Mine was the first car I purchased. I picked it up at the factory and was convinced it would last forever. It succumbed to rust, but the engine was still strong. Great handling car and easy to work on, except for the routine oil filter change. What a nightmare. Do a search if you buy one, and find the petcock solution one member wrote up. I wish I had done that. Instead I soaked my arm in black Diesel engine oil every few months. It also has a reuseable main filter element that has to be cleaned, which adds more dirt under your fingernails.

So, look for rust. The only thing I would back away from on one of those machines. Jim

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Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)