Discussion
The 2.6 has 30% more power than the 2.0 and is much smoother, but as lowdrag says, it's as thirsty as hell. They obviously aren't sports cars but the lazy 6 does suit the rather more gentlemanly driving style of the 190.
A lot of 2.0 were bought at a price on company car lists but the 2.6 were often better kitted private purchases. This was when absolutely everything was an extra cost option on a Merc, so the basic ones would have manual windows and no radio. A well kitted 2.6 facelift in a dark metallic withe Sacco panels and the 15 hole alloys would be a nice young classic to smoke around in.
A lot of 2.0 were bought at a price on company car lists but the 2.6 were often better kitted private purchases. This was when absolutely everything was an extra cost option on a Merc, so the basic ones would have manual windows and no radio. A well kitted 2.6 facelift in a dark metallic withe Sacco panels and the 15 hole alloys would be a nice young classic to smoke around in.
The M103 six is also pretty peaky, max. torque at 4600rpm vs. 3500 for the M102 four cylinder, so might not feel much quicker than the 2.0 unless you're revving it hard (when it will guzzle fuel).
My friend has a 260E W124 and gets high 20s mpg typically in a mixture of driving, not a whole lot less than the 190E 2.0 he had previously which usually managed around 31mpg. Both autos. He drives fairly gently though.
A manual car should be a fair bit more economical as the four speed autos had pretty low gearing - around 20mph/1000rpm in the 2.0 and 23mph/1000rpm in the 2.6.
Period tests had the 2.0 auto 190e doing around 120mph and 0-60 in 10.7 sec. The 2.6 auto did 130mph and 0-60 in 8.3 sec. It was an early pre-cat car though which had slightly more power/torque than the later ones.
My friend has a 260E W124 and gets high 20s mpg typically in a mixture of driving, not a whole lot less than the 190E 2.0 he had previously which usually managed around 31mpg. Both autos. He drives fairly gently though.
A manual car should be a fair bit more economical as the four speed autos had pretty low gearing - around 20mph/1000rpm in the 2.0 and 23mph/1000rpm in the 2.6.
Period tests had the 2.0 auto 190e doing around 120mph and 0-60 in 10.7 sec. The 2.6 auto did 130mph and 0-60 in 8.3 sec. It was an early pre-cat car though which had slightly more power/torque than the later ones.
I bought a 1989 Manual 2 litre 190e in 1997 and it was a great car.
Foolishly sold it in 2000 to replace it with an Auto C280 Sport that was probably the most disappointing car I've owned.
I probably should have looked for a 190e 2.6 (ideally a manual).
But if physical size isn't an issue it might be easier to find a 6 cylinder engine in a W124.
Then again to answer the OP's question, while a 2.6 might not be twice the car that a 2 litre is I would imagine it would still hold a higher value in the future so any premium paid would hopefully be retained.
Foolishly sold it in 2000 to replace it with an Auto C280 Sport that was probably the most disappointing car I've owned.
I probably should have looked for a 190e 2.6 (ideally a manual).
But if physical size isn't an issue it might be easier to find a 6 cylinder engine in a W124.
Then again to answer the OP's question, while a 2.6 might not be twice the car that a 2 litre is I would imagine it would still hold a higher value in the future so any premium paid would hopefully be retained.
ty all.
first 2.0 yesterday was totally pants. whole nearside needed respray repair. bloke offered it to me for 1.6k with 59k on the clock,
i also noted a lot of oil around the head gasket area. chappie said all the engines do that but im not so sure.....
onwards and upwards.
am considering a jap import...
first 2.0 yesterday was totally pants. whole nearside needed respray repair. bloke offered it to me for 1.6k with 59k on the clock,
i also noted a lot of oil around the head gasket area. chappie said all the engines do that but im not so sure.....
onwards and upwards.
am considering a jap import...
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