I agree. My '96 engine (same as the OP but no turbo) still looked new inside after ~275,000 miles. For those with sharp eyes: the bolt in the intake cam gear was there for a chain-stretch measurement (result: maybe 1 degree of stretch).

Jeremy

__________________

"Buster" in the '95

Our all-Diesel family
1996 E300D (W210) . .338,000 miles Wife's car
2005 E320 CDI . . 113,000 miles My car
Santa Rosa population 176,762 (2022)
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . 627,762
"Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz."
-- Janis Joplin, October 1, 1970