I was the proud owner of a 92 190E 2.6 and loved the car but sold it to buy my Daughter a car more to her liking. I am now looking to get another MB but I am very interested in obtaining a diesel. My question is this. My 190 was a little small on the inside for my big frame. A very narrow car that lacks shoulder room. Does the 300 offer a roomier cabin than the 190? Is the 300 have fewer vaccum issues with the climate control system? I guess how do the cars compare in general?

Thanks for any insight and love that I found this forum.

Kevin

Thanks for responding and I did like the way the 190 handled and I have yet sit in a 300 but am looking for one locally at a dealership I can drive and see how it feels. From what I read on this board that you feel as confident in the 300 as you do in the 190. I know I want something bigger so this might just fit the bill along with liking the simplicty of a diesel.

Thanks Again

I own both a 190D Turbo 2.5 and 300D Turbo from 1987 AS WELL AS a 95 E300D and E320S (wagon).

Bottom line: The 190 (201) was the design forerunner to the 300 (124) car. Having nearly dismantled and re-mantled both vehicles over and over during the the past 10 years, there are "upgrades" the 124 line has over the 201, namely stiffness and structure that give the 124 it's marveled brick like feel and here is the best part, my 95 E300D is a nimble responsive extremely sound and comfortable vehicle hands down a "funner" ride over the 201. I like the smallness of the 201 zipping around, but every day of the week and twice on sunday, I would take the 95. here's the rub, although the 87 300D T will rocket you to speeds over 100 MPH without even breathing hard, i would take the 190 over the old 300, but never over the 95.

The 1995 124 is a culmination of design and improvement over 10 years of production. every aspect of my 1995s rocks over the old 87, except of course the lack of turbo. 201 production ran from 84-92. It never saw the benefits the 124 gained from the 202, 129 and 140 introductions that occurred from 91-93. These improvement found their way into the 124 in 94 and 95 to bring it inline with the other new models.

These imporvements included but were not limited to completely different front seats, ASD and or ASR, CD, much improved though still lacking sound system, heated seats, euro headlights, plastic lower molding, (very nice in the snow belt) transmission shift points and gear ratios, interior wood appointments, tighter steering ratio and smaller leather steering wheel, much tighter sound proofing, lined and insulated trunk, central locking system opens and closes all windows and sunroof, 5 or 8 hole wheels, shift brake interlock, heated washer fluid, electric left mirror, auto down front window,rear fog light, duel airbags, the 606 engine is duel overhead cam and gets 37 MPG highway AND best of all, it's 10 years newer.

My 87 was built in June of 86, my 95 was built in May of 95.

If you go with the 95 E320W (sedan) it has the 104 engine vs. the 103. the 104 in the 95 124 is a 3.2 liter DOHC with variable intake timing. The 103 was only SOHC and a bit doggy in the 124. The variable timing engages at 3000 rpm and feels like a turbo boost. It rockets the car from 65 to 100 in mir seconds, and the mileage is 25-27 on the highway.

I don't think you will be disappointed with the 124 from 1995 in any variant as it was one of very few years every body style option was available, that is IMHO

__________________
Mark
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THE WHITE FLEET
2016 GLE300d 4-MATIC 38K BROWN!
2012 S350 Bluetec==94k WHITE

2007 ML320 CDI==166K WHITE (FOR SALE)

Under new management:
2005 E320 CDI--140K--WHITE
1995 E300-Diesel-133.5K--THE CAR IS BLUE
1986 300SL--97.5K (European) AND WHITE. Back in Europe!
1991 190E 2.3-73K California Perfect.--WHITE
1995 E320-Wagon-159K--WHITE (recently scrapped)
1987 300D Turbo-213K--WHITE
1987 190D 2.5 Turbo-288K--WHITE