Mercedes 190 - Base Model
Discussion
I have just become the proud new owner of this wonderful ‘base spec’ Mercedes 190. I have previous with both old Mercedes (w201,202 and 124) and with entry level models (I own what is believed to be the only remaining Ford Sierra Base with iconic grey grille in the UK). This Car appeared on the fantastic ‘smoker barge’ thread and I couldn’t put a deposit on it fast enough.
I should be up front; it’s not completely bone stock. Whilst it’s carburettor powered with no sunroof, no electric windows, no ABS,,no arm rest, no....err... nothing - it does have astral silver metallic at cost of DM1080. The Becker Europa radio is a welcome addition, as my Sierra has no such frivolities within, but is suitably mated to a manual antenna.
Ah yes. The Deutschmark thing. Whilst this car was sold in the UK, it was purchased via NATO cars to a Lt. Col, Stephens who was posted at the Hannover Telecommunications Office. The purchase price is confirmed as DM32,380 on the purchase order from Mercedes Benz Diplomatic Sales of Piccadilly, London.
The car has been extensively looked after. It left the dealer network when it got to 16 years old and there’s an A4 folder full of correspondence between England, Germany and Customs - along with various government leaflets about export and import plus reams of receipts.
The car has all three keys and is in superb condition. In fact, it’s caused me a real dilemma. The plan was to just use it as intended and bang up and down the A1 100 miles a day. But, in complete honesty, it is far too good for this. I paid £1450 for the car with 13 months MOT and I’m not sure I could replace it for twice that amount. With sensible miles (90,000) it really needs to be on a classic policy with an agreed value.
It drives superbly, better than any vehicle I’ve owned in the last 10 years. The last service, in summer 2017, runs over three sheets of A4 in detail and cost £600. Shortly afterwards there was £250 worth of work including a new water pump. It would appear that no expense has been spared.
I’m over the moon. I know the poverty spec won’t appeal to the ‘cozzeh evoh’ types, but it does very much to me. Base specification cars are cars YOU drive, and without the distraction of toys you find that you DRIVE.
Have some photos below.
I should be up front; it’s not completely bone stock. Whilst it’s carburettor powered with no sunroof, no electric windows, no ABS,,no arm rest, no....err... nothing - it does have astral silver metallic at cost of DM1080. The Becker Europa radio is a welcome addition, as my Sierra has no such frivolities within, but is suitably mated to a manual antenna.
Ah yes. The Deutschmark thing. Whilst this car was sold in the UK, it was purchased via NATO cars to a Lt. Col, Stephens who was posted at the Hannover Telecommunications Office. The purchase price is confirmed as DM32,380 on the purchase order from Mercedes Benz Diplomatic Sales of Piccadilly, London.
The car has been extensively looked after. It left the dealer network when it got to 16 years old and there’s an A4 folder full of correspondence between England, Germany and Customs - along with various government leaflets about export and import plus reams of receipts.
The car has all three keys and is in superb condition. In fact, it’s caused me a real dilemma. The plan was to just use it as intended and bang up and down the A1 100 miles a day. But, in complete honesty, it is far too good for this. I paid £1450 for the car with 13 months MOT and I’m not sure I could replace it for twice that amount. With sensible miles (90,000) it really needs to be on a classic policy with an agreed value.
It drives superbly, better than any vehicle I’ve owned in the last 10 years. The last service, in summer 2017, runs over three sheets of A4 in detail and cost £600. Shortly afterwards there was £250 worth of work including a new water pump. It would appear that no expense has been spared.
I’m over the moon. I know the poverty spec won’t appeal to the ‘cozzeh evoh’ types, but it does very much to me. Base specification cars are cars YOU drive, and without the distraction of toys you find that you DRIVE.
Have some photos below.
Superb 
especially for the money. Excellent interior colour choice!
My mum had one in the mid 90's, I remember it being not at all fast and had the slowest steering of anything I've ever driven. They have a lovely interior though and epic dials, the single wiper is super cool too. I want one now!
especially for the money. Excellent interior colour choice! My mum had one in the mid 90's, I remember it being not at all fast and had the slowest steering of anything I've ever driven. They have a lovely interior though and epic dials, the single wiper is super cool too. I want one now!
Great car, and nice thread BI; looking forward to more.
I was serving in Germany in the mid-late 80s, and NATOCars was the firm when buying tax-free. Your car was bought by a Lt Col - the rather more humble salary I was on in 1989 as an acting Captain saw me in an Escort XR3i cabrio, which was somewhat less tasteful than a 190! The number plates were very close though.
I was serving in Germany in the mid-late 80s, and NATOCars was the firm when buying tax-free. Your car was bought by a Lt Col - the rather more humble salary I was on in 1989 as an acting Captain saw me in an Escort XR3i cabrio, which was somewhat less tasteful than a 190! The number plates were very close though.
Back in 1988, my late father bought a standard 190 with manual gearbox and no extras, not even a radio. He also ordered it in hearing aid beige with beige upholstery to match.
He proudly proclaimed it to be 'bog standard', which was a phrase my mother didn't like him using as she thought it was a bit crude, which amused him even more. But the rest of the family referred to it as a 190 BS and when my wife made him a 190 shaped cushion for his birthday with 190BS embroidered on the boot, he was delighted and bought stick on letters "BS" to go on the car's bootlid.
I've been thinking about him this week, as its 15 years on Wednesday since he passed away in his sleep which was a big shock to us all, as you can imagine.
We sold the 190BS to a friend of my brothers, but I've still got the MB toolkit.
OP I hope you enjoy your 190 BS as much as my dad enjoyed his
He proudly proclaimed it to be 'bog standard', which was a phrase my mother didn't like him using as she thought it was a bit crude, which amused him even more. But the rest of the family referred to it as a 190 BS and when my wife made him a 190 shaped cushion for his birthday with 190BS embroidered on the boot, he was delighted and bought stick on letters "BS" to go on the car's bootlid.
I've been thinking about him this week, as its 15 years on Wednesday since he passed away in his sleep which was a big shock to us all, as you can imagine.
We sold the 190BS to a friend of my brothers, but I've still got the MB toolkit.
OP I hope you enjoy your 190 BS as much as my dad enjoyed his
What a bargain - lovely car OP! 
Back in 1997 I bought a "fancy" 190e in blue/black metallic with 4 x electric windows, electric sunroof and the electric rear headrests - but at least it was a manual!
Looking back I should have kept it - it was a much better car than the W202 C280 Sport I replaced it with.
Back in 1997 I bought a "fancy" 190e in blue/black metallic with 4 x electric windows, electric sunroof and the electric rear headrests - but at least it was a manual!
Looking back I should have kept it - it was a much better car than the W202 C280 Sport I replaced it with.
I think that is a super car, BI, and I'm pleased to hear you're back in one. I know what you're saying about "too good to use" but I think use is much, much better for these cars than standing unused or even hardy used. We've put 50,000miles on ours in three years and they do not seem to have harmed it. So long as you keep on top of maintenance, it will enjoy the miles.
On which note, these cars are so ridiculously easy to service. An oil service can be done in minutes. You don't even need to bend down as the sump nut can be loosened from above: just kick a drain tray underneath. I use Mann filters because they are easier to change than Genuine MB. A filter, five litres of half-decent 10W 40 and a copper washer (maybe £17.50 in toto?) every 3,000miles, takes 15minutes and 13 of those are waiting for the old oil to run out. Brake pads take ten minutes a side, if that, just one nut, they're about £20 a set and you'll get 12,000miles out of them. Again, it's so easy it's a pleasure.
On which note, these cars are so ridiculously easy to service. An oil service can be done in minutes. You don't even need to bend down as the sump nut can be loosened from above: just kick a drain tray underneath. I use Mann filters because they are easier to change than Genuine MB. A filter, five litres of half-decent 10W 40 and a copper washer (maybe £17.50 in toto?) every 3,000miles, takes 15minutes and 13 of those are waiting for the old oil to run out. Brake pads take ten minutes a side, if that, just one nut, they're about £20 a set and you'll get 12,000miles out of them. Again, it's so easy it's a pleasure.
Paul Dishman said:
Back in 1988, my late father bought a standard 190 with manual gearbox and no extras, not even a radio. He also ordered it in hearing aid beige with beige upholstery to match.
He proudly proclaimed it to be 'bog standard', which was a phrase my mother didn't like him using as she thought it was a bit crude, which amused him even more. But the rest of the family referred to it as a 190 BS and when my wife made him a 190 shaped cushion for his birthday with 190BS embroidered on the boot, he was delighted and bought stick on letters "BS" to go on the car's bootlid.
I've been thinking about him this week, as its 15 years on Wednesday since he passed away in his sleep which was a big shock to us all, as you can imagine.
We sold the 190BS to a friend of my brothers, but I've still got the MB toolkit.
OP I hope you enjoy your 190 BS as much as my dad enjoyed his
This is a fantastic post. The best stick on letters ever!He proudly proclaimed it to be 'bog standard', which was a phrase my mother didn't like him using as she thought it was a bit crude, which amused him even more. But the rest of the family referred to it as a 190 BS and when my wife made him a 190 shaped cushion for his birthday with 190BS embroidered on the boot, he was delighted and bought stick on letters "BS" to go on the car's bootlid.
I've been thinking about him this week, as its 15 years on Wednesday since he passed away in his sleep which was a big shock to us all, as you can imagine.
We sold the 190BS to a friend of my brothers, but I've still got the MB toolkit.
OP I hope you enjoy your 190 BS as much as my dad enjoyed his
Love the car OP, just posted first on the retro thread though! The ad read very well indeed, not surprised it seems like a good one. 190s are great for bimbling about in.
r129sl said:
I think that is a super car, BI, and I'm pleased to hear you're back in one. I know what you're saying about "too good to use" but I think use is much, much better for these cars than standing unused or even hardy used. We've put 50,000miles on ours in three years and they do not seem to have harmed it. So long as you keep on top of maintenance, it will enjoy the miles.
On which note, these cars are so ridiculously easy to service. An oil service can be done in minutes. You don't even need to bend down as the sump nut can be loosened from above: just kick a drain tray underneath. I use Mann filters because they are easier to change than Genuine MB. A filter, five litres of half-decent 10W 40 and a copper washer (maybe £17.50 in toto?) every 3,000miles, takes 15minutes and 13 of those are waiting for the old oil to run out. Brake pads take ten minutes a side, if that, just one nut, they're about £20 a set and you'll get 12,000miles out of them. Again, it's so easy it's a pleasure.
I need to see this! On which note, these cars are so ridiculously easy to service. An oil service can be done in minutes. You don't even need to bend down as the sump nut can be loosened from above: just kick a drain tray underneath. I use Mann filters because they are easier to change than Genuine MB. A filter, five litres of half-decent 10W 40 and a copper washer (maybe £17.50 in toto?) every 3,000miles, takes 15minutes and 13 of those are waiting for the old oil to run out. Brake pads take ten minutes a side, if that, just one nut, they're about £20 a set and you'll get 12,000miles out of them. Again, it's so easy it's a pleasure.
Let me know when yours is next due and I'll try and time my Edinburgh-Midlands run on the way r129!
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff