Looking for advice on a potential purchase
 

I am considering traveling to look at a '85 190E 2.3 8 valve, manual transmission car.

The current owner admits to it running poorly until it is warmed up, suggesting that it needs a "tune up" and that it needs brake work, what ever that means. I'm not at all concerned about the brakes, but...

Can someone give me a run down about what might be behind the poor running/idling when cold?

As far as I know the present owner has owned it for 6 months, so I am thinking he has decided not to fix or run the car as planned.

ALSO, what would be a fair price for a Clean '85 190 w/ a stick? assuming excellent sheet metal, and good to very good interior? The car is reported to have 140,000 on it.

Coming from 100,000 miles in a '85 300D, I am uncertain of the gas jobs, but interested in a W201. Oh yeah and the present asking price is around $2700.

Thanks,

You'd need to do full troubleshooting on it. Test each component... Could be a part or two, or could need "everything". Asking price sounds way too high based on your description. How is the tranny? Ac and heat? All interior stuff working? Windows go up and down
, etc. Oil leaks? Diff leaking?

Rough samples seem to go for 500-1200.

i agree... and if doesn't have cold ac ...walk

2700$ !!!!:eek: I wouldn't let you give me that car:o

140,000 on a poorly running 190e 2.3 I'd say its worth about $800 tops if the body/interior are in nice shape. Getting a M102 gas engine running properly if it is not is a PAIN and $$$$$. I'd run away, or offer $800 and convert it to diesel.

My 190 used to be a 2.3 gasser also, and it was a mega pain and never ran right. Ended up ditching the gasser and swapping to OM601 diesel. Now its an awesome car :)

Sounds like this guy is trying to find a sucker to reimburse his bad decision, or a sucker to make a bunch of $$ off of.

This is a wise and excellent post to which I can add nothing but my agreement.

I too love the diesel (particularly OM617) but don't think the gassers are that bad... Running rough when engine cold? Cold start circuit (eg. The valve) working correctly?

Had a 2.3E (W123) for a while about 6 months ago. That thing hauled a$$. What a fun thing to ride! Benz gassers are not at all terrible even when aged, if properly kept up!

Pop the distributor cap and check the condition of the rotor and the cap.

I've seen some poor running gassers come back to life with a simple cap/rotor/wires/plug refresh.

Jim

Thanks for the replies. . I am not gonna hurry into this particular vehicle, but may call the dude and have a chat. I agree that he may be trying to dump a mistake, and at 2700, he is asking at least twice to three times what it is worth to me. If I go see it, I will be back with my evaluation.
best,
Jason

My race car is a 1984 190E 2.3/8-valve/5-speed with a completely stock drivetrain that has never, ever given me trouble. The engine is a junkyard unit out of a 1985 190E and has only ever needed regular maintenance over the 15 years I've been abusing it. I do have some trouble with it stumbling and stalling when the engine gets very wet, but other than that it has gobs and gobs of torque and pulls like a freight train until the cows come home. It's very light and tossable and simply a blast to drive hard (can you say "trail brake?").

That being said, I agree with Jim to start with the simple stuff and see where that leads you; be very methodical, beginning with the ignition and then getting into the injection system, checking for things like loose wires and broken connectors and cracked vacuum lines. The fact that it runs fine after warming up tells me that there's nothing seriously wrong with the basics. While $2,700 does seem a bit high, the key to value is in the body - if it's really clean, with excellent sheet metal and very good interior, it's worth the money.

ALL great advise.

I would want to know how firm the guy is on price, as well as evaluate it in person. Without seeing it, the price sound astronomical to me.