Faults:

Tapping sound originated from the hydraulic lifters. All lifters had to be replaced at one week of ownership.

Engine had some strange knocking/clanking sound. Noisy engine.

Oil seepage around the engine head gasket.

Fuel tank had some strange problems. For example, it won't let me fill it up completely with fuel. So I had to keep on clicking the fuel pump trigger.

A/C compressor noise.

Front ABS acted erratically.

Moon roof acted erratically. Sometimes it got stuck and won't close.

Plastic trims on front seats started to crack.

Buttons on the crappy Becker head unit fell apart.

Rear speakers blew.

Front rear view mirror fell apart at around 30,000 miles.

Rear right light bulb often blew for no apparent reason.

I think this car was a lemon.

General Comments:

Nice car on the outside, a real girl magnet.

Handling is nice and crisp.

But there isn't any torque to speak of. Engine feels lethargic and unresponsive.

High maintenance cost and dealer attitude.

Faults:

I have recently experienced several repairs. The ball joints needed to be replaced ($480), the front end suspension bracket snapped ($650), and most recently the air mass sensor ($600). I replaced the front and rear brakes ($800) and had the front end aligned ($80). Under warranty, the dealer repainted both front doors where the paint bubbled up from under the molding.

General Comments:

The car runs great and handles well. I am concerned that this will be the beginning of a string of repairs.

Faults:

I am still having problems with the LED display partially showing the temperature settings. If I tap the display it shows the full letters.

The fuel gauge seems to be sticking at the 1/4 tank mark. It will drastically drop and the yellow warning light comes on with approximately 1 gallon of fuel left.

I had to replace the steering shock absorber. The cost was $75.

I replaced the front rotors and brake pads. The cost was $325.

No other things have gone wrong.

General Comments:

This is a nice Mercedes-Benz. It has the 4 cylinder engine, which is a nice fuel saver. However, due to this engine, it lacks acceleration performance. Granted, I wouldn't ever trade back for my previous car. Fast or not, it's still a Mercedes-Benz.

Interior room is plentiful for the front passengers. The rear seat is just large enough for two average-sized adults. The pull-down center console on the rear seat makes a great place to hold refreshments.

The automatic climate control is the best amenity! I keep the control set at 70 degrees all year long.