Twasn't always thus. Dad's first MB (280SEL) happened in 1969, which was also my freshman year at college. He'd bought it not for what it said, since most folks here in MI didn't know much about them, but for what it was. The first several years he had the car, other MB drivers were rare, but those one saw would often flash lights in greeting (which is how I'm sure of my recollection that the headlight flasher worked!).
By maybe 1975-6 or so, other MB's were much more common, but the practice of greeting was much less so. They'd become popular in suburbia and the enthusiast-owner had become a minority. Good for DB's balance sheet, but something gets lost at the same time...

__________________
Craig Bethune

'97 SL500, 40th anniversary edition

'04 Olds Bravada (SWMBO's)
'06 Lexus ES330
'89 560SL (sold)


SL--Anything else is just a Mercedes.
(Kudos to whoever said it first)