Lemme talk about my daughters '87 300E.
Bought it last summer for $1,800. Had around 190k on the clock. Replaced battery and voltage regulator early on. Replaced thermostat cover (old plastic-new metal), upper hose and radiator (neck crumbled in my hand), also early on. New center and rear muffer recently. New left lower ball joint.
Then late last Friday night as she was coming home from her boyfriends it happened. She rounded a curve only to find a car backing out of a driveway and blocking both lanes. Since it had just started to rain (first time in two weeks) and the driveway was right at the exit of the turn, she opted to try to drive around them. Was fine for first 10 feet, then the shoulder dropped off dramatically. She actually drove the car on a sideways 45 degree slope till reaching the bottom about 30 feet later. Was trying to stop, but wet grass doesn't provide much traction. Then she hit the telephone pole. Pole met the car just left of center, right at the vertical left edge of the grill. Pushed thru the bumper and pushed in the bottom of the core support about 5 inches. Car actually doesn't look too bad. Airbag did not go off. Guess her wheels were nearly locked by then. She's sore as can be, but really undamaged. Any rice burner would have been destroyed and maybe the driver too.
She's 19 and the only daughter I have. She is actually a good driver. I have it on good authority that she kinda just pokes along most of the time. Probably 60k miles under her belt.
Don't know if I will repair or replace the car (I do most of my own work on them). Still, this car was a bargain for what it did. and that's why it'll always be MB in my household.
Funny, that was 4 days ago and just NOW I'm shaking.

BobK
'86 300SDL 218K
'88 560SL 139K
'87 300E 210K (not currently running)
'83 300D 380K
Racing Alan Hamm and Hatterasguy to 250K