There is nothing more expensive than an old Mbz if you can't do you own repair or diagnosis. OTOH, there is nothing cheaper than owning a Mbz if you are handy. I love all my old diesel. Cheap to insure, easy to work on, load of helping hands/info from this forum, cheap spares, availability of cars in jy. It has been good experience for me since I changed my car brand to Mbz.

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Not MBZ nor A/C trained professional but a die-hard DIY and green engineer. Use the info at your own peril. Picked up 2 Infractions because of disagreements. NOW reversed.

W124 Keyless remote, PM for details. http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/mercedes-used-parts-sale-wanted/334620-fs-w124-chasis-keyless-remote-%2450-shipped.html

1 X 2006 CDI
1 x 87 300SDL
1 x 87 300D
1 x 87 300TDT wagon
1 x 83 300D
1 x 84 190D ( 5 sp ) - All R134 converted + keyless entry.

I would argue BMW is. Around here the dealer charges $208/Hr for labor (that quote is a couple of years old and may have gone up since then). BMW's have the maximum possible plastic content under the hood (I truly believe they would use plastic pistons if they could get them to last 40K miles.) I work on my friend's 2003 530i and participate in the Bimmer forums so I speak from first hand experience. I have replaced numerous disintegrated, rotted, hardened plastic and rubber parts on that car. It leaks oil everywhere and burns it too. Had had a couple of computers go bad also. Goes fast though.

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1998 C230 330,000 miles (currently dead of second failed EIS, yours will fail too, turning you into the dealer's personal human cash machine)
1988 F150 144,000 miles (leaks all the colors of the rainbow)
Previous stars: 1981 Brava 210,000 miles, 1978 128 150,000 miles, 1977 B200 Van 175,000 miles, 1972 Vega (great, if rusty, car), 1972 Celica, 1986.5 Supra

I agree 100% with you. Mercedes diesels from the 80's are the best engines but they require maintenance I save a lot of money driving my Mercedes diesel doing 90% of the mantaince my self