Silver Boat brings up the key issue. If you select a car that had no equivalent model (engine series in particular) available over here, you will suffer finding parts. Otherwise there are next to no arbitrarily different features that make interchangeability of parts from a US equivalent model or engine a problem. I have imported a number of grey market cars, mostly for family members, and they have all worked out fine (mostly W123 models with the 2.3 liter in-line 4 that was installed in the early 190E's for the US). All the cars have lasted in excess of 200,000 miles and only one has been retired, and that was due to an encounter with a pickup truck that rendered the car useless. No injuries. And the family still talks and meets. Good luck, and if the car is post 1986, you might be able to find one with a factory "Euro" emissions system which is identical to the US system in most regards. So even most of the emissions control stuff is the same. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)