Everybody is different, but I really think the most tech friendly car hands down is the 210 E-class from 1996-to 2002.

Very simple vehicle and tech friendly.

Maybe because the car had so many little problems and it was the always in the shop for one reason or another thus allowing the techs to know the car like his girlfriends backside, possibly, but nonetheless easy to work on, and most of the jobs paid relatively decent on flat rate.
I used to love knocking out those dashboards especially when the customer was watching through the window while his car was being torn apart, and then being amazed that it all went back together without a scratch or problem.

Also the 202 C-class, 140 s-class, ML's, 220 S-class, although the S-class was relatively simple to work on at times, It was frustrating as to how many of them came in the shop for micro switch problems on the seats, and for broken junky plastic parts on the interior and crappy window problems.

I really think the interiors of the S-class 220 bodies are absolute junk.
I can't count how many ticked off customers came in to get their junky plastic seat panels replaced because they cracked every time the customer shiftet his/her weight getting in and out of the car, very lame.

I think they are just installing way too many creature comforts on theese new vehicles, thus just creating the opportunity for more crap to break.
I think that the 220 S-class cars are one of the worst vehicles to work on due to the many small little things that go wrong that just don't pay much to fix under warranty.

I really feel for the techs nowdays due to so many of the cuts in the flat rate times.
When I worked at the dealership, it was nothing to turn 100 plus hours in the shop, now it's almost like working for the gestapo when it comes to fixing a car, theese guys are having a good week if they can just turn 40+ hours.

How many hours did you say were in that week?

I like working on all MBs. Due to my age, I don't do much bolt turning anymore, so my best work is thinking work. That means usually getting newer models.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

Flat rate hours.

Flat rate or flat rape.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

What are you talking about?

flat rate can go two ways, you can work on a vehicle for twelve hours and only get paid for three because that's what the op codes add up to,

Or you can work on the car for three hours and get paid for six. Depending on how proficient you are it can be rewarding or upsetting.

Now days alot of the op codes for the techs are more upsetting than not.

You are talking on a site where there are more buyers of hours than sellers.

I asked how many hours were in that 100 hour week as there are also accountants in the crowd who might be interested. Flat rape is a industry joke used mostly by sellers of hours to express the inherent inequity of the system. Do you know any technically sophisticated job where there is such an incentive to do poor work? (Other than auto repair.) Would you like you next airplane ride to be on a plane serviced by a flat rape technician?

One, buying a week of your time, just might ask how many hours are in that week.

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Steve Brotherton
Continental Imports
Gainesville FL
Bosch Master, ASE Master, L1
33 years MB technician

But worked on quite a few. My favorite is the 380SE: simple V-8 and lots of working room under the hood. Much easier than a 560 crammed into the engine bay of an SL.

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65 190d sold
85 380SE sold
87 560 SL 180K
84 380SE 96K (mint)