Although the automotive sector is currently projected into the future, and constantly changing and looking for innovative ways to keep us on the road with smarter solutions - possibly with a less-charging environmental impact - it's unavoidable to consider that a great part of the car-making history is based on the built-to-last philosophy.
In fact, there are manufacturers that really built their cars to be as long-lasting as possible. Conscious drivers would also contribute by maintaining their cars the best way possible by having regular services and by reserving scrupulous attention to them. Let's bring the old ladies out for a tour: these classic Mercedes-Benz cars are outstanding examples of longevity.
8 1992 Mercedes 200D
Mercedes-Benz celebrated 1 Million kilometers on this 1992 200D. The car has always been driven by the same owner - who actually works as an engineer at Mercedes - Michael Nickl. He bought the car in spring 1992 with a very modest equipment specification: neither metallic paintwork, air-conditioner, nor power windows are present in this Mercedes.
Apart from a cylinder head gasket and some problems with rust, the only parts to have needed replacement are the wheels (now on aluminum rims), clutch, brakes, alternator, and water pump. Ever since the first day, the owner has kept a scrupulous record of his maintenance and diesel costs on Excel files.
7 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SE
The Mercedes-Benz 280SE models produced from the late '60s have immediately been welcomed as high-end, well-made cars that aimed to be long-lasting. They would be packed with a solid M130 2.8L straight-six engine, derived from the previous 2.2L M180 model, that was smaller with less performance.
This majestic Mercedes coupe ran 1.01 million miles in the hands of Orange County residents George and Luzstella Koschel. When Mercedes learned this gorgeous model had passed a million miles in 2005, the automaker bought the car from them and placed it in the company’s Stuttgart museum.
6 1997 Mercedes-Benz 250D
To drive thousands of kilometers without doing any kind of particular intervention: how far is it from reality? According to Mr. Gigi Cacici, a 53-year-old professional taxi driver from Sicily, Italy, it seems that it is possible. This taxi driver reported his Mercedes-Benz E-Class 250 D, registered in November 1997, had traveled about 940,000 km, a distance equal to 22 times around the world, in less than ten years.
A good record, no doubt about it, also because this incredible milestone was reached without carrying out any extraordinary maintenance work. Rather, the owner just respected service intervals recommended by the manufacturer, such as the replacement of engine oil and filters every 15,000 km.
5 Mercedes-Benz 250D Station Wagon
This is a 250D SW with the unsurpassed OM 602 250D engine. No turbo, just an inline-5 cylinder workhorse that proved to be tireless. In fact, without a turbine stressing the engine this car was able to reach the million km milestone without being too demanding.
You don't see the life experience on the exterior of the Mercedes. Apart from a few holes, this station wagon version of the W124 is still in reasonable condition. Also, the condition of the paint of the Mercedes is good.
4 1966 Mercedes-Benz 250SE
Beautiful, classic, and iconic. Don't be fooled by the nice and shaved curvy lines of this timelessly good-looking Mercedes-Benz 250SE, because this is actually an old lady with a story to tell.
In 2014, the owner of a ’66 Benz 250SE coupe contacted the High Mile Club to inform them about the mileage of the car: 1.28 million miles. The original owner made it to 877,000 before passing away. Sons and grandsons, though, ran it another 350,000 miles before selling it to its current owner, who had Mercedes certify it with its million-mile badge on the car’s grille.
3 1981 Mercedes 240D
Paul Harman bought a used Mercedes 240D in 1983 with 40,000 miles on it. By 2008, he drove it past the million-mile milestone: that is why the car features a badge on the grille from Mercedes acknowledging its long distance of travel.
Harman admits that the longevity secret for the car's four-cylinder diesel engine is to have the oil changed every 3,000 miles. Some additional works have been carried out such as replacing the timing chains, as well as the transmission. When the car reached 550,000 miles in 1991, Harman rewarded himself by having the driver's seat reupholstered and gifted the car with a fresh paint job.
2 More than 2 Million Miles Mercedes E-Class W124
In the golden age of well-built cars, we just can not mention this incredible example of the 1991 Mercedes Benz E-Class W124, which reached 3.4 million kilometers (2.11 million miles). The car reached its first million km in 1997 with just oil and filter replacements.
Even though the body and the interiors are showing signs of aging, the diesel engine - equipped with an automatic transmission - is working fine even today. Magnus Sæle is the 84 years old owner of this Benz. After a lifetime in taxi-driving in Øygarden, Norway, he said that no matter what, he won't give up on his old lady: he is sure he will enjoy it for the rest of his life.
1 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D
We like taxi drivers' stories because they really convey passion and devotion to the four-wheeled world. Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver donated his 1976 240D to the Mercedes-Benz Museum, after having traveled 4.6 million kilometers (2.8 million miles) in it.
Cars like these are no longer made because the Mercedes executives of that period certainly did not care about market strategies. The price of the car was basically the result of the very strict specifications on reliability and quality, which really determined the final cost of the car. Will the next-generation cars be able of such accomplishments?