190D 2.2 5 speed in need of lots of TLC
 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=6328&item=2497151967&rd=1

Does anyone think it can make it back to the other SC without major issues (southern california)?

I'd enquire as to oil consumption and need for coolant additions -- if both are fine, it' should get there with no trouble. Probably run much better then than now!

Door issues are minor, interior is typical of the 190 (plastic gets brittle).

Anything else, short of a busted radiator, you should be able to at least limp it that far.

Gas milage is a serious underestimate, it should get 40 + on the highway.

I'm almost tempted!

Peter

$565.00 No Reserve
 

What are we not seeing??
Well it has been beat to snot, radio surround/dash, shift handle, broken switch console, damage on front grill, rear window and door, broken springs in driver seat.
I keep thinking of the floods in South Carolina, how long ago was that???
This car is a beater that looks almost used up.
I may be wrong, if the dealer is a real slickster, it could be worse, or they may be honest, and it is a sweet deal.
Find a local forum member to check it; before you buy it!!!

It doesn't look too bad, I think the price is so low, because not too many people really want these cars, mostly because they can scare people off because of some of the repair costs :eek:

If you decide to go for it, make sure the spare is not wasted, and that you bring a lug wrench in case it is missing. The 601 motor does not make much heat at all compared to a 603, so if the cooling system is marginal, for hwy driving I doubt it would be a factor. I would however bring some extra wire and or a couple of large hose clamps, if the electric clutch for the primary cooling fan is inop, you can either jumper the wire, or put the clamps on to manually engage the fan. (Not that you would need to, during milder weather I can drive my 190D around town for hours and never have the fan turn on once, and it still runs cool.)

Otherwise I would load up the trunk with spare oil, coolant, fuel filter, belt, belt tensioner, etc. You might even want to have the oil changed at a shop, so that you can have the trans and diff checked.

Well I am no expert on 201's I would be a little concerned abut how much you might end up dropping into one with this kind of mileage IF it has no maintenance history, old style vacum pump, etc, especially in terms of the suspension, and things like power window motor/regulators, etc.

I picked mine up in SFO and drove it back, and IMHO the 601 motor in the 201 chassis makes you feel as if once started and rolling down the road it is just not ever going to quit.........

If you think you are going to really rack up the miles to the point that your going to save enough in fuel, maybe this one makes sense, but I think a car in the $1500 to $2500 range with a maintenance history might be a much better deal. I would suspect the A/C system alone could swallow up most of the savings on a deal like this. Just thinking outloud.

would they let you walk on a plane with a lug wrench and a jack for instance ?

I am almost certain that TSA will not allow you to carry on such items, but it should not be an issue to check them. For my trip I made a run by Sears and grabed some channel locks, a set of combination wrenches, etc. just so I would have basic handtools in the car for the return trip. I figured this is much cheaper then a single tow bill, and I get to keep the items!

is it missing a dip stick?

It's enough to tempt me.

Don't the 190's have aluminum heads?

Don't sweat it too much, real deals on ebay are hard to come buy. It has 5 days to run and will go too high to worry about. Find one local from a pp in the recycler.

I bought a 240D because from the information on this site, I figured it must be the most reliable car ever built. I haven't been proven wrong yet. But again it's an $800 beater that my wife doesn't like to get into and will not drive. Two more things in it's favor.

Well I agree that real deals on eBay these days are elusive, my having this same mentality lead to a eBay "E" 300Dt sitting in my driveway, after making what I thought was too low a bid on this 1987.............

Yes the 190D 201/601 has an alloy head, but I have not heard of a single problem with the 4 cylinder (601) head, even the 5 cylinder (602) has a good reputation, it is the 6 cylinder (603) that has issues with cracking. My 1987 300Dt 124/603 cylinder head is a prime example, it has started to show symptoms of being cracked at 229k.

I am far from an expert on 190D's but the only two 601 motor issues that I know of are the early vacum pumps ($340+est), which can frag the timing chain taking out the motor, and the tensioner ($70 IIRC) for the serpentine belt tends to fail. Well I think they are great cars, the suspension IMHO is more complex, which shows in how well they handle relative to the older MB's but at the same time this complexity can also raise it's head in an ugly way, in just how many components there are that are subject to wear and tear as the miles rack up.

At least get a PPI or someone local to check it for you.

Thanks for the replies, but after much debating and the condition of the car, i may just hold off and wait for a local one to pop up. Would still be nice to restore that one (that is if money is not of worry, of course).

This is the first one on ebay that I have seen with a lower serial number than mine. I have serial no 33179 with motor number 354. THis one is earlier. It is one of the first 2.2's in america. Probably made in October of 1983.

Hey,

I'm also potentially interested in the car. Is anyone local that can swing down and take a peek at it for me?

Weather is still good and my AAA is Gold, so I kinda think go for it.....

Thanks for any help, fellow MercedesShoppers!

-m

I would bid on this car since it is only 4 hours away but there is something about a dealer adding a $50.00 admin fee, state taxes (for 33 states) and requiring insurance on top of the high bid amount that just makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck!
The worst thing is he also has a fair looking 300cd on ebay that I would like to have but I'm too hard headed to bid on. :rolleyes:
They both look good if the bidding doesn't get too high.

Good Luck