 OK, not quite the build quality that 
you've been led to believe, but the 
ownership bargain of a lifetime! After 
10000 miles, the performance comes on 
strong, and the whole driving 
experience improves. Noticeably better 
when driven hard Trunk is surprisingly 
useful as long as 
you pack soft. Without the options, 
(heated seats, etc) a little cheap 
inside with  obvious 'missing' switches 
on the  otherwise nice black ash 
console.
Pay the money for the multicontour 
seats...they make a substantial 
difference in comfort over long 
distances.
Verdict? I have a 2004 500CLK on order!!