This well-maintained Mercedes-Benz 240D has been serving as a taxi since 1988 and has racked up an impressive 7 million kilometers on the odometer.
The Tenerife News recently reported on a high-mileage taxi in Spain, a Mercedes-Benz 240D W123 model with a rare long-wheelbase variant. This taxi has been operating on the Canary Island since 1988.
As of now, the odometer of this Mercedes-Benz 240D has surpassed 7 million kilometers. According to Tenerife News, the car is operated in three continuous shifts of eight hours each, covering approximately 700 kilometers per day since 1988.
With such intensive use, the Mercedes-Benz requires an oil change every week, totaling 52 oil changes per year. Additionally, the engine needs to be inspected after every one million kilometers of operation. In fact, the owner has already replaced the engine of this taxi.
In 2008, Mr. Dominguito, the original owner, decided to hand over the Mercedes-Benz 240D to his son. At that time, the taxi had already clocked 3.7 million kilometers. To continue its service, some parts were replaced or upgraded, including the driver’s seat, steering wheel, and passenger seats. The body was also reinforced to withstand the constant pressure from the high frequency of use. Moreover, the braking system was upgraded with parts from a newer Mercedes model. A spare engine is also kept ready for replacement when needed.
In its original state, the Mercedes-Benz 240D was equipped with a 2.4L four-cylinder diesel engine that produced 71 horsepower and 137 Nm of torque, paired with a 5-speed manual transmission.
As of now, Mr. Irv Gordon’s Volvo P1800 holds the world record for the highest mileage for a privately-owned car.
According to the Guinness World Records website, as of May 2014, Irv Gordon had driven his Volvo P1800 a total of 4.89 million kilometers.
Mr. Irv Gordon passed away in November 2018. At that time, the odometer of his Volvo P1800 had reached 5.25 million kilometers.
Thai Son (Tuoitrethudo)