The highest mileage/km pagoda?

[DB280]

Im just about to insure my 280sl for the first time and need to declare my estimated annual mileage to the insurance company.This mention of mileage made me wonder what is the highest mileage/Km clocked up by a pagoda and who does the highest annual mileage/km.Is there a pagoda out there which is a genuine daily driver?
Just for the record mine has 110,000 miles on the clock and I hope to use it for around 5,000 miles a year.

[paulr]

Hi and welcome to the club

I have a 1970 280sl and drive everyday and everywhere with dogs and equipment in it. I have done about 30000 miles in it and my mileage reads 285.000 which may be genuine. The car is amazing and I take it to france and Italy and Switzerland often without a murmer. I did have a lot of work done to get the engine working properly and now it just gets better. It changed beyond recognition after a six week blast across Europe which I would recommend to anyone. My opinion is that these and all old cars should be used as often as possible and driven fast, so many sit around as mine did which did it no favours. I do have the oil changed every 3 months now and leave the car for a day with the boys to check over and indulge my snagging list.
I attach a picture that the others have all seen but it sums up the cars life pretty well.

Download Attachment: mercedes pagoda 280sl portofino paul raeside .jpg..jpg
68.43 KB

paulr
lovely 1970 280 SL

[gwuisman]

At the sl meeting in Speyer Germany in 2003 there was a first owner pagoda displayed with 1.000.000 km without motor rebuilt.

Gerard Wuisman
08-01-1971 280sl

[JamesL]

quote:Originally posted by paulr

My opinion is that these and all old cars should be used as often as possible and driven fast, so many sit around as mine did which did it no favours.

The bloke who looks after mine told me a lovely story.... "over the years we have had quite a few Pagodas come in with the owners saying they are smoky, running rough and need som tuning work done. We take them in, make sure everything is connected then head for the nearest highway and run them as fast as we can for 20 miles or so. The cars tend to be so coked up that a blast does them the power of good"

(oddly enough, he did add that thay've not had to do this with my car... 114,000miles by the way)

[suzy]

perhaps others know how to tell exact mileage on these old cars, but i have no idea.  the odometer on my newly purchased 250 SL said 53,000 but i'd prefer to believe that's not the case since it implies the car was indeed sitting for years  :evil:

i recall fondly the day my 280 SL turned over from 99,999 and my husband and i drove around the block waiting for all zeros ...

suzy
1967 250SL auto beige/green

[Naj ✝︎]

quote:Originally posted by gwuisman

At the sl meeting in Speyer Germany in 2003 there was a first owner pagoda displayed with 1.000.000 km without motor rebuilt.

Gerard Wuisman
08-01-1971 280sl

And here it is (with original owners):






naj

[jameshoward]

Paulr,

Marginally OT with apologies but I've read your posts before about the journeys you do in your car. I have a 230SL and live in Germany. We were going to take the car to France last summer. The weather was utterly crap so we didn't bother, but driving down in my volvo I couldn't help but think about just how long the journey would take in the MB. I realise the comparison is unfair if I think that I can cruise at about 110 mph in the modern car, but when I sit at 60-65 mph at almost 3500rpm in the 230SL I start to wonder how long it would take to get anywhere.

You have a bigger engine, but can you give me an idea of the speeds you cruise at and what sort of RPM you sit at? I've had 80-90mph out of my car but the RPM was pretty high and I was slightly nervous of doing damage to the engine, especially since my compression is not great (about 110-120).

James

[Cees Klumper]

This is also known as the Italian tune-up:

quote:The bloke who looks after mine told me a lovely story.... "over the years we have had quite a few Pagodas come in with the owners saying they are smoky, running rough and need som tuning work done. We take them in, make sure everything is connected then head for the nearest highway and run them as fast as we can for 20 miles or so. The cars tend to be so coked up that a blast does them the power of good"
(oddly enough, he did add that thay've not had to do this with my car... 114,000miles by the way)

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[paulr]

Hi James

for someone from London, driving through France is amazing, I love it and take the car as often as I can, although I was in Paris at Christmas and might consider the train next time im in Paris only. I always take more time, stopping over, taking detours etc, so mile munching isn't my main objective other than to get to my job. The French also love the fact that I drove. I do hit the motorways too and I know what you mean about revs but  that is a small price to pay. I have the roof off as much as I can even driving with my coat and the heater on but I also love being in the car when it's raining and Im warm with a flask and my dog and steamy windows.
I do drive quite hard and am often at 80 or 90 at 4000 / 4500 revs for hours at a time. I know what you mean about being scared but that is what keeps the engine sweet. I dont know about compression but I honestly never worry and now dont even bother with European RAC cover. A can of Tyre weld and a foot pump is my tool kit as I wouldn't know what to do with a spanner.

Hope that sheds some light on the can and cant do's.

p.



paulr
lovely 1970 280 SL

[hauser]

Would someone please translate the plaque on the pic that Naj posted?  Thanks!!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Cees Klumper]

quote:Originally posted by hauser

Would someone please translate the plaque on the pic that Naj posted?  Thanks!!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

"In December 1963 Paul Eppel took delivery of his factory new 230 SL. Since then he and his wife Ilse have driven more than 1,2 million kilometers [CK: some 750 thousand miles]. The 230 SL has covered this distance with its original engine. The engine has never been overhauled and functions faultlessly.
Also neither the body nor the interior have been overhauled. In explaining why his marathon-car has never had a defect, Paul Eppel says "we always [?? Klaus or Achim - help!]"
But perhaps it is also caused in part by the fact that Paul Eppel himself is a world-famous cross-country skieer who knows how to make use of resources to be succesful. His over 80 thousand match kilometers and multiple entries into the Guiness book of world records demonstrate his accomlishments and stamina."

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Chad]

750,000 miles on the 230 SL original engine.  Remarkable.

I remember asking about this two years ago under the context of a thread about high mileage badges, and reading a post from someone with 400,000+ miles, and being impressed. This clearly represents a longstanding commitment to proper use and care of he vehicle. One thing I greatly respect is the preservation and use of older things.  I think it speaks of responsible behavior and utilization that is  admirable in so many aspects of life.

1967 230SL

[J. Huber]

Well, you have to keep in mind that the 1.2 mil Pagoda was a 1963 230SL. Naturally the cream of the crop!  

James
63 230SL

[Peter van Es]

quote:Originally posted by naj

And here it is (with original owners):
naj

Looks like they both need an engine rebuild more than the car  

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

[Klaus]

quote:Originally posted by cees klumper

quote:Originally posted by hauser

Would someone please translate the plaque on the pic that Naj posted?  Thanks!!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

 In explaining why his marathon-car has never had a defect, Paul Eppel says "we always [?? Klaus or Achim - help!]"


Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

"we always treat and drive it carefully"

Klaus
1969 280 SL

[hauser]

Danke for the translation.  I wonder if this car will wind up in a MB museum someday?  MB likes to buy cars that have reached certain milestones and usually give the owners a modern MB vehicle in its place.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[jameshoward]

Since they already have a submarine, and aeroplane and a boat I can't think they'd have much use for a modern MB. Some people just don't know when to stop collecting stuff.

[Cees Klumper]

Vielen dank Klaus!

quote:Originally posted by Klaus
"we always treat and drive it carefully"

Klaus
1969 280 SL

Cees ("Case") Klumper in Amsterdam
'69 white 280 SL automatic

[Chad]

Is there a worthy modern Mercedes replacement?
I admit there is from a practical standpoint, but if I had driven it that long I would certainly keep driving it.

quote:Originally posted by hauser

Danke for the translation.  I wonder if this car will wind up in a MB museum someday?  MB likes to buy cars that have reached certain milestones and usually give the owners a modern MB vehicle in its place.

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

1967 230SL

[France]

Hi Guys,

Chad's question is a valid one; new MB models were recently roundly trashed by Consumer Reports.  I would nominate my 1992 500SL for its reliability, handling, tank-like construction, and power.  Anyone else have a worthy?

Trice
1968 280SL US, signal red/bl leather, auto, kinder seat
Sarasota FL; Alsace France; Switzerland
Think of your Pagoda as a woman with a past...

[waqas]

Well, since the topic is already on its way elsewhere..... here's my 2p: Any MB _designed_ in the 90's and later is crap. Hence there were still good models to be found up until the early 90's. CR is spot-on.

Waqas in Austin, Texas

[glennard]

quote:Originally posted by vanesp

quote:Originally posted by naj

And here it is (with original owners):
naj

Looks like they both need an engine rebuild more than the car  

Peter

1970 280SL. Also known as 'admin@sl113.org' and organiser of the Technical Manual.

Peter, I'm one of those 'they both need a rebuild'  folks.  My '230 engine is OK.  Can your shop rebuild 'me'?   Just a 100 km would be fine.

[Chad]

I really liked my 300TDT w123 wagon with the five cylinder turbo-diesel OM617.  It was certainly synthetic-ish and plastic inside on the dashboard, but the doors had that nice solid sound.  It started up and puffed smoke out the rear all day strong.  Sold it a few years back with 300,000+ thousand miles on it for over $7500.  W123 is such a quality vehicle. For some reason they were in great demand in 2005 and early 2006.

I think this was one of the last interesting looking cars from this brand.

1967 230SL

[TheEngineer]

That concept of driving the car is certainly true: When I got my 280SL, I was very unhappy with the rough upshift 2-3 of the automatic. Now, that I have driven the car a few thousand miles, the shifting is much smoother and together with the 3.27 rear axle the car has become a pleasure to drive. I still only drive it when the weather is dry.

'69 280SL,Signal Red,Automatic,retired engineer, West-Seattle,WA

[seattle_Jerry]

My dad has a '06 S500. It has had the power seats, transmission, and entire front suspension replaced. It also had a problem with everything shutting off as he drove down the highway, which was random and took the dealer ages to fix because it wasn't happening for them.

It is a sad state when a company could offer you an $80,000 car in exchange for your million mile $30,000 car and have it be a bad deal for the SL owner.

My 1970 220D was somewhere around a million mile car. We had it until 2003 as a daily driver. It was well over the 750K mark. I shouldn't have sold it. It was another car where 70 or 80mph was high rpm and pedal to the metal. But it always took it.

1967 230SL Havana Brown Auto with A/C