I have a 96 e300d, and have been using this gauge on a full time basis while driving. It connects right to the obd port, and requires nothing else to run. It gives you about 13 real time readouts while you drive, and will also scan and clear codes. It cannot scan the codes that require a MB scanner, but for the average user it can provide valuable data. It is also portable and can be used for different vehicles. I have no affiliation with the product, and am only providing information from actual hand on experience.
http://www.scangauge.com/