Mercedes 190E's

[Jez]

I'm looking at replacing my '97 Accord daily driver with a Mercedes 190E, probably a late model ('92 or '93) because as much as I love the Accord for it's comfort and reliability, it's dull as donkey curse word. I'm thinking an old Merc would be a good alternative as I still want reliability, just with more style!

Is there anything I should look out for with these cars? Anyone got experience of them, good or bad? And finally, if anyone has pics of nicely modded examples, post away!

By the way I did search but got nothing.

[penski]

The last merc that was properly bolted together by all accounts.

My local cornershop owner has a fleet of them.

*n

[Oldbus]

Google´s full of ´em

[stealthstylz]

The cars stereotypical drug dealing e30 bimmer owners aspire to hehe. Good cars really comfy, but deserve some gangster pimpage.

Matt

[popuptoaster]

stick with high spec automatics with the bigger engine in, basic povo spec ones are horrible and the manual box isnt very good is the advice i got from a car dealer friend.

[kyteler]

oldbus64 said:

Google´s full of ´em

Shouldn't that sticker on the windscreen read: Devolution ?

[pictonroad]

As a drug dealing E30 owner I can confirm, I do want one of these...

lol

[MrT]

I'll let you know when I pick up my '88 F reg 190E auto (with factory air!) on Saturday morning...

[Jez]

Factory air - do they all have that? I was gonna ask what the craic is with lowering one of these.

The one I have in mind is a '93 K 2.0 auto. Don't want a bigger engine than that really for daily duty.

[MrT]

veedubjez said:

Factory air - do they all have that?

Ermm... dunno, is the honest answer!

I wouldn't have thought it was standard on an 190E's though; so far as I know, they were fairly basically equipped, and almost everything was optional, including electric windows (got 4 of those), alloys (got none of those), etc. But I could be wrong, and would love to know if it was standard across the range or not.

This one's a 2.0 auto too, and after a 120 mile trip back with, I'll let you know how it drives...

[burns]

Air as in air con? Definite option, my 2.6 didn't have it. It did have dual zone blowers though, driver could have hot blowers while the passenger had cold, very cool! I sold it a while ago though, mainly because it was insanely dull.

[Mr S]

They don't all have air-con, they do have a few faults, but nothing that will stop you from driving it, just niggles really!

Check out www.mercedes190.co.uk if you want loads of info.

The 2.6 is really nice and smooth, but the 2.0 is still good. Get an auto, the manuals are very agricultural (but strong). The autos start in 2nd, but can be forced to start in 1st if you drop the selector down to 2 then back up to D.

Get as high a spec as possible too, electric windows all round, elec sunroof, alloys etc.

Lowering and mods is easy, but if you do lower it, use uprated shocks as well as springs, it makes a world of difference...

[Mr S]

Oh, and a V8 does just about shoehorn in....

[Jez]

Yeah let me know what it's like. I'm going to look at this '93 tomorrow night, so I'll let you know how that goes too. They do seem to be fairly basic though don't they! I've seen no AC or sunroofs and not many on alloys. This one has a blue interior too! So bad it's cool!

And if anyone knows the deal with lowering, it's always good to know even though I'm telling myself not to. For now.

[markbognor]

£60 will relieve me of these, would look the shizz paited satin black. 16x7.5



They would be on mine but i cant, and probably will never be able to afford to put tyres on em when have a perfectly serviceable set of 15"s on the car.

Just listed in For Sale.

[Jez]

Oh, hold on - by 'factory air' I thought MrT meant air ride, not air conditioning!!!

That might seem a stoopid assumption, but I was under the impression that older Benz's had air suspension.

Anyway, it would appear that shocks and springs are the law on 190E's, thanks bladerunner.

Also thanks for that link - I'm on it now!

[Jez]

markbognor - I really like those alloys too. I was thinking to myself how a set of later Merc alloys would freshen it right up. I'll see what I end up with first though. If I get one with naff tyres I could be interested.

[Mr S]

Certain models (was available as an option I think), including the 2.5 16v 'Cosworth' model had hydraulic self levelling suspension, but 95% of them are just regular shocks 'n springs.

They can be lowered less severely by changing the spring pads (at the top of each spring, there is a rubber pad with some little dots/tabs on it, between 1 and 4). The difference between the biggest and smallest is about 20mm or so IIRC.

Cheers, Martin

[Jez]

Hold on a sec - when you said before that a V8 would fit in I thought you were joking, but I've just seen your sig!!! That I have to see

[Mr S]

Your wish is my command (sorry, one-time only offer, all used up now )

Not finished yet, and won't be continuing work on it again 'til next summer (circumstances beyond my control blah blah blah etc.), but it is in there, and it just sits there teasing me at the minute!