American EGINEERS do a fine job -- American MANAGEMENT produces crap cars by the way they run automotive companies.

True of a lot of other things as well -- the current trend in my industry, counter to the desires of the engineers, chemists, and workers, is to quit doing anual maintenance shutdowns to "save money and keep production up" They never add in the cost of having a plant crash, pipes explode, or the lost product from an unplanned, forced shutdown or from lousy product made because the equipment is failing.

As far as Japanese luxury cars go, yes, they are lower maintenance, but look at the used prices for a clue as to how well they hold up in extended use.

Remember, the newest W124 is 12 years old, and the early ones are nearly 20. When the Lexus line gets to twenty, we'll see if they are reliable.

I'm getting ready to do some work in the TE so I can drive the whole family on a 500 mile each way trip in July -- AC evaporator, probably a heater core, and some shifter bushings. Might go hog wild and replace the tranny mount as well.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!