I think some of the compaints with Mercedes and BMW are due to fussy owners. I've known some owners for whom every little thing was a big deal, a major inconvenience, and they whine about little things that most of us take in stride.
I'm not particularly fussy,...but when I buy a vehicle that's touts itself as being premium quality, I don't expect the ball joints and control arm to be completely trashed at 56,000 miles and I also don't expect them to have been made in China.
