Being more of a practicalist than a purist, if I should need a new engine or extensive repairs, I think that I would go with a conversion simply because one can get more bang (read as HP) for one's buck with a medium size US engine. I have been driving for about 45 years and as yet have, one, never thrown a timing chain that caused multi-thousands of dollars dammage to an engine, and, two, never had to pay the kind of prices that MB charges for its spares. The ides with driving is to get down the road in style and comfort while having maximum reliability at minimum expence. I realize that this approach is sacrilege to a die hard MB owner but I would rather be out driving my slc with a Chevy engine in it that having it sit in the garage while I wait for MB parts or the money to buy them.