1990 190e 2.0 Auto
Discussion
Frequenters of the bargain barge thread will have seen I’ve picked this up, absolutely in love with it. After selling my 330ci she cost me an extra £250!
It’s a 1990, approx 145k miles although the clocks show 58k (clocks replaced in 2007 and an MOT tester cocked up putting the mileage in, I have history to verify mileage and it was in the same ownership)
Okay spec,
Electric windows (3 of which work)
Electric mirrors (work a bit)
Electric sunroof (works)
No air con, manual seats (was electric an option?)
I believe wheels are from an early 90’s C class. I love the look, and I think the car sits just right on them.
Fuel economy seems decent. I’ve done 170 miles of mixed driving since I picked her up, that’s just a smudge over half a tank. I think that’s circa 30mpg.
She gets quite a bit of attention, which I didn’t expect!
Of course being the 2 litre 4 cylinder mated to the 4 speed automatic transmission, it’s not at all quick, but it’s very lovely to drive. It feels solid and planted, built like a tank. She’s utterly perfect for tootling around the North Dorset countryside.
Bodywork is frankly quite impressive for a 29 year old car, next to no corrosion and very clean underneath. I’m going to look into rust protecting the underneath anyway. Here it is after a wash, polish and two coats of wax this weekend...
I don’t think this is the original, but it’s still pretty cool, and works!
Already been asked if I’m going to slam it, drift it or modify it in any way such way, which is how these cars end up a lot of the time. No. She’s staying like this. I’m not too mechanically minded, but I hear these are pretty reliable old busses. I’d love to take her to a couple of shows. Thinking about Beaulieu in August, they are having a bring your ride Mercedes day. Thanks for reading
It’s a 1990, approx 145k miles although the clocks show 58k (clocks replaced in 2007 and an MOT tester cocked up putting the mileage in, I have history to verify mileage and it was in the same ownership)
Okay spec,
Electric windows (3 of which work)
Electric mirrors (work a bit)
Electric sunroof (works)
No air con, manual seats (was electric an option?)
I believe wheels are from an early 90’s C class. I love the look, and I think the car sits just right on them.
Fuel economy seems decent. I’ve done 170 miles of mixed driving since I picked her up, that’s just a smudge over half a tank. I think that’s circa 30mpg.
She gets quite a bit of attention, which I didn’t expect!
Of course being the 2 litre 4 cylinder mated to the 4 speed automatic transmission, it’s not at all quick, but it’s very lovely to drive. It feels solid and planted, built like a tank. She’s utterly perfect for tootling around the North Dorset countryside.
Bodywork is frankly quite impressive for a 29 year old car, next to no corrosion and very clean underneath. I’m going to look into rust protecting the underneath anyway. Here it is after a wash, polish and two coats of wax this weekend...
I don’t think this is the original, but it’s still pretty cool, and works!
Already been asked if I’m going to slam it, drift it or modify it in any way such way, which is how these cars end up a lot of the time. No. She’s staying like this. I’m not too mechanically minded, but I hear these are pretty reliable old busses. I’d love to take her to a couple of shows. Thinking about Beaulieu in August, they are having a bring your ride Mercedes day. Thanks for reading
Mr Tidy said:
Lovely looking car OP. 
I had a manual 190e in Blue/Black back in the 90s. It was a lovely car that I shouldn't have sold, but I set my heart on a C280 Sport. Which turned out to be a big mistake - the C280 was probably the most disappointing car I've owned.
Keep enjoying your 190e.
Thank you, I don’t often see many good W202’s around, I don’t think Mercedes out quite as much into them as they did the 190e.I had a manual 190e in Blue/Black back in the 90s. It was a lovely car that I shouldn't have sold, but I set my heart on a C280 Sport. Which turned out to be a big mistake - the C280 was probably the most disappointing car I've owned.
Keep enjoying your 190e.
I need to source a towing eye cover for the front, and a blanking plate for the dash (unless I can retrieve the one that’s fallen in) Might try and tackle the non working rear window myself.
I really love these and your looks a like a good 'un. They are so much nicer looking than the C-class that replaced them.
I am a serial Saab 9000 owner (I have owned 4 of them over a 11 year period) - but I could have easily ended up with one of these. I love cars from this period - they are just so much classier and more individual to the boring cars of today.
Good luck!
I am a serial Saab 9000 owner (I have owned 4 of them over a 11 year period) - but I could have easily ended up with one of these. I love cars from this period - they are just so much classier and more individual to the boring cars of today.
Good luck!
Your photos reminded me of that magazine front cover:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Magazine-January-19...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Magazine-January-19...
carinaman said:
Your photos reminded me of that magazine front cover:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Magazine-January-19...
That’s interesting! Personally don’t recall seeing a red one in recent memory, I don’t think there are any other 190e’s in my village either... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Magazine-January-19...
Highway Star said:
Locally registered originally as EL was a Bournemouth suffix (I grew up locally and still remember that which is pretty sad). Looks lovely, I used to really enjoy going around in a 190e courtesy car when my 320CE was being worked on.
Thank you Yes, been localish all of its life, I’m in North Dorset.She’s gone in to a well regarded automotive welder in Poole today for some underside treatment. Surface rust removal from subframes and general tidying up under there, specifically rust proofing so I can feel a bit better about using her in the winter. The owner of the welding shop said that she’s generally in great condition for her age and doesn’t seem to think I’ll have many corrosion issues in the future. He did say that anyone would be “chuffed to own it”. They had what looks like a C32 AMG and an old 300sl in as well, they know their Mercs!
Next year I’ll have them take the plastic sill covers off and see what the sills are like.
A few hundred quid so a bit of an outlay for me having just purchased it, but it gives me peace of mind and I think the car deserves it. Might be without her for a couple of days, already miss it!
Congratulations on what looks like a fantastic purchase. I am a fellow 190e owner and mine has just come back from the welders. keep an eye out for my RR thread as I have already put a load of sub-frame 'stuff' up, and will be putting up the welding-repair pictures up shortly.
Your paintwork looks fantastic after a polish; may I ask what you used? I've just given mine a wax which has helped, but it really needs a good polish first but I'll have to dedicate some time to that.
Beaulieu in August you say...
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, your wheels may be off something else; mine have the same design however yours appear to have an ever-so-slightly deeper dish.
Your paintwork looks fantastic after a polish; may I ask what you used? I've just given mine a wax which has helped, but it really needs a good polish first but I'll have to dedicate some time to that.
Beaulieu in August you say...
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, your wheels may be off something else; mine have the same design however yours appear to have an ever-so-slightly deeper dish.
Edited by Rubins4 on Monday 1st July 14:26
Edited by Rubins4 on Monday 1st July 14:27
Edited by Rubins4 on Tuesday 2nd July 11:36
Rubins4 said:
Congratulations on what looks like a fantastic purchase. I am a fellow 190e owner and mine has just come back from the welders. keep an eye out for my RR thread as I have already put a load of sub-frame 'stuff' up, and will be putting up the welding-repair pictures up shortly.
Your paintwork looks fantastic after a polish; may I ask what you used? I've just given mine a wax which has helped, but it really needs a good polish first but I'll have to dedicate some time to that.
Beaulieu in August you say...
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, your wheels may be of something else, however mine has the same design however yours appear to have an ever-so-slightly deeper dish.
Thank you! I’d say the photos make it look better than it actually is, although it’s pretty good to be fair! I just used Autoglym polish and normal turtle wax (two coats) Your paintwork looks fantastic after a polish; may I ask what you used? I've just given mine a wax which has helped, but it really needs a good polish first but I'll have to dedicate some time to that.
Beaulieu in August you say...
EDIT:
I forgot to mention, your wheels may be of something else, however mine has the same design however yours appear to have an ever-so-slightly deeper dish.
Edited by Rubins4 on Monday 1st July 14:26
Edited by Rubins4 on Monday 1st July 14:27
I’ll bookmark your thread with interest!
JakeT said:
Lovely looking car. I had a go in a friends with the same drivetrain as yours. Was it a fast car? No. Was it a lovely car to drive, very relaxing. The 190 was about as good as Mercedes got. They tried so hard on it.
Thank you. A testament to why relativity numerous examples are still on the road. They really were built to last. Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff