Good examples are hard to find so I recomend being patient. 95% of the old MB's on the market you don't want to buy, they are junk. Read these forums, talk to members, and educate yourself on what a good example looks like. These cars were built pretty well, so just because a car is pretty and drives well doesn't mean it's in good shape. You need to know what to look for or bring it to someone who does.

Spending more money for a better example up front is a wise investment, and is usualy cheaper long term.

Having said that I have seen some really good cars for sale go for fair prices. Actualy a member here is trying to get rid of a very nice SDL that just needs a head or engine. The rest of the car has been well sorted. Something like that could be a killer deal if you are mechanicaly inclined enough to swap motors. I have also seen a few very nice W126's and W123's pop up localy, so they are out there you just have to hunt.

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2006 CL500
2009 C300 4matic
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200