Our 96 129 was solid. Thankfully no issues with it when we had it. Keep in mind if you do for the V12 and something does go wrong it will cost you alot more but its a premium car with a premium price. As I told a guy over on another site who got in over his head "Just because a 100k car is now worth only 10k its still 100k and still carries 100k car upkeep" If you find the M120 too much up keep then shoot for the SL500 as said before. 2000-2002 ones can be had. Inspect Inspect Inspect!!! from a good inde shop. Full records of everything and long test drives to know ever little hicup that car has. Not sure on your location but in Tarpon Springs, Florida there is a nice 2002 SL500(66K)
http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=59918933&listingRecNum=55&criteria=sf1Dir%3DDESC%26mkId%3D20028%26stkTyp%3DU%26mdId%3D21930%26rd%3D100000%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTyp Id-feedSegId-mkId-mdId-trId-yrId%26zc%3D12020%26rn%3D50%26PMmt%3D1-1-5%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26yrId%3D20142%26yrId%3D20197%26yrId%3D20141%26y rId%3D20196%26yrId%3D20140%26yrId%3D20195%26yrId%3D20139%26yrId%3D20194%26yrId%3D20138%26yrId%3D2019 3%26yrId%3D20137%26yrId%3D20192%26yrId%3D20136%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26trId%3D22958%26trId%3D24903%26trId% 3D25017%26trId%3D24904%26trId%3D25019%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national

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2015 ML350 4Matic. Wifes DD
2015 GLK350 4Matic. My winter DD
2012 E350 4Matic. Road Trip car
2009 CLK350 Coupe Designo.Kleemann Tune For nice days/DD
2006 CL600. V12.Eurocharged Tune. Enough said
2005 CLK55 AMG Coupe.Kleemann Tune. For the sound and style
2004 CLK320 Cabriolet. 2005+ Interior swap. For the sunny Florida days & beach days