James, it depends what will replace your 1996 E320. If you intend to purchase a used MB without a Starmark Warranty then you will be dealing with a car that you really don't know (regardless of any detailed maintenance records) and you may spend an appreciable amount of money on repairs. On the otherhand if you buy a new MB, or a used MB with a Starmark Component Warranty then it will be 3 to 4 years before you're facing potentially expensive repairs. So it really depends on many variables -- your wallet, how satisfied you are with the 1996 E320, how many miles you drive per year, how dependable your transportation has to be, whether you do your own repairs, etc.

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Fred Hoelzle