Although the 3.5 is a rodbender it is nothing in the junk department like such GM classics as:
1. The vega aluminum motor which eventually was replaced with the ancient design Iron Duke.
2. The poorly executed porsche/ vw clone corvair motor which would blow oil fumes into the passenger compartment even when less than one year old.
3. Various Mouse motors which periodically get batches of cams which round off lobes prematurely.
4. Bottom ends on chevy motors which rattle at 100k miles.
5. the Buick V6 which cracked heads back in the seventies.
6. don't even get me started on the CRAP diesels GM built.

Mercedes has had only one bad engine in the last fifty years.

Other mfgrs:
1. BMW cracked heads for no reason on the early sixes in the seventies.
2. Hondas cracked heads in the seventies.
3. Mazdas cracked heads in the eighties.
4. Nissans cracked heads in the eighties.
5. Ford diesels cracked main bearings on 6.9 and 7.4 engines.

Mercedes built an excellent car. I believe they still do from a mechanical and safety standpoint. Unfortunately they are nothing special when it comes to electronic gizmos and modern cars have more than their share of that CRAP.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.