Hello - a bit of 190E help if you please?

[Susief]

Hi there

I'm hoping one of you clever Merc owners can help me out with what is a really dumb question (could only come from a girl, I know )

I'm trying to find out if my 190E takes leaded or unleaded petrol but for the life of me I can't find the answer. It doesn't say in the handbook as that's a general guide covering a couple of models. It doesn't say inside the fuel filler flap (that only has tyre pressure guidelines printed there). So I'm at a bit of a loss.

I've had the car for a year and a half and have been filling it with normal unleaded and using a lead supplement each time I fill up - This is what the previous owner told me to do. Now I find that the petrol stations are no longer selling this supplement as they say no-one buys it.

So do I just go ahead with no lead supplement?

Car Specs (as far as I can find out!!)
Mercedes 190E
4 cylinder
1997cc engine
4 gear manual
Pre 1990 (that's when it was first registered here in Cyprus) but I don't know what year exactly though, perhaps someone can tell me how to find out?


Many thanks for your help - I am truely embarrased to have to ask this very silly question but Google isn't my friend this week!

Susie

[Cal Learner]

No 190s sold in North America ever took leaded fuel, and I'd be surprised if Euro versions did either. Model year can be determined from the vehicle identification number (VIN). About the 10th digit of the VIN is a letter corresponding to the model year:

E = 1984
F = 1985
G = 1986
H = 1987
I was not used
J = 1988
K = 1989
L = 1990
M = 1991
N = 1992
O was not used
P = 1993

[Susief]

Thanks Cal Learner!

The car was imported to Northern Cyprus from Germany, that much I know! When I went to fill up today the attendant said that normal unleaded was fine for the car and that there's no bottles of lead supplement at any of the garages - at least I think that's what he said as my Turkish isn't great!

Am I right in thinking the VIN number is found on the chassis? I have WBD2010242F677983 So does that make it 1985?

[LUVMBDiesels]

Susie,

There are no dumb questions, only intolerant answers Feel free to ask whatever you want as you are now family

If you look under the car and see a catalytic converter like shown in the pictures then the car was designed to run on unleaded gasoline. I do not think that unleaded was required in Germany until 1993 so any car older would probably not have the emissions equipment but should still run on unleaded gas with no issues.

Let us know how you are doing in Cyprus. I hear it is beautiful on the island.

[Ivanerrol]

If you are in Cyprus it is highly likely a pre 1990 car was set up to use both types of petrol. Look under the bonnet and see if you can find the EZL octane setting wheel.
Like so


If there is no sticker in the fuel filler that states unleaded fuel only then it is very likely that the car will run on both.

I once owned a 1988 European 190e 2.6. No cats, no oxygen sensor and adjustable octane wheel. Car was designed to go anywhere in the world. - especially to third world countries where petrol was very iffey.

[mak]

Originally Posted by L

Susie,

There are no dumb questions, only intolerant answers : Feel free to ask whatever you want as you are now family
.

Most aptly stated. we all endever to help with our collective experince,wisdom , only once in a while a a crass answer slips by .

mak

[Ivanerrol]

Here's the information on your car from the Russian VIN site.

VIN WDB2010242F677983
Model 190 E AUSTRALIA
Chassis 2010242F677983
Engine 102962 20 244367
Transmission 716217 01 399139
Order 0 9 821 00014
Delivery date 26.10.89
Dealer Cyprus (821)
Interior cloth blue (062)
Paint
147 arctic white (T) (с 01.01.1985 по 31.12.1993)
Options
461 Unknown code
524 paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
580 air conditioner/Tempmatic (с 01.11.1982)
593 heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (single-sheet safety glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, single pane safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
613 lamp unit, asymmetrical, l.h. traffic (с 01.02.1963)
677 tropical battery (с 01.06.1965 по 30.11.1991)
687 model plate indicating year of construction (с 01.01.1963)

Note that it was Right hand drive Australian Spec 1989. This means that it will have cats, O2 sensor and specified unleaded fuel. Run the car on minimum 95octane unleaded.

[Susief]

Wow, thank you all for the very kind responses...and what detailed answers too!

Ivanerrol - I couldn't find the EZL octane dial But major thanks for the detailed info on my car. I knew it was possible but as I said, google failed me this time!

I did find the Catalytic converter so thank you for the pics LUVMBDiesels as I would never have known what to look for otherwise!

So I guess it's safe to say that I'm ok to carry on filling with normal 95 unleaded petrol.

Northern Cyprus is indeed beautiful and although I've only been here two years, it truely feels like home. Oh and for all you 190E lovers - there's a ton of them here, all in pretty good condition too! The funny thing is that here they cost probably 5 times as much if not more than if you were to buy one in the UK (massive import taxes here!) There's a whole load of other classic cars here too (lots of Mercs ), most still running nicely, and some abandoned at the side of the road, so if you're looking for a classic-car-spotting-holiday then North Cyprus is the place!

Anyway, thanks again for the help...no doubt I'll be back with more odd queries