Joe,

I have a 2002 E320 4matic wagon, and mine has 165k miles now, and when I got mine in 2009 for $6k at 100k miles. It was a deal. I drive mine hard, and care for it very well.. I do wish I had the the regular wagon for a few things:

A) front sealed bearings have to be pressed-out
B) The coil springs require a rare spring compressor to do any suspension work
c) The transfer case has no user serviceable parts, so when it fails it one is one piece to replace...Remember the dollar shock..
D) Dealing with rare front CV shafts as they are $$$

I'm a diy'er, so those hick-ups do not help me. It is not like servicing a rear-wheel driven benz-I have four other benz-no magical tools, or processes needed.

Do not get me wrong, I love my 4matic wagon, but mine is coming close to needing CV joints because the boots have cracks all along the crease line of the bellows-Normal to expect that on a 160k car-not a easy task with the coil-over shocks...

My 4matic runs and shifts great, but I have a nagging rear engine seal leak on my little M112 engine, so dropping the tranny my self may be challenging? I rebuild my own transmissions on these cars, so I'm familiar with the processes.

Luckily the transfer case un-bolts from the transmission, and not integrated like the new 722.9 transmission equipped cars.. Also, I do major DIY's. I have never seen one of these cars at a self serve junk yards. If you diy, be ready to have a rare to find a car with this drive train..Make sure that transmission and transfer case fluids are changed frequently!!

The rest is easy....I have the one equipped with the navigation package, so mine has the double-DIN radio...

I'm happy it all works well. no leaks except my rear engine seal. Runs like a top.Mileage is 26 to 27 highway.. Great car...

Martin