Hi all - I am new here. Might be purchasing a 1991 190E 2.3 automatic. 145k miles. I have the limited service history from the MB dealer for warranty work.

At 5000 miles the power steering pump was replaced, in late 91. At 15000 the coolant pump was replaced along with the PS pump again (2nd time in 10k miles). At 22k miles in Jan 93 the exhaust manifold or gasket was replaced due to a leak. At the same time a Joint Disk propeller shaft was replaced? Then another joint disk at 44k miles in 1994.

The rest of the service must have been done outside of dealer network.

Are those issues listed above going to come back? Seems like a PS pump twice in 10k miles is fairly serious. Ditto for the joint disks.

What else should one look for on these cars?

Thanks!

Also, since I can't get ahold of service history for the past 10 years once the car was out of warranty, should I NOT get the automatic transmission serviced? Dealer said it might mess things up for change the fluid at this point.

Thanks again.

If you don't get the trans serviced now . . . when will you? The early service history doesn't sound bad, but it's what you don't know about how the car was maintained over the last 10 years that would make any purchaser want to get a full inspection done. including a compression test, and putting the car up on a rack to get the suspension checked out.

Thing is, the car is being bought at auction - can't get a preinspection done. Of course, they claims no leaks, cold a/c, etc.

I noticed on the service history, there is also line item at 43k miles that says "gasket/sealing surface, cylinder". Is that a head gasket?

So you say that regardless, the transmission fluid should get changed. Probably just get the 150k service done and see what happens?

Thanks.

I recently sold our 87 190e 2.3 and bought a 93 190e 2.6. The 87 was well into 200K miles and I did a ton of work on it including the dreaded heater core job (18 hours +/-).

It seems the 2.3 just run hotter and make sure the coolant is not the green type or count on at least a radiator. Since it has an electro-magetic cooling fan clutch, this is another item to check.

The 190's all have r12 AC refrigerant, make sure it blows cool.

Some say the 190e trans life is max 150k miles, I used Mobil Synthetic and even well into 200k never had a problem.

Haasman

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'03 E320 Wagon-Sold
'95 E320 Wagon-Went to Ex
'93 190E 2.6-Wrecked
'91 300E-Went to Ex
'65 911 Coupe (#302580)

Well, I have a 1987 190E 2,3.

And yes, I also had to replace the radiator. Easy and not that expensive.

Apart from that, my experience is that it is very reliable.

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1991 300SEL (W140)
1987 190E 2.3 (W201)
1987 Honda Accord 2.0