Emergency help please. 190E
 

Ok. So I'm in kind of a bind here. I have to buy a car by the weekend. Not a good position to be in but it's where I am at. I'll likely have to take some kind of a deal on a newer cheap vehicle. Maybe a small truck. But I am also trying to acquire a Mercedes in this time frame if at all possible.

I have looked at two 190E's today but am unfamiliar with these vehicles. One is an 85 2.3 in very nice shape. About the only thing that worries me on it is that it appears to run very hot. Ambient temperature today in Phoenix was 113. The car ran about half way between 100 and 120 for most of the test (with the A/C on all the time of course) and which included a decent stretch of freeway up to 85mph. When we returned to the owners house the car cut out upon turning sharply into his driveway. The car has 104K miles on it and the last 30K have been in his ownership. He says it's always run hot but never actually overheated. (It came real close today). I know it could just be the thermostat but as I'm unfamiliar with the W201 can anybody enlighten me as to what temperature they should run at? I'm pretty much a believer in the theory that Mercedes should stay between 85 and 90 no matter what so this concerns me.

Also. The other car I tested had failed back windows. They went down but would not go up, wether using the console or door switches. Any idea why that would be?

- Peter.

The operating temp range for the '85 190E is 80 to 100 C. At 85 to 89 C, the thermostat opens and at 100 C, the electromagnetic fan switches on.

In addition to the thermostat, check the serpentine belt, aux fan switch and the expansion tank cap.

Thanks. I'm pretty sure the fan did not switch on till almost at 120 so either the temperature gauge is way off or there is a problem with that fan. How would the expansion tank cap affect the temperature?

- Peter.

try finding a 300E they are hadable for 1500-2000 sometimes...

190e
 

I had a '91 190E that ran in the same temp range. With a new radiator and thermostat the car still ran above 100C in the summer. I live in Palm Springs which is hotter than Phoenix. I came to the conclusion that the radiator just wasn't large enough. After all, when was the last time it hit 117F in Germany?
Anziani

'87 300E 205K
'95 E420 112K

I know. I just missed a perfect 86 260E for only 3500. Like it had just been driven out of the showroom twenty three years ago. My problem is a time constraint. I have to have a reliable vehicle by the weekend so I'm stuck with what's available.

- Peter.

I suppose the testing that Mercedes does around the world, from Iceland to the Sahara, even for the W201, was just for fun. :rolleyes: :D

The expansion tank cap vents when system pressure hits about 17 psi. If it's not venting, it could allow pressure and temps to build up in the system.

Given your situation, I don't know if shopping for an old Mercedes is the best idea.

I love my '88 300E that I picked up for $2000 two months ago. But I would not have considered buying it without a thorough inspection by a reputable MB shop. I would not want to feel "rushed" into buying any 20-year old car that--but a 20-year old MB won't be cheap to own if it needs an initial maintenance spree.

If the windows need the regulator motor, that ain't cheap--if it's just the switch, that's very inexpensive. I had three bad windows--only one was a switch, dangit!

Good luck to you... -Eric

Thank's Eric. Ironically I looked at an 89 260E today that is in very nice shape indeed, but agree with you that it's a gamble.

- Peter.

Mercedes just run hot in phoenix during the summer. Are you stuck on mercedes? Hondas work really well in that phoenix heat if you need a car asap.

Not all of them. My 240D never once went above 100 even in 115 ambient. And the 260E I test drove today in 110 ambient never went above 90. So I believe there that if they are operating correctly Mercedes can indeed handle summer in Phoenix. However I'm not stuck on Mercedes. I'll probably wind up with a small truck tomorrow. At least I can move stuff for yard work and re-modelling that way.

- Peter.

cool man, best of luck.

window regulators are easy to replace if you find a junkyard car with a working regulator

Well thanks folks for all your input. I've decided to forgo the siren song of Mercedes ownership for now. I just picked up a small pickup. Time will tell how I make the return to the stars fold.

- Peter.