Then again, my 87 300D hasn't have that much wrong with it (AC gone now, links in the rear suspension, starter locked up at 180,000 miles). The 280 SE is 31 years old and runs line a top. Blew a transmission cooler line and it needed tons of work when I got it, but it sure beats the you-know-what out of the Nissan I drive for work with similar milage.

Mercedes are NOT low maintenance cars -- they require considerably more work than a Toyota or Honda, but will generally outlast them, and the parts are usually cheaper.

As far as engineering goes, the difference isn't what it once was -- after all, MB used a fully independent suspension starting in 1953, disk brakes on all four wheels starting in 1959, etc. Drive a 1950s American car, you will see why that slogan appeared. Again, everyone else caught up.

I'm still in love.....

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!