Friends:

Need to buy a car as a gift for girlfriend's sister, just needs basic transportation.

Going to look at a 190 2.5, 150K 1 owner, kid's car, ask 4K Negotiable.( I'm thinking 3K)

What special things should I check on these?

Thanks in advance.

I owned one for about 2 years. Great car. My son would still be driving it if a minor wreck hadn't totalled it in the eyes of the insurance company.

I think the non-obvious things to look for are the condition of the front end components. Specifically the ball joints, struts and steering links. Also, I'd be leary if there if there is any indication of poor shifting from the transmission. I think these engines are pretty robust if they haven't been overheated.

Good luck.

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Tom Savage
Vienna, WV
1984 300D Euro
1995 S320

I just bought a 1987 190 2.5 DT last spring. 180,000 miles.
It needed work. mostly small stuff. $2,600. +tax.

I discovered that the climate control module had fried because the aux coolant pump had siezed. $400 in parts later have great heat. But checking to see if the aux fans worked found they did not. Full of gravel/sand. just try to spin them to see if yours are too. I was able to remove them and take them apart to blow out the crud in the motors. One just needed ist bearings cleaned and repacked...the other needed brushes. $40 and a few hours later I had my aux fans back. Replacement cost would have been about 8 time that...without labor charges.

The dealer (not MBZ) replaced the tranny...(top gear was gone)..as part of the deal.

I still have to weld in new metal around the jack points..they all seem to rust badly in that area in the northern states. And I had to slip a cover on the cracked dash. Very easy and looks like new.

I got a bargain! As of now I have about $3,200 in it! What a great little road car! Very smooth and nimble on the road and unlike many diesel vehicles..quick!

Dana

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Dana Linscott
Vegoil converted truck...vegoil converted 1987 190DT, 300 series next.

http://vegoilconversions.netfirms.com/

at 150k miles check the rear diff for whining or knocking, expensive fix!