Paul,

In terms of what you're looking at for maintenance costs, perhaps my experience will help (I have same car, but a 1992). I bought mine with 137,000 miles and it now has 178,000. Over the course of 2-1/2 years I find I spend about 12 cents per mile on repairs proper and about 18 cents a mile if you include all maintenance. I should say that I don't do any of the work myself....have always taken it to an independent tech.

In my case, it's been front end stuff, radiator, blower, glow plugs, ball joints, plus some more minor items.

Still think I've gotten a good deal. Paid $5900 for the car. One way I like to think of it is adding the $5,000 or so I've spent on repairs and telling myself I spent $11,000 for a great car that's needed no repairs!

In any event, it's a fabulous car....but you will be spending not insigificant money on repairs if my experience is even remotely representative.

__________________
14 E250 Bluetec "Sinclair", Palladium Silver on Black, 153k miles
06 E320 CDI "Rutherford", Black on Tan, 171k mi, Stage 1 tune, tuned TCU
91 300D "Otis", Smoke Silver, 142k mi, wastegate conversion

19 Honda CR-V EX 61k mi
Fourteen other MB's owned and sold
1961 Very Tolerant Wife

Best diesel car Mercedes has ever made, best enginnered, best build quality and best materials. I have owned three, one brand new. Keep it maintained and the car will out live you. Just ask the cabbies in Amersterdam that still drive them. They trow rocks at the 201s and the 123s