190D Poor Quality???

[automch]

My first Benz was a brand new 1966 200, gas job, 4 spd with A/C. Drove it 200K and traded for Detroit iron add have driven Detroit finest(???) until I bought our 300SD. My Escort Diesel was side-swiped, not badly damaged, but I was looking at 240Ds and thinking of replacing it. As a mechanic I remember how very gutless the automatics were compared to the manuals so I searched for a manual 240D without much sucess. I happened upon a 84 190D and checked it out Sunday. It ran well and drove fair, but gave me the impression of being something made by Plymouth in 1956. The doors were extremely thin and unimpressive. The lower front fenders were plastic. Is this normal for those cars? Fiats had better fit and finish. This car was certainly designed to be very cheap I think. Am I wrong?

I have been out of auto repair and have only been repairing Fire Trucks and Ambulances for the last 10 years and have not been around the later Benz models. Do any of you out there in Benz land have a 84 or newer 190D? What has been your impression.

[POS]

Based on my experiences, they are tough little cars, but they were not built to the same quality standards as the E-class, and certainly not to the S-class.

[slarson80]

I love mine. Sure, it is not the tank that my 123 was. But I like the handling and the ride. It seems to be sturdy enough, I can't think of any part on it I would call flimsy. And it gets great MPGs. The '84 has a 4 banger in it and is rumored to be somewhat sluggish.

[sethyboy85]

Originally Posted by slarson80

The '84 has a 4 banger in it and is rumored to be somewhat sluggish.

not rumored but deadly slow if you live near a city...

[t walgamuth]

To me it always amuses me to hear folks say they aren't built as well as an e or s class. Shoot, I'll bet at least 40% of the mechanical parts are the same as in the other two sizes.

The trim may be cheaper and the interior and exterior smaller but they had to do something to differentiate between the more expensive models and the low price leader.

To me they are exactly the same quality mechanically....and a lot simpler to work on and maintain.

[theo3000]

Originally Posted by t walgamuth

To me it always amuses me to hear folks say they aren't built as well as an e or s class. Shoot, I'll bet at least 40% of the mechanical parts are the same as in the other two sizes.

The trim may be cheaper and the interior and exterior smaller but they had to do something to differentiate between the more expensive models and the low price leader.

To me they are exactly the same quality mechanically....and a lot simpler to work on and maintain.

That's some timely info! I've been looking for a second, inexpensive ride, and have been passing on the 190D's because I thought there was something wrong with them. I must have confused them with the rod-benders.

Thanks

[mac2]

I really like my 190d and I think I got it for a bargain. It is reliable and tough as any other benz diesel of the era. The door panels are definitely the weakest point in these cars as they are thin and vinyl is cheap and it shrinks (although I've got some nice euro version velour ones on the way :-) It isn't fast with a 4-cylinder and a slushbox but it is as fast as my old NA 300d and it revs up quickly and likes to be pushed. You really can't go wrong on these, especially if you find one with a manual.

[odie]

tough, reliable little mercs. used the hell outta my 1984 190D. slow but efficient. cheap to operate and maintain. I would not hesitate to own another.

[babymog]

The later cars with the 2.5 and 2.5turbo are much quicker (the turbo even could be described as fast), the fit & finish tended to get better around '87 also.

I think they're great little cars. Head and shoulders above a Jetta or other small car of the era. Its biggest shortcoming for me was the size, head brushed the ceiling and no rear-seat legroom with me in the front, but a blast to drive ('87 190D 2.5turbo). Not quite as solid a chassis as the industry-leading 124, but certainly well above the normal small sedan.

[sasquatchgeoff]

Love my '86 2.5 - however, it has recently due to old age, advanced itself into the realm of "project car." I am collecting parts to restore the vehicle as much as possible to her original econo-glory. I Love the car just the same as I did more than 70K miles ago when I got it, and I believe that is the magic of these cars - a blown head gasket and other smaller problems too numerous to mention does not deter an enthusiast from pursuing the ideal, even if it takes me a year or two. It is worth it.

[theo3000]

I know it's not a diesel, but what are the opinions of the 190e's? They're plentiful and cheap. Are they comparible to good makes like Toyota and Honda, or more like Hundai and Mitsubishi?

[babymog]

They're comparable to the best Japan had to offer during comparable years in my experience, in my opinion better. Biggest difference is that Toyota and Honda charge twice as much for most parts.

[dieselnutnj]

I recently bought a 190E off Ebay as a project car. I absolutely loved the way it handled once 90% of it's issues were worked out. The driveline has over 200K on it and is still very reliable. My only concern was the copious amount of oil constantly landing in the air cleaner. I made a quick little separator and installed it in the breather line after exhausting all other options. Oil returns to the crank case,, vapors to Air cleaner.

[DieselAddict]

The door thickness might be just an illusion. I know it is on my E300. Once you remove the interior panel you'll see it's just sheet metal with a bar running through the middle for crash protection. But the interior paneling gives the doors the illusion that they're very thick.

t walgamuth is correct that the mechanical parts are very similar if not the same as in the higher models. I would bet even the dash & seat materials are the same. The main difference is the size. It's a very small car, but it's not too bad. I drove a beat-up 190E for a while as a loaner and I could imagine it would be a nice car if it were still in good shape.

[Ara T.]

The interiors IMO do seem cheaper than the bigger cars. But not a big deal as these cars are pretty old by now and many of them have cracked dashes and such. They were cheaper than their big brothers, so something logically has to give.