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Car Forum / Mercedes-Benz Cars / April 2006Query - 190E known probs?
1989 190E 2.6 Automatic, Gasoline 6 cylinder - does anyone know if there's any known problems with this vehicle? It is my understanding that they have "weak" AC systems and speedometers break easily. Is this true? The mileage is showing 73,617. TIA. Helen That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take that car to MB specialist before I buy it. > That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or > equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take > that car to MB specialist before I buy it. Thanks for confirming my precise thoughts. I thought the mileage would be more like what was showing plus a hundred K! Thanks again. Helen >> That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or >> equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > would be more like what was showing plus a hundred K! Thanks > again. My GF has a '88 190E with 72000 kilometers. This number was confirmed (Dutch cars are inspected every year at which time the mileage is recorded). So it *is* possible. The car was owned by an (80-something) woman and apparently rarely got out of the garage. On low-mileage old cars like this it seems rubber components are at risk. I had to replace the tires, as two of them were still original and using such old tires is not a good idea. Also it seems the so called flex disk needs replacing. I bought a German '87 250D w124 with 78000 km myself. It's now approaching 100.000 Km and it's holding together fine so far. Ximinez  SignatureOur three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency... and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html >>> That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or >>> equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Ximinez Thank you. As for looks, it's nearly emmaculate, except for a washer or something missing with the antannea. The interrior appears like new. There seem to be three new-looking tires and one that needs a new one the older tire seems to have unevenly worn tread. It is possible that an "80 something" lady (groan at that story, because of it's unreliability absent personal knowledge of the owner, here in the USA). The story of prior ownership being a "little old lady who just drove it to church and back" is such a hoot. When I hear THAT about a used car, then I'm immediately more on guard for what else he's lying about. In the USA the speedometers cannot be 'turned back' according to law, however, we all know about used car dealers. You can believe them about as much as you can believe the promises of politicians. I just did a cursory look but want to go back and spend some more time for the seller's story and test drive it. It's sitting on a lot with an "as is" tag on it and no price tag. I went inside yesterday and asked the price, he said "$6,900". I said, "what's wrong with it?" He said, "it just needs a good home". Yeah, right. I just left. Thanks for your response. I still have my '83 240D (193,750 miles) and seriously doubt that this 190E will meet it's quality. Thanks again. Helen > Thank you. As for looks, it's nearly emmaculate, except for a washer > or something missing with the antannea. The interrior appears like new. > There seem to be three new-looking tires and one that needs a new one > the older tire seems to have unevenly worn tread. Sounds pretty good then ;) Check the DOT codes on the tires, 18 yo tires stored in a garage may look like new. > It is possible that an "80 something" lady (groan at that story, because > of it's unreliability absent personal knowledge of the owner, here in the USA). [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > know about used car dealers. You can believe them about as much as you > can believe the promises of politicians. Absolutely. Thing is that my GF's 190E (2.0 automatic) was sold to us by an official MB dealer and the previous (sole) owner's registration papers were still there. The insurance was registered to a well known Dutch truck company and the car itself was registered (in 88) to someone with the same last name as the company. That completely matched with the dealer's story. The MB dealer's showroom had no cars that were older than about '98 so this one stood out very much. They (verifiably) didn't usually sell cars as old as this one, but they made an exception for this one cause it was in such a great state. I had it checked out by a mechanic and an old-timer appraiser and they all thought it was a great buy at 4200 EUR. > I just did a cursory look but want to go back and spend some more time for > the seller's story and test drive it. It's sitting on a lot with an "as is" tag on it [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Thanks for your response. I still have my '83 240D (193,750 miles) and seriously > doubt that this 190E will meet it's quality. I'd have it checked out by your regular mechanic anyway. Old MB's can be great cars and if you manage to find a genuine one like the one you describe you could end up enjoying it for a long time ;) I bought my 250D at a specialized old-benzes-with-low-km place for a much higher sum and I still think it's a good deal. Ximinez SignatureOur three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency... and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html >>>> That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or >>>> equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > "$6,900". I said, "what's wrong with it?" He said, "it just needs > a good home". Whats wrong with it is the price is twice as high as it should be. <snipped> > Whats wrong with it is the price is twice as high as it should be. I found out that in 1998 (eight years ago!) the mileage was 189,899 (close there to). So yes, I'd certainly say it was high! The headlights, signals, radio and the front passenger door's window is all that worked, electrically speaking. It's so 'done in' it's cost about $7-10 grand to 'fix it'. So why bother? Whoa! So that means about 200,000 miles rollback... wow... > <snipped> >> Whats wrong with it is the price is twice as high as it should be. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > passenger door's window is all that worked, electrically speaking. It's so 'done in' > it's cost about $7-10 grand to 'fix it'. So why bother? Bad news. Amazing that it looked so immaculate ;) Ximinez SignatureOur three weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless efficiency... and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... http://www.ai.mit.edu/people/paulfitz/spanish/t1.html >>That is too low of a mileage for 89... I would run a carfax or >>equivalence to find out if it is for real or not. I would also take [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Helen The very low mileage is suspect. My '86 190E 2.3 has accumulated over 200K miles of driving pleasure. I had the odometer fixed once and that was many K miles ago! Not bad for a 20 year old car. There's some "lore" that some, not all, 2.6L engines suffer from valve stem seal failures. That means they burn oil but are otherwise OK. Valve stem seals are plastic caps that surround the valves' stems and can be replaced without removing the cylinder head by a competent M-B shop for around $500 +/-. You might research this a bit further before passing the cash. > There's some "lore" that some, not all, 2.6L engines suffer from valve > stem seal failures. That means they burn oil but are otherwise OK. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > You might research this a bit further before passing the cash. Thanks T.G. I'm going to ask for the "story" and see what he says. Also I'd like to test drive it (to a mechanic of course), but the "foreign car" mechanic near isn't one I'm familiar with. "My" mechanic lives 70 miles away, and he's the one I'd really like to look at it. There doesn't appear to be anything wrong with the exterior, except the anteanna is missing the washer, tap, whatever it's called that steadies it. It is loose, is missing something. Other than that it looks emmaculate. There are three new-looking tires on it and one that seems 'old' and in need of replacement...one that has the thread unevenly worn. The interior looks brand new. Thanks again. I am continuing with the research. Helen > 1989 190E 2.6 Automatic, Gasoline 6 cylinder - does anyone know if > there's any known problems with this vehicle? It is my understanding > that they have "weak" AC systems and speedometers break easily. Is > this true? The mileage is showing 73,617. TIA. > > Helen I test drove it today. It runs good, trans seems fine, 6cyl automatic, radio plays, passenger door window works (none of the others do), sunroof does not work. Headlights and signal lights work. Basically nothing electronic works. Rear view mirror is missing. Speedometer works but odometer does not. Gas gage works and the trunk lid is somewhat faded. Brakes work, but the console buttons are loose... like it's been taken out, put back and doesn't connect to anything. AC blower works, but heat comes out and there's a horrible screeching sound similar to years ago when power steering was turned all the way and it screeched. This screech is from the AC(?) or blower. I didn't look under the hood. There's no visible rust anywhere, but the books in the glove compartment show service in 1989 at 189,+ miles. It will run though... no hesitation whatsoever. I drove it about 5 miles on a stretch and it will fly. But....for how long and at what cost? Any thoughts? My mechanic is 75 miles away. I told the guy no way would I pay his asking price, then he said $35K cash, as is. I said, I'll think about it. Thanked him and left. Any thoughts as to costs? I am guessing very expensive to "fix". TIA Helen This car is horrible. Why would you want this old, run out dog? Half the stuff is broken and if that's what you CAN see, what about the stuff you can't see? Spend your money elsewhere. Maybe ok for USD 500 - 1000? DAS For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling --- > This car is horrible. Why would you want this old, run out dog? > > Half the stuff is broken and if that's what you CAN see, what about the > stuff you can't see? > > Spend your money elsewhere. > This car is horrible. Why would you want this old, run out dog? > > Half the stuff is broken and if that's what you CAN see, what about > the stuff you can't see? > > Spend your money elsewhere. I agree with your assessment. I think I really wanted to find out about the salesmen there. I think I learned all I need to know: steer clear. He did say that he didn't think I was the type of clientele he catered to, that I was obviously looking for a better car. Well, duh, isn't everyone? With minimum searching l learned it was a NY car, then was in NC then in Florida... hummm... one can't check too closely on cars from LA or NC where hurricane flooded vehicles somehow make their way back onto car lots. Actually, I think the car has been salvaged with had a "restoration" job of sorts and a "new title" done to hide the history. Yep, it is an old dog. A junk yard dog at that. Helen Ha! Whoo.... that is terrible... good riddance.. Forget about that car... sounds like it had 200,000 miles on it. > Thanked him and left. Any thoughts as to costs? I am guessing very > expensive to "fix". TIA If you have the know how and the patience, the car is probably worth about 1K assuming it really is a low mileage, tight engine. This is actually the kind of car I love to buy (ie basically solid, but lots of ticky tack problems). If you are thinking of paying someone to fix all that stuff FORGET IT. Marty |
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