1988 Mercedes 190E 2.6
Discussion
Not too much to report on the 190e front aside from that I have still not got the new suspension parts fitted yet - life gets in the way sometimes!
In good news the insurance agreed value came back with what I'd consider to be a reasonable price and more than I paid for it.
I drove it for the first time in a week last night and it was pleasant with the sunroof open pootling through central edinburgh.
I do find the steering wheel rather large and low.
In good news the insurance agreed value came back with what I'd consider to be a reasonable price and more than I paid for it.
I drove it for the first time in a week last night and it was pleasant with the sunroof open pootling through central edinburgh.
I do find the steering wheel rather large and low.
Looks like a lovely example. The sportline steering wheel is a good upgrade and a bit smaller.
I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
H4r1s said:
Looks like a lovely example. The sportline steering wheel is a good upgrade and a bit smaller.
I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
Hi Alec, sorry I didn't get any more than a 2 minute glance at your car at the Lakes, what awful weather! I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
I can 100% recommend fitting a Sportline wheel if you can. My manual Sportline had it and I really wouldn't have wanted a standard wheel.Admittedly I'm shorter than you so I had my seat further forward and higher than you might have it, but even so I think a full size wheel in a 190e would be an irritant even though it isn't in a W124.
mccrackenj said:
H4r1s said:
Looks like a lovely example. The sportline steering wheel is a good upgrade and a bit smaller.
I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
Hi Alec, sorry I didn't get any more than a 2 minute glance at your car at the Lakes, what awful weather! I can't believe they put the same size bus steering wheel in 16v models too.
Have you sorted your speedo out? As I've recently completely taken mine apart and put it back together to sort various issues, they're not that difficult to work on.
I can 100% recommend fitting a Sportline wheel if you can. My manual Sportline had it and I really wouldn't have wanted a standard wheel.Admittedly I'm shorter than you so I had my seat further forward and higher than you might have it, but even so I think a full size wheel in a 190e would be an irritant even though it isn't in a W124.
Does anyone here know where to source a handbrake knob (the thing you press) - mine is broken and it's annoying to have to use a split button every time I get in the car. An eBay search has not revealed anything.
The PH sticker is on (and very subtle) and I gave the car a good drive this morning. With the little straight 6 it's so smooth.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
0a said:
The PH sticker is on (and very subtle) and I gave the car a good drive this morning. With the little straight 6 it's so smooth.
I've been rude about PH stickers before, but I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt on this one. It's a close-run thing though. I have completely failed with the aim of this thread - keeping a log of the car's progress without cluttering up other threads around the site. Oh well!
The 190 has had a slight amount of rust on the front right wing - a tiny bubble. After a slight scrape with a lady in a Fiat on this very panel, I was directed to a great bodywork chap who was a big fan of old mercs. It was agreed that the front of the car needed a respray, and he promised to do a great job - the cost for the merc OEM wing alone was a lot (think 10 times what I paid for 2 aftermarket wings for the W124).
It now looks fantastic, I'm very happy with it. I even gave it a clay bar!
The 190 has had a slight amount of rust on the front right wing - a tiny bubble. After a slight scrape with a lady in a Fiat on this very panel, I was directed to a great bodywork chap who was a big fan of old mercs. It was agreed that the front of the car needed a respray, and he promised to do a great job - the cost for the merc OEM wing alone was a lot (think 10 times what I paid for 2 aftermarket wings for the W124).
It now looks fantastic, I'm very happy with it. I even gave it a clay bar!
I collected the 190 today, and it now rides even better than before. Interestingly it doesn't look high like the 300E did when I replaced the springs and dampers.
The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
Edited by 0a on Saturday 24th December 01:57
0a said:
I collected the 190 today, and it now rides even better than before. Interestingly it doesn't look high light the 300E did when I replaced the springs and dampers.
The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
Maybe find a manual one! The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
Never had that problem with my manual 2 litre 190e!Mr Tidy said:
0a said:
I collected the 190 today, and it now rides even better than before. Interestingly it doesn't look high light the 300E did when I replaced the springs and dampers.
The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
Maybe find a manual one! The outside temperature control is back working, and I now have cruise control! Useful for the 350 miles I drove in it today.
The spring in the gearbox has been done, and a full gearbox service. There's still some 'shunt' in the auto transmission (manually going down the gears) at low speeds compared to the 300E - ideas welcome!
Never had that problem with my manual 2 litre 190e!Mercedes only ever release a manual gearbox so they can charge for an auto.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
That does look very good, nice work.
I've got a penny-sized bleb on my 124 and am wondering at what stage it's worth getting it seen to; I presume the earlier the better in general, but the paint costs the same regardless.
The paint costs the same, but let it go too far and you're into new metal territory. I've got a penny-sized bleb on my 124 and am wondering at what stage it's worth getting it seen to; I presume the earlier the better in general, but the paint costs the same regardless.
The wings on the SL are now perfect - there was a tiny amount of bubbling but catching it early meant there was no issue sanding and painting.
Worth it when original wings are getting more expensive. The OEM wing used for the 190 here was £750 unpainted from Mercedes. Ouch! I paid 1/10th of that for the wings I will use on my w124 but I accept the quality won't be there. I'd suggest as a much more desirable model which is worth a vast amount more you want to stick to proper ones on yours!
Worth it when original wings are getting more expensive. The OEM wing used for the 190 here was £750 unpainted from Mercedes. Ouch! I paid 1/10th of that for the wings I will use on my w124 but I accept the quality won't be there. I'd suggest as a much more desirable model which is worth a vast amount more you want to stick to proper ones on yours!
I did enjoy taking it to the barge meet at Duxford, and it was actually quite comfortable if a little buzzy for 4 blokes!
This did highlight a few things that need doing:
1. Ball joints. Grr. There's a squeak from the rear which sounds like the classic 80s merc BJ squeak.
I have asked my mechanic to replace them all twice now. He's great in all other ways but it's clear he doesn't like doing them as it has come back twice now with a comment that they looked fine.
I will address this strategically next time - I will only put it in for the balljoints. He will have nowhere to hide and will have to do them.
2. Throttle hesitation - it feels like the throttle cable is stuck at full depression. If I lift off slightly it sometimes surges a bit.
3. There's still a slight clunk from the gearbox sometimes, particularly changing up off throttle or light throttle.
Help/therapy with the above would be welcome!
This did highlight a few things that need doing:
1. Ball joints. Grr. There's a squeak from the rear which sounds like the classic 80s merc BJ squeak.
I have asked my mechanic to replace them all twice now. He's great in all other ways but it's clear he doesn't like doing them as it has come back twice now with a comment that they looked fine.
I will address this strategically next time - I will only put it in for the balljoints. He will have nowhere to hide and will have to do them.
2. Throttle hesitation - it feels like the throttle cable is stuck at full depression. If I lift off slightly it sometimes surges a bit.
3. There's still a slight clunk from the gearbox sometimes, particularly changing up off throttle or light throttle.
Help/therapy with the above would be welcome!
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.
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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