Mercedes 190E Does the team think?

[holbeck]

A bloke at work is disposing of his late father in law's 190.

 

I'm supposed to be looking for a small diesel, but what the hell I couldn't resist a look.

 

The old boy was the second owner and had it for over 20 years, when he passed away it stayed under the car port for a couple of years and is now for sale.

 

It's a 1990 H reg 1.8 manual. Mileage is 195K

 

My colleague has put a new battery on and re-MOT'd it. Although it has now sat for a further 2 months since.

It starts and the engine sounds sweet, but I wasn't able to drive it.

 

Interior is covered in cobwebs but there is no wear on the seat as it's had giffer covers on it's whole life.

 

 

So, what do we reckon would be a fair offer? bearing in mind they want it gone so they can clear the property.

 

Any advice appreciated

 

 

 

[nacho man]

I reckon anything over 500 quid but I'd see what they want if you can get it cheap you could make a couple of hundred.

 

There ace motors that are going up in value, peeps don't like the manuals but I have driven one and there fine it's just the autos are lovely.

[saucedoctor]

£350. That's leggy, even for a petrol 190E. Make much of the fact that the 1.8 manual is the runt of the litter (even though it's a perfectly good car). A roll of folding produced at the right moment works wonders.

[John F]

I'd offer 300 quid.

 

There are plenty on eBay for £300 - £800. The high mileage puts that one at the lower end of the price bracket.

[HillmanImp]

I was talking to Volksy about this a while ago and he was saying that the manual gearboxes in these older Mercs are awful as Mercedes just couldn't make them at the time, they just made automatic cars. 

 

Never driven one myself but it might be worth having a go with it to see what its actually like.

[saucedoctor]

Everyone says that about the manual 'box in the 190. I did nearly 30K miles using one and I'm not quadriplegic from the experience.

[Junkman]

A manual in a car like this just sucks, so it should be bought because of this alone.

They are darn good cars, so I don't like them.

[dollywobbler]

There isn't anything wrong with the manual gearboxes, they just don't really suit the wafty flavour of these cars. They are a little clunky, which I think is why folk don't rate them. Not a pleasant gearchange perhaps, but that can be said about an awful lot of cars. 

[PiperCub]

£300-400 I reckon at best. The manual box is OK, it's not slick & quick but treated carefully I thought it was fine the last time I drove one.

[Fabergé Greggs]

I don't think these cars are hugely wafty. I had a rather nice 2.0 auto and a damn fine car it was too, but I don't think a manual box would have killed the vibe.

 

I followed it up with a supremely wafty w123. Now there's a car that suits an auto box....

[saucedoctor]

190s have the world's most powerful wiper motor. If you're sitting in the car, stationary, and the wiper is on fast, the car rocks side to side. The wiper action is a work of art.

[Timewaster]

My tirades against manual 190s comes from driving my bosses year old 190e as a yoof.

I expected a Merc that cost more than my years pay to be an amazing machine.

The fact that the gearbox felt slightly worse than the one in my mk2 cavalier came as a major disappointment.

On a £500 car I'm sure it's perfectly acceptable.

[messerschmitt owner]

the manual boxes are fine - it's just that Merc owners expect an auto ...

 

My 123 230TE was a manual and it had better go than the equivalent automatic ... oh, and much better fuel consumption .....

[HMC]

+1 on the manual boxes, on a long journey what made a difference for me was 5th is about 600-700 rpm taller geared than 4th in the auto which makes it seem more relaxed and deffo better on pez. I didnt find the shift too annoying but I'm used to cars with worn/ knackered gearboxes from my leggy/ cheap saab 900 turbo addiction.

[the judge]

Clonky box with a long throw. Dont go wrong though,my dad adored his and that was leggy too.

[the judge]

Still pleasant to drive with the manual though,would not put me off

[JohnK]

I'm on my second 2.0 auto. I've never driven a manual one so I couldn't possibly comment, I've heard lots of negative comments about long throw, clunky, unrefined, but compared to the positive comments I think you would probably be best going for a drive in it and making your own mind up.

 

From what people have told me there isn't an overly huge performance difference between the 1.8 and 2.0 in real world driving. I think £500 would be a fair price. Go for it, I really do rate them.

[2MB]

I was ideally after an auto after my 300td slushmatic's utterly relaxed driving experience. Ended up winning my current 190d manual on eBay and was apprehensive about the gear change but I think it's quite a pleasant box to use. Needs a steady hand and is stiffly sprung over to first ad second but a 190 isn't a 'sudden movements' kind of car. Not sure if the diesel box is the same as the petrol though. 40mpg average in veg as well, compared to 29mpg in the w124 auto, but that had another 500cc and shill ads more weight to lug about

[colino]

While it is definitely in the bargain bin with those miles and that spec. (it's not green or aubergine too?) the fact that it has had a decent history is the thing that lifts this one from the competition.  It still isn't worth more than £500 (in a great colour) and the manual gearbox is horrific.  Tractor drivers will feel at home.

[AndyW201]

Half of my 190s (I'm on my sixth now so count me as a fan) have had manual boxes and Ive got no problem with them. I quite like the mechanical feel of them and in my experience, the throw isn't that long, no worse than a Sierra box. As mentioned, the fifth gear also makes for much more relaxed cruising, compared to the four speed auto.

 

Nowadays on a 190, I tend to bother more whether or not the jacking points have holes you can put your fist through, and if the rear window surround still exists rather than how it shifts gear!

[dieselassist]

if you were looking for a diesel n have this in mind 'instead' - I say don't 'pull the trigger' - on a good day I got about 38mpg from my old one (sold it about 3 weeks ago) - on a bad day/urban trips; 25-27mpg; n that's with it running right - these 1.8s have the k-jet 'electronic ignition' which is semi mechanical with 'otsa sensors' mix - lots of vacuum hoses etc on the injection body - rubber hoses can break down n perish; running problems ensue - they also like a decent quality NGK/Champion plug in em - denso's wont do...

 

Check the fuel pump for loud noises n hegging on corners etc - might need replaced - otherwise you'll bhe caught when it gives up the ghost eventually - prop rubber couplers give up/perish - one next to the gearbox is a bit of a mare to replace...

 

That said they are very comfortable cars with great handling, n usually very reliable; ie they'll usually start some way n go, unless some major component is borked... nowadays im back to a diesel vw caddy with rattles, discomfort n a crap stereo - like driving a motorised biscuit tin in comparsion, but I will live with the discomfort as I now visit the pumps less!!

[mercrocker]

I say this every time somebody touts a 190.   Fantastic car.   Wouldn't let my missus run about in anything else and when I need a break from denture-loosening, back breaking old Morrises I enjoy every minute at the wheel of ours....

[holbeck]

Thanks for the input fellas.

 

I've decided to pass on this one.

 

Right now I need sensible budget transport.