I have a 1990 560sel with 151,000 miles and it is BEAUTIFUL and I have repaired and worked on it and it is perfect, I would drive it across the county without a second thought. I also have just acquired a 1990 300se with 80,000 miles that has not been loved, but no rust and great engine transmission, I will get her to shine again but we have some work todo. What I am saying is do not be afraid of a higher mileage car, it's all about how it's been cared for. I love my two W126 and you'd have to pry them out of my hands. Big fan of this channell!
age will always be there, but i still prefer low miliage due to less rust and use. i bougth one W140 with less than 30 kms and spend a lot to change many parts due to 10 years storage, but after that is running like new since 2010 ( 7.000 kms now ).
I drive my w123 in the summer with 22k. The car performs as new and I’m so impressed with the performance. I’m considering selling it so I can get a higher mileage wagon and drive it year round.
I love driving my 1984 300 D everyday - 235,000 miles - everything works perfectly - thanks for your help Pierre !! ( PS almost have my 240D back on the road )
Could not agree more and it's my personal experience as well that mileage doesn't mean anything other than what the odometer reading is. I bought my 1989 Mercedes 420SEL with 215,000 miles 3 years ago for $2500 thinking I'd drive it a year and then it would fall apart and I'd get something more modern. Boy was I wrong. The car now has 234k and counting, I've only done what it has needed and it's been the best damn car I've ever owned. I drove it 300 miles a week for most of the 18 months and it has been a complete dream to drive and to own. The car came with 20+ years of service history where every single repair was done by the same independent Mercedes shop (that I continue to take the car to). I continue to do the work that is needed on the car and in return it's given me a flawless (and extremely enjoyable) ownership experience that I intend to continue for many, many, many years. Whenever I get into a more modern car I cringe at the comparative lack of build quality, cheap engineering, overboosted steering and want nothing but to get back into my w126.
Sorting out the interior is a tough task, that is why people tend to want low mileage cars. I can sort out any mechanical issue, but looking for a replacement seat or, god forbid, replacement cracked plastic interior wagon trim is a pain in the ass. And if you do it, the result will not justify the investment most of the time.
Absolutely agree, love the challenge of having to keep up with the maintenance of my 450 SLC. Why not? I've had it since 2004 and that's all I have to do, I do drive it at least twice a week or more. It's been great for me, nothing like a classic MB. I can do my maintenance because of this channel so thank you Pierre!!!
I'm looking to buy a w126 560 SEC with 224k miles from a guy that I know. The seller is a meticulous mechanic with all of his work. He's put on most of the miles after 85k. He tells me he drove his 560SEC everywhere he could. He has a list of all of the mechanical items that have been replaced. Everything from ball joints, bearings, heater hoses, rear wheel bearings, etc. He's on top of every single item. You have to look at the whole picture. I bought a low mile w116 300sd many years ago. You know how much work I had to put in to get it road worthy. Car looked great but almost all of the parts were original and badly worn. Saved a lot of money by doing the work myself. Imagine if I would have had to pay someone to do the work. Parts aren't cheap. Labor is ridiculous high.
Spot on. Many of the genuinely low mileage cars will require new seals, new hoses, new everything that deteriorates through lack of use. And then bushings and mounts and etc etc that just go over time. A v costly matter.
I would say no, and while the low mileage cars are often in good cosmetic condition, they are often in poor mechanical condition as they were not used enough and didn't see a knowledgeable mechanic like Pierre enough to replace parts that need replacement via age rather than mileage. I know a few people who have bought very low mileage cars and then spent a lot of money getting them reliable because they were not used enough and not serviced enough. High mileage cars that have been well looked after and serviced at a proper benz mechanic can be great buys. My 250SE has 454,000km, my 450SLC has 310,000km, my 560SEC has 178,000mi (uk car), my 560SEL has 338,000km and my 300TE has 376,000km. I feel like I could jump in any of these cars and do a 1,000km road trip with no issue.
Completely agree! I own a W126 with only 42k miles, but it's so nice that I don't really want to drive it often or leave it outside the garage. When I look at it, it puts a huge smile on my face because it's so pristine. But ultimately, I am going to sell it and buy a more worn W124 or W201 that I can park outside without the guilt. The only thing about higher miles cars is finding ones where the interior bits aren't broken, torn, faded or missing. It's hard to fix that.
Excellent video. People not familiar with Mercedes Benz just can’t grasp the notion of a forever car, so you just have to keep hammering the message home. Very good info here Pierre. Anxiously waiting for your views on R99 renewable diesel. Keep up the great work
Interesting analogy with planes. I'll actually pick the old-school B757 or B767 on purpose when I fly somewhere because I'm an aviation enthusiast and I know those classic planes won't be around much longer.
My approach has been "If the cosmetics are good, anything else can be fixed". To that, I would add, "If you have a good mechanic." That has become difficult now that may good mechanics are retiring. (I used to do all my own maintenance and repairs but now I can't get off of the floor as age is taking its toll.) I think the MB reputation is part of it's own demise. Too many buyers seem to think "lasts forever" means "no maintenance required". It seems MB is going down the path maximizing profits rather than perfection in engineering and production. Makes no sense since I never looked at a MB as being cost sensitive. I quit buying any thing from Detroit in the 1980s and never looked back.
Excellent and Interesting Review----Thank You. There are some "" bargains "" out there if you are willing to own a high mileage classic Mercedes and spend a couple of dollars on it.
Wow! Great points, thank you. I parted with my W124 300E after 28 years in the family for a low kilometer W211-do you consider the W211 wasted space compared to the W124? I love both chassis, though they are very different in personality. The W211 has deteriorating exterior rubber, headlining and rear seat tops at 19 years-the W124 never had those issues. I know Chrysler beancounters influenced the W211-but despite those faults so much is still right-and it’s still an outright joy to drive and to observe:-) Will it (in original premium E350 /500/ AMG guises) ever be truly collectible?
Awesome advice, I totally agree! However, I'm not sure I understand what you mean about classic Mercedes being "forever cars" in ways that others aren't. Is your point that things don't wear out or wear at a slower rate than other cars? Or is your point that things are more easily fixable when they do inevitably fail? Obviously some cars are built to much higher longevity standards than others and are inherently better suited to long term use, but at the end of the day, they will all break eventually and they can all last "forever" assuming an unlimited budget, unlimited time, and unlimited parts availability, so what exactly makes Mercedes so special in that way? Like many of your viewers, I've never owned one but may purchase one on the future, so I think clarifying how exactly Mercedes made "forever cars" in ways that others didn't perhaps with some examples would make a great video for those of us lacking your experience with these cars and would go a long way towards helping people appreciate them more.
Pierre, question for you buddy, I know the rear caliper pistons on a w123 300td are a larger diameter, but will a sedan rear caliper fit on the TD? Thanks buddy!
Well, I really believe in Mercedes engineering...BUT even that wears out... carpets get worn, on W123s which I know, the seats collapse, the dashboards crack, the rustceats into well known areas. Etc. Well, IS it likely we can find a car in decent bodily and interior shape that has driven 300 000 miles? To try to rectify interiors is v v difficult, and is expensive. /That said, a low mileage car that has STOOD is likely to require lots of "refreshing"/"recommisioning", and that too will add to what this car will cost you.
Even if all someone wanted was a reliable classic Mercedes, the most expensive way to do it would be to buy a low mileage car and then rapidly devalue it by putting miles on it. I found a 1987 420SEL with 132k miles for $1200 and swapped the transmission for a $450 used one and had a running and driving W126 for under $2000 that is cosmetically good but not pristine. There are 420SEL for sale for over ten times that just because they're low mileage. I've owned several newer Mercedes as well with 200k+ miles and the engine and transmission was never an issue, including a 2002 C32 AMG.
I like cars with a clean interior and good paint
I have a 1990 560sel with 151,000 miles and it is BEAUTIFUL and I have repaired and worked on it and it is perfect, I would drive it across the county without a second thought. I also have just acquired a 1990 300se with 80,000 miles that has not been loved, but no rust and great engine transmission, I will get her to shine again but we have some work todo. What I am saying is do not be afraid of a higher mileage car, it's all about how it's been cared for. I love my two W126 and you'd have to pry them out of my hands. Big fan of this channell!
age will always be there, but i still prefer low miliage due to less rust and use.
i bougth one W140 with less than 30 kms and spend a lot to change many parts due to 10 years storage, but after that is running like new since 2010 ( 7.000 kms now ).
The best way to keep a car reliable and dependable is to use and maintain it regularly
You are amazing I love what you said about taking high mileage cars put them back on the road and enjoy them
I was showing your channel to aunt Leila today!!❤
I drive my w123 in the summer with 22k. The car performs as new and I’m so impressed with the performance.
I’m considering selling it so I can get a higher mileage wagon and drive it year round.
I love driving my 1984 300 D everyday - 235,000 miles - everything works perfectly - thanks for your help Pierre !! ( PS almost have my 240D back on the road )
Could not agree more and it's my personal experience as well that mileage doesn't mean anything other than what the odometer reading is. I bought my 1989 Mercedes 420SEL with 215,000 miles 3 years ago for $2500 thinking I'd drive it a year and then it would fall apart and I'd get something more modern. Boy was I wrong. The car now has 234k and counting, I've only done what it has needed and it's been the best damn car I've ever owned. I drove it 300 miles a week for most of the 18 months and it has been a complete dream to drive and to own. The car came with 20+ years of service history where every single repair was done by the same independent Mercedes shop (that I continue to take the car to). I continue to do the work that is needed on the car and in return it's given me a flawless (and extremely enjoyable) ownership experience that I intend to continue for many, many, many years. Whenever I get into a more modern car I cringe at the comparative lack of build quality, cheap engineering, overboosted steering and want nothing but to get back into my w126.
excellent!
Mercedes is meant to be Driven !!
Sorting out the interior is a tough task, that is why people tend to want low mileage cars. I can sort out any mechanical issue, but looking for a replacement seat or, god forbid, replacement cracked plastic interior wagon trim is a pain in the ass. And if you do it, the result will not justify the investment most of the time.
Your the Mercedes Buda!
Absolutely agree, love the challenge of having to keep up with the maintenance of my 450 SLC. Why not? I've had it since 2004 and that's all I have to do, I do drive it at least twice a week or more. It's been great for me, nothing like a classic MB. I can do my maintenance because of this channel so thank you Pierre!!!
Great message!
I'm looking to buy a w126 560 SEC with 224k miles from a guy that I know. The seller is a meticulous mechanic with all of his work. He's put on most of the miles after 85k. He tells me he drove his 560SEC everywhere he could. He has a list of all of the mechanical items that have been replaced. Everything from ball joints, bearings, heater hoses, rear wheel bearings, etc. He's on top of every single item. You have to look at the whole picture. I bought a low mile w116 300sd many years ago. You know how much work I had to put in to get it road worthy. Car looked great but almost all of the parts were original and badly worn. Saved a lot of money by doing the work myself. Imagine if I would have had to pay someone to do the work. Parts aren't cheap. Labor is ridiculous high.
Spot on. Many of the genuinely low mileage cars will require new seals, new hoses, new everything that deteriorates through lack of use. And then bushings and mounts and etc etc that just go over time. A v costly matter.
Great video guys
I would say no, and while the low mileage cars are often in good cosmetic condition, they are often in poor mechanical condition as they were not used enough and didn't see a knowledgeable mechanic like Pierre enough to replace parts that need replacement via age rather than mileage. I know a few people who have bought very low mileage cars and then spent a lot of money getting them reliable because they were not used enough and not serviced enough. High mileage cars that have been well looked after and serviced at a proper benz mechanic can be great buys. My 250SE has 454,000km, my 450SLC has 310,000km, my 560SEC has 178,000mi (uk car), my 560SEL has 338,000km and my 300TE has 376,000km. I feel like I could jump in any of these cars and do a 1,000km road trip with no issue.
Completely agree! I own a W126 with only 42k miles, but it's so nice that I don't really want to drive it often or leave it outside the garage. When I look at it, it puts a huge smile on my face because it's so pristine. But ultimately, I am going to sell it and buy a more worn W124 or W201 that I can park outside without the guilt. The only thing about higher miles cars is finding ones where the interior bits aren't broken, torn, faded or missing. It's hard to fix that.
Excellent video. People not familiar with Mercedes Benz just can’t grasp the notion of a forever car, so you just have to keep hammering the message home. Very good info here Pierre.
Anxiously waiting for your views on R99 renewable diesel.
Keep up the great work
Interesting analogy with planes. I'll actually pick the old-school B757 or B767 on purpose when I fly somewhere because I'm an aviation enthusiast and I know those classic planes won't be around much longer.
My approach has been "If the cosmetics are good, anything else can be fixed". To that, I would add, "If you have a good mechanic." That has become difficult now that may good mechanics are retiring. (I used to do all my own maintenance and repairs but now I can't get off of the floor as age is taking its toll.)
I think the MB reputation is part of it's own demise. Too many buyers seem to think "lasts forever" means "no maintenance required".
It seems MB is going down the path maximizing profits rather than perfection in engineering and production. Makes no sense since I never looked at a MB as being cost sensitive. I quit buying any thing from Detroit in the 1980s and never looked back.
Very true. Good mechanics are getting extinct...
Excellent and Interesting Review----Thank You. There are some "" bargains "" out there if you are willing to own a high mileage classic Mercedes and spend a couple of dollars on it.
Wow! Great points, thank you. I parted with my W124 300E after 28 years in the family for a low kilometer W211-do you consider the W211 wasted space compared to the W124? I love both chassis, though they are very different in personality. The W211 has deteriorating exterior rubber, headlining and rear seat tops at 19 years-the W124 never had those issues. I know Chrysler beancounters influenced the W211-but despite those faults so much is still right-and it’s still an outright joy to drive and to observe:-) Will it (in original premium E350 /500/ AMG guises) ever be truly collectible?
Awesome advice, I totally agree! However, I'm not sure I understand what you mean about classic Mercedes being "forever cars" in ways that others aren't. Is your point that things don't wear out or wear at a slower rate than other cars? Or is your point that things are more easily fixable when they do inevitably fail? Obviously some cars are built to much higher longevity standards than others and are inherently better suited to long term use, but at the end of the day, they will all break eventually and they can all last "forever" assuming an unlimited budget, unlimited time, and unlimited parts availability, so what exactly makes Mercedes so special in that way? Like many of your viewers, I've never owned one but may purchase one on the future, so I think clarifying how exactly Mercedes made "forever cars" in ways that others didn't perhaps with some examples would make a great video for those of us lacking your experience with these cars and would go a long way towards helping people appreciate them more.
Pierre, question for you buddy, I know the rear caliper pistons on a w123 300td are a larger diameter, but will a sedan rear caliper fit on the TD? Thanks buddy!
Well, I really believe in Mercedes engineering...BUT even that wears out... carpets get worn, on W123s which I know, the seats collapse, the dashboards crack, the rustceats into well known areas. Etc. Well, IS it likely we can find a car in decent bodily and interior shape that has driven 300 000 miles? To try to rectify interiors is v v difficult, and is expensive. /That said, a low mileage car that has STOOD is likely to require lots of "refreshing"/"recommisioning", and that too will add to what this car will cost you.
Even if all someone wanted was a reliable classic Mercedes, the most expensive way to do it would be to buy a low mileage car and then rapidly devalue it by putting miles on it. I found a 1987 420SEL with 132k miles for $1200 and swapped the transmission for a $450 used one and had a running and driving W126 for under $2000 that is cosmetically good but not pristine. There are 420SEL for sale for over ten times that just because they're low mileage. I've owned several newer Mercedes as well with 200k+ miles and the engine and transmission was never an issue, including a 2002 C32 AMG.
416,000 300TD, original engine (3rd set of nozzles, reduce sls, etc) daily driver. A/C and cruise next.
Decent milage is better. Low-lpe miles so many things need to be changed in some cases all the way down to the gas tank and rubber engine bay parts
Cosmetic Condition > Low Mileage
i love you pier, always look forward to seeing you on the patina collective. W140 for life though.
NO, NO, NO. 140 is a disaster!
@@timjones143 respectfully sir i will not have people disrespect my baby. In the 9 years i have owned a w140. Never has it let me down.
Mine have ~180 k on the odo. I consider them low mileage
He never mentions w124. Wonder why !!!
Cause there is not much to do with them. They going strong for years and years. 😀
i feel like low milage cars are for ppl who polish their nails and are afraid to get their hands dirty to do some work lol
7.3 powerstokes are the best period
I can always count on you and your channel for good sound honest advice.
Keep up the great work.
I would like to take my 190k miles 300SD to somewhere closer to 300k miles - so no, you don't have to have a low mileage MB.
I hsve seen low mileage 50k mile 1988 Mercedes benz that was trash and terrible insude and out