I'll jump in, and restrict my comments to the Benzes I've owned or driven in:

1. (currently) '77 450 SEL (W116-Euro)....10.5
Best overall car for structural integrity I've had. Honestly. Although only 69K on clock and only 2nd owner, all life in Southern climes, NO interior sqeeks at all. Also, car quieter when closed up than with windows and roof poppped open. Any road noise quite muffled. The best, hands down.

2. W126 cars...I've owned 300SD, 560 SEC, 420 SEL..all with varying mileages when purchased. All had the plastic noises and upholstery issues previously mentioned........7.0
Also noticed cars accentuated road noises and translated them when closed up; chassis less balanced than on W116. Clearly, vs. W116, a tradeoff between classy styling (126s) vs. total quality but utilitarian styling.(W116). I'm convinced that the 126's, unfortunately, were the early harbingers of MB moving to too much hard plastic on interiors and cheaper laminated wood trim.

3. W123 (230; 240D; 300D-TD sedan). Great cars; good integrity; few if any interior noises. '83 240D with manual gearbox was best. 9.0

4. R107 cars ('85 380 SL; '84 380 SL). Solid, with no real interior noises. But with tops on or up, lots of noise. But overall good.

8.0

5. '98 E420. Owned by a former boss. Rough riding; translated more road irregularities through structure than I would consider consistent with the true MB 'feel'. Lots of panel plastic noises.
Sorry folks, the new ones aren't Benzes in the old tradition.

6.0