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The Highest-Mileage Sedan In The World In 2024

Summary

  • The article shares the unbelievable story of a Greek taxi driver who drove his Mercedes-Benz 240D for two.85 million miles, a shocking feat.
  • The key to the automobile’s longevity was the ultra-reliable OM616 diesel engine and constant upkeep, displaying Mercedes’ engineering prowess within the 70s.
  • Sadly, modern-day Mercedes-Benz sedans lack the identical degree of reliability as older fashions, as confirmed by J.D. Power and Consumer Reports.

We all know the wrestle of conserving a automobile working. There is a big quantity of effort that goes into preserving a automobile and conserving it working. That’s why most fashionable vehicles supply scheduled upkeep plans, in order that the common driver doesn’t actually have to consider it. However, that isn’t all the time the best way it was.

Most of us will personal a automobile for a few years, clock some miles on it, commerce it in and begin once more. For some, proudly owning a car is a for much longer dedication. One such driver managed to maintain his Mercedes-Benz working and in working order nicely over a million miles. The sheer dedication and loyalty to his car is one thing we are able to’t assist however applaud. It isn’t easy to keep a vehicle running for over a million miles.

We take a dive into the unbelievable story of the very best mileage sedan on the planet. We uncover the person behind the steering wheel and why this automobile meant a lot to him. We additionally analyze the sensible motor that sat on the coronary heart of his steed and faithfully carried him so many miles.

In order to provide the most recent and correct info doable, the information used to compile this text was sourced from varied producer web sites and different authoritative sources, together with Classic.com, J.D. Power, Car Survey, and Consumer Reports.

SH008-83509-scaled

Related

The Highest-Mileage Car In The World In 2024

It’s an achievement to hit 100,000 miles, however some vehicles push that quantity to 10s of hundreds of thousands, with one standing alone as the very best mileage ever.

A 1976 Mercedes 240D Reached Nearly Three Million Miles In 2004

Most of us can’t even fathom driving a automobile for over 1,000,000 miles. Either our vehicles are every day drivers and the damage and tear would simply be an excessive amount of to maintain up with or they’re our valuable infants and pushing them out the storage is already a stretch. However, one Greek man liked driving his Mercedes-Benz so deeply that he saved it going for an unbelievable 2,850,000 miles.

A Legendary Taxi Cab

Gregorios Sachinidis and his Mercedes-Benz 240D
Mercedes-Benz

The man with the document for the very best mileage sedan on the planet, and second-highest mileage car in the world, belongs to Gregorios Sachinidis, a Greek taxi driver with a ardour for his Mercedes-Benz. The historical past of the German automaker is affected by hits and misses by way of reliability, however their previous diesel-burning sedans might final without end.

Gregorios Sachinidis had a love for his taxi automobile that’s close to unequalled. Most taxi drivers have a bond with their autos that even gearheads can solely dream of attaining. His previous 1976 240D carried him and his passengers round faithfully for years. He bought his automobile in Germany in 1981 with solely 136,701 miles on the clock and cared for it up till 2004.

A Notch In The Mercedes Hall Of Fame

In 2004, Sachinidis was contacted by Mercedes-Benz who requested him if he can be involved in donating the car to their museum. Officials from the German automaker confirmed the mileage studying on the odometer and, in return for Sachinidis’ contribution, they awarded him a model new C-Class.

White 1989 BMW 325i Coupe

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10 Finest Examples Of One Million Mile Cars

From low-slung coupes to humble sedans, these high-mileage champions are actually a part of the celebrated one-million-mile membership

The OM616 Diesel Engine Sits At The Heart Of The 240D

We can’t deny that the principle key to getting any car to this sort of mileage is steady upkeep and a particular degree of care and a spotlight to element. It doesn’t harm if the automobile you’re caring for 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 specific W115 is a testomony 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 fulfillment for the 1976 Mercedes-Benz 240D that Sachinidis drove for 2.85 million miles was the powertrain that sat at its coronary heart. At the time, producing sturdy vehicles was the norm for Mercedes-Benz and many of the vehicles that ran on the W114 and W115 platform had been thought-about to be extremely sturdy. There had been completely different iterations of engines you can get with the W115, however a four-cylinder diesel engine is taken into account by many to be the holy grail by way of reliability.

Why Diesel Is Better For Reliability

While many Mercedes-Benz autos had been significantly dependable on the time, these with diesel engines had an innate benefit if longevity was the secret. Diesel engines require larger compression and consequently must be constructed extra durably. They even have fewer elements than gas-powered autos and consequently there are fewer issues that may fail; this additionally makes them cheaper to take care of.

The fundamental downside with older diesel engines, like Sachinidis’ 1976 240D, is that they ran louder than gas-powered vehicles. When it involves fashionable powertrains, this problem has principally been solved and diesel engines are a legitimate alternative to gas-powered ones.

Black 1992 Mercedes-Benz 500E

Related

10 Mercedes Models That Are Built Like Tanks

While not all Mercs are created equal, here is why these fashions earned a popularity for being a number of the hardest vehicles to put on the three-pointed star

Black Mercedes-Benz 300D (W114)
Via Wiki Media Jones028

The Mercedes-Benz W114 and W115 had been integral to the historical past of the German automaker and confirmed their dedication to vary and evolution. Not solely did they use a complete new suspension for the primary time because the Second World War however in addition they launched their first ever five-cylinder engine. Their tenacity and innovation helped make the W114 and W115 essentially the most profitable Mercedes-Benz vehicles ever through the time of their manufacturing. The W123 and W124 broke this record, but its the most successful Mercedes ever sold.

Owner Reviews On Reliability

Owner Review Date

Reliability Score

twenty ninth December 2003

9/10

seventeenth January 2006

10/10

seventh March 2011

10/10

(Source: Car Suvery)

Reviewing information from websites like CarSurvey, we checked out what a number of homeowners needed to say about their W115 240Ds and all of it appeared to be immensely constructive. While a few previous homeowners had points right here or there with completely different components of the automobile, such because it being a bit underpowered, the one factor none of them might actually fault was how dependable it was. Its value noting that these opinions have aged a bit, however for a automobile that was manufactured in 1976 it has held up fairly nicely.

What Are W115s Worth Today?

Mercedes-Benz was prepared handy over a brand-new C-Class to Sachinidis in change for his W115, in order that they should be fairly worthwhile proper? Well, the worth of his W115 was positively way more in its excessive mileage and common 240Ds from 1976 simply haven’t accrued any sort of following. Classic.com lists the average selling price of a 1976 W115 240D at $11,728. The highest sale value they’ve listed can be an unimpressive $21,500.

Mercedes-Benz 600 SEL-W140-S76R-Renntech

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Here’s What Makes The W140 Mercedes-Benz S-Class So Special

The S-Class has been thought-about the gold commonplace of luxurious sedans for many years, and here is what makes the W140 technology one of many highest

Modern Day Mercedes-Benz Sedans Don’t Offer The Same Level Of Reliability

Mercedes-Benz Hood Ornament
Unsplash

It’s a disgrace to say it however they simply don’t make them like they used to. While older Mercedes-Benzs, significantly these sporting a diesel engine, had been thought-about to be ultra-reliable and fairly sturdy, the model has simply merely slipped from the place it as soon as was. They still offer sportiness and luxury in bucketloads, nonetheless, their vehicles simply aren’t practically as sturdy as they was and its unlikely that many modern-day Benzs will ever attain the million-mile mark.

Reliability Of Modern Mercedes

We aren’t attempting to say that Mercedes-Benz is a very unreliable participant out there, simply that they’re sort of common. Looking at the report from J.D. Power, a 2024 C-Class has a 76 out of 100 score for quality and reliability. This places it within the ‘average’ class. When you check out the scores that their hybrid and electrical autos are getting for reliability, the story turns into much more grim. If issues don’t change, gone are the times of any Mercedes-Benz coming even near breaking the document that Sachinidis set in his 240D.

Consumer Reports Rates Mercedes Fairly Low

To add to the rising popularity that Mercedes-Benz is gaining by way of them being unreliable, they didn’t particularly perform well in Consumer Reports’ list of recommended brands. The model scored a 55 out of 100 total, which is a bit scary contemplating reliability and proprietor satisfaction are two fundamental metrics utilized by Consumer Reports.

Meanwhile, their fundamental rivals, BMW, are killing it, incomes first place total in addition to securing themselves the title of best luxury SUV for 2024 with the BMW X5.

Motorsport

Owner Of Million-Mile Toyota Tundra Hits 900K Miles With Newer Truck

Victor Sheppard, the person who famously drove his Toyota Tundra for over one million miles, is on the verge of reaching the extraordinary milestone as soon as once more. This time, he is pushing the bounds of longevity in his 2014 Toyota Tundra SR5 Double Cab with a 5.7-liter V8 engine.

Sheppard reached out to Pickup Truck Talk to share his newest accomplishment. The odometer on his 2014 Tundra rolled over the 900,000-mile mark only recently, bringing him nearer to a different potential million-mile journey.

Back in July 2016, we coated his exceptional feat when he crossed the million-mile mark in a 2007 Tundra SR5 Double Cab with a 4.7-liter V8. The 2014 mannequin, which is now approaching the million-mile mark, was initially bought by Sheppard as a substitute for the 2007 Tundra simply earlier than it hit the million-mile milestone.

Toyota, impressed by Sheppard’s loyalty and the million-mile achievement, supplied him a trade-in deal – the 2007 model for a 2016 Limited Crew Cab. The firm even studied the 2007 truck while designing the new 2022 Tundra. Opting to maintain the 2016 mannequin as a private car, Sheppard continued to make use of the 2014 Tundra for each day work, accumulating an astonishing quantity of mileage within the course of. Remarkably, Sheppard did all of the driving himself.

Sheppard lately shared insights into the upkeep journey of his resilient truck. In addition to routine engine upkeep, he changed the alternator and had the transmission serviced at 780,000 miles. However, because of delays in repairs, he determined to take issues into his personal arms and clocked an extra 80,000 miles earlier than lastly putting in a brand new transmission. The transmission challenge, inflicting the truck to lose velocity whereas climbing hills, offered a singular problem.

Check out Motor1’s Rambling About Cars podcast for extra on Land Cruiser gross sales and different automotive chat, out there under.

NewsNew

RIDING THE AJP PR7 RALLY BIKE: THE WRAP

Mark Berg of Central Powersports Distributing drove out from Texas final week and left us with a wild, various group of check bikes for upcoming points. There was an electrical trials bike, two Italian dual-sports and some Spanish two-strokes. But the craziest of all of them is the AJP PR7. We’ve solely caught glimpses of this bike in recent times. Jeff Schlagel up within the Pacific Northwest was the AJP importer for years, however he lately bought the enterprise to CPD, which additionally handles Rieju, SWM and Electric Motion. Mark simply couldn’t stand the thought of somebody promoting weirder bikes than him.
So what’s a PR7? If you had been round within the days earlier than Husqvarna was bought by BMW (and subsequently by KTM), you may bear in mind a motorbike referred to as the TE630. It had one of many final motors to be designed by the Italian engineering workforce earlier than they had been all dismissed. If you actually look intently, you’ll be able to see some similarities that go all the way in which again to the unique Husqvarna 510 of the ‘80s. That was probably the most superior off-road four-stroke of its time.

The AJP PR7 has a advised retail worth of $11,499

These days, the PR7’s motor is a 600cc DOHC four-stroke with Athena/GET gas injection. It has a hydraulic clutch and a six-speed gearbox. The body is like nothing else on earth. It has a metal steering head bolted to solid aluminum aspect beams. The gas tank is situated below the seat and it makes use of Sachs suspension, entrance and rear. All the elements have a really excessive cool issue. The exhaust system is a downswept titanium Doma with a carbon-fiber finish cap and the brakes are Brembo. It has a fairing that appears prefer it might have come proper off Ricky Brabec’s Dakar bike and two radiator followers. Stock tools consists of wrap-around handguards, an aluminum skid plate and a coolant overflow tank.

The main instrument is a pill that syncs along with your cellphone.

One of the toughest elements about testing a motorbike just like the PR7 is determining the place to check it. If the Sonora Rally was subsequent up on the calendar, we’d take it straight there. As it was, the timing was proper for the 24 Hours of Glen Helen. We didn’t formally enter it within the race–that may take a workforce of riders, a trailer of spares and a world of dedication. The PR7 was the proper chase car. It carries 4.5 gallons of gas and has loads of room for instruments and elements.

Mark Tilley on the AJP PR7.

First of all, the elephant within the room, in case you can pardon the imagery, is the bike’s weight. All that bling and rally tools doesn’t make for a light-weight bike. The PR7 weighs over 400 kilos with a full tank. How a lot over? We don’t know. That’s as excessive as our scale goes. It’s roughly irrelevant, as a result of 5 minutes on the bike tells you extra about its supposed function than 10 pages of specs. It’s simply an excessive amount of bike for a closed course, even one just like the 24-Hour.

The bike is definitely as slim as a typical 450 motocross bike. The seat peak may even be somewhat decrease. When you begin using, although, it’s clear that it doesn’t like low speeds. There’s simply an excessive amount of mass there. The quicker you go, the higher it will get. In truth, the PR7 is extra highly effective than virtually any off-road race bike. The motor is downright wonderful, particularly in terms of low-end. It’s not motocross energy, although. It has thick, clean torque like four-strokes had within the olden days. The powerband begins early and ends early with deep, rumbling pulses moderately than a shrill buzz. The 600 doesn’t depend on RPM to make its level, and that’s emotionally satisfying if nothing else. Unlike the four-strokes of the previous (we referred to as them thumpers, bear in mind?) the AJP is clear and civilized. It doesn’t cough, backfire or flame out. It actually does mix the very best of each worlds.

As the24-Hour went on,the whoops bought larger and larger with each passing hour. The PR7 has about the very best fork that Sachs gives. It has 48mm tubes with a closed cartridge and the piggyback shock is absolutely adjustable. Both ends had been tremendous soft when the course was clean, however they had been shortly overwhelmed. The rear, specifically, is just too comfortable for actually tough terrain. Can or not it’s beefed up? We don’t actually know. When you’re speaking a couple of 400 pound bike, most suspension outlets can be in uncharted territory.
We hope to get to know the bike somewhat higher earlier than Mark returns with one thing even weirder. There are not any rallies on the calendar proper now, so we would must make up our personal. The check will seem within the January, 2024 print version of Dirt Bike.

2024 NGPC SERIES

The 2024 National Gran Prix Sheddule is out! For subsequent yr, bear in mind to enroll in contengancy. All the foremost O.E.s are concerned. It’s free cash–in case you plan on racing anyway, that’s.

AUS SX THIS WEEKEND

Supercross season by no means ends! You can watch spherical two of the Australian supercross collection Friday evening by clicking the picture. Round One in Adelaide was an enormous evening for workforce HRC Australia, Froth Honda Racing’s Dean Wilson (SX1), Boost Mobile Honda Racing’s Max Anstie (SX2), and Repco M9 Honda’s Parker Ross (SX3) took out their respective class honors in a tightly contested opening spherical of the FOX Australian Supercross Championship.

KC FOUNDATION EVENTS

See you subsequent week!

–Ron Lawson
Motorsport

Watch the 2023 BMW M2 Reach a Top Speed of 180 MPH on the Autobahn

In April of this year, we got behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW M2 and found it to be a smaller and more agile version of the M4. However, the new M2 is also more powerful and heavier than its predecessor. Despite these changes, the hot hatch is incredibly fast. And what better way to demonstrate this than with a video of the car driving on an unrestricted section of the German highway?

The team at AutoTopNL recently had the opportunity to test the M2 (codenamed G87). They specialize in pushing various production and modified cars to their limits on the Autobahn to determine their top speeds. In the case of the 2023 M2, the car tested was completely stock, equipped with a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six engine that produces 456 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque. To put these numbers in perspective, that’s 48 more horsepower than the previous M2 Competition and 8 more horsepower than the most powerful M2 CS.


NewsNew

2024 BETA 200RR FIRST RIDE: THE WRAP

# 2024 BETA 200RR FIRST RIDE: THE WRAP

Rodney Smith delivered a 2024 Beta 200RR to us this week for a test ride. Two-stroke 200cc bikes were popular in the past but were phased out over time. This was mainly due to the difficulty in convincing European and Japanese manufacturers to produce bikes that didn’t fit into a specific class. The EPA also played a role, as they required all two-strokes to be labeled as “closed course competition vehicles.” However, in 2019, Beta decided to introduce the 200RR despite these challenges. The engineers took the 125RR model, increased its displacement to 190cc, and added electric start and oil-injection. The result was a bike that was in a class of its own, although Rieju also has a 200cc two-stroke model. Currently, Beta is a much larger company compared to Rieju.

We had the opportunity to test the Beta 200RR when it was first released in 2019, and we were impressed by its performance. The bike weighs 223 pounds without fuel, which is similar to the Husqvarna TE150 we tested earlier this month. We noted that the Husky felt more like a 200cc bike this year with increased low-end power. However, the Beta 200 is truly 200-like since it is a 200cc model.

The Beta 200RR is an exceptional trail bike. It has abundant low-end power and is nearly impossible to stall accidentally. The bike has a significant flywheel effect and produces usable torque. The jetting is flawless, and the bike doesn’t load up even after extended periods of partial throttle. It starts easily and warms up quickly. The power output on the top end is also impressive. Despite its strong low-end power, we expected the bike to lose power at higher RPMs. However, this was not the case. The 200RR can rev out past 9000 rpm, similar to most 250cc two-strokes. The peak power is decent, but not more than what you would find in a well-running 125cc bike.

In terms of handling, the Beta 200RR is steady and predictable. It remains composed even on rocky and choppy terrain. The bike is lighter than most off-road two-strokes, making it easier to ride in challenging conditions.

Overall, we had a great first ride on the Beta 200RR, and we hope to keep it in our fleet for an extended period. Rodney dropped off an FMF silencer with a spark arrester and a tall seat, so we can start making mild customizations. Look for a full test of the bike in the November print edition of Dirt Bike magazine.

## CATCHING UP WITH MICHAEL LEIB

We recently visited Michael Leib at Canvas, a gear company specializing in custom design work. Michael used to be a test rider for Dirt Bike in his amateur days, and he went on to ride for Factory Husqvarna in Europe. After returning to the US, he competed in Supercross and even won a Two-Stroke World Championship. Now, he runs Canvas and its sister company Lucid. Canvas designs custom jerseys, and they have partnered with riders like Ty Masterpool, helping them fund their race efforts. Instead of waiting in line for autographs, fans can order jerseys designed by Canvas and signed by their favorite riders. Canvas creates a unique jersey for each National race. Visit [canvasmx.com](https://canvasmx.com/collections/ty-masterpool) to see the innovative work done by Michael and his team.

## WORLD SUPERCROSS ISSUES

There have been rumors about the next three rounds of the SX Global 2023 season facing potential issues. The second round in France has already been canceled, and there are hints on social media that the upcoming round in Singapore might not happen as planned. SX Global addressed these rumors, stating that while they cannot provide specific information at the moment, they will release significant news soon regarding the racing schedule for 2023. They have been in constant communication with teams and owners, who have been supportive. The goal is to finish the 2023 Championship rounds with exciting racing to determine the 2023 FIM World Supercross Champions in Melbourne.

## HOW TO WATCH THE IRONMAN PRO MOTOCROSS

The Ironman Pro Motocross event will be broadcasted with the following team:

– Play by Play: Jason Weigandt
– Analysts: James Stewart
– Reporters: Jason Thomas

Here’s how you can watch the event:

– Saturday, August 26:
– Pro Motocross Championship: Race Day Live on Peacock at 7 a.m. PT / 10 a.m. ET
– Pro Motocross Championship: Ironman National [LIVE] on Peacock at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET

– Monday, August 28:
– Pro Motocross Championship: Ironman National Replay on CNBC, NBCSports.com, and the NBC Sports App at 11 p.m. PT [Sunday] / 2 a.m. ET

## TRYSTAN HART SIGNS UP WITH KTM AGAIN

FMF KTM Factory Racing has extended its contract with Trystan Hart, the current U.S. Hard Enduro Champion. The Canadian rider has been dominant in the hard enduro competition, winning consecutive U.S. Hard Enduro championships on his KTM 300 XC-W. He recently secured back-to-back victories in the Red Bull Tennessee Knockout event and is currently ranked second in the FIM Hard Enduro World Championship standings. Hart will also compete in the AMA EnduroCross series using the KTM 350 XC-F. The partnership between Hart and KTM has been successful, and both parties look forward to achieving even greater success in the future.

Motorsport

Get Your Hands on This Custom Military-Inspired Mercedes, Including a Fake Machine Gun

If the iconic movie character Mad Max were to drive a Mercedes instead of “the last of the V8 interceptors,” he would surely choose the unique ‘Benz that Greg Rogers is currently selling. This one-of-a-kind vehicle features an ML430 chassis with a 300E body on top. Known as the ME43, this eye-catching creation is currently available on Facebook Marketplace for $4,500 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Rogers, a Mercedes expert with 37 years of experience, used to own and operate his own shop until his retirement in August. The idea for this extraordinary build came to him when he had a 300E with a faulty engine but a well-maintained interior, as well as a wrecked ML430. Remarkably, the wheelbases of both vehicles were similar enough to allow for their successful combination.