I got mine pretty cheap so I expected to put some money into repairs.
Drive line flexplates and carrier bearing were addressed by a rebuilt
drive line, had the IP re-sealed, replaced the fuel thermostat and
replaced all fluids (trans, brake, power steering and coolant) just on
general principle and because the service history was way out of date.
The car is rust free and in good structural shape and the interior is
very good. Cosmetically, the clear coat is crazed and the only estimate
to date has been for ~$5000 to fix it. A good polish and wax went a
little ways toward ameliorating the problem but it's no cure. I can see
driving this thing for another 10 years so I'm not terribly concerned
about repairing/maintaining it. I expect a timing chain is in my near
future since it appears to have the original still in it with 222,000
miles; roughly $750 from my gem of an indy MB shop, GP Motors in
Everett, WA. All told I have around $7200 in this car and while I'm not
terribly knowledgeable about the market for these cars, I feel like I'm
ahead of the game so far. I got the service manual and I'm starting to
feel more comfortable wrenching on it, something I never wanted to mess
with on the '05 Ford Taurus that the MB replaced.

JD