oil.

Then I drain the trans again and clean or replace the filter, refill with fresh ATF and drive..

[motec6.9]

with regards to Guiness world records this is the title holder http://www.grautoblog.com/2011/06/08/worlds-highest-mileage-car-volvo-p1800/ . Geoff 

[gf]

My parents had a 1978 volvo 245gl did 1.1million km until the clock stopped! 3 years later my brother decided to take her to the wreckers . It was a very sad day for me. By then it was wooley as hell. went thouugh 4 litres of oil every week, smoke, zero power, one door functioning.that car went through hell and back. knocked a datsun sunny off the road. ended up with a smashed bumper and headlight, grill and air dam. The datsun- written off. mum says she didnt really feel the impact. If i was earning money 5 years earlier i would haved saved her!So many good memories of that volvo. Mercedes convert i am, but im ashamed to say id swap her for my blue whale if she was here today

[TJ 450]

Yes, the P1800 is an absolute classic in my books. The more utilitarian Amazon, at the time, wasn't a brick either.

The bricks began as the 140/164 in the '60s and went from there. Personally, I think the 164 is a bloody awesome car too.

Anyhow, back on topic... That Greek taxi is quite amusing. I like the fact that the engines were "rotated". 

Tim