The modern 4matic (post w124 onward) is a beast. I've been using it like crazy this past week on our C240 wagon, it can drive through pretty much anything effortlessly. You can have a lot more fun by turning off ESP so it is minimally intrusive (doesn't fully turn it off).
Mine has 0 leaks or issues at 140k miles and works flawlessly. If the time should come that it needs repair, I'll repair it. Its worth every cent in the weather around here, especially for my wife to be driving it.
My winter car is my 190d with snow tires, and it performs very well too, it just can't do some of the things the 4matic can.
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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)