Mercedes 190e

[Rocket88]

I know that these tend to spilt opinion on here, but I'm rapidly coming to the conclusion that theyr were the last car designed and built by engineers, and not PR men and accountants. A grand buys you a nice one, I've had 4, and they all seem nigh on indestructable, and seem to be able to stand wilfull neglect better than almost anything else. When I can find a decent one for sensible money, I WILL get the Cosworth variant.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Alright, they're a decent car, but the rear legroom is GR9 4 GNOMZ.

[Danblez]

Alright, they're a decent car, but the rear legroom is GR9 4 GNOMZ.

 

Is this really an issue? Anyone complains of rear legroom in my car and they can jolly well get out and walk.

[dollywobbler]

Not quite the last 'proper' Merc. The W124 came along a couple of years later, and they have legroom too!

[Rocket88]

Alright, they're a decent car, but the rear legroom is GR9 4 GNOMZ.

 

Point taken, but that's even more of a sign that engineers, who traditionally don't really give a stuff for such niceties [see Issigonis] as passenger comfort, built the things.

[oman5]

Not quite the last 'proper' Merc. The W124 came along a couple of years later, and they have legroom too!

 

Did they do a six cylinder diesel version? seem to remember a mate having one and was a brilliant car

[dollywobbler]

Not quite the last 'proper' Merc. The W124 came along a couple of years later, and they have legroom too!

 

Did they do a six cylinder diesel version? seem to remember a mate having one and was a brilliant car

 

Yes. 250 (four pot?) or 300D (six pot). The 190 could come with a 2.5D or, if you really like racing tortoises, a 2.0D.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Theyre 5 pots arent they? Either way i reckon i could get enthusiastic about a 190.

[dollywobbler]

Yes, you're right. Five-pot for the 250D, six-pot for the 300D in the W124.

[Rocket88]

Yes, you're right. Five-pot for the 250D, six-pot for the 300D in the W124.

 

300d is as slow as a slow thing, and not that economical.................no turbo of course. 2.6 is fairly lively, but a bit juicy. 2 litre perfectly adequate, and not bad on juice, 26+ mpg over here.............

[Negative Creep]

Yes, you're right. Five-pot for the 250D, six-pot for the 300D in the W124.

 

300d is as slow as a slow thing, and not that economical.................no turbo of course. 2.6 is fairly lively, but a bit juicy. 2 litre perfectly adequate, and not bad on juice, 26+ mpg over here.............

 

2oo is pretty slow, although I havne't had mine long enough to see what sort of mpg it's getting. Very well put together and feels an absolute world away from something like a Cavalier from the same era

[cort16]

The 190E's do seem like a right solid old motor and from the ones you see for sale don't seem to rot quite as badly the W124's. I recon if I needed an old snotter to do my daily commute I'd probably pick a nice and basic 190 1.8.

[AndyW201]

They are a great retro daily. I'm on 190 number 5 now and love 'em.

 

They were built beautifully, and a lot better for rust than their contemporaries, but make no mistake, they can rot for fun if you let them. Rusty front arches and wings are no bother, they just bolt on. The rear bulkhead, under the parcel shelf is a common rot spot, as are the jacking points and drain grommet holes underneath.

 

I've had 2.0 4 pots, a 2.6 6 pot with sportline chassis pack, which I loved, but have gone back to basics now. With a 1.8, manual box ( I seem to be the only person on earth who likes the old Merc manual boxes), manual sunroof, cloth trim, it even used to have manual windows, but leccy fronts have been retro fitted at some point. The first 190 I've had with original steels n trims. All finished off in autoshite brown & beige. GR8 4 OAP LUK.

[Cavcraft]

They are pretty well built if not a little dull and uninspiring. Rear leg room is made even shitter if the driver has long legs, because the Sesame Street bus steering wheel is ludicrously, stupidly huge.

[Spiny Norman]

I'd quite like one someday, but for me the lowest possible engine spec would be the 2.0E, and even that's borderline in terms of performance.

I'd be quite keen on the smooth straight 6 version with auto and all the toys. That would fulfil the notion of a three quarter scale 'real' Merc nicely.

I'm never in the back so I don't care about rear legroom, anyone who's in there should be bloody happy they're getting a lift.

[Partridge]

I had a poo brown 190e for a while a few years back. Great car but the rust killed it. The front cross members tend to rust fairly well and for some reason they like to eat cats (converters, not domestic pets).

The rust in general isn’t bad as some would have you think, provided they’ve been kept well and looked after.