MB Medic Mercedes-Benz Repair Guides, Service, How To DIY
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Have you wondered how many miles a Mercedes-Benz can survive before it heads to the junkyard? My father owned a 1980s 240D that had rolled over 1 million kilometers and was still running like a tank. Rust had started eating up many body parts, but the car could get you from A to B without issues. We often see many newer Mercedes-Benz cars with over 200,000 miles on the odometer. This post will share odometer pictures of different Mercedes-Benz cars with high mileage.
How many miles are Mercedes-Benz cars good for?
There is no simple answer about how long or how many miles a Mercedes-Benz is good for. Some models have issues as early as 50k miles, while others can exceed 200k miles with regular maintenance. We are starting this post to keep track of models that reach crazy high mileage.
While we don’t know how long a MB can last, we have a few pictures we would like to share.
Use the comments section below to let other owners know how many miles you have on your Mercedes-Benz.
2001 Mercedes-Benz ML320
Check out this W163 with over 300k miles. You are always going to find people who complain because the cup holder and the window regulator broke on their ML. Our main concern with the W163 is rust; other than that, they are solid cars. Small issues here and there can be easily fixed.
2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 – Over 200k mileage
You either love or hate the W210. There is no in-between. These cars were bulletproof, though. They could easily go over 200k miles on the original transmission and engine. The only issues you will see with these cars are a bad brake light switch (easy and cheap to fix yourself), ball joints, engine mounts and maybe an automatic transmission valve body repairs. E-Class is another Mercedes-Benz model that doesn’t mind the high mileage.
2004 Mercedes-Benz E-Class W211 with High Mileage
The W211 model was a complete redesign from the previous generation E-Class. If you ask around, some will say to avoid the early W211 model years, such as 2003, 2004, and 2005. In reality, these cars are very solid; the main issue that scares most people is the SBC brakes on those cars. Mercedes-Benz extended the warranty on the SBC, so you may be able to get a new unit for free. Other than that, these were quite solid cars, especially the E320 trim with the 5-speed 722.6 automatic transmission. We would be more concerned about the 2006 and 2007 E350 due to the M272 and 722.9 transmission issues that affected those years.
2003 Mercedes-Benz S-Class W220 high mileage
The W220 S-Class was and still is a masterpiece. It had its share of issues with the airmatic. Other than that, it is a solid vehicle.
2005 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C230 W203
Who said that the W203 is not reliable? Check out this 1.8L C230 with over 200k miles on it.
How many miles does your Mercedes-Benz have?
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What high mileage actually tells you
A high odometer reading on its own says very little. What separates a Mercedes-Benz that keeps going long past the point most cars are scrapped from one that gives up early is almost always whether small faults were dealt with while they were still small. A misfire left to run, a slow coolant leak, a transmission that never had its fluid changed; each of those is cheap early and ruinous late. That is most of the reason the pictures above vary as widely as they do.
If you are weighing up a high mileage car, a full system scan tells you more than a test drive will. Stored codes across the engine, transmission, ABS and airbag modules show what the car has been through and what is still unresolved, including faults that never lit a warning lamp on the dashboard. Reading those takes a scanner that reaches every control unit rather than the engine alone, and the YOUCANIC UCAN-II Pro is one example of that class of tool. If you are buying rather than keeping, our guide on what to check before you buy a used Mercedes-Benz covers the rest of the inspection.
Before you buy parts, scan every control module, not just the engine. It shows the root fault behind the warning lights and tells you whether the problem is still active. See how to do a full health check.
My 1995 C280 has 163,366 miles and just the driver door lock/unlock has disconnected (anti-theft activated) but not to hard to fix! Also needs a new windshield wipers motor, also another easy fix!
2011 E250 Coupe Manual 90k miles. Had faulty airbag changed under warranty. Also recall on injectors. No squeaks etc. Major svc every 2 yrs / 30k and runs well. Regularly get 55+ mpg on motorways/ 35+ around town. Pirelli rears only last about 10k but Hankooks last 25k and great fun in the wet on an otherwise safe/ dull car.
I had a 2003 w211 220cdi. Done 450,000 miles, without engine, transmission or turbo trouble. Had to recondition injectors at about 300,000 and alternator around the same mileage. I got it remapped for more power at about 220,000 miles, didn’t cause any reliability issues. Timing chain was rattling for about 200,000 miles but never jumped. Transmission began to slip under hard acceleration (which it got every day) so I got rid. I’d say if I done the clutch packs it would have hit a million miles. No sign of wear on the engine at all. Not using any oil either. Sorry I have no pic.
I’m considering buying a 1983 MB diesel. It has 235,000 miles on it. Outwardly, it’s in excellent condition, painted 5 yrs ago and has new tires.
I have a 2001 CLK320 cabriolet with 214,970 miles on it.
I have a 2001 E320 wagon with 348,000 miles and going strong, daily driver.
2012 GLK350 93,000 Dealer Maintenance Every 10K Miles – only issue since birth was replacement of rear shocks at 50K!
2001 S430 123,000 miles
That’s low miles for that car. 🙂
I also own a C220 (W203) 04.2005 and I am very happy with mercedes. I just passed 330.000 km this month and I take care of him to pass 600.000 km. Just regular repairs, not too much invested!
The enginge is working like peanut butter, transmission also. Anyway, I plan to change the transmission oil to be on the safe side.
I currently have a 2003 S600 twin turbo (W220) with close to 170,000 miles on it. When I got it, the ABC system was broken (that’s the biggest maintenance issue with these cars), so I replaced it with a Strutmasters coil-spring conversion kit, along with the anti-sway bar and lower control arms for an AIRmatic car. Also did the stuff that any 14-year-old car needs. That car is utterly reliable. The suspension is very comfortable, yet also sporty enough. I would trust it on long-distance trips and have already done so on several occasions. The M275 V-12 engine is smooth as smooth can be. This car is one of my two “daily drivers”.
Also, I have a 2003 S430 with AIRmatic. This car got a total overhaul of the front suspension, including AIRmatic springs and pump, along with other things that needed attention after 14 years. This car, too, is utterly reliable, after 147,000 miles, and nearly as silky smooth as the V-12. I have taken it on long trips as well, and it is my other “daily driver”. The M113 V-8 engines and 722.6 transmission are excellent. Be sure to get the 722.6 transmission, though, if at all possible!
Some time ago, I encountered a 2000 S500 that was in bad repair. Year 2000 is the first model year for the W220 in the United States. After 135,000 miles, the car needed an entirely new front suspension, complete rear brake overhaul (including left caliper), valve cover gaskets, flex discs, headlight assemblies, all sorts of stuff. The only thing the previous owner had done was change the oil regularly with Mobil-1 fully synthetic, and the engine showed no problems. The transmission fluid had been changed once; the maintenance records showed that, and the transmission behaved just fine. I took on the car as a fun project. That car showed me just how well M-B built these S-classes. I went through it with a fine-toothed comb. When I was done, that car drove about like it had just come off the assembly line, and it really wasn’t that hard to do. The car went to a very good home, a person that I know very well and who maintains it properly. She *loves* it.
It’s amazing how much abuse and neglect a W220 can take and still be OK. That car taught me just how much. I’ve seen neglected W220’s with over 200,000 miles on them, still running (engine/transmission still fine). I’ve even seen W220’s with 300,000 miles on them, they were properly cared for. They still run great, and I have every confidence that any of mine will reach that number and more.
Great review. Thanks for sharing.