One of the reasons I did it was because I already decided to keep driving this vehicle a little bit longer and NOT to buy a newer Mercedes.
My 300e is relatively easy to work on to the point that I, as a DIY'er, can do a lot of the repairs needed myself. When I first got the vehicle, I took it to the stealership for repairs once or twice. They were BAD experiences. They were the last time they touched my car. Let's just say, they treat you different when you have an older MB...
On the other hand, I would not dream to do any major work on the new very complex MB's (or any new vehicle) that are in the market now.
When I get a new(er) vehicle, safety and reliability are major concerns.
Well, safety has improved on all vehicles, some even better than MB's, and based on current reliability and my experience with my local Stealership, my next vehicle will not be a MB.
My wife wants a ML but, with all the problems people had with these vehicles...NO way! Sadly, I am trying to talk her into a different brand of vehicle.

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J.H.
'86 300E

...every day!

It only takes a couple threads like this to make one realize why older MB's seem to appeal more to people who really love cars than to the swarm of mindless little e-consumers the educational system is putting out, in droves...

I don't have an options list in front of me but what do you think it costs to just put a sunroof and a navigation system on a new E-Class (Over $40 large and which doesn't come with a sunroof as standard equipment)?

Back-up protection, active suspension, cruise with collision avoidance, I-DRIVE on a BMW, ON-STAR, etc. Stuff I DON'T WANT AND DON'T EVER WANT TO PAY TO REPAIR when it goes bad, which it probably will. THOUSAND DOLLAR KEYS!

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'91 420 SEL @ 199K, '92 SVX @ 181K, '93 SC400 @ 86K, '93 Kaw ZX-11 @ 30K, '87 F250 @ 181K , 2001 Valkyrie Interstate @ 6K, Y2K Honda NightHawk 250 with 1.5K, '88 420SEL I.@ 179K & the 2nd latest, an '88 420SEL II.@ 210K runnin' parts car, '85 F150 300/NP435