The immediate future id having to spend over $2,500 possibly over $3000 on parts renewing front suspension and wheel bearing components.
This is on a 40,000km car which had a MB Stealership service prior to buying.
I have already replaced front rotors and pads and one wheel bearing hub - $800.00
Then there's repairing the rear brake lights ( compulsory safety recall in the U.S. but not here).
That will teach me not to get a PPI or at least putting a car on a hoist and thoroughly mechanically checking it out. But in my silly defence you buy on faith a car with only 40K's on the clock and a service by a MB stealership immediately prior.
So I have looked at some prospective late W211's and W212's
Lucky I have a Scanner.
Car (a) Lowish K W211 350Cdi. OM642.
Car is in reasonable shape. Scanner bought out some anomalies. Dealer suddenly claimed engine had been changed because original had been petrol effected. Needs to be put on Star to sort out the issues. O.T.O.H I checked the Russian VIN site and then Vic Roads and noticed the engine number discrepancy.
Car (b) W211 E350. Arrived at Stealership selling the car. Check engine light on (just happened) Service G notification up. Engine tickover noisy.
Car (c) W211 E350. Claimed 2007 - actually 2006 pre update. Don't know where the fotos came from

Car (d) W212 E350. Sadly neglected. No service book. Scanner couldn't count the DTC's My W210 drives better.
Car (e) W212 E350. Repossessed car. No service books although seller claimed they are here somewhere. Sadly neglected. Needs $$$ spent on it.
scanner actually indicated very few issues
Car (f) W212 E220 cdi Big name none MB stealership. Scanner showed injector issues. Stealership manager called his MB mechanic. Mechanic told him it would cost big bucks to fix. Manager did his block. W212 had been traded in - it's now headed to wholesale.
The above were all stealership cars.
I checked out some private sales.
Some very good cars but sellers have an over inflated idea of how much their car is actually worth.

e.g. $28,000 for a pre update W211 E500 M273. Moderate K's. This is a $15,000 car tops.