I test drove a new '96 E300 at a Mercedes-Benz dealership, in '96. It ran fine to me. Much faster than the ugly, doggy '95 E300 junkers. Ha-ha!

I have never heard of one bit of difference between the '96es, and the '97 E300s.

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'06 E320 CDI
'17 Corvette Stingray Vert