New posh shite at Trig towers

[AndyW201]

Nice one Trig. An absolute corker for the money, Anthracite with 8 holes is a very desirable combo.

 

Its no secret that I love my 190s! I recently got my 6th. A 2.6 with leather and sports chassis options, so will be my last for a while...

[Inspector Morose]

My old one. Well bought Trigg.

 

[forddeliveryboy]

I had no probs at all with mine though I think I read on interweb that the wishbones/ball joints fail often and you die, but I never changed mine and I lowered it and put silly wheels on and I am still alive.

 

Probably just internet donkey botherers causing a storm but maybe worth a check.

 

 

 

They don't fail often, but when they do, it's collapso time. I'd forgotten this until mate with 124 (who's doing 25k+ a year in the coupe) gave me a slightly distressed call to say his front wheel had altered its angle quite a lot. From the vertical. He was doing about 10mph on a roundabout. Copper who happened to be passing as it was winched onto a transporter said Motorway Cops would have tried their hardest to prosecute for summit, even though the car's pristine, ish.

 

His had started squeaking a week previously - it was booked in to be done. Worth fitting MB original parts - they're barely any more but last much longer than the year or two spurious ones do. Worth checking on a quarter-century old machine, perhaps even worth doing properly with the steering arm undone, given the potential if they do go.

 

Here are a couple of pics of what can happen - for the sake of £40 or less of gen parts, both sides, well worth doing.

 

[trigger]

My old one. Well bought Trigg.

 

Suffolk plate and Lancasters sticker, I'm guessing it was also from Ipswich at some point like mine?.

 

 

Were the original wheels available? I even like the plaggy trims for the steelies! Congrats on a smart purchase!

 

I think they are original, I'm guessing they were a option at the time. I prefer alloys! 

[retrogeezer]

nice purchase trigster, there was a lovely black one on RR a few years back I really fancied but not much good for a short run around town motor.

 

When you can buy something like that for less than £700 you really have to wonder why people pay £35k for a new equivalent.

[PiperCub]

Lovely car, fancied one myself for some time too. From the days when MB's were designed by engineers (the way it should be) not bloody accountants so they were built properly and lasted.

 

Word of warning though - I don't know if this is still the case or not but a few years ago these old Mercs were stolen alot, especially in London, mainly for export to places like Africa where they were (are?) very popular. I know someone who lost theirs this way and it wasn't as good as yours looks either.

[dollywobbler]

This is just lovely. Impressive haggling skills too!

[Six-cylinder]

I love it, I used to have them as loan cars when I had my W124s were serviced and always wanted one. Yours seems really good and the 8 holes are my favourite alloys.

[Cavcraft]

Class that, Trig. The autos must be the one to have as the manual wasn't that nice to drive. I found the (big) steering wheel and awkward pedal arrangement was really uncomfortable, so the auto must be a God send.

 

They're actually well built cars, though you're bound to get the odd 'Mercedes of that era were all crap' routine from time to time. The specs between models were staggering too, I had MB Tex seats (looked like leather) which were heated, yet some had almost no 'refinements' at all. The 2.0 petrol engines seem to last forever too, and parts and servicing are really quite cheap, even some Mercedes genuine parts were quite often really reasonably priced.

[RoadworkUK]

I get to drive these from time to time and a late reg one really does feel like a timewarp; jump out of a K reg 190e and into a K reg Mondeo and it's like going forwards in time. Except for the fact that the Benz will last a thousand times as long.

 

Yours looks lovely. I bet it's quick* and really* economical* with the 2.0+slush combi...

[cort16]

A nice brown MB tex interior would look great in this car.

[Honey Badger]

That's flipping ace, love these older Mercs, I must get my hands on one at some point.

 

Can I join the que of waiting shiters when you sell it

[HillmanImp]

These are on my radar too but if I want an auto I want something a bit further up the executive chain. Was speaking to Volksy about these and he said in auto form they are brilliant but the manual gearboxes are straight out of a tractor. 

 

Yours is making me reconsider though as it looks proper nice. 

[inconsistant]

Nice Benz! My first car was XGT, a 77 Mini, and that came from somewhere around the Shirley/Croydon/Purley area I think.

[stormee]

A very well specced 190. Someone paid a lot of money for options, I see: 4 leccy windows, autobox, 4 headrests, sunroof, tinted windows, alloys...

[Asimo]

Word of warning though - I don't know if this is still the case or not but a few years ago these old Mercs were stolen alot, especially in London, mainly for export to places like Africa where they were (are?) very popular. I know someone who lost theirs this way and it wasn't as good as yours looks either.

Fifteen or so years ago In Kajang, Malaysia (a RHD territory) at the side of a main road where there were a lot of open air workshops of all kinds, there was a "Mercedes Specialist".

This place had a sort of giant shelving system made from old shipping containers stuffed with Mercedes 190 front ends. The cars were cut across crudely between screen pillar and door pillar.

Mostly these still had their British number plates.

[nacho man]

I know your the king of road tests but I have this book if you fancy a read of it?

 

[AndyW201]

It's amazing how the specs of these cars can differ. I've gone from a 1.8 with manual box, no electric windows or sunroof, and steelies'n'trims, to a 2.6 auto' with factory leather, 4X headrests, front armrest, 4X electric windows, electric sunroof, and the factory sports pack (lowered and uprated suspension and wider wheels and tyres). A cool 7 grand worth of options back in 1993!

 

I've owned a 2.0 auto and didn't it at all slow really. The 2.0 kicks out 122 bhp in a car weighing about 1200 kg, keeps up with most modern stuff. With the autobox in S mode, and judicious use of kickdown, I've surprised many a VAG TDi owner in the local dual carriageway Grand Prix on a morning! The 2.6 makes mincemeat of them though...

 

Have you popped along to the 190 forum yet Trig? I'm sure the guys would like to see the new purchase.

[purplebargeken]

Bargain. Lovely looking thing and a proper Merc 

[Cheggers]

Really nice looking "proper" Benz there Trig

[red5]

Top bombing there Trig. Never had one of those - might be tempted now...

[Shep Shepherd]

That would be a fantastic daily driver

[mercrocker]

Well bought, sir!   My 1.8 cruises over the limit (allegedly) and betters 30mpg on a run according to my crude £20 per 100 miles rule of thumb.   I have to care about MPG in my 190 cos the fuel gauge has been bust ever since I have had it so its trip meter/fill right up.   Absolutely the best car I  have owned on a head-over-heart basis and the fact that it keeps Mrs Rocker safe as her daily is a big plus.   Autobox is great IMHO - I never use kickdown, just snick that shifter into 2 its so sweet and much less drama.   190E Forum is refreshingly free of drongos and I have had some mega advice on there - including the one about changing those wishbone bushes.   The car is compact, easy to live with, extremely well made, handles well.   Top colour too and stay in the orange indicator club - its a much more exclusive society!

[holbeck]

I don't want that piece of shit Triumph you're trying to flog but put me down for first refusal on this when you get rid.

 

Yeah, what he said. (but not first obvs).

[trigger]

Have you popped along to the 190 forum yet Trig? I'm sure the guys would like to see the new purchase.

 

I signed up last night and added a few photos, That sites already helped me a few times!.

 

I'm must admit so far I really do love this car, I've just got home from a 200 mile drive to Peterborough and back in the Acclaim, which to be honest was lovely in itself but Mrs Trigger fancied a Burger King so I just drove it down there and it just reminded me how good this car is to drive.

 

One thing i have noticed is when you first accelerate there is a small knocking noise underneath, I wonder if the prop has a little play in it?.

[Pillock]

Probably. So you should sell it to me quick.

[mercrocker]

Central prop rubber joint thingy was worn on mine and it did that.   They CAN split leaving you with a rather useless attempt at friction drive but mine knocked for a good few months.   Trouble with new toys is you don't know how long its been like that!   Think it was about £70 at a specialist near me...

[the judge]

Really stiff acc pedal is normal too. Love the old fashioned dashboards on these,proper wafty tanks. Well bought

[richardmorris]

Looks like a bargain - wcpgw?

[Pillock]

 

 

wafty tanks.

Misread that ENTIRELY.