Linda, in my experience, these cars are wonderful to drive and easy to work on for a capable DIY'er. In your case, you might want to consider the fact that these cars do need tender loving care on a regular basis. Do you have a close friend who is a mechanic?? If not, the dealer will see big $$$$ in his eyes when you pull up for even the most simple of maintenance jobs. Valves need adjusting, things need lubrication, so on and so forth. There are many reasons why you should buy a fine MB diesel but count the cost in how you will handle the maintenance and repairs. Just my $.02!

__________________
Orland Park, IL
1985 300SD 215,000 miles