Need buying advice about 190s (201 series)

[rickjordan]

My mother-in-law is thinking about buying a Mercedes but doesn't need anything big. I figured a 190E would be the right size for her. BTW she currently drives an old Subaru Justy which is the size of a card table. Saw an ad in local paer for a 1992 190E 2.6 "125K Black w/grey leather int., exc. cond. sunroof, $4,500"
Any tips, warnings, etc. before I mention this car to my wife's mother.

[Since66]

Originally Posted by rickjordan

My mother-in-law is thinking about buying a Mercedes but doesn't need anything big. I figured a 190E would be the right size for her. BTW she currently drives an old Subaru Justy which is the size of a card table. Saw an ad in local paer for a 1992 190E 2.6 "125K Black w/grey leather int., exc. cond. sunroof, $4,500"
Any tips, warnings, etc. before I mention this car to my wife's mother.

A car for a mother-in-law......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[rickjordan]

I know, I should recommend a Pinto. Seriously, I am the car guru for both my side and my wife's side. She is also thinking about a Hyundi (sp?) When my mother inlaw said she liked our cars, hinting a Mercedes would be something she would like, my wife was floored. My mother in law wants a car that has more substance to it vs. the tinny Subaru she now drives. I thought of this '92 190E because it should have airbags and ABS.

[MTI]

Get her a Suzuki Samurai . . . she'll flip over it.

The W201 has doors that sound like bank vaults, which is nice considering it's size. Unfortunately, the same can't be said of the trunk lid, which also has a high lift over compared to subsequent models. The rear seating area is politely described as cramped and adults should only be subjected to it for short trips.

Like any used Mercedes, its future is best served by how it was maintained by the previous owner(s). Getting the car inspected by a neutral Mercedes qualified mechanic is a must. The M103 2.6L engine is a bit notorious for headgasket leaks, so make sure the coolant and oil are checked for contamination.

[rickjordan]

Thanks for the heads up about the head gasket. As for the back seat, this car would be just for her. My inlaws are in their late 70's. My father inlaw has his own car, so this would be just for her to be running around in. The bank vault like doors would be a big selling point for her. She really doesn't like the tinny sound everything makes on her Justy.

[puddle_divr]

Did your inlaws have the Subaru for the all wheel drive? If that is indeed a factor, going from something like that to the rear wheel drive MB may be a bit tough for someone in their 70's. all of this would be dependant on weather local roads etc. Not that I would try to talk anyone out of a good 190E they seem to be great cars for the size and price. Just my $.02 and something to think about.

[Duke2.6]

Originally Posted by rickjordan

My mother-in-law is thinking about buying a Mercedes but doesn't need anything big. I figured a 190E would be the right size for her. BTW she currently drives an old Subaru Justy which is the size of a card table. Saw an ad in local paer for a 1992 190E 2.6 "125K Black w/grey leather int., exc. cond. sunroof, $4,500"
Any tips, warnings, etc. before I mention this car to my wife's mother.

I think she'd be better off looking for a similar priced Camry/Accord or even a Corolla/Civic - newer, less miles, cheaper to repair, unless you're volunteering to take car of a used 190.

For those of us who are competent DIYers, understand automotive technology, have service documentation, good parts sources, keep up with all the little stuff, these are nice cars, but a ten year old used model with over 125K miles can have a lot of deferred maintenance and repairs and could be very expensive to maintain if you have to rely on commercial shops.

Here is SoCal there are a lot of shops that understand Toyotas and Hondas. Good shops that understand older Mercs are a lot harder to find.

Duke

I think you can get her 1994-96 C280. While you are at it throw in a 4matic.
you may be able to get one for about $6K. Nice car with most of MB adored characteristics. This way you get to maintain (MB) it as well as being in her daughter's good graces.. it's a win-win, mon

However, my concern is that rear wheel drive is not as friendly as FWD especially for a senior.

[Jim Anderson]

Check the ignition switch. If they break they lock themselves in and cost a bunch to dig out.

[lino]

No Mercedes was more expensive to repair/maintain than the 190e for me. I would never buy one again. I liked the car when it was working well, but it killed me financially. I would buy a 300e before buying a 190e any day od the week, especially since prices are the same and you get a whole lot more car for the money. I believe the 300e to be a better built and higher quality car than the 190e. It is very well balance. It also has more space and can seat all its occupants quite comfortably. Parts are no problem since they built over 2.2 million of these cars. Repairs are the same as a 190e, so why settle for a lesser car? Look at a few cars to comapare the condition of these cars in those years. Also, have her drive one of these cars to see if she likes it. Most important thing is service. Buy one with a clear and complete service history. You may see 2 cars for sale, one for $5000 and the other for $6000 and one may have had $500 in repairs while the other $5000. It really makes a big difference $$ when you have to start changing many parts on a Benz. On the other hand, if you want to stay on her good side and not potentially fall into a trap by trying to do her a favor and geting her a car that may prove to be expensive to maintain, you could always buy her a Toyota Camry and she'll probably love you forever. ANy car you get here will be an upgrade from the Justy. (not trying to be funny, but it's true)

Good Luck!

[blackmercedes]

In contrast, our various 190E's were inexpensive to maintain, and miles piled on without the need for any major repair. The 2.6L M103 is an excellent engine like it's 3.0L cousin. Headgasket issues are nowhere near as bad as M104 engines.

The 2.6L cars are tough to work on thanks to crowded engine bays, but not so bad to keep from buying one.

The 2.6L cars are not great in snow. They have a serious front weight bias and lack traction. Even with premium studded snow tires, our 190E 2.6 was not great in the snow. Our C230 is much, much better.

In the spring we sold our 190E 2.6 with almost exactly 400,000kms on it. The new owner is a friend of my mine as it's still chugging along at about 410K without the engine being opened and the tranny is original. Nothing but service, no repairs. The AC system still blows cold. The shocks are shot and the front springs are sagging, but they're all original and should be replaced.

The real problem with 190E cars is their age. The youngest is now 12-13 years old and with such low prices, most have changed hands many times. This means that service has typically been neglected, not a good thing for a Mercedes. Personally, the 190E's would not be on my list anymore. For a few more bucks it's a smarter move to buy a C-Class. They are a better car than the 190E and prices are low. The rear seat is much larger, as is the trunk.