Since I can't convince my just turned 16 son that a 240D is the right car for him, he has been considering a 190D or a 190E. I really don't know anything about these as the 123 and 126 diesels are the models I like. What are the good and bad points of the 190 series? From what little I know I would lean towards a diesel with a stickshift or the 4 cylinder with a stickshift (if there is such a thing). Priorities are reliability, mileage, ease of service, and parts availability. Any advice such as what years, engines, etc are most desireable would be appreciated. Thanks

the 190d is your car, then.

Body parts fail more than on the w123, but they are, for the most part, just luxuries.

you don't really need your windows to open and close or your rear doors to open from the outside.... right?

there is a four cylinder 5 speed.

Were 190s available with crank windows?

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Not in the MBUSA cars, which were "fully loaded" for the American market. The rest of the world had different trim levels available, including non-sunroof models.

My Euro 2.3-16 has crank windows in the back door; has no cruise control; no ambient temp display; no lighted sunvisor mirrors; no rear seat lighting.

The W201 190 is a great platform. First, the car was engineered to be safe in frontal, offset and rear impacts, utilizing crumple zones and special lightweight steel sections. In nearly all accident photos I've seen of the W201, the passenger cell is typically intact and the doors fully operable.

The size of the car also makes handling and parking a snap; great turning radius.

From an aesthetics point of view, the "diamond cut" angular design marked a departure from the previous rounded design.

I had a 190E 2.6 and so did my wife's friend. Solid cars but the headgasket could be a problem if not done. Still, not a big deal.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Best get a small 4 cyl, not a 6, a 16yo doesnt need to start with the fastest car in the street !! A 240D would have been ideal but then I guess he wants something to impress others.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

When our son was 17 we got him a 300e....5 and half years later he still has it...although I am about to take it off the road... it has about 215k on it and needs ball joints.

getting back to your point..it all boils down to the kid. we are fortunate...no accidents or speeding tickets...

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1989 300ce 129k
( facelifted front,updated tail lights, lowered suspension,bilstein sports, lorinser front spoiler, MOMO steering wheel, remus exhaust,stainless steel brake lines). (Gone)

1997 s320 154k (what a ride). Sold with 179k miles. Replaced with Hyundai Equus

1994 e320 Cabriolet 108k



1972 280se 4.5 153k Owned for 12 yrs, sorry I sold it


[/SIGPIC]

I have had the 6 cylinder and it isn't that fast. A 240D is a diesel. Unless you are traveling great distances daily, I wouldn't think it would be worth it. I'd trade my diesel but it at 300K, it doesn't have much value.

__________________
01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Agree with Aklim on this. If you live where the AC will be used a lot, I think a 4 would be underpowered, especially getting on a high speed highway. Driving a 1991 2.6, I often wondered whether the 4's had enough power. The power drop off from 3.0 to 2.6 is significant.

9 years ago, my then-17 yr old daughter totaled mine two weeks after she got her license. Ran a red light and t-boned a small japanese 4 door sedan. (ouch!!!) Her speed at impact was probably 25mph. Sort of a cue shot. She stopped on the dime and the other car did a 180! Daughter and her passenger exited unscratched. No serious injury to the passenger of the other car. All damage was forward of front wheel wells. Airbag didn't deploy. At 9 years, the ins co totaled it, but the settlement 7500 less 500 deductable was fair.
So glad she was in a Benz (and buckled up)for that life experience.

The early 4-cyl exhaust headers were prone to cracking. They are easy to replace, though, and you can usually find one on-line at a fair price.

I offered him my 240D to use for free, but he wants something a little cooler so I told him he can pay for whatever car he wants. Round trip to school is about 80 miles per day so fuel economy is a concern. He seems to like the 190 style and they are plentiful and inexpensive, but I'm looking for some advice on things that are good and things to avoid. From what I have gathered so far there are three engines- the 2.3 4 cyl, the 2.6 6 cyl, and the diesel, and a 5 speed or an auto. (don't know if the 5 speed was available with all engines?). What are everyones experiences with these engines/ transmissions? Are there ones to be avoided and are they the same through the years, or are some better than others? I am all for a slower 4 cylinder with a manual trans if it is more reliable and gets better mileage, but if it's not up to the task then a 6 cyl or a diesel is OK to. For the record he is a very responsible young man who has already been driving for over three years. He even seems to be over cautious to me (which I don't discourage) probably from me telling him all the gory details of dead and maimed teenagers I have had to extract from mangled vehicles on our road. Like most kids his age he is not very financially realistic though, so I would like to have some info to save him from buying a turd. In the end it will be his decision and he will have to live with it, but I would like to be able to give him some advice so please keep it coming. Thanks. BTW- is there a website that has a history etc. of the 190?

I thought about a 190 series for my daughter, but decided I want something newer, safer, and more reliable; probably a used c-class, maybe a e-class if I find a better deal.

I provided 3 240d's and one 300d for my kids. Two were rear ended heavily and walked away.

I like the old 123s because they were pretty safe with excellent handling, steering, brakes and not much speed.

My youngest daughter is starting grad school with the 82 300cd she has been driving since she got her license. She calls it Neville and is very emotiionally attached to him.

I spoke about taking Neville's engine to revive my latest 85 300SD acquisition and she nearly started crying!

That gal has good taste in cars!

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

First, the 5-speeds, offered on all engines, are somewhat rare, but they aren't impossible to find. There's no doubt that except in congested traffic, the manual trans is a good choice for mpg, performance and those odd times when a jump start is needed.

The automatic transmission is the same as fitted in the W124 models, the venerable 722.xxx units.