Now, some of you may think that I change my car more than I change my underwear... but, yet again, I seek counsel. This time on a rather different proposition than normal: as I am "between jobs" but start one very soon, I have purchased a cheap but seemingly immaculate Mercedes 190 2.0. No fuel injection or any of that fancy nonsense, bog standard 2 litre, G reg model.
Any tints and hips from ex-owners or knowledgeable types? First impressions are that they appear to be indestructible.... I am thinking it is old-school over-engineered Merc!
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i have a j reg 2.0ltr 190e auto. still drives like new. i know the man who bought it new and kept it for 13 yrs with a full merc history until i got it. i do oil changes etc but it goes into an indi once a yr for a look over. so far nothing needs doing but it only does about 23mpg in town but i love it
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I am hoping I might get a bit more than 23.... saying that I don't do much town driving. My new commute will be a gentle 20 mile combination of lanes, A-roads and a brief blast down a dual carriegeway. Is 30mpg too optimistic? : )
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i can get 30mpg tootleing around the country back lanes at 55mph with a very gentle foot and around 33mpg on the motorway. i was thinking of selling it but i dont know if they are worthless because of its age or are they well liked like a w124.
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I can live with that I think!
I think they bottom out at around 300 quid... mine was a bit more but it is immaculate. They seem well-liked, google it and you don't get much adverse comment. I was looking at the styling today and it's dated well.... I was reading an issue of "Car" from 1975 last night and all the cars in it (Citröen Dyane, R4, Opel Commodore GS/E, Granada coupé etc) seemed ancient, whereas a 190 (came out 1982) or an Audi 100 1981 model, seem somehow a lot more modern than those 7 years would suggest. 1980 was a bit of a cut-off point, perhaps? I remember sciving school to go to the 1980 Motor Show, I was incredibly excited by the new Escort, the Probe IV (I think it was IV) and even the Renault Fuego!!
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i remember skiving school to go to the bham motor show to see the new sierra so must have been 81-82.
my 190e is perfect with mint interior and not a single scratch. i really fancy a early 80's 7 series but must be pretty rare now
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Sierra was 82 I think... first ones were Y reg weren't they? There were the low end ones with the weird wheel trims and the posh Ghia ones with bigger headlamps and better wheels! And at the very bottom end was the vile base one with black bumpers.
Sharknose 7 series you mean? They're cool....
Right, despite having proved I am the wrong side of 30, I am off to see a band I have never heard of, 'We are Scientists', they're playing at Keele Uni. I am down with the kids... honest I am. Cheers for the comments!
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MB's official figures are about 34 mpg at 120kph, 43 at 90kph and 26 city cycle -- all too high, of course, because of unrealistic assumptions made. That's for a non-cat non-injection 190 with the 201.923 engine and a manual gearbox.
Aprilia is a fan of these cars, I think. There are certainly plenty of satisfied owners around, judging from comments within the MB Club and articles in MB Enthusiast magazine, etc. In a recent issue of the excellent Mercedes-Benz Classic magazine, Bruno Sacco (the designer) and the chief engineer took conspicuous pride in having created the car. Any MB enthusiast not yet familiar with that magazine ought to take a look -- gorgeous photos and highly informative articles, issued four times a year and so good that I bought all the back numbers. It's published by MB themselves and it covers their trucks and buses as well as cars.
Some sites:
s14.invisionfree.com/mercedes_190_club/
www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Pines/6633/w123w20...l
www.baureihe201.de/W201/index.html
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Thanks for those! Just had a look through them. I think I might have a root around for some MB Enthusiast magazines... sounds my type of thing. Like a one-make version of how Car used to be before it turned into Men's Health/GQ...
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Having had about threee of these I can vouch for their quality and solidity. Great cars and will be more appreciated as time goes on. Would reccommend the 190E (fuel inj) 2.00 ltr model with automatic gearbox. Very reliable and smooth to drive.
The only thing that used to drive me mad was the heater motor bearing. It got so that every time i braked it would squeal. I used to avoid using the heater just to avoid the noise. It was unfortunately a problem to get at and for a part cost of a few pence there would have been a lage labour bill!
That said, I would quite happy to drive one on a daily basis.
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I had an H reg 1.8E which I sold with 200,000 miles and it still drove beautifully (and had original engine, gearbox and clutch).
One thing to look out for - the driver's side font suspension on mine collapsed whilst I was driving it (luckily not on the M42 which I had just left!). The top housing for the coil spring had corroded away and the spring popped out onto the road and that side of the car collapsed. And it had recently passed its MOT. Had it re-welded into place but sold it shortly afterwards. Worth getting this checked carefully IMO.
Otherwise a great car. Change the oil every 6k and the engine will go on for ever!
Pat
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