Well, I kinda disagree with this assessment.
My 1993 W124 did have a MAF sensor and it lasted until about 120K.
The 210 has a lot of mechanical problems including the infamous spring perch issue, the disintegrating harmonic balancer, breaking rear window regulators, failing engine mounts, etc. etc. the list is quite long. Mercedes has been making cars for over 100 years, surely they have gotten the hang of the mechanical part by now.
Or should have anyway.
I will steer clear of the 211 for the "falling parts" problem you mentioned, funny that, and just hope that the 212 is really improved, as that is what I have read.
Dacia?
"I have to say I am very disappointed that the fuel pump went at less than 120K miles."
It's not the mileage; it's the years! Let's take a minute to think about.
120,000K over 15 years, 8,000 average per year, or 5,000 miles. The car sits a lot, the pump gathers or accumulates fine debris through the tank the gas in the pump breaks down, in short it clogs the pump. If you only burn a tank a month why not use a stabilizer when you fuel up? This could help the complete fuel system, all the way to the injectors which experience the same conditions?
"headlamps are yellow again after I sanded them down 4 years ago,"
I've seen this complaint many times. I redid mine 3 years ago, and just this winter I redid them to match the clear coat I used, so they now "sparkle" literately! But I did not need to refinish them this year, I chose to! You must of used the wrong clear 4 years ago? Would you prefer the value of a glass beam over these?
"the brake lamp was wonky for a while until I re-soldered it,"
I am curious about this fix.
I think most not all are because the car is under used.
You are sure about the starter?
Patch
I am not sure why the fuel pump failed, you may be correct in your assessment.
I go through about two tank of gas a month, lot of city driving involved.
The need to sand the headlights again is because I couldn't find the proper UV protecting solution here in Japan when I did it the first time and the sun is very strong (I changed the parking position though and now park with the back towards the morning sun).
The break lamp fix was at the left socket housing where the bulbs go.
If you take it out and examine it you'll see that the contacts are not very strong and some are lose so a bit of solder help to make them stronger.
About the wife's car's starter, I changed the battery two weeks ago.
The old one was over five years old and as she didn't drive it often enough to give it good charging it was failing.
With the new battery the car often times doesn't turn over at the first try (the problem started last year with the old battery).
When I turn the key all the lights come on, then I hear a click (sometimes not even that) and nothing happens.
I try again and usually at the second or third try it fires up.
I researched it and it seems a lot of the W168s have this problem, the car has less than 70K on it, it is 11 years old.
I asked for the price of the starter relay, it would cost me about $80 here in Japan,
The starter is installed at the top of the engine and the clearance is not enough to remove with the engine in place so it needs to be lowered.
It would cost me about $1,000 to have it replaced, including the price of a rebuilt starter, which Yanase (the only dealer in Japan) charges $500 for. Crazy.
But then again all of their prices are crazy, one spark plug costs 3,300 yen, about $30, the fuel pump would have set me back 60,000 yen, about $600.