Introducing "Peachy" My 1991 190E 2.6! - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Merkey · #1 06-21-2012, 02:30 PM

So, while the whole story and my choices are unfolding, I am just getting on with making Peachy right!

Spent a ton of hours getting the last of the paint dialed in...
Washed, clayed, buffed, and waxed to baby butt perfection.
From what I see every panel and the paint on it is original!

Even got sent the original phone by the PO!
LOL, do these even work thesedays?

Even tho the fuel system flow was spot on, I had a new fuel filter, so put it on.

I wanted to change the diff oil, but dont have a hex big enough to get the drain plug out..

Anyone care to tell me what size it is???

MBeige · #2 06-21-2012, 03:10 PM

Nice work, that car is happy to be under your care.

IIRC the differential plug is 14mm, but double check. It's quite huge.

My 190E received a valve job recently, and I guess I'm lucky my mechanic added a personal touch - replicating the valve cover paintwork you did.

Merkey · #3 06-21-2012, 03:42 PM

14mm.. thanks.
I will probably get a set from HF that includes that size...
Can you ever REALLY have too many tools??

Glad you enjoyed the valve cover and you have one similar too!

I am planning to get the smog done soon and will report back!

Merkey · #4 06-26-2012, 01:17 PM

Replaced the passenger side mirror foot rubber too..

Before..

After...

Pulled off the rear wheels checked the brakes and cleaned everything up...
22 years old.... Really?

Merkey · #5 08-12-2012, 03:42 PM

Replaced the cracked center vent surround...
New one has 3 holes, so I will need to get another switch blanking plate.

MBeige · #6 08-12-2012, 06:30 PM

You can wire up the garage door opener to one of the older MB 190E switches, and place it on one of the open slots on your new center vent cover.

I bought a new center vent cover too as mine was cracking. Same problem I had with yours, except mine had the antenna switch so I only needed one blank cover.

So how did the smog test go?

Merkey · #7 08-14-2012, 03:48 PM

Well, the smog test was not good...
The first time I tested it last year, it failed, but since then I have been thru everything, ignition and fuel system.
Duty cycle is now bang on, car idles super smooth, plugs look the correct color..
Everything looked great...

I took it in for a Pre-test... it failed on the HC at the lower speed.. twice the limit...

Brought it home, frustrated, and went thru everything again... hence my post on duty cycle questions.
Mechanic says maybe O2 sensor and/or Cat.

The car runs great, starts first time, and runs strong...
Upon testing the O2 sensor, I felt it was slow to respond...

Here are two video links showing the tester before and after, with the Duty cycle readings for reference at idle(I had it set at 30% because I was trying to get the best balance between rich and lean... I later put it back to 50%)

And at 2500rpm with the same duty cycle..
The cycling is faster, but I my gut said it was sluggish.

I replaced it...
Now look at the diffence at idle..
Duty clcle was reset to 50%, and look at the snappier response and wider voltage swings between rich and lean.

And at 2500rpm..

Merkey · #8 08-14-2012, 04:09 PM

Feeling confident, with the new O2 sensor in, everything was feeling good!

Took it back for a Pre-test....
It failed again on HC at the lower speed...
Oh, and just for good measure to give me a kick in the nuts, between the morning start and the smog station... the CEL bulb blew, adding a visual failure to the insult!
The reading were pretty similar... failed at lower engine speed...

I got under the car...
I had not done this before, but I banged the Cat... which is not the OEM unit...
It rattled...

So, I decided to replace it..
Here is CA, its not so simple or cheap...
But here it is... the correct magnaflow CARB approved cat..

Cut the old one off today...
The pictures will speak for themselves....

I am feeling like that could be the issue!

Merkey · #9 08-15-2012, 11:49 AM

In the process of trying to figure out if I had Ignition issues, I pulled out my old Beckman Ignition Analyzer...
I have owned this for about 8 years and had only used it once before to see if it worked...
I worked great, and was able to see that as far as my limited knowledge is of how to read this beast, all was well!

Merkey · #10 08-20-2012, 06:58 PM

Well.....
IT PASSED SMOG!!!!

It flew through the test with really low numbers!

ps2cho · #11 08-22-2012, 08:01 PM

I've had my CARB Magnaflow cat /w precats deleted since 2008 and I've passed CA smog with it and last year blew through AZ smog with HC + CO. My NOx was high due to blocked radiator...high combustion chamber temps.

Keep the oil consumption in check and there should be no reason a CARB cat should not last 7+ years. Sure, not as long as the OE 20 years, but paying $2k for a Genuine cat (priced via parts.com right now) vs $150 for an aftermarket Magnaflow. Doesn't make logical sense at all.

Here were my AZ smog results:

300TE // limit // result
HC: 0.18 // 1.60 // PASS
CO: 0.69 // 15.00 // PASS
NOx: 2.38 // 2.50 // PASS

So my experience has been the same as Merkey's...Magnaflow is a GO!

Merkey · #12 08-24-2012, 04:41 PM

Well, plans change...
My Daughter has just confirmed her decision to stay in Europe and study for at least 2 years more.
Which left me with a decision to make..
We only have a 2 car garage, and the 2.6 has been sitting there for almost 2 years while I tinkered with it and got it ready.
After a long discussion with my Girlfriend, we decided that we do not need another car, and the choice between the 190D and the 2.6 was really an easy one.
So the 2.6 will be put it up for sale.
I am sad, for many reasons, but it's the right thing to do for us at this time... but I know I will regret it!
I think Ebay is the way to go, unless anyone makes me an offer I cant refuse...

I will post the details once I have it all figured out!

Holmesuser01 · #13 08-25-2012, 11:17 AM

I've enjoyed reading this thread from the beginning.

As for your daughter's change of heart, OUCH! That's got to hurt!

You've got your car all ready to go and now, you gotta let it go.

As all the others have said, thats one snazzy looking 190E!!

Merkey · #14 08-25-2012, 02:49 PM

Thanks for the support!

When I bought the car in 2010, it was because we had been planning for her arrival in 2011... I was not in a hurry to get it ready, and it really was a backburned project, as I felt I had time.
It had 88,600 miles on it the day I picked it up and we put 1,300 miles on it in the 3 months before I put it in the garage. Most of that was done by my girlfriend running back and forth between home, here is Orange County, and hospital in Los Angeles. Her father had a heart op up there and she ran back and forth with her mother every day for about 10 days until he was home. The Mercedes provided smooth and economical transportation for her during that time. and never gave a hint of issues. I kept a close eye on the performance and economy, and in the LA traffic they used the carpool lots. My calculations told me it was averaging 25mpg+. Far better than her driving her Range Rover at 14mpg!
For me, it was the perfect shakedown test, and allowed me to just work thru the issues of doing a full workup, and all the fluids and filters.

My daughter's decision was not unexpected, and the reality is the Mercedes was just part of the carrot we put out for her. She liked it but said she really wanted a Jeep...

When we looked at our options, the choice was between the 2.6 and my 190D... The 2.6 was all dialed in and ready to go... the 190D... not so much!
The 190D is just a DD... and it lives outside... the thought of putting the 2.6 outside and using it as a DD just felt wrong.

Whoever owns it next will have a really nice base to build on... I would like to have put bigger wheels, lower it a little, and put a darker tint on the windows... but thats just me!
At least I can focus on the Airstream and fixing things on the 190D then!

Yesterday, I washed it down to get the dust off, and gave the interior a quick vacuum, and plan to take some pics...

Merkey · #15 08-25-2012, 07:11 PM

Here are some pics I took today...
Can anyone tell me what color the interior is... cant remember the official word!