Yeah! Turned 300,000 on my 2000 S80 2.9 today!

[stevick]

I made it, and she's still running strong! This has been the best car I have ever owned. I took a chance and bought it (very cheap - $3700) in 10/05 with 219K, as it was throwing codes with the Christmas tree lights. Before buying it, I had it checked out by the dealer. They told me it would be thousands to just diagnose the problem, and warned me not to buy it. I bought it anyway, when I went on this forum and learned about the ABS problem. First thing I did was remove the ABS, ship it off for a $75 rebuild, and no more codes! Needless to say, my first dealer experience was bad, and I avoided them like the plague. I did have to buy a remote and get a spare key and the dealer got me for $300 for those w/programming (no way around it). They have since closed up - good riddance!

The repairs it has needed I did myself, with no small amount of help from the folks on this forum. I've had some repairs, but none that gave me heartburn or kept her out of service for more than a day. Shock and struts were the biggest bill I had and got good deals on them (and of course replaced them myself - installed lowering springs while I was at it). Had a bad CV joint (replaced axle - cheap), a couple of ignition coils, a CVVT solenoid (picked up a good cheap used one), a siren module (also picked up a good cheap used one), erratic idle (dirty ETM - cleaned it per this forum and did the trick), preventative tranny flush (IPD kit), a blower motor resister (again, went used and cheap). I've rolled the dice on the timing belt, just inspecting it (prior owner did the 105K service, didn't know after that), and have won so far. Only recurring irritation has been the upper torque mount - I'm on the third one and it's bad now too (just bought a replacement rubber bushing).

My teenage son just got his license, so I'm passing this baby to him. I'm now looking for something different for myself, hopefully as comfortable and reliable as the S80, but maybe a step up or two. I've seen a nice '02 MB E55 AMG, it's a darn impressive vehicle, but the MB repairs horror stories already scared me off a great deal on a mint 02' S600. I've come to appreciate and trust the opinions of you all. Any thoughts or experiences you care to share?

Thanks to you all, I couldn't have done it without you.

[billofdurham]

Congratulations.

The majority of your repairs seem to have been what can normally be expected on any car. However, don't push your luck too far with the timing belt as a visual inspection can't be relied on to find all of the things that can make it snap.

No comment from me on the MB.

Bill.

[mlanctot]

I've got 230,000 on my 1999 T6. Purchased 9 years ago with 63,000 on her.

[jblackburn]

Quite a milestone there! Congrats!

I was handed down an old Saab with over 300K on it - the car older than me at the time. I had it for all of about 3 weeks before the oil pump gave out and we were told by the mechanic the oil light was "just a short".

The only "reliable" Mercedes were the old clunky 300 series. An Acura TL or RL, though...always a good buy.

[JonnoSkye83]

passing a 2.9 volvo S80 down to a teenager whos just passed his test... i take it hes paying his own insurance...
nice 1! good to hear that 300,000 and still going strong!

[stevick]

Yes, my son is going to pay for the insurance! Well, I finally made the move for a replacement... a 1999 BMW 750il (E38). It has 150k, but is immaculate. A 12-cylinder beast that loves that premium fuel, but has just about every creature comfort you could want. This one will be my new project, and I guess I'll be hangin' out at the bimmer forums for awhile. I already know I've got an O2 sensor to deal with. I'll still be visiting here, though, because guess-who will have to continue to maintain the S80 for my mechanically challenged teen.

Thanks again to you all!