The quest for exceptionally high-mileage vehicles often leads to junkyards, treasure troves of automotive history. While many manufacturers produced cars with five-digit odometers well into the 1980s, Mercedes-Benz, particularly with their diesel engines, set a different standard. It wasn’t uncommon for owners to expect their diesel Mercedes to reach the 300,000-mile mark, a testament to their legendary engineering. Recently, in a Colorado junkyard, a remarkable example of this durability surfaced: a 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel, a W123 model, boasting mileage that far exceeded even those lofty expectations.
The odometer reading on this junkyard find was an astonishing 411,448 miles. While other Mercedes-Benz models, like a gas-engined W201 and diesel W126s, have been found with even higher mileage, breaking the 400,000-mile barrier remains an exclusive club, even for famously durable brands like Honda and Toyota. This 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel stands as a powerful illustration of the enduring quality and longevity inherent in these vehicles.
This particular 300D Turbo Diesel is from 1985, the final year of the iconic W123 production run. Intriguingly, the car’s last owner had thoughtfully kept a printed English Wikipedia page for the W123 inside the vehicle. Whether this was intended to impress potential buyers or simply to serve as bragging rights for the car’s incredible reliability is a humorous mystery.
True to the pattern of extreme-high-mileage survivors, this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel exhibited signs of meticulous maintenance throughout its life. Even in the junkyard setting, the car appeared remarkably clean. The original factory manuals were still present in the glovebox after over three decades, further suggesting a history of careful ownership and attention to detail.
Adding to the story, the keys were still in the ignition when the car arrived at its final resting place. This detail often indicates a dealership trade-in, deemed undesirable at auction due to its age, high mileage, and diesel engine – especially in regions like AWD-centric Colorado. Thus, the junkyard became its inevitable destination.
The interior of this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel remains in surprisingly good condition. The durable MB-Tex upholstery, renowned for its resilience, seems to have defied time, maintaining a condition that belies its age. While some rust repair is evident in typical corrosion-prone areas, it appears to be relatively minor, especially considering the car’s possible history in New England, a region known for challenging road conditions and salt usage.
Under the hood lies the heart of this enduring machine: the nearly indestructible OM617 five-cylinder turbo diesel engine. When new, this engine produced 125 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It’s highly probable that this engine was still running smoothly when the car was placed in the junkyard. The OM617 is celebrated for its robustness and longevity, even finding unexpected applications in motorsports.
This junkyard find prompts a compelling question: In running and driving condition, what would be a fair price for this remarkable 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel? It stands as a testament to an era of automotive engineering focused on durability and longevity, a stark contrast to many modern vehicles. The 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D Turbo Diesel, even in a junkyard, continues to embody the enduring legacy of Mercedes-Benz engineering excellence.
