RE: SOTW: Mercedes-Benz 190E
Discussion
BL Fanboy said:
Lovely thing. I want! Seats that look like they are made form an Americans trousers too.
Funny! We Americans tend to associate tweedy seats with the Scots/English.
Growing up, a classmate's father had a 190E. I think it was the first Merc I ever sat in. Amazing ride when you compare to the Japanese cars.
I didn't get these at all until I landed myself one as a cheapo stop-gap (ran it for 3 years and its still in the family). Built like a swiss watch and a hugely satisfying car to own and run.
Most are exported in the end but thankfully I haven't heard of any being stolen for it, unlike its bigger brother the W124.
Most are exported in the end but thankfully I haven't heard of any being stolen for it, unlike its bigger brother the W124.
I had a 190e auto a few years ago. It was as they say 'hewn from granite'. I remember reading What Car is the late 80s/early 90s when I was a youngster thinking, how on earth can they sell the 190e for £20k when other cars similar in size are way cheaper? Well it went on the bloody engineering.
It felt so solid, so dependable, so relaxed. Cruising along with an arm on the window sill, it was just great. If you are fed up with the 'disposable' feel to many of today's cars or indeed many other aspects of modern life, go and get one of these cars.
The definition of over-engineering.
grosserbaby said:
As a trainee at the local insurance company I was lucky enough to snaffle the available job up on the top floor with all the Directors. Errand to run? Not for me a 405 or BX Diesel but a selection of 320i, 520i, 260E, 827 Vitesse and just one 190E Manual 2.0 in black which belonged to my boss. Whilst the 320i would have been the model I should prefer, and indeed looked the business in dolphin grey metallic with all the bells and whistles, for me aged 18 it rocked, but what about the 190? Well if I tell you my boss was Mr Cool, aged 55ish with a slick (now you'd call it clooneyesque) silver fox hairdo and a swagger, he had all the 18-25 year old women week at the knees in fact make that all the women.
urquattro said:
I know it is its big brother, 1984 W126, 4.9 V8, but 13 years owned and love it and it never given grief, apologies for keep ramming its picture down your throats.
Ahem, I would say a 5.0 litre, as it's 4973cc... Edited by urquattro on Friday 8th February 14:56
Lovely cars, I will own one, one day!
Top shed, and would be my shed of choice if I were in the market for one. Many, many years ago I had a boggo spec 2.0 auto carb model. It went well enough for what I needed at the time and simply ate the miles. I remember there being a switch to the right of the instrument cluster for the interior light which had such a satisfyingly positive click to it that I used to switch it on and off just for the pleasure of it. Waaay ahead in terms of build quality to my parents' 08 E320 cdi.
pSyCoSiS said:
Quick question though, as I never really understood this:
Why do they have odd wing mirrors? And why is one of the manual adjustment and one electric?
I know the W124 also have this design...
Proably a simple answer, but I have always been intrigued!
One you can reach. Ze ozzer you cannot. Zimple.Why do they have odd wing mirrors? And why is one of the manual adjustment and one electric?
I know the W124 also have this design...
Proably a simple answer, but I have always been intrigued!
s m said:
grosserbaby said:
As a trainee at the local insurance company I was lucky enough to snaffle the available job up on the top floor with all the Directors. Errand to run? Not for me a 405 or BX Diesel but a selection of 320i, 520i, 260E, 827 Vitesse and just one 190E Manual 2.0 in black which belonged to my boss. Whilst the 320i would have been the model I should prefer, and indeed looked the business in dolphin grey metallic with all the bells and whistles, for me aged 18 it rocked, but what about the 190? Well if I tell you my boss was Mr Cool, aged 55ish with a slick (now you'd call it clooneyesque) silver fox hairdo and a swagger, he had all the 18-25 year old women week at the knees in fact make that all the women.
:-) Superb!
Wonderful cars! I've had four...in order:
1) http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
2)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_K904_WUK
3)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_Sportline
4)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_2.6
1) http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spg...
2)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_K904_WUK
3)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_Sportline
4)http://www.bmwclassics.co.uk/gallery/index.php?spgmGal=Mercedes_190E_2.6
To add another dissenting voice, I had one in 1997 and as I try to evoke its memory from a distance of some 16 years, I recall that it was blue with a velour interior, it had a very large steering wheel that wouldn’t have looked out of place on the deck of HMS Victory and it was really, really horrible. It set off with all the urgency of a funeral procession and once it was in what it laughingly imagined was full flight, it handled like Nelson’s flagship in a particularly troublesome squall. I hated it even more because I’d had to get rid of my second Toyota MR2 to get it. My daughter was on her way into the world and we needed more room. It put me off MB for nearly 15 years.
Each to their own I suppose.
Each to their own I suppose.
In the mid 80's I was driving a Cavalier SRI - chosen because it was the quickest thing on the company car list. Due to a minor incident it went to the bodyshop for two weeks and the temporary replacement was a 190E pool car.
Although it was a pay grade above my entitlement, when they handed me the keys I was deeply disappointed. Although it was a "managers" car to my mind it was the most boring thing in the car park - the obvious choice for a mid-40's old fart. At the time they were quite expensive and even a stereo was an option.
From the first time I drove it I absolutely loved it. The car felt like it was hewn from granite and although it wasn't quick, that didn't matter. The tactile feel of all the switches were of a quality I had never experienced and it felt like such a nice place to be in.
At the end of the two weeks when I handed it back I was gutted and the SRI felt like a POS. Even now when I look at them it brings back that feeling of contentment. For a bag of sand it's a bargain.
Although it was a pay grade above my entitlement, when they handed me the keys I was deeply disappointed. Although it was a "managers" car to my mind it was the most boring thing in the car park - the obvious choice for a mid-40's old fart. At the time they were quite expensive and even a stereo was an option.
From the first time I drove it I absolutely loved it. The car felt like it was hewn from granite and although it wasn't quick, that didn't matter. The tactile feel of all the switches were of a quality I had never experienced and it felt like such a nice place to be in.
At the end of the two weeks when I handed it back I was gutted and the SRI felt like a POS. Even now when I look at them it brings back that feeling of contentment. For a bag of sand it's a bargain.
I reckon for fifteen grand you could have the perfect stable of cars, all from one period of Mercedes. Laydees and genteeelmen I give you my perfect, tackle anything garage:
1. 190e for local shopping, light day to day duties (i had one, 1990 on an h, blue black metallic)
2. E280 estate with 7 seats. For holidays, trip to dump etc a real swiss army knife of a car ( i had one, 1995 on an M, 115k, 8, yes 8 owners, blue black metallic)
3. 500sel for going posh, into london, off to swanky boutique hotels or soothing work stresses. (I haven't had one yet but my neighbour has, in blue black metallic, beige leather. He got married in it last year-better than a rotten old cream RR shadow)
4. 500sl for getting wind in the hair. ( i have one, £5k, 326bhp, lots of loveliness and in blue black... Well you get the picture!)
Not exciting but a bit like comparing a one night stand with a stunning model to marrying someone very nice looking but with depth, character, an interest in the same music as you, likes the same food etc etc. i guess i had better shut up now.
Nice SOTW.
1. 190e for local shopping, light day to day duties (i had one, 1990 on an h, blue black metallic)
2. E280 estate with 7 seats. For holidays, trip to dump etc a real swiss army knife of a car ( i had one, 1995 on an M, 115k, 8, yes 8 owners, blue black metallic)
3. 500sel for going posh, into london, off to swanky boutique hotels or soothing work stresses. (I haven't had one yet but my neighbour has, in blue black metallic, beige leather. He got married in it last year-better than a rotten old cream RR shadow)
4. 500sl for getting wind in the hair. ( i have one, £5k, 326bhp, lots of loveliness and in blue black... Well you get the picture!)
Not exciting but a bit like comparing a one night stand with a stunning model to marrying someone very nice looking but with depth, character, an interest in the same music as you, likes the same food etc etc. i guess i had better shut up now.
Nice SOTW.
P2BS said:
mccrackenj said:
I still intend to take you up on your kind offer of a go in your 190E some day soon, 'though I'd have to sell one of the W124s before I could actually buy one.
The W124 does more for me than the W201. Despite that, I've had 2 W201's and precisely zero W124's! Time may be approaching to remedy that... Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff