It seems that cars have always implemented the latest technology from day one. Car used to have points then they used distributors. Cars used to have carburators and then they switched to fuel injection. As computers were developed, computer controls were slowly added to automobiles.

I don't think that adding the latest technology to a car is a recent thing. It's just that technology recently has become so complicated that the average person can't work with it. This really complex technology didn't start happening until the end of the '80s and into the 90's and is true for all car manufacturers.

The general rule that the more complex something is the more things that can go wrong with it is true. That's probably why we are seeing so many reliability issues with newer cars. However, that's not to say that Mercedes is cutting corners in areas where it shouldn't be. Who knows. We'll have to wait 20 years and see what happens.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)