Can German cars last 200k+ miles? (2014, idle, Japanese, truck)

[vision33r]

I've owned several Japanese cars over 200k mi and mostly with no engine problems. The question is can VW, Audi, BMW, and Mercs last over 200k mi reliably? I've seen a few E90 3 series and many go for $3k+ with over 175k mi and the interior and exterior looks to be in very good shape compare to Japanese cars. But the real question is. Can these cars last more than 200k mi with just basic DIY maintenance.

[StealthRabbit]

The number of 200k+ mile VWs in my driveway at this moment exceeds my fingers and toes. Most are 300k+, some 500k+.

Neighbors have MBs well over 500k+

Kids have Audi's 300k

This is not rare. I have driven many 500k + VWs, but never a 3million mile + car, as was the Studebaker truck I drove during college.

[usayit]

Older years yes... newer models... no.

[StealthRabbit]

Drove a 2014 Passat with 300k this week. Medical records delivery person owns it.

[somebodyfromnc]

Of course they can. Older diesel Mercedes are some of the most reliable cars out there.

[ohio_peasant]

E30 or E36 BMWs are good candidates. What "goes wrong" a high age/mileage is decay and eventual failure in the various bits that are expected to wither with age... relays and switches and electrical gear, trim/fabric/vinyl/rubber, and of course, metal going to rust. Expect full overhaul of all consumables in the suspension...bushings (and there are many!) in particular.

There is also considerable difference between 200K miles on a 10-year-old car, and 200K miles on a 25-year-old-car. The latter us vulnerable to failures just from lack of use. My E36 M3 has recently passed the 200K mile market, but it's basically retired now. It is too fragile for daily use. A window regulator recently failed. The headliner refuses to stay put (despite various attempts at gluing it). The suspension has had some work, but it seems that shortly after I replace a set of bushings, another set fails somewhere. Idle is erratic, because of vacuum leaks that I can't entirely chase down. I no longer trust it for extended highway drives. These cars fail gradually, when lots of neglected minor bits start accumulating as failures, until eventually the car gets parked permanently. It never again becomes viable.

[irman]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

The number of 200k+ mile VWs in my driveway at this moment exceeds my fingers and toes. Most are 300k+, some 500k+.

Neighbors have MBs well over 500k+

Kids have Audi's 300k

This is not rare. I have driven many 500k + VWs, but never a 3million mile + car, as was the Studebaker truck I drove during college.

Hmmm, why do you have over 20 cars in our driveway that are so dang old.It seems your whole neighbourhood has old cars ...
Then besides your 20 old VW cars, your kids also have old cars.

I like to see pics of your 20 old VW in a row and the mileage of your cars! You can open up a museum!!

[jamies]

I wouldn't know. I get a new car every 25,000 miles.

[Roboteer]

Originally Posted by StealthRabbit

The number of 200k+ mile VWs in my driveway at this moment exceeds my fingers and toes. Most are 300k+, some 500k+.

Including miles towed?

[wamer27]

If I wanted to buy an appliance, I wouldn’t buy German, only Japanese or Korean. But for fun cars like I have now, I’ll only buy German.