I came across a quote from the Oct. 2002 issue of Mercedes Enthusiast:

"The only motor with a history of problems is the M104.992 3.2 liter, which is prone to oil leaks from the cylinder-head gasket. This is common whether this engine is installed in an E-class, S-class, or SL."

Comments?

If this is the case, I would definitely be more attracted to the earlier 104.980 3.0 liter engine, especially since I don't mind the styling differences with the later 124s. On the other hand, the increased 34 ft-lbs in the 3.2L engine is certainly an advantage.