92 190e W/230K As Daily Driver
 

I purchased a 92 190E with 230K plus miles, the motor runs extremely well no missing or hard start problems. My question is would you be confident in driving this on a day to day basis and on occasion doing a 250 mile highway trip? :confused:

If you had all the maintenance done, I dont see why not... my 87 I drove many times over 250 miles in one day

Just check everything over and do the maintenance. I see no reason why it shouldn't be a reliable machine. I just drove my '88 560 SEL on an 1100 mile trip recently with no issue. My big thing would be to change all fluids and filters. This gives you a chance to look everything over. While you are under the car, check flex joints and the exhaust system including the rubber hangers. Look for leaks at the same time. These were pretty simple, dependable cars. I have an '84 190D, but it has issues from the P.O. I have to deal with. Enjoy the car!

I suspect that your 190E is more reliable than my 02 clk 320. Does your 190E have the 4 o 6 cylinder engine? :D

My car is a diesel but as long as cars are well maintained old cars can be awesome. I recently took my 300D with, now 179k for a 800 miles drive in on day, which put it at 2400 miles in two weeks. No issues whatsoever. I would start driving the car daily on short trips before you drive any major distances. Look for any telltale signs. If it gets warm on a 15 mile drive, I suspect 250 miles running the a/c could end poorly. If it burns oil around town know you have to keep your eye on it, etc, that kind of stuff.

the weakest link is gonna be the transmission. Yeah, the climate control might fail, or the power window switches, but none of those will prevent you from getting home.

if I had an MB with 200k on its original automatic - I'd start budgeting for a new/rebuild. Not that it'll need it in the next 5 years, but if it was abused by its previous owner, its end will come soon after 200 or 250k.

The other biggie at that mileage is timing chain - the diesel chains stretch if not taken care of, but I'm not sure about the gassers.

-John

Single row chains fail, probably between 150-200k. Double row seem to hang in a bit longer for the same level of maintenance.

Sure would. Drive my 87 190D 300-400 miles a day regularly. Did Chicago and back last year over labor day weekend, 800 miles each way. We have had a series of Buick LeSabres since the mid eighties all of which have had 300K + before we traded, none of which had any major mechanical issues (always computer related gremlins, usually in the climate control, caused me to trade). Any one of my cars (with the exception of the 300SD - first car I ever owned that I had to have towed home) have made regular 500-600 mile road trips up to the day they are sold.

Jim

Its the 2.3 4 Cylinder, I'm impressed with the gas mileage as long as I keep my foot out of it. I first bought for the wife but she just was not happy with it so I took it over, she is more partial to older model mustangs :huh:

Thanks for the opinions everyone.

It should without any problem, keep your eyes and ears peeled, if something is about to let go, you normally get signs unless, at least with items that are mileage related.

Keeping your foot out of it is key. No abuse and good maintenance cars will last a long long time.

I would. That is if i had a backup car. I wouldn't rely on any older.car to be there for you to get you to work daily without a few times of being up until 2 trying to get it in condition to drive you to work in the morning. I miss my car but i don't miss being up so late working on it i am falling asleep under the hood.

If it's 18 years old, factory original, and made of rubber, it's probably dead. Radiator and heater hoses, fuel and brake lines should be carefully examined.