Just an update,

I flew to Seattle and drove the black C-43 back home to Orange County. The amazing thing is that the owner had purchased a four year extended warranty from Mercedes which covers me until June '07. My local dealer fixed a bunch of small things under warranty, a self-performed detail and a set of new tires and she was good to go. Just got back from a 980 mile trip to Phoenix and Vegas. What a runner!

Richard