93 190E
 

Going to look at this tomorrow. Spousy wants to semi retire her Element and keep it for only when she needs to go up to the rez on bad or snowy roads, and get something else for local to-work and other running around. I see these have awesome consumer comments on Edmunds.

Your thoughts?

1993 MERCEDES 190E

I owned one. 1991 six cylinder. 2.6. I bought it from my best friend who flew a Cobra Gunship in Vietnam. He was ANAL about caring for his cars. When I got it, it had about 114,000. My daughter totaled it at 144,000 a couple of years later.

Is the one in the ad a 6 or a 4 cyl? I always thought mine was a little sluggish with the AC on. Can't imagine how the 4 cyl accelerates with the AC on. Other than that I loved the car. The insurance co paid me $7,000 in 2001.
If it's a 6 cyl M103, & in decent condition, I'd say it's a good buy. Safe car too! My daughter T-boned a small import. Her & her passenger got out unharmed. From the front tires back, the car was completely undamaged.

Mine was the same color....Smoke Silver

If it's a 6 cyl, the engine will be either an M103 - single overhead cam or M104 - double overhead cam. I want to say the M104 rolled in around '92, but I could be wrong.

My '91 300-SEL has been with me since '97 - has the M103 motor - just a slightly larger displacement for that size car. Be it 2.6 liter or 3.0 liter - both are the same as far as I am concerned with regards to maint. and upkeep, etc.

The M103 is reliable, but can become an oil consumer for a number of reasons. Fairly simple to maintain as MBs go. I would imagine the 190E to be the same.

Just my 2 cents.

No argument with anything here. I know the M103 oil idiosyncracies from my '88 300CE. :o

This from Wiki.
1987 marked the arrival of the first inline-six equipped 190, the 190E 2.6. Fitted with the M103.940 engine, the 190E 2.6 provided 160 hp (119 kW) with a catalyst and 164 hp (122 kW) without. In the North American market, the 190E 2.6 was sold until 1993, the end of the W201 chassis's production. From 1992-1993 the 2.6 was available as a special "Sportline" model, with an upgraded suspension and interior.[6] The 190E 2.3 was sold until 1988, then went on a brief hiatus until it was sold again from 1991 until 1993.

Looks like its in good shape - my cousin had the 2.6 when we were in college; it was a good car and took a lot of abuse. Is this one a manual or auto?

Doesn't sound terribly spectacular. A T-boner generally makes it out much better than his poor victim because there is so much more room in the front of the car to absorb impact.

I was slammed by a Civic running a stop sign at 20-25 MPH, and other than for the front bumper cover falling off, his car was basically undamaged.

I guess the one thing you can say is that the whiplash protection is good.

The only twincam W201 sold by Mercedes was the the 2.3-16 or 2.5-16

I called to make sure it was still available as it's been on CL since September. She called back and left a message that she still had it but is going out for the evening. I don't know if it's a stick or auto and what the motor is. I'll find out tomorrow. If it looks good tomorrow I'll ask her to let me take it to the indy I used with the 240D for a ppi.

What about the price? Seems high or no? 4K? I realize it's often whatever the traffic will bear with these oldies, but it doesn't sound like anyone's waving money at her.

Would it be silly to think this might be a decent DD for somebody who drives 100 miles a week?

The 104 never found its way into a 190E from the factory. I think you're thinking of the CIS 300E 2.8s that got the M104 early.

If it's got some maintenance history to back up the claims, I would say it's worth $3,000-4000. If it doesn't, I would hesitate to pay >$2500. If it's been dealer serviced, you can call the dealer with the VIN and get any service records they have. Sometimes, you can get them no questions asked; sometimes they want a title or something.

I would go for a diesel, but I suppose W201s aren't terribly easy to find in good shape.

Get the VIN# and post it.

If it's a 1993, it will more than likely be a 2.3 engine with the later interior upgrades. Such as the 16-hole rims this one has. It's a nice-looking Smoke Silver car, probably has a mushroom or tobacco brown interior. Either has the indestructible mb tex, or leather, seats. I am 99% sure it will have the automatic transmission, which is known for its longevity and durability, and if well kept and fluids kept fresh, the AT should last at least 250k without problems.

Check for books and records, the "maintenance booklet" is the first one to cfheck, it hopefully will have service stamps (they can go up to 187,500 miles) stamped by the servicing dealer/independenty shop filled out in addition to the predelivery inspection and 800 mile first oil change stamped, by the original selling US dealer....

Make *SURE* the 1990s horrible German govt.-mandated biodegradeable wiring harness has been swapped out in favor of one of the correct one from the 1980s, those things are VERY costly to replace.

And make sure the HVAC blows ice cold, they are known for trouble, and this and the wiring harness, if in need of work, could run you, theoretically, ANOTHER $4,000 in addition to the purchase price.

And have it inspected carefully for ABSENCE of rust --- everywhere, but start with the jacking holes around the rockers.

But, they are TOUGH little cars, for sure built to the highest quality withoiut regard for the cost, and very very safe! - (the ULTIMATE argument to protect the spousal unit), NOT the ones for the last deecade, which are built to a price point, which makes therm "cheap" cars, from a literal -- as well as a perjorative -- standpoint.

If everything checks out ok, I think you should go ahead and get the car. (Even though you have publicly seen fit to scoff on here at people like myself that like "shiny things" as you called them.)

It's another of Bruno Sacco's styling masterpieces, and as with Sacco's w124 e-class, and w126 s-class cars, that he also designed, it cannot be mistaken for *anything* but a Mercedes Benz, from any angle. (unlike most of today's POS Mercedes Benzes)

It is worth 4,000 bucks, *IF* it checks out, so I hope you are not a lowballer, or somebody who likes to mercilessly "grind" the seller on the price, if it is reasonable to start with. I so despise people that do that.

(posted from Los Angeles, California)

I sold a 1993 with something very questionable in the trunk to a fellow PP member. Although I never heard from him again after he opened the trunk. :eek:

Left your gym socks in there?

No, this was something a bit more substantial. :eek:

Boa constrictor?