adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 18, 2013 14:08:26 GMT
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So as some of you may know I have a chronic addiction to mk2 golfs. I sold my ridiculously quick Leon Cupra in order to get my hands on another one, and to get out of paying £85 a month on car insurance when I was used to the classic policy paying a LOT less! So as you may have guessed, I didn't find a mk2 golf. Well I did, but my budget wasn't quite high enough and any half decent ones I did find were the other side of the universe. Then I saw this on this very forum, within budget, and in Lincoln too. So Saturday morning I boarded the local bus and took a looksie, it was only 2 miles away so I had nothing to lose by having a look and seeing if the big old merc appealed to me. I had a good poke around and was satisfied its not rusty and drove ok on a long test drive, a few little niggles to sort out, negotiated accordingly, and brought it home with a very big and relaxed smile on my face! A different car to a mk2 golf gti, not exciting, not sporty, not that fast, but damn comfortable and it makes me feel like a pimp when I cruise in it! Have a butchers... As you can see it has 75% of a zender kit, I believe its missing the front apron, its had some serious cash spunked new with expensive options like the leathers, shag carpet, cruise control (which annoyingly doesn't work) and a few other bits. I hate the wheels however fitting they maybe, so hoping to find some 17" amg monoblocks to finish her off. Otherwise its awesome, smooth, powerful, and like a mobile sofa
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levismerc
Part of things
Learning all the time...
Posts: 205
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Sept 18, 2013 16:27:59 GMT
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Wilkommen to the merc mafia!
Very nice. Good cars the 190s. I know quite a few people like the three spokes but I agree that monoblocks will look better.
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'83 Merc 280CE
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Sept 18, 2013 16:32:39 GMT
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 18, 2013 17:36:48 GMT
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I believe my spare wheel is the same as those on your 300... Does that seem right? Can they be had cheaply?
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 18, 2013 17:38:18 GMT
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Oh and the bootlid stickers have been departed
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Sept 18, 2013 17:59:09 GMT
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Thanks DW. Three spokes are awesome, although a 190 would suit some Brabus Monoblock II's a lot more than the softlines. It goes without saying that they'd look a whole lot better with some altitude adjustment, especially at the front.
Nice looking car and I look forward to seeing what you do with it.
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Sept 18, 2013 18:17:39 GMT
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Thanks DW. Three spokes are awesome, although a 190 would suit some Brabus Monoblock II's a lot more than the softlines. Or... Perhaps these? Rare option for the W210 E-Class... 7.5x16".
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deacs
Part of things
Posts: 260
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Sept 18, 2013 18:40:01 GMT
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Ah I had one of these a few years back with the zender/amg kit. Front apron is rare as so expect to pay top dollar to get one 190e's are so overlooked, much better build and quality than an equivalent aged e30 BMW but at far less of a 'scene' price. Here's mine, I owned it in about 2010 and then sold it to a 16 year old lad for £1000..... It was going to be his first car! Some boy!
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 19, 2013 5:47:41 GMT
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Oooh now that I like Thats how I'd like mine to look. I've looked for a front apron and it would seem nigh on impossible, so I'm going to settle for a laguna splitter I think. Theres a few using them on the 190 forum and they suit these alright. I know when the previous owner got the car it was much lower on the front and changed the springs. I think its still lowered on the front looking at other standard ones but not as much. I'm not keen on chopping springs on a big barge like this tbh so I may just leave it alone. The nearest thing I have had to compare to this was an E30 320 auto, and although the e30s autobox was a bit smoother, everything else on the merc is better imo. You just have to get your head around the fact if you want a fast getaway you have to trick it into starting off in 1st gear!
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Sept 19, 2013 11:26:41 GMT
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nice purchase i'm really fancying an old merc at the moment to replace my A4 tdi. Heading off to nose at ebay again now...
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1965 Mk1 Mini 1989 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera Sport 2004 Audi A2 TDi 2007 Lotus Exige S 2011 Mini Cooper SD
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Sept 19, 2013 16:12:54 GMT
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Nice ride. A few years ago, I purchased a 1987 E-reg Merc 190E 2-litre manual from an auction in Charlton, SE London.
It was gloss black, lowered with full Zender bodykit and AMG replica alloys, and looked great cruising the mean streets of Laandan tahn, also made a good motorway cruiser, as I was having to commute down to Horsham, Sussex at the time.
Only snag was, the previous owner had lowered it too much at the front, and it had cracked the alloy sump; I was forever having to repair it with JB Weld! I raised it up using thicker spring pads which helped, but in the end sold it as I got fed up with having to repair the sump.
Great car, otherwise.
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 19, 2013 17:22:45 GMT
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nice purchase I'm really fancying an old merc at the moment to replace my A4 tdi. Heading off to nose at ebay again now... From what I've been reading for around a grand a manual is best avoided, those in the know say the the autobox is the better option, and imo this is the kind of car that should be an auto, they're all about the easy cruising :)Personally if you can't afford a 2.3/2.5, the 2.6 6pot is the one to have ;)I'm racking up some happy miles in mine so far, and enjoying the ride far more than I ever did in a bmw, without the scene tax.
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stonio
Part of things
Posts: 626
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Sept 19, 2013 17:46:49 GMT
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Hey how much would you want for the 3 spokes if your not keeping them. Cheers Nk
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 19, 2013 17:49:15 GMT
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I'l come back to you when I have replacements, I may have a swap sorted for them, but not 100% yet. I'm so tempted to paint them black and black EVERYTHING.
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stonio
Part of things
Posts: 626
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Sept 19, 2013 21:14:08 GMT
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Yes that would look awesome old school 3 spoke are kinda retro cool I don't think they would be strong enough for my T4 but defo different and cool haha
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Sept 19, 2013 21:19:36 GMT
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Agreed, these cars suit automatics. However, the manuals aren't as bad as folklore says; they take a bit of getting used to because of the strong spring-loaded gate which initially gives the impression of a clumsy, baulky gearchange, but the trick is to let the springs do their thing and gently guide it rather than trying to force gearchanges, then they are as slick as any other, and being a Getrag gearbox, they are as tough as old boots.
The advantage is, with the 2 litre manual, it would easily return 30 mpg average.
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Sept 19, 2013 21:54:15 GMT
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Top work, lovely motors. Have you seen the French (original) film Taxi? 190E-tastic iirc! The lead character manages to break the sound barrier in a Pug 406 which is a bit disturbing, but he is soon charged with the task of outsmarting "The Mercedes Gang!" Check it out, but ensure you see the original (ignore the American version, it's an insult to the senses!). Check this trailer from about 1m30s onwards:
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Last Edit: Sept 19, 2013 21:54:53 GMT by humbucker
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adi
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,426
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Sept 20, 2013 5:49:08 GMT
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That is quite possibly the strangest thing I've ever seen hahaha. Only the french....
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Sept 20, 2013 6:51:22 GMT
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Have you seen the French (original) film Taxi? 190E-tastic iirc! They're about as far removed from a 190 as you can get. Look up Mercedes 500E, read about them being hand built V8's by Porsche and you'll see what I mean. Great film...I saw it in the cinema back in 98 and have loved it ever since, just great fun.
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Sept 20, 2013 7:23:18 GMT
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Have you seen the French (original) film Taxi? 190E-tastic iirc! They're about as far removed from a 190 as you can get. Look up Mercedes 500E, read about them being hand built V8's by Porsche and you'll see what I mean. Great film...I saw it in the cinema back in 98 and have loved it ever since, just great fun. Ah yes, quite right, I was working from a distant memory tbh, although it has encouraged me to go dust off the DVD player this weekend
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