Well, it all depends.....

I've heard of people dumping them as soon as the factory extended warrenty ran out because they were on their third $4000 engine computer and the $2500 climate control unit had just puked again.....

$10,000 a year in electronics to keep it running just isn't reasonable.

MB has admitted that there are electronics problems with these cars (including severe harness problems --DO NOT move the wiring harness, even for troubleshooting, if you don't want to replace the whole blasted thing -- even unplugging the six or so computer connections will cause havoc because the insulation will shatter, crossing all the wires up).

Add to that the "convience relay" package ($2500 or more) so you can open and close windows and sunroof (croaks pretty regular, too!), argon filled windows (I can only guess what they cost!), etc.

NOT an economical car, if truely one of the best quality build machines Benz every made. You do in fact not need to care how much it costs to have one of these, unlike the W126 or W116 -- or the W108, for that matter.

That said, you may get one that runs and runs with no major expenses, but I cannot afford to fix one.

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!