MAVA is our go to guy on the Benz forum. Listen to what he says. I just went through the smog test ordeal. I have a '97 CL600 with only 65K. It has run perfectly for 2 years but just recently threw a P0809 code and CE. We couldn't and still can't find the problem. The code points out differences in angles between cams and crank but all sensors are new. Anyway, we thought we cleared the CE and went to the smog place. Two blocks away the damn CE light returns. We cleared it and went to the inspection station. They put it on the testing system and as I stood behind the car, the CE light lit up again. Apparently they didn't see it and the car passed with flying colors with all readings at the very LOW end of the scale. At least now I have another couple of years to find the problem.
And yes, this is the place to buy cars. Rust? what is that? I would look in autotrader.com
That way you can specify a car and how far away from you to search. Far better quality cars (and sellers) than on Craig's List. Take a look at cars from the Palm Springs area. Mainly wealthy retired people who trade in their cars with just a few thousand miles on the clock.
Anziani '97 CL600 65K