Buying a 190e, need a little advise - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Nowturbo · #1 01-05-2006, 03:21 AM

I am buying my son a 190, and as a dual diesel owner I am not too informed on the gas 190s. I am not sure which to get, a 2.6, or 2.3, both are available to me . Any advise from experienced owners would be very helpful to me in making some sort of intelligent(snicker) decision. Thank You much Bob

yhliem · #2 01-05-2006, 11:16 AM

In terms of chassis, well, the W201 platform is well sorted and the passive safety is as good as the W124.

In terms of engine, I would recommend the 2.6. Ample torque, decent horsepower, good reliability.

Which is not to say that the 2.3 is unreliable, it just not as peppy.

A frequently overlooked item is the condition of rear suspension bushings. The MB 5-link design depends heavily on the performance of the bushings and these can wear out over time creating poor and unpredictable handling.

Nowturbo · #3 01-05-2006, 10:27 PM

Thank You for the rapid response. Another thing I want to know is about the mpg on the two different engines. My son Ryan is going to college, works part time and as of now drives a Dodge Neon. It gets about 27- to sometimes 30 in a combo situation. (23 in town, about 31 on hiway) How do the 190s compare in the mileage department? I know that in every other aspect, (safety,handling, and construction) there is no comparison and It will not dictate my decision on him driving a MB,but I am just curious. I have had my 300d for 12 yrs, and my 300sd for 3yrs so there is no having to convince me about feeling more secure having him in a MB, I just am not sure about the W201s because of a lack of personal experience with them.....but I sure like them and think it would be a great car for the offspring

Once more, thank you, and I would appreciate any imput from the very informative folks on this forum. Bob

timmyj51 · #4 01-06-2006, 04:41 PM

I have a '91 190E 2.3 and I get over 30mpg highway, 24/5 city. However,
I drive very efficiently to get this kind of mileage (seldom drive over 55,
no jackrabbit starts, seldom make short trips, etc.) and keep it very well maintained. If you're looking at the 2.6 keep in mind
you're gonna be trading off mileage for power.

Impala · #5 01-13-2006, 02:45 AM

In terms of fuel economy, this US Department of Energy site

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/

provides the MPG figures for 190E (model 1993):

4sp auto

>> 2.3 - city 20, highway 26, combined 23
>> 2.6 - city 20, highway 25, combined 22

5sp manual

>> 2.3 - city 20, highway 29, combined 23
>> 2.6 - city 19, highway 27, combined 22

Based on these figures, the mileage hit seems not very significant.

I've driven the 2.6 in a W124, and it's a very sweet engine. No experience with the 2.3, nor with a W201, but I would think it's a great choice for a student car -- smaller size, yet solid & safe. Good luck with the purchase.

bobbyv · #6 01-13-2006, 08:05 AM

Being an inline-6, the M103 2.6 is smoother than the 2.3. It also has more reserves of power for passing ability at highway speeds. Considering that there are many good examples of 190e 2.6's, and that the price difference between it and the 2.3 is insignificant, I would recommend the 2.6.

Having said these, I would recommend a 300e, which are quite common and affordable, and offer more safety, room and refinement over the 190e2.6.

And on the psychological side, the 300e will make your son drive more responsibly than in a 190e, I believe.

skiier3_9 · #7 01-26-2006, 03:19 PM

Contrary to the previos opinion, I think the 190's are great cars. I don't forsee the resale value dropping much more than it already has. Good examples of a 93 190e with the 2.6 (around 100k miles) can be had in the 3 - 4 grand neighbor hood. The m103 motor was a great engine, the only thing you would want to look for is head gasket replacement. It is a very common failure of that engine and usually happens between 100 - 150k miles. The 190e is a very safe car, arguably safer than the 123 (although I have never seen side by side crash comparisions). I drove our 86 190e 2.3 in high school and as a teen and now 20-something the 190e cosmetically is more desirable than the w123. I'm not saying that this should be your deciding factor, but I would much prefer to drive a 190e 2.6 than nearly any 123. I also think that the w201 platform was very easy to maintain, there were not very many complicated electronic systems and the on board diagnostics (although limited) are easily read with a hand held impulse scan tool.

One other thing, depending on how much highway driving your son will do I have to say that the 2.6 is MUCH more comfortable than the 2.3. I have driven both the 86 2.3 and a 93 2.6 and there is almost no comparision. The 2.3 revs much higher (esp. the pre 87 models) because of the transmission gearing.

There is my .02 +

Check out www.190revolution.net for a 190e specific forum...lots of good info there!

yhliem · #8 01-26-2006, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col.Klink

If this is a son you really care for and it's his first car why would you put him in a Wannabe Mercedes ?

Sorry, there's nothing "wannabe" about the 201.

#9 01-26-2006, 06:56 PM

[COLOR="RoyalBlue"

Quote:

Originally Posted by yhliem

Sorry, there's nothing "wannabe" about the 201.

][/COLOR]

I most certainlly agree I would not wannabe in one either!

skiier3_9 · #10 01-26-2006, 07:11 PM

one safety feature that the 201 has which the 123 lacked was a driver air bag. Col. Kink: you claim the 240d or 300d is a safer car than the 201 but I have trouble believing it. I would guess that your odds of surviving an accident w/o injuries are about the same, perhaps better with an airbag in the w201.

yhliem · #11 01-26-2006, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Col.Klink

I most certainlly agree I would not wannabe in one either!

Don't worry, you're certainly in no danger of getting a ride in mine.

Glen · #12 01-26-2006, 10:54 PM

According to this New Zealand passenger car safety guide, the W123 and W201 are rated the same in terms of safety; both are average. The W124 and W202 are better with above average ratings. Check it out: http://www.ltsa.govt.nz/vehicles/used-cars/brochure.pdf

Different source, same results: http://www.mynrma.com.au/used_safety_ratings_lux.asp

skiier3_9 · #13 01-27-2006, 12:37 AM

Thanks glen, interesting documents!

BTW: MB extended the shelf life on their air bags to 15 years, meaning all of the 91 air bags are set to expire this year.

I find it hard to believe that you would discount the evidence that airbags can protect the occupant during a crash. I know that MB spends a lot of research dollars on safety and we can both agree that they build safe cars. So, I find it hard to beileve that MB would be the first to have airbags if they didn't think it would benefit the occupant during a crash.

lee polowczuk · #14 01-27-2006, 11:09 AM

agreed... go for the 300e.... a bit bigger.

That 2.6 is really crammed into a 190...

skiier3_9 · #15 01-27-2006, 04:25 PM

Now you've brought up the 124 (300e) which is another great car.

The 190 does have a very cramped back seat and any adults that ride back there will wish they hadn't

Sorry for divering off topic, there were saftey issues brought up. As glen posted earlier, the 124 does better in crash tests than the 201 cousin. Also, by 93 dual airbags were standard.

I don't know if you had a specific 190 in mind or were just looking to get a Mercedes as a replacement for the neon.