The quest for exceptionally high-mileage vehicles often leads to junkyards, treasure troves of automotive stories. While many cars struggle to reach the 100,000-mile mark, certain brands and models, particularly those from Mercedes-Benz equipped with diesel engines, were built to endure. Owners of these diesel Mercedes-Benz cars often expect them to reach the remarkable 300,000-mile milestone, a testament to their legendary durability. Recently, a remarkable find in a Colorado junkyard exceeded even these lofty expectations: a 1985 Mercedes-benz 300d.
Peeking through the car’s window revealed an astonishing odometer reading: 411,448 miles. This figure isn’t the absolute highest seen in discarded Mercedes-Benz vehicles – examples like a gas-powered W201 with over 600,000 miles and diesel W126 models surpassing 500,000 miles exist. However, breaking the 400,000-mile barrier, especially for a car found in a junkyard, remains an exclusive achievement, placing this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D in a very select club alongside high-mileage Hondas, Toyotas, and the occasional outlier from other manufacturers.
1985 marked the final year of production for the esteemed W123 series, the model designation for this 300D. Interestingly, the car’s last owner seemed keenly aware of its significance, keeping a printed Wikipedia page about the W123 model inside the vehicle. Whether this was intended as a talking point about the car’s remarkable reliability or simply for personal interest remains a mystery.
As is typical with cars reaching such extreme mileages, this 300D exhibited signs of dedicated maintenance throughout its life. Even in the junkyard setting, the car presented a relatively clean appearance. The original factory manuals were still present in the glovebox, a testament to attentive ownership over its 35-year lifespan. The keys were even left in the ignition, suggesting it might have been a recent trade-in, perhaps deemed undesirable on the used car market due to its age, diesel engine, and high mileage, especially in a region like AWD-centric Colorado.
Stepping inside, the interior further defied expectations. The renowned MB-Tex upholstery, known for its durability, appeared remarkably well-preserved, seemingly untouched by the passage of time since the car’s 1985 production in West Germany. Exterior examination revealed some rust repair, particularly in common corrosion-prone areas. While not pristine, the repairs seemed adequate, likely carried out after the car’s value had significantly depreciated. Given the car’s likely history in New England, the level of rust was surprisingly minimal.
Under the hood resided the heart of this enduring machine: the legendary OM617 five-cylinder turbodiesel engine. When new, this engine produced 125 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. It’s highly probable that this robust powerplant was still running smoothly when the car was placed in the junkyard. The OM617 engine is renowned for its longevity and reliability, even capable of unexpected feats like road racing, further solidifying the 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D’s reputation as an automotive icon of durability.
Considering its remarkable condition and incredible mileage, it begs the question: what would be a reasonable price for this 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D in running and driving condition? This junkyard find serves as a powerful testament to the enduring quality and engineering of the Mercedes-Benz W123 and particularly the 300D model, a vehicle truly built to go the distance.
