Did any models of the '84-'93 190d come with anti-lock brakes?

Here's the reason I ask--I commute about 60 miles a day, 5 days a week, and over the last 3 years, including trips to the beach and driving around town, I have racked up about 60,000 miles between two 190d's, an '84 2.2 5spd and an '86 2.5 5spd. And in that time I have had 3 fender benders, each the result of someone stopping short in front of me, and me skidding into the back of their car at 5-10mph, all four wheels locked up.

The first wreck was in my '84, and I chalked it up to going down a steep hill in the rain. Being unable to stop in time to avoid hitting the guy in front of me when the car in front of him suddenly slammed on brakes and took a hard left turn didn't really surprise me. The insurance co. totalled the car and it cost me a grill, radiator, hood, fan, fan clutch and radiator shroud to get it back on the road. And while I was doing those repairs, I found the '86 that I have been driving since.

The second wreck, in my "new" '86, was a typical interstate fender bender--bumper to bumper stop and go traffic--a line of cars slam on brakes and I just barely skidded into the tow ball on the hitch on the car in front of me at about 5mph--this wreck just cost me a bumper cover (no damage to the tow ball). This time I left a little disappointed in the fact my car skidded and hit the tow ball--it locked up and skidded rather than stopping....no good....

And now for the third and most scary/annnoying wreck. Driving along on the interstate at 65mph in my '86 when I look up and see the pickup 50 yards in front of me slamming on brakes. I slammed on my brakes, and guess what, all four wheels lock up and I skidded, somewhat sideways, into the bumper of the truck--hitting him at the typical barely still moving 5-10 mph. This wreck took out the passenger side corner--headlight, hood, fender, and radiator support all twisted--again the insurance co. says "totalled"......This one pissed me off. In all three of these wrecks, the thought in my head as it was happening was "come on, stop already"...and each time, as if by magic, and happening fairly slowly, I skidded into the back of the other car at a misely 5mph--just enough to do some damage if the other bumper is higher than yours...

I love the 190d--cheap, safe, practical, gets 39 mpg, well engineered, and an MB. But, I seem to see a trend here--consistently not being able to stop in time to avoid rear-ending other cars b/c the wheels lock up and the car skids.........

Do these cars have anti-lock brakes? Should I find a new 190d, fix the '86 and keep on trucking only to have this happen again, or ditch the 190d for a newer model with better stopping distances (considering that my price range is more inline with the price of an '86 190d than a 2010 SL 55)?

I would have thought ABS was standard after 86. I know it was optional.

In '87 ABS was standard on all US Mercedes cars except the 190E 2.3 and the 190D 2.5 (NA). That leaves the 190E 2.6, 190E 16V, and the 190D 2.5 Turbo with ABS standard (optional on the other two models).

I don't know in previous nor subsequent years what the standard equpment level was for these cars.

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Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

Sorry to hear about the accident. The issue is that you are always at fault if you rear-ended the car in front.

1) Do not tail gate. If the car in front of you stop dead and you cannot stop without hitting it then you are too close.

2) Did you try to pump the brake?

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And if you must know, several well-respected tests including some from the SAE have shown that ABS extends stopping distances over braking at the threshold of traction in most cases, and in deep snow or gravel/dirt locked wheels is the fastest way to stop.

ABS is designed mostly to maintain control when panic-braking, not to stop faster.

In other studies when ABS was a new thing (introduced by Mercedes Benz on automobiles) on cars, it was found that taxi drivers with ABS would drive more aggressively and count on their brakes to save them, had more accidents.

So I have to side with Ah-Kay on this, leave more stopping distance regardless of what you drive, you're crashing and that's not a good sign.

__________________

Gone to the dark side

- Jeff

I would be interested in seeing those studies. As I understood it good ABS shortened stoping distances on dry pavement.

-J

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i think you better slow down

Normally people learn to leave more room between them and the car in front after their first front to end crash. I guess some people take longer to realize that no matter how good your brakes are, there is still a need to maintain an appropriate distance between you and what ever is in front of you.
50 yards is not enough at 65mph.
How come you "looked up" to see the pick up? Were you texting,changing a CD, attending to some chore & not watching the back of the pick up you were tail gating?

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I was a professional drivers for years...you name the major delivery co I worked for them. They drill into your head....ALWAYS LEAVE AN OUT...meaning you should always have enough room between you and the front or side vehicle to get out of the way of anything or avoid anything. Even driving cars I do the same thing..always have at least 3 cars lengths between you and the car in front of you at slow speeds, higher speeds more distance. Your brakes could fail at any time no matter how good they are. You need enough time to react to what ever the circumstances...tailgating always causes problems. Not enough time to react. ABS could help you in the rain, but not under 30mph. The newer cars ABS does not activate under 30mph afaik.

ABS will keep trying to keep the wheels from locking all the way down to 6 or 8 mph. Even on a modern car.

-J

My '86 Euro W201 has an ABS system, so at least you can know that as of that date it was theoretically possible. I've never activated it, thankfully.

Kurt

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- '79 240D - engine swap complete! Engine broken in! 28-31 mpg! Lovin' the ride!
- '86 190D (W201-126) - 2.5 NA engine, 5 speed, cloth interior, manual climate controls, 33-34 mpg (sold to forum member).

Thanks to all for the many wonderful driving tips. I guess the point is, it seems like in each of these incidents the more modern cars in front of me have stopped in less distance, and I have skidded into them at a very slow speed, in my mind because my car is older and doesn't have anti-lock brakes. I think this because I know my brakes work very well, but in emergency situations I keep coming up on the short end of things. (Also, as an FYI - this never happened in my previous car - a 1995 BMW M3 that I sold having never had a wreck).

I drive back and forth for 45min-1hr each way twice a day, 5 days a week, every week. I have for years and will likely do so for many to come, so as much as I'd like to think making a mental note to slow down or increase my following distance will help, I will, with 100% certainty, be in an emergency braking situation again in the future. I'd like to feel confident in these situations that my car will stop rather than skidding into another fender bender. I guess the question is, is this an unrealistic expectation for a 25 y/o 190d? And if so, I should probably get a newer model.

I know my 190d doesn't accelerate rapidly because it is an efficient old diesel--should I also assume it will not deccelerate rapidly because it is an older model, designed to hit different performance parameters than the modern cars I compete with on the interstate?......

I was reading on overhead interstate information sign the account of a deadly fatality that happened that morning--following at a safe distance--and looked down to see the truck some distance ahead of me slamming on brakes. I feel confident that without a skid, I would have stopped short of hitting him.

But thanks for being a dick and assuming it's all my fault

ABS is not an excuse to drive like a moron. There is generally no excuse for rear-ending someone. If you do, you were going way too fast, way too close. Especially if it was only in the RAIN. Don't look for a car with ABS, look for a guide to driving properly. I can't stand people that tailgate. Pretty soon I am going to mount up a brake fluid sprayer.

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If your locking up and skidding on dry pavement your breaking too hard. Breaks work most effectively at the threshold of skidding. They teach threshold breaking in driving courses.