My $4-5K number is higher than what I'd actually put into it. $3K or so is more feasible. (And I have not spent close to that amount, in total, on maintenance/repairs in the past 5 years.)
Again, I like the body style, the engine is near spotless internally, and there are no significant issues mechanically. And it gets 28mpg highway. And it's fast.
My only problems are the aforementioned small paint blisters.
Barring accidents, if $3K would buy me another 5 years of bliss, I would gladly spend the money. But I do like the idea of another, and newer, end of model year/bugs worked out car like the 02 E320. Other than that, I could just go ahead and get a current model -- and see what a new one feels like for a change (but I am not willing to take such an immediate depreciation hit).