I’ve been selling off my fleet to consolidate down to two or three cars. I’ll keep my trusty & much loved W124 E300D with 402,000+ miles on her, but I am *thinking* about getting a newer car. Either an impeccably maintained W210 turbo (’98 or ’99) or a ’05-’06 W211 CDI. (A nice CDI is probably much easier to find than an enthusiast-owned W210 for sale.)

I am planning on many cross-country road trips during the next few years, and want something that is #1.) Reliable, #2.) RELIABLE, #3.) Gets great mileage, #4.) I can do (most) of the work on it myself, #6.) Built to Last,… and #7.) RELIABLE.

I’ve started reading up on various threads, but I would love a synopsis of opinions and pluses & minuses about either model.

__________________
Current rolling stock:
2001 E55 183,000+ Newest member of the fleet.
2002 E320 83,000 - The "cream-puff"!
1992 500E 217,000+
1995 E300D 412,000+
1998 E300D 155,000+
2001 E320 227,000+
2001 E320 Wagon, 177,000+

Prior MBZ’s:
1952 220 Cab A
1966 300SE
1971 280SE
1973 350SLC (euro)
1980 450SLC
1980 450SLC (#2)
1978 450SLC 5.0
1984 300D ~243,000 & fondly remembered
1993 500E - sorely missed.
1975 VW Scirocco w/ slightly de-tuned Super-Vee engine - Sold after 30+ years.