Faults:

Pressure sensor inside the supercharger failed.

Replaced front lower ball joints.

General Comments:

This car is by far the best car I've owned. I previously had an Audi A4 2.8, and this car puts that one to shame. My Mercedes outperforms my old Audi in every aspect.

The supercharged 2.3 4 cylinder is a jewel of an engine. I love hearing the whine of the Eaton M62 supercharger under acceleration, and you can really feel the boost at 2700 RPM and up.

The car is very quick, which surprised me when I first bought it, because I figured 4 cylinders + a heavy luxury car would make for a slow car, but was I ever wrong.

The car also is very economical; I can manage 28-29 MPG on the highway, and around 24 in the city. I have the Sport package, which includes a sport tuned Mercedes suspension (makes for a bit of a firm ride for a Benz, but still smooth nevertheless), a silver exterior, and a 2 tone black and grey leather interior with carbon fiber everywhere one would normally see wood trim.

This car has given me almost no troubles. The issues listed above were due to high mileage.

The car gets around great in the snow. The ESP traction control works wonders. Everything on the car works as if new.

The only complaint I have is the transmission... it's a 5 speed automatic with an auto-stick mode. The transmission shifts fine when kept in drive, but when using the auto-stick mode, shifts are very delayed and sluggish.

Overall, this is a fine example of Mercedes-Benz engineering.

Faults:

Suspension spring (left rear) broke at 146,000km.

Suspension spring (left front) broke at 148,000km.

Suspension spring (front rear) broke at 166,000km.

Tie rod replaced at 166,000km.

Windshield wiper assembly (motor + gear) replaced at 158,000.

Heater control (loss of auto mode) adjusted (no parts needed) at 191,000km.

Battery (original) replaced at 193,000km.

General Comments:

All replaced parts were OEM. Cost of repairs: CDN $2,700.

The car provides the comfort for the driver and the front passenger. The leg room in rear seats may not be sufficient during longer trips or for the taller (over 6 ft) passengers.

In the city traffic, the car works great. On the highways, the car delivers when you "step on it". It requires some learning during the overtaking (at engine low RPM) as the transmission initially hesitates or lags before accelerating. Other than that, the performance is more than adequate at least in the North American environment. Fuel economy (highway cruising) 6.5L/100km.

Comfort and style. Despite the age, the car still looks presentable. Would I trade it for different car? Yes, the E-class.