1985 300SD Sady,
Ever sat down with a paper copy of the MB factory shop manual ? These cars are way overengineered... so the potential for doing it wrong is much higher than some older american car... I have 35 years of doing all my own mechanicing... and I was really surprised at these MB Diesels...
How important is Steering and Braking to one's lifespan ?
That is mostly what is in that list..
However, what Jim said about the flex discs being a very high priority is true... they can actually hurt you with you inside the car.. pictures of the damage they can do is in the archives... that was another eyeopener for me... usually a driveshaft is under the car and not too much problem if it gives way...
Although I did see an early 1950's Ford on its roof in the middle of Burnet Road in Austin about 1963 when riding the school bus home from Jr.High... later I was in an automotive mechanics class with the guy that was driving it.. it had lost the front ujoint and the shaft had flipped the car straight over onto its top. It was still lined up inside the middle left turn lane as we passed it.