Thank you Bob for the (too rare, at least in this thread) reasonable reply. And thanks for the clarifications on the options, and tip for the CD player. My wife is from Bethlehem, PA: I hear you have a very good MB indie in the area?

Do you know how much it is to replace the "front A arms" (I understand that on the W124 you cannot just replace the ball joints?) and all those suspension bushings? Although so far the ride is still as it's supposed to be: precise yet smooth.

There is no doubt that vans are more practical, but I've read of safety concerns with the sliding doors in rollovers: they apparently tend to pop open. Reason for which I understand that the NHTSA is considering requiring new designs with more than just the current two attachment points.

By space we in particular mean a 3rd row of seats, facing forward. And since safety is our main concern (which excludes current vans), it will probably be an MB GL or R, or Volvo XC90. But for some reason MB does not advertise their historical, and hopefully still current, focus on safety (unlike Volvo):
* if they analyze real-life accidents, it does not show up in Google (or other) web searches;
* if they reproduce those real-life accidents in ad hoc safety centers, it is not apparent either;
* and their IIHS results are underwhelming, with e.g. the R (and E) getting only Acceptables for side impacts.

As for my asking price, this is how I "rationalize" it (FWIW):

I bought my first MB, a 1991 300SE (which I still have) from an MB dealership. It was supposed, and seemed, to be in excellent condition, so I accepted to pay KBB’s Suggested Retail Value. Unfortunately, I soon realized that there had been significant “deferred maintenance” on the car, requiring notably to overhaul the transmission, replace the differential, etc.

I bought this 1995 E320 Wagon from an MB specialist. It was supposed, and seemed, to be in excellent condition as well, so I accepted to pay KBB’s Suggested Retail Value again. Unfortunately, I had once more soon thereafter to address the significant “deferred maintenance”.

But this 1995 E320 has now no “deferred maintenance” that I am aware of, to this very day. And again I am not talking merely about the “official” MB maintenance, but also about the additional maintenance recommended by The Star (and in particular George Murphy), including replacing the timing chain, the rear suspension fluid, etc.

So, although I cannot guarantee that nothing will break (anything can break, even on a new car), the absence of any “deferred maintenance” should minimize the buyer's risk and cost. And as a result, and from my own experience above (as well as testimonies on this and other MB forums), this car is in much better shape than the typical “excellent” Retail car. So I have taken the current “excellent” Suggested Retail Value, i.e. approximately $8000, and have added a portion of what I have typically had to add to compensate for the typical “deferred maintenance”. And, even at this seemingly ambitious asking price, I will absorb the other, bigger portion. Which the buyer on the other hand will not have to incur.

If the buyer is interested, I can also try to put him / her in touch with the gentleman (a truly honest and competent mechanic, who also has good reviews on Car Talk’s web site) who has been servicing this car since I bought it. He should be able to convey how meticulously (although not superfluously), and unusually, this car has been serviced: on schedule, using only MB / OEM parts and fluids, MB- or The Star-recommended lubricants, etc.

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1991 W126 300SE (M103)
1995 W124 E320 Wagon (M104)