I guess Mercedes, among most of German automakers, just thought pretige is everything, which in their mind will buy consumer loyalty. I don't think so, not with the crappy quality and snotty coustomer service. My 98 E320 was fun to drive and comfortable; however, it was problem plagued and ill fated at the same time. Yesterday, I finally had to say to myself enough is enough, and I sold the car, my heart and soul, to a used car dealship at loss both financially and psychologically. It was a really hard day for me and difficult to let go, but the car was just in such a deteriorating state that even while I was on my way to the dealership things kept breaking down. Here's a brief narration of some of the items failed in the past two days before I sold the car. At first, the turn signal failed to work, which almost caused someone to rear end my car. It was the turn signal lever that didn't work, not the faulty light bulbs I had just replaced couple of months back. After that, the wind shield wiper, windshield fluid, headlamp switch all failed to function- it was a nightmare to drive home at night from work without lamps and turn signals. Then, right rear passger window, which I just had the regulator replaced couple days before, failed to operate too. Yesterday morning, when I had to dirve to work, I found out that my rear left passanger window refused to roll up. So in a state of despair and agony, I called in sick, located a used car dealership throught yellow page, and drove the car over and sold it. It was just a nightmare during these five years. Now I think I have so much hatred and negativity toward Mercedes as I do to eating vegetable. Talk about the total cost of owning a Mercedes over a five year period. I have more repair and dianostic reciepts on my desk than regular service documentations. So buyer beware. If you are thinking about purchasing a Mercedes, please consider my plea and story to reflect if a name is really that important when purchasing a product. If you are going through the same hurtle as I was before, you should snap out of self-denial and reconsider whether it's worth it to sacrifice you time, money, and energy to just look good in front of people while you pocket is bleeding dry. If you have lots of money, if you have all the time in the world to convince yourself that after ten years of fixing your Mercedes it will measure up to its name, Good Luck. I do apologize for my rudeness if I offend some of the Mercedes loyalists on the forum. Just trying to share my side of story. No harm intended.