ML320 to buy, or not to buy?

Hi Guys, first post and great info here! I am looking at a '98 ML320 with 91000 miles to purchase. My reading here makes me think the early ML320's were trouble-prone so I thought I'd ask M series owners your thoughts on buying it, or maybe another M series model instead! Although a mechanic by trade. the last thing I'd really want to do is repair it on my time off. I was hoping buying a Mercedes would help me with that goal!
No problem with regular PM stuff: brakes, fluids, plugs etc but I want to avoid engineering flaws that will haunt me. I talked myself out of a Land Rover for that problem.
Any opinions?

I took delivery of my ML320 in December 1998, I have 145,000 miles on it, nice car major work, brakes/rotors @ $750 and other minor stuff, like the horn stays on so I pulled the fuse.  Will take it to a new local shop I found this week, also been getting some misfire codes so we will change the plugs and a few other things this week.  Since you are a mechanic I would suggest go ahead as long as you get a good price, we have loved the car but hated the local Mercedes service center.  

Stay away from MB. Period. If I could go back in time I wouldn't have looked at it twice. I have a 2001 ML 430 with the Designo Package. I have no comlaints about the looks of this car which is probably why most people are attracted to it. But, not a month goes by without something going wrong and the problems are mostly with sensors going off left and right. It isn't worth your money.

Do not stay away from MB. But do stay away from any ML that is from 98 or 99..... 2002 and newer 163's are the best. You will be safe with those

So.... 2002-2005 models are preferred?  What about the V6 vs V8?  Is one more prone to issues than the other?  Again, I love horror stories or success stories.  Thanks.