i have a chance to pick up an 88 190d 2.5 normal aspiration for cheap ($1k). I currently drive the same car with a turbo.

couple of perspectives-
1. is the na much slower than the turbo? is it a setup for disappointment?
2. are any parts interchangeable? i am trying to justify buying it as 'parts' car.

the car is totally rust free, and has been 'loved' not abused.

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Ben
1987 190d 2.5Turbo

Tranny and diff ratio are different so it had better have a good body and interior to be a parts car. What's wrong with it that it can't remain a runner?

Sixto
87 300D

Why would you buy a perfectly nice 190d 2.5 to turn it into a parts car?! Thats a horrible idea!!

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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)

I agree whit pawoSD ,, why ?
I was on the same path , I have a 86 190D 2.5 manual transmission and last year I found a 85 190D 2.2 whit manual transmission winch I wanted for parts and guess what I fixed and she drives like a dream ,, so I have two 190's

Which are worth more than a 380... well, maybe not a W22.



Sixto
87 300D

The 88 190D 2.5 is actually, and I hate this word, rarer than your turbo. They only imported something like 658 2.5s in 1988. No reason to part a rust free running and driving car.

My girlfriend drives ours about half the year. She really likes it, it's slow but it's not 240d slow. The short rear end makes them pretty peppy around town. However it's not fun to drive super long distances because we both like to drive fairly fast and non turbo is revving pretty high at 80-90mph. Around town it gets great mpg.

I saw one of those in a museum once (might even be the one in the picture). It was parked next to a Duesenburg, but I liked the 380 better.

To the OP: I've never driven a 201, so I have little to offer from a technical perspective. I dislike the idea of parting out a non-rusted car in good condition.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.