1985 Mercedes 190-D (Diesel)

$1850.

The short of it: Heater core blown, overheating problems, minor rust and a spray can finish on front fender. Mileage unknown. Owner says that he's a diesel head and bought it off eBay only to realize that he was too big for the car.
Walk or run?

This is the first 190D I've seen for sale here in WV and it's about 2 hours away. If, for some reason, it's at least worth a look and the price drops, is it possible to block off the heater core, remove the thermostat and drive it 2 and 1/2 hours home?

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

for $1850 run, for $600 take

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Heater core is a pain in the A__ job , also the core is expensive. For that kind of money get a good one. Look a bit farther from home for a better one. Cheers

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It's always something simple
91 300D 603.960 (from japan) 194K
92 Toyota Diesel Landcruiser HDJ81-t 116K
02 Golf TDI new head courtesy of PO
87 300D
97 BMW 525 TDS Wagon 5spd
bunch of Onan and other diesel generators

oh yeah, overheating problems on an early 190D, NO BIG DEAL. as in, no big deal to RUN

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

Why do you think the early 190Ds have a overheating problem? I have a early 84 190D and it never runs hot.

I don't think that it is so much that they are prone to overheating, just that IF they have it it's very bad news with the aluminum head. The cast iron head on the 61x engines reportedly is much more tolerant of problems without warping or blowing the head gasket. And yeah, I'd run; heater cores blow for a reason: lack of maintenance.

Kurt

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- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).

Run... this car will take a fair bit money just to get it running, assuming the head isn't shot... For what he's asking you can do better.....It's a $500-$700 car in my opinion.

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2004 F150 4.6L -My Daily
2007 Volvo XC70 -Wife's Daily
1998 Ford F150 -Rear ended
1989 J-spec 420SEL -passed onto its new keeper
1982 BMW 733i -fixed and traded for the 420SEL
2003 Volvo V70 5 Speed -scrapped
1997 E290 Turbo Diesel Wagon -traded for above
1992 BMW 525i -traded in
1990 Silver 300TE -hated the M103
1985 Grey 380SE Diesel Conversion, 2.47 rear end, ABS -Sold, really should have kept this one
1979 Silver 300D "The Silver Slug" -Sold

yeah, this is what i was referring to

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1981 NA 300D 310k miles

To be candid, it's springtime.

That means all the POS cars are in bloom.

Wait and save your money for a better one.

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Thanks, folks.

I didn't realize this had an aluminum head. Overheating is definitely a deal breaker at any price.

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1974 240D "Boldie" 170K.- New timing chain/freshly rebuilt IP/replaced valve seals/injectors/upgraded stereo/new Bilsteins with Yokohamas/fresh paint and rocker panels plus lots of welds.

Wait like I did in mid-september to buy a 300D with no AC. Got a good deal on it, and little rust.

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Java Developer/Linux SysAdmin

Current:
*1984 300D ~200K,1989 MR2 250K, 2012 Ford Fusion 4.5K (fiance's car to replace the uber-unsafe cavalier)
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Past: 1998 Chevy Cavalier ,2005 Saab 9-3 2.0T, 1996 Mazda Protege, 1974 Porsche 914 2.0, 1997 Land Rover Discovery 4.0L/5Speed, 1995 Jeep Wrangler

This is so true! Folks who waited through a cold winter because their low compression engine wouldn't start reliably in the winter suddenly see a chance to unload come warmer temperatures. For a while I was considering selling my 240D, and I was thinking of waiting until winter just to weed out the POS crowd - even before the engine swap mine was starting fine down below freezing (not selling it now, I love having a W123!).

Kurt

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- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).

The temp sensor that runs the clutch fan maybe at fault for the overheating ,no fan no cooling .I bypassed my ground to let it run all the time .When you do run em hot they like to leak oil also ,rear and frt main seals being the topic here.If you go through with the purchase I would check these items out ,if you dont have any oil leaks and the fan doesnt work to cool then its your call ,I would offer $1200 . and only if it has new tags and has a service record on the trans.The 190d Motors are a bit different than the 617 or 616, long lived but you have to watch them closer for problems ,leaking fuel delivery seats at the pump is one,tapping hydraulic lifters is another and chencey little fuel lines is what I hate the most.Non which trouble the good ole 617 design.Good luck.

Agree on the running! Like white Full-size bronco running.

That early head on the 601 has less ability to cool itself, and resist cracks than later NA heads, and is definitely living a shortened life.

I see added wires and electrical tape underhood...ugh.

I walked away from the same car with a 5-speed for $2000 last year because it had a suspicious respray, no maintenance history, and a bad half shaft.

There are better 190D's out there, and MANY more w124s, and w123s if you're willing to wait.

P.S. Sold my last Benz because I didn't want to tackle the heater core. Give me a suspension rebuild over that...

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05 E320 CDI
99 SL500
02 530i

82 240D SOLD
83 240D Euro 4spd SOLD
86 300D Euro Auto SOLD

Well- I dunno... Maybe I'm being overly optimistic but I wouldn't write it off without more info. I had a thermostatic switch go bad that kept the magnetic fan clutch from engaging when it should in our 87 190d back in... 2005? I ran the heater for a couple of weeks to keep it from overheating (in order to research wth was causing the problem) and thanks to the fine members of this board- swapped out the $12 switch and the thermostat and have never had a prob again. (Knocking wood)

I think ALL w201s will have a leaking heater core at some point (what was MB thinking with that design?) and I know a number of people bypass it until they can do the job or get it done. We got ours replaced- and it was expensive- but over the years, even with THAT repair the car has cost far less than any other car we have owned to maintain.

I see it's plumbed for ac but he doesn't mention it- probably not working. He also doesn't list miles, smoke, rust, etc. But it is the 2.2- so if running right should get good mpg. It might be worth checking out if you're interested in a 190d and all of the "possible" issues could be considered in an offer. They are really rare- probably because those who have them aren't interested in parting with them with fuel prices climbing. We've been really happy with ours. I think if I saw another one for the $500-600 prices some are describing, I'd be tempted to pick it up as a spare or something...