What are those Mercedes 190e like?

[Station]

I've seen a 1990 190e I like, I was going to buy one of these in 2000 for about 4k (but couldn't get insured) in the same colour, etc.

It's a 1.8 giffer spec automatic (auto doesn't bother me).

[Baz]

Personally, I love them....Think they're pretty tough too....Definitely one of those "One day" cars for me!

[Rocket88]

I;ve had a couple....buy a good one [really nice ones for about a grand] as long as fuel economy as not the most important issue, they're lovely. You'll struggle to wear one out, and they will, given regular oil changes, outlast Stonehenge..........Problems? boilster wear on driver's seat [if it's cloth] diffs can sometimes get noisy [again, keep an eye on the oil].central locking can sometimes play up , but apart from that, no real concerns.

[Station]

Is fuel economy bad then? I'm getting minimum 60 miles to 10 quid on my Astra, anything better than that is a bonus.

[Rocket88]

Depends on your driving environment. They're pretty good on a run, I'd expect about 22/25 mpg round town, and 34+ on a run

[Cavcraft]

Mine (2.0 injection manual) is cheaper to run and insure than the Cavalier 2.0 I had before it. The 'non E' (i.e carbed ones) are a bit daft on juice but mine does late twenties at worse, no bother. Oh, and parts are stupidly cheap even a lot of genuine stuff.

 

They can rust mind, floor pans and wheel arches for example as well as the other things mentioned by Colc.

[r.welfare]

1800 auto will be pretty slow. Tough old cars though. Colc has covered the main points I think. I looked at one about 10 years ago, a 1990 1.8 manual. I was put off by the agricultural gearchange and the distinct lack of performance compared to the E28 528i I had at the time!

 

60 miles to £10 sounds like 30mpg to me, not too bad for a V6 Astra I would have thought, I'd expect an auto 190 to do the same or a little more - I struggle to get much more than 30mpg in mixed driving out of my 1800 automatic Accord, for example (but that's a model that's fairly well-known for poor fuel consumption).

[shite_meister]

The general opinion is that the four-pots aren't great in any area and the 1.8 carb even worse but having never driven a 1.8 190e I couldn't say if they really are that bad, I did own Colc's old 2.6 190 last year and it was super smooth and the build quality generally excellent.

 

Best thing is to try it out really, think you might be better off with a 2.0 but each to their own etc and if its particularly nice then go for it.

[steve austin]

I know the 190 has better (classic) styling but I have a C240 auto and have had for a fair while now, dirt cheap, v6, bit heavy on fuel round town but passes mot every time with no major hassles, pretty quick, 5 spd auto soooo smooth, hence why I havent sold it yet!

[warren t claim]

I know they are a bit bigger but my E Class has been great so far. If you fancy a drive let me know.

[steve austin]

E320 CD please!

[Rocket88]

The 190e four pot engine is a bit like a Mercedes Pinto. Not very sophisticated, but very strong, and with regular oil changes, capable of hooooge mileage. They fact that they've got a chain and not a belt is also good news.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

That's a bit cruel, they're a lot nicer than a Pinto.

My top choice would be a 190 2.5D, but even the 2.0D is pleasant enough. Would love to retro-fit one with the multivalve turbodiesel from a C250.

[Rocket88]

That's a bit cruel, they're a lot nicer than a Pinto.

 

I agree, but, like a Pinto, there don't pretend to be the latest in multi valve , variable valve timing, triple overhead cam trickery, just a well designed, strong, honest engine. Easy to work on as well.[not that you'll ever have to do much..]

[steve austin]

So, short answer, buy a 190! You cant go wrong with a Merc!

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

A Mate of mine has one for sale with very weird spec. It's a G reg 2.6 Auto in non metallic maroon. With a factory Cosworth bodykit, 16 inch Merc flatface alloyz.............. And maroon cloth interior.

 

It's very smart and he wants a bit less than a grand for it. West Laaandon if you want to have a look.

[Inspector Morose]

Ahem...

http://www.autoshite.com/phpbb3/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=8296

 

As is (Not sure on MoT) £350 and take it away.

[HMC]

Ive always fancied one myself, sooo cheap these days. A 2.6 auto for wafting around in for me please

[bigstraight6]

Merc 190's are extremely well put together cars, I picked up a 1988 2.0E about 6 years ago for my car killing idiot brother, it took nearly all the punishment he could throw at it for about 3 years until he foolishly ignored a badly blowing exhaust which subsequently fell off and took the rear bumper with it I really enjoyed driving the car, sure it had been to the moon and back but it drove very well and just didn't feel like a car of it's age and mileage, nice quiet engine too. Can't really go wrong with one

[ashmicro]

190s are excellent. Buy one. this is my old one:

 

 

1992 2.0i manual

[ashmicro]

These are pretty good too, a lot like the 190, and very well made. 4 pot lumps are valvers. My old C180 Classic 1.8 manual

 

 

Now aren't expensive

 

 

These are very nice, but deffo not as well made as the 190 (what is??) or the W202 original C Class. This one was bastard quick (2.0 Supercharged) but immensely complex. The main Merc dealer in Belfast didn't know jack shit about them.

 

[Marshall]

I'd ave one! (Don't know owt about em though really)

[Pete-M]

I had a 190E 2.0 Auto. Hated it. Mainly because it didn't drive that well and was always friggin' broken.

[Barry Cade]

Great cars, I've got a 190D and a 200e. The W124 was bought for £250, couple of small jobs then hammered round Europe for a week. Like it so much it's still here! Hauls all sorts of shite about on the trailer and was averaging 37MPG through Germany-same engine as the 190E. 190D gets 47MPG on veg oil,and has never given me any grief.

 

Merc factory in Bremen

 

190D 2.0

 

My first W124

 

My first Merc, a C200

[Albert Ross]

If you're a bit leggy or porky, you will find no space in the front cabin, you will get your legs stuck under the steering wheel when you get in etc...

[Cavcraft]

If you're a bit leggy or porky, you will find no space in the front cabin, you will get your legs stuck under the steering wheel when you get in etc...

 

Dead right, forgot about that. If I keep mine and get it back on the road the first thing to be changed will be the steering wheel for a smaller one. Manual boxes take some getting used to as well.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

Aye, I've driven tractors with more direct gearchanges and smaller steering wheels.

[Lacy]

W124 E class for me.....don't be tempted by a later W210 unless you want to watch it disolve into rust before your very eyes......I have had both and the W124 was definately the last quality car that Mercedes built.

[warren t claim]

W124 E class for me.....don't be tempted by a later W210 unless you want to watch it disolve into rust before your very eyes......I have had both and the W124 was definately the last quality car that Mercedes built.

 

I agree. I used to use a 2.0 190E Manual and my 16V W124 is a much better car. Find a 190E and I'll bring my W124 along and feel free to take the Pepsi challenge.

[Barry Cade]

If you're a bit leggy or porky, you will find no space in the front cabin, you will get your legs stuck under the steering wheel when you get in etc...

 

 

? ?? I'm 6ft 4 and cant reach the pedals with the seat right back.