The W124 Mercedes Benz model with 200 diesel engine has gone down in the history of German automaking. Designed in the 1990s, this reliable, fuel-efficient and almost indestructible car would keep going for up to one million kilometers (621, 371 miles) and was, at the time, every cab driver’s dream come true.
“[This is] exactly the car one would need to brave a rally across West Africa,” thought 21-year-old Niklas Arndt, business administration trainee at MEYLE – and his idea would soon become reality. He convinced his employer of the project and will be one of the adventurers taking on the “Dust & Diesel” rally challenge, which takes place Dec. 28 through Jan. 15, 2017. What makes this project so special is that all trainees at MEYLE have worked together under the expert guidance of the MEYLE engineers to increase the vehicle’s robustness using MEYLE premium quality parts. Fitted with particularly durable components, this modern “ship of the desert” is expected to easily meet the challenges along the way from Morocco across Mauritania into Senegal, the final destination, where the car will be auctioned off for a good cause.
For months, the trainees of Hamburg-based family business MEYLE, a manufacturer of premium-grade automotive spare parts, have been buzzing with excitement preparing the “Dust & Diesel” rally project. The trainees in the new central warehouse with its more than 56,000 pallet slots procured the required parts. Then, all MEYLE trainees pitched in to rig the young classic up. Trainees working in the marketing department at the time produced a video and designed an online communication strategy for social networks, including Facebook.
Founded in 1958 and employing some 1,000 people worldwide today, MEYLE markets its products in more than 120 countries supported by its state-of-the-art logistics center in Hamburg, Germany, and a worldwide network of local offices and production sites.
“We are very proud of the dedication and the high level of initiative our trainees are showing,” said Marita Schwartze, member of the board and head of HR at MEYLE. “We knew right away that we wanted to give Niklas and his idea our full support and now we can’t wait for the rally to start.”
The company is covering all the costs of the project. In preparation for the rally, the Mercedes Benz W124 young classic has been fitted with top-grade glow plugs, engine mounts, suspension strut bearings, shock absorbers and control arms – all of which come from the MEYLE product range. But, the vehicle also features components from the MEYLE-HD product line, which are engineered in-house to outperform their OE equivalents. Fitting highest-quality parts is necessary, as the “Dust & Diesel” challenge is considered one of the toughest rallies to tackle.
Daily stages range from 100 to 600 kilometers (62 to 373 miles). The bigger cities along the track provide an opportunity to stock up on supplies, get repair work done or just take a break and relax. The rally will be kickoff in the Spanish town of Tarifa, with the teams passing Fès and Marrakesh in Morocco before heading straight for the Sahara desert. Crossing the desert, where the participants can display their off-road driving skills, the route continues on to Nouakchott, capital of Mauritania, on the Atlantic coast. After a total of 18 travel days, the field of no more than 25 competing teams will arrive in St. Louis, Senegal, where the sought-after vehicles will be auctioned off for a good cause. The proceedings will go to a German-Mauritanian charity project dedicated to supporting deprived children (www.aepn.de).
“I’m about to embark on the biggest adventure of my life and I can’t imagine what is awaiting me,” said Arndt. “It has been fantastic to see the team spirit grow among us as the project progressed. But above all, I am proud to be part of a company dedicated to supporting and encouraging a project of this kind.”
Want to see and hear more from Niklas Arndt and his experiences and thrills along the way? Follow his posts on Facebook and Instagram where he will be sharing pictures and reports from his journey.
