Thoughts on this 190D - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

AlaBenz · #1 04-16-2011, 09:49 AM

I've been searching for a diesel for a couple of years. This one has popped up on CL. He's asking $4250 and it has 192,900 miles on the clock. Claims it's been in the family for 18 years. It's about 1 1/2 hours away from me. Here's his response to an email I sent him.

Quote:

Here are some answers to your questions: the car is an automatic, and the transmission was serviced in December. Shifts perfectly. The tires are a mis-matched set. This is my mother's former little car. She gave it to me last October. I can't explain why the tires are so varied. From 5 feet you can't tell, but they range in tread from one with 40,000 miles left down to one with 6,000 to 8,000 miles left. Yes! all of the windows and the cruise work perfectly. The original, MBZ/Becker radio is in the car and works perfectly. When we changed the battery and the power was cut off for a minute, the security feature cut off the radio. It needs to go back to a MBZ dealer or mechanic to be coded. I swear the radio is fine. Just haven't taken the time to take it back to my MBZ dealer to do it. Even the retractable antenna still works.

As for the heat/air. As always, the heat works well. Remember, this is an 80's vintage Mercedes. The air befuddles me. I spent over $600.00 in December to have the control panel in the dash replaced. My MBZ tech told me that was the problem. First sign of warm weather the air blew cold. Now it doesn't. The compressor is not coming on. That tells me its not a leak or the compressor. It's a control switch. The compressor works, fan works; only problem seems to be the control panel is still not right. Presently, the a/c is not working. If you have owned older Mercedes you know that the a/c on them is quirky. I honestly believe it is a simple repair and that my tech just didn't plug it all in correctly in Dec. If I had time, I would take it back to Dothan and have Leonard fix it. My mom had replaced, at various times, every single a/c component in that car. Everything should work properly.

Hmmmm...what else doesn't work? Oh, the clock on the dash! They never work after about 10 years. The intermittant feature on the wiper does not work. Only high and low.
That's it! Remember this car is 22 years old. It will not be perfect. It drives, rides, shifts, and runs as it should. No apologies here. As I said before, I think the control panel on the car -- which is new -- is not plugged in or not installed properly. The body, paint, wheels, and interior look superior to any little Mercedes this age I have seen in many years. The car was repainted about 3 years ago. This gave us the opportunity to paint the alloys and replace the fog light lenses (which crack and fall out after about 10 years). Cosmetically, the car is as perfect as you will find for a 190. The seats look new, front and back. Wood looks good, with only minor lines in the lacquer on the plate around the shifter.

What think Ye? Is it worth the drive to check out? The air not working would be a deal breaker in Alabama.

ah-kay · #2 04-16-2011, 10:06 AM

Walk.

Mismatching tires mean the owner Is not willing to spend money on it. Lack of time? my butt.

04 Diesel · #3 04-16-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlaBenz

I've been searching for a diesel for a couple of years. This one has popped up on CL. He's asking $4250 and it has 192,900 miles on the clock. Claims it's been in the family for 18 years. It's about 1 1/2 hours away from me. Here's his response to an email I sent him.

What think Ye? Is it worth the drive to check out? The air not working would be a deal breaker in Alabama.

$4250 is too much, What year? I would look at it but I would not go over $3000.

10fords · #4 04-16-2011, 10:52 AM

As I have been on the lookout for a 190D lately as well, I would have to say the price is too high. I have seen a few similar to the one you describe go for about 2K after being for sale for a few months at a 4K asking price. Bide your time and make a cash offer when the seller realizes they don't really have a pot of gold!

billhard · #5 04-16-2011, 11:08 AM

I'd pass on that one, for that price range you could do better.

This appears to be near the top of the food chain on craigslist for 190d's if sellers claims are true, but it's still over priced. Maybe the wrong side of the country for you but it's good for comparison purposes. From the ad:

PAINT IS LIKE NEW AND INTERIOR IS GREAT CONDITION TOO. WELL MAINTAINED, I HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS FROM THE TIME SHE WAS NEW!
THE CAR HAS SUNROOF POWER WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS, ORIGINAL FACTORY SOUND SYSTEM.
VERY RARE CAR WITH SUPER LOW LOW LOW MILES (ONLY - 89K ORIGINAL MILES).

THIS MERCEDES DIESEL IS A MUST SEE! GREAT GAS MILEAGE 35MPG, SAVE YOURSELF MONEY AT THE PUMP WITH A CAR THAT IS BUILT TO LAST! THE FIRST $5495.00 TAKES IT! EMAIL ME

NEW FUEL INJECTOR PUMP

NEW VALVE LIFTERS

NEW TIRES

NEW FUEL FILTERS

NEW GLOW PLUGS

NEW FUEL INJECTORS

CHECKED & ADJUSTED TIMING CHAIN

RECENT OIL CHANGE

AlaBenz · #6 04-16-2011, 01:57 PM

Thanks, for the reality check, guys.

babymog · #7 04-16-2011, 02:18 PM

Price is too high, unless an '87 190D Turbo in good condition.

The '80s radios do not have a code, if it doesn't work then the battery was disconnected with the alarm on and the radio is toast (small loss, buy a good aftermarket with CD IMO).

The A/C thing is pure bull.

vtmbz · #8 04-16-2011, 05:57 PM

At 192,000 miles it would be due for a timing chain and a head gasket. Nothing says worn out front end like mismatched tires.

My radio works. My clock works. My AC works. I dont understand the conclusion that the compressor is good if it doesnt engage. It needs a recharge, is my opinion.

2000 tops. And for that proce it has to be cosmetically perfect enough to justify the money youre about to put into the above mentioned.

gastropodus · #9 04-17-2011, 12:34 AM

There's a guy out at the coast here in Oregon who seems to specialize in W201 chassis cars. Several times a year he'll post one on craigslist; he's usually done a fair bit of work to bring them up to snuff, including pulling the head and taking the valves in for service. He usually prices them at about $3500, and they seem to sell at that price.

"Your mileage may vary"

Kurt