1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 E review from North America

Valve job at 120k miles, was leaking 1 quart of oil per 750 miles. After the $850 repair, the car leaked zero oil until she died from a collision at 152k.

Rebuilt M-B tranny at 130k miles for $1800.

Replaced control arm and stabilizer bushings at 110k. Easy job, cheap rubber.

Needed engine mounts and tranny mounts at 150k.

Vacuum pump (for locks) died at 135k.

A/C system died at 145k miles.

This car was underpowered for a M-B, but makes a good starter Mercedes. She drove like a dream and kept me alive in a head-on collision with an oil truck at 152k miles.

Interior never faded; Dashboard never cracked, M-B Tex interior never cracked or was damaged. Exterior paint never chipped, cracked, faded or even lost her luster. In all, a solid, solid little car.

I am 6'2" and 260lbs; she was under-sized for me. I still drove her as a daily driver for 4 years, but she was a little small.

Many of the problems and woes from critics of the earlier models (the '83 Euro and the '84 US 190Es) WERE fixed in this first correction iteration.

Knowing what I know now, I would still buy another 190E, but would look for the 2.6L and 1987 or later (for the airbags).