I have a 1997 E 320. It is plagued with problems cheap finish and bad design.
If I would not have had an extended insurance it could have cost me thousands of dollars to fix the car, starting with oil leaks, AC compressor and blowesrs, steering wheel vibrations and air sensors, everything had to be changed and upgraded after 70.000 miles including the head gasket and the garage told me every second 6 in line E-Class has the head gasket blown.
Today everything got confirmed Daimler Chrisler is worst than GM, Subaru and Ford

Read http://money.cnn.com/2003/07/08/pf/autos/bc.autos.durability/index.htm