Summary
- The article shares the incredible story of a Greek taxi driver who drove his Mercedes-Benz 240D for 2.85 million miles, a stunning feat.
- The key to the car’s longevity was the ultra-reliable OM616 diesel engine and consistent maintenance, showing Mercedes’ engineering prowess in the 70s.
- Sadly, modern-day Mercedes-Benz sedans lack the same level of reliability as older models, as confirmed by J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.
We all know the struggle of keeping a car running. There is a huge amount of effort that goes into preserving a car and keeping it running. That’s why most modern cars offer scheduled maintenance plans, so that the average driver doesn’t really have to think about it. However, that isn’t always the way it was.
Most of us will own a car for a couple of years, clock some miles on it, trade it in and start again. For some, owning a vehicle is a much longer commitment. One such driver managed to keep his Mercedes-Benz running and in working order well over one million miles. The sheer dedication and loyalty to his vehicle is something we can’t help but applaud. It isn’t easy to keep a vehicle running for over a million miles.
We take a dive into the incredible story of the highest mileage sedan in the world. We uncover the man behind the steering wheel and why this car meant so much to him. We also analyze the brilliant motor that sat at the heart of his steed and faithfully carried him so many miles.
In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including Classic.com, J.D. Power, Car Survey, and Consumer Reports.
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A 1976 Mercedes 240D Reached Nearly Three Million Miles In 2004
Most of us can’t even fathom driving a car for over a million miles. Either our cars are daily drivers and the wear and tear would just be too much to keep up with or they’re our precious babies and pushing them out the garage is already a stretch. However, one Greek man loved driving his Mercedes-Benz so deeply that he kept it going for an incredible 2,850,000 miles.
A Legendary Taxi Cab
The man with the record for the highest mileage sedan in the world, and second-highest mileage car in the world, belongs to Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver with a passion for his Mercedes-Benz. The history of the German automaker is littered with hits and misses in terms of reliability, but their old diesel-burning sedans could last forever.
Gregorios Sachinidis had a love for his taxi car that is near unrivaled. Most taxi drivers have a bond with their vehicles that even gearheads can only dream of achieving. His old 1976 240D carried him and his passengers around faithfully for years. He purchased his car in Germany in 1981 with only 136,701 miles on the clock and cared for it up until 2004.
A Notch In The Mercedes Hall Of Fame
In 2004, Sachinidis was contacted by Mercedes-Benz who asked him if he would be interested in donating the vehicle to their museum. Officials from the German automaker confirmed the mileage reading on the odometer and, in return for Sachinidis’ contribution, they awarded him a brand new C-Class.
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The OM616 Diesel Engine Sits At The Heart Of The 240D
We cannot deny that the main key to getting any vehicle to this kind of mileage is continuous maintenance and a special level of care and attention to detail. It doesn’t hurt if the car you’re taking care of has an ultra-reliable diesel engine at its core. Mercedes was at the top of their game in terms of producing reliable sedans in the 70s and this particular W115 is a testament to their engineering prowess.
OM616 Specifications
|
Manufacturer |
Mercedes-Benz |
|---|---|
|
Production Years |
1973 – Present |
|
Configuration |
Inline-Four |
|
Displacement |
2.4-Liters |
|
Power |
64-71 hp |
|
Torque |
96-101 lb-ft |
|
Fuel |
Diesel |
|
Noteworthy Applications |
W115, W123, G-Class |
(Source: Mercedes-Benz)
Part of the recipe for success for the 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D that Sachinidis drove for 2.85 million miles was the powertrain that sat at its heart. At the time, producing durable cars was the norm for Mercedes-Benz and most of the cars that ran on the W114 and W115 platform were considered to be incredibly durable. There were different iterations of engines you could get with the W115, but a four-cylinder diesel engine is considered by many to be the holy grail in terms of reliability.
Why Diesel Is Better For Reliability
While many Mercedes-Benz vehicles were particularly reliable at the time, those with diesel engines had an innate advantage if longevity was the name of the game. Diesel engines require higher compression and as a result need to be built more durably. They also have fewer components than gas-powered vehicles and as a result there are fewer things that can fail; this also makes them cheaper to maintain.
The main problem with older diesel engines, like Sachinidis’ 1976 240D, is that they ran louder than gas-powered cars. When it comes to modern powertrains, this issue has mostly been solved and diesel engines are a legitimate alternative to gas-powered ones.
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Mercedes’ W115 Was Incredibly Popular And Super Reliable
The Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 were integral to the history of the German automaker and showed their dedication to change and evolution. Not only did they use a whole new suspension for the first time since the Second World War but they also introduced their first ever five-cylinder engine. Their tenacity and innovation helped make the W114 and W115 the most successful Mercedes-Benz cars ever during the time of their production. The W123 and W124 broke this record, but its the most successful Mercedes ever sold.
Owner Reviews On Reliability
|
Owner Review Date |
Reliability Score |
|
29th December 2003 |
9/10 |
|
17th January 2006 |
10/10 |
|
7th March 2011 |
10/10 |
(Source: Car Suvery)
Reviewing data from sites like CarSurvey, we looked at what several owners had to say about their W115 240Ds and it all seemed to be immensely positive. While a couple of past owners had issues here or there with different parts of the car, such as it being a little underpowered, the one thing none of them could really fault was how reliable it was. Its worth noting that these reviews have aged a bit, but for a car that was manufactured in 1976 it has held up pretty well.
What Are W115s Worth Today?
Mercedes-Benz was willing to hand over a brand-new C-Class to Sachinidis in exchange for his W115, so they must be pretty valuable right? Well, the value of his W115 was definitely much more in its high mileage and regular 240Ds from 1976 just haven’t accrued any kind of following. Classic.com lists the average selling price of a 1976 W115 240D at $11,728. The highest sale price they have listed is also an unimpressive $21,500.
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Modern Day Mercedes-Benz Sedans Don’t Offer The Same Level Of Reliability
It’s a shame to say it but they just don’t make them like they used to. While older Mercedes-Benzs, particularly those sporting a diesel engine, were considered to be ultra-reliable and pretty robust, the brand has just simply slipped from where it once was. They still offer sportiness and luxury in bucketloads, however, their cars just aren’t nearly as durable as they used to be and its unlikely that many modern-day Benzs will ever reach the million-mile mark.
Reliability Of Modern Mercedes
We aren’t trying to say that Mercedes-Benz is a particularly unreliable player in the market, just that they’re kind of average. Looking at the report from J.D. Power, a 2024 C-Class has a 76 out of 100 score for quality and reliability. This puts it in the ‘average’ category. When you take a look at the scores that their hybrid and electric vehicles are getting for reliability, the story becomes even more grim. If things don’t change, gone are the days of any Mercedes-Benz coming even close to breaking the record that Sachinidis set in his 240D.
Consumer Reports Rates Mercedes Fairly Low
To add to the growing reputation that Mercedes-Benz is gaining in terms of them being unreliable, they didn’t particularly perform well in Consumer Reports’ list of recommended brands. The brand scored a 55 out of 100 overall, which is a bit scary considering reliability and owner satisfaction are two main metrics used by Consumer Reports.
Meanwhile, their main rivals, BMW, are killing it, earning first place overall as well as securing themselves the title of best luxury SUV for 2024 with the BMW X5.
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