1988 Mercedes 190E 2.6

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Any pointers on 2 and 3 would be very welcome. Based on internet research this could be about 10 things,

The transmission Control Pressure Cable has been suggested as something that can be adjusted... any ideas?

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I had the 190 out again today and gave it a clean. It's in remarkable condition for a 1988 car.

I was given a lift in a colleague's 320d last night, and while the 320 represents progress in many ways - economy, NVH, grip - the 190 feels like a quality item in comparison to a cheap but efficient fridge freezer. Just one area: the 190 has noise from a lovely sweet straight 6, the 320d has to hide a gravel rough banger of a diesel.

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The 190 2.6 has been off the road at my mechanic's garage since April. You know how it is... lots of other jobs first.

However I collected it today, and it has had:

- New exhaust
- A small rust bubble that was forming fixed and painted
- A couple of suspension bits
- MOT
- Full service
- A good polish

It drives very well aside from a slight new judder when turning left at very low speed.

I am fond of the design of the car

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I do love the colour of the 190 in the setting sun. It becomes very warm and pleasant indeed. I stopped last night to take a few photos (as you can see I'm no photographer!)

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layercake said:

Lovely merc and one of my favorite colours, you couldn't email me your body shop guys details? I need some work done on the w124

cheers

I would but you don't permit emails according to PH when I click on your profile!

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r129sl said:

Oa, your fleet is looking immense.

Thanks. I need to get the gold (really gold!) 300e up and running next. It has been at my mechanic's since I purchased it!

The gold and brown leather combination is too good to give up on though.

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Mr Tidy said:

Car looks stunning OP!

Slightly surprised the first owner buying a 2.6 ticked the box for the auto, but not the sunroof (well unless it has air)!

It has a sunroof, but no air.

The original owner was a Dr who worked for an oil company. He had it as his company car before buying it from the company scheme and keeping it for a long time, so he was clearly fond of it. The 2.6 engine, paint colour, and green velour interor is fairly unique.

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tobinen said:

Looks very good. Does it sit high or is it just the pictures?

Yes it certainly does! I have only done around 500 miles since I replaced the springs and shocks - they take a couple of thousand miles to settle down, and we are so used to seeing these with shagged suspension that fresh suspension looks weird!

I drove it for the first time in a while tonight. I need sort the shunt in the gearbox when you engage drive next...

The ride is superb now, and it's a smooth old thing compared to the open top SL with noisy exhaust. Lovely to waft about in slowly.

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muchacho said:

Stunning fleet 0a. And Smoke Silver does look so good in the woods

Lovely!

I bet our cars are real opposites in character despite both being 190s. I drove the same roads that I took home in the SL yesterday and just wafted along at 40-50mph with the auto doing its thing, and the engine purring away. No need to rush or do anything but enjoy the countryside.

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I have enjoyed driving the 190 for a few days - it really does have this deep feeling of quality, and old school Mercedes.

Something that is hard to describe - my w124s have a far better interior, less plastic and more wood. But the 190 just has a feeling that is even better in some ways, especially with the straight 6 pleasantly moving it down the road.

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Looks tiny compared to modern cars!

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The green really does look great in the sun (I'm no good at photos though!)

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My netting is pleasantly tight (oh mr!)

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The 190 went in to a merc specialist in the midlands over the Christmas period.

I drove the usual 350 miles down south, and it felt like the throttle was “pulsing” a bit - perhaps a leave by the road thing, I had to do the same back and dislike my cars to be unreliable.

I’m very pleased with the work Silver Star did. Very knowledgable chaps indeed with these old cars; they clearly know them inside out.

For a service and checkover/adjustment, throttle issue attended, front discs and pads replaced, front prop coupling replaced, poly belt replaced, brake fluid change, and new bulb (oops) it came to £545+vat. Merc parts.

They also gave me a good list of things that will need doing in future. This includes replacing / reconditioning the rear diff which they have identified as being the source of the whine and the remaining slight drivetrain shunt.

Thanks to Zoner from the barge thread for the recommendation. I will be using them again.

The 190 feels fantastic again. These are seriously solid little things, and with the bigger engine really smooth. I’ve just been enjoying it today - 350 miles to do over the weekend, can’t wait.

More photos to follow!

It really does feel like a mini-barge though.

Edited by 0a on Friday 5th January 00:40

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I drove the 190 400 miles yesterday with some serious minus temperatures indicated on the A7 north to Edinburgh (I was bored with motorway driving). With these old cars you do have to be careful, as though they lack any serious power, the suspension is not the most sophisticated in icy conditions. It was a pleasure though, with the heating blasting out, and the occasional refreshing cool flow from the centre vents.

It was cold this morning. It's a lovely colour in the early morning sun though:



I have a new knob. The handbrake knob. No idea how the old one comes off though.



I did have other photos on a real camera, but don't have the cable to hand...!

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sophistoman said:

Interesting thread, how is ownership going? Have you still got the car?

It's been in with my The Man for over a year... while I have been buying other cars.

It will be back on the road soon, hopefully!

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Incoming!

I will hopefully be collecting soon!

Of course I will be doing the sensible thing and driving a 33 year old car that has been off the road for a few years for 330 miles.

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Thanks everyone. One thing I need to sort (will hopefully collect next week) is that the boot was filling with water. It has been inside since I cleaned it out. A boot seal?

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Thanks chaps. I may take a look at getting those tail light seals.

I collected the car today. Fantastic. My mechanic had even given it a jet wash!

Great to be back in the 190 pootling about. The ride is fantastic and it just feels so solid.









Somewhere along the way the 2.6 badge got damaged.



It still has the driveline shunt occasionally so it needs to go to a transmission specialist at some point.

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338 miles completed today! No (new) issues. The book top speed is correct…