Mercedes-Benz 190E AMG

[lenandsons]

OK so I have just been offered one of these for CAD 1500. Body work is a bit rough in a "need paint" way, very little visibl rust and it starts straight up with no smoking or rattling. However my knowledge of these cars is very very light, so all the usaual questions - what to look for, what can go pop etc etc and do they make a good regular driver? I want this to sit alongside the E30 325iS

[lenandsons]

anybody out there

[chrisispringles]

If it is a genuine 190e AMG then I'd have the guy's arm off, however at that price I suspect it may be a 2.3 or 2.6 with an AMG bodykit. I'd check the VIN number if it being an AMG version is the clincher for you, however if it isn't then it is the right sort of money for a 2.3/2.6.

[Pentoman]

Check what it is. Real Mercedes 190 AMGs are very rare, expensive and usually have a 3.2 6 cylinder. There are plenty of 190s around with a variety of amg body kits around however and that's probably what you've got. They aren't particularly rare, special or expensive but if they appeal to you then nothing wrong with them. Often they're in bad condition as they attract a certain type of owner though.
If you like it then you could do worse. However there must be plenty of better functioning 190s around than this one if not. At the end of the day it's bodykit and styling mods on a regular 190e so nothing special. Stretch to a 2.6 or 2.3-16 and you have something more comparable to the 325is.

[Chris944_S2]

AMG's never had their own vin number, they were a tuning company before MB bought them so VIN number won't reveal anything. The proper conversions should have AMG stickers and a well documented history to prove they are genuine but it can be tricky to make sure its the real deal in some cases.

[Pentoman]

To answer your other questions though, good daily driver, nothing to go pop (not much anyway, but make sure automatic shifts cleanly). Not a bargain to fix if things do go wrong (compared to what you can buy them for), however, so buy a good condition one is my advice.

[lenandsons]

Thanks for the answers, will have to do some digging to see what is what with this. What was the difference between the AMG and the Cosworth version? I have seen a "cosworth" version for sale here for CAD $5500 but again not sure if that is a genuine or not, how would I know?