1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 Reviews - Page 3 of 6

Heater tap failed after flushing cooling system leaking cooling fluid. Replaced front brake pads and drive shaft universal rubber. All done when I first brought the car.

Cool old cruiser that performs very well considering the weight and age of the car.

Fantastic leather sports interior and factory handling package. Cheap old car that is still classy and trouble free.

The inside door panels are un-gluing, I've read that this is common.

The rear windows didn't work when I bought it, but I had them fixed by a friend with junkyard parts for cheap.

The power antenna is broken, and sunroof is stuck closed (even though I can hear the motor).

Leaks a bit of power steering fluid.

The best car I've ever owned. Never a serious engine issue, super reliable. Gets between 24 and 28 mpg, not bad.

It's got power for the highway and charm for the city. Looks tip-top and runs even better. Wish it wasn't red, it'd be perfect.

Replaced radiator at 10 years old.

Leak in boot that couldn't be traced even after replacing boot seal.

Small rust patch inside door frame next to door strap - acceptable for a 10 year old car.

Electric sunroof stuck open - needed a new switch. Luckily you can wind it in manually using a winder in the boot.

W201 - one of the last of the proper "engineered" Mercedes, before the accountants at Daimler Chrysler took over.

1.8 engine is a bit slow, get the 2.0 for extra zip in acceleration. However the 1.8 will cruise comfortably all day long on the motorway once up to speed.

Manual gearbox a bit notchy, not as fluid and light as a Ford. Most 190s come with autoboxes for this reason. You should pay less for a manual.

Good mpg from the 1.8 manual, performance benefitted greatly from using Super unleaded petrol

Quality wise this car couldn't be faulted, first class materials throughout designed to last. A colleague bought one of the first C Class' and you could see straight away where savings had been made, and that's just the interior. My car still looked factory fresh at 10 years old.

I had very few faults with my 190E, I put this down to the FMBSH it had. Speaking of servicing it was a bit of a pain having to get the oil dropped out every 6k, but I made a cost saving by using a fast fit outfit for this and only using a main agent for the major 12k service - competitive at the time for around £149.

-Sunroof doesn't work. Motor is fine, but the cable is broken.

-The passenger side rear window motor went out. $50 used motor and an hour to replace.

-Driver's side front wheel bearing at 97K, $300 including labor.

-Cruise control was broken when I bought it.

-The trunk lid appears to take on water... when opened after rain, some water dumps out. Nothing has stopped working.

-Driver's door lock cylinder will not lock from the outside (it does, un-lock). The door is designed not to lock from the button while the door is open; I suspect that whatever device monitors this may be on the out.

-Hood release is broken.

-Blower motor howls and screeches occasionally. I was told they sometimes rub on the shroud. Not sure what to do about it.

-Exhaust rusted through behind resonator and fell off. The stock exhaust was stainless, not sure why this happened.

That's pretty much it.

The list of issues might seem long, but this car is bulletproof. It starts every time, even at 15 years of age.

I have to appreciate the excellent build quality. The paint is still perfect, there are no rips or tears in the seats, and everything except what's noted above still works (including the power antenna!).

The motor pulls strong, but Mercedes have always been heavy cars. The fuel consumption is better than average.

The car is VERY comfortable. It's extremely quiet inside, even at freeway speeds. The door seals look brand new. The power seats (including power headrests) still work great and offer excellent adjustability.

Fully independent suspension means this car handles remarkably well. The steering is precise and tight, and visibility is excellent.

My only complaints are that it has no cupholders, and the steering wheel doesn't tilt.

Overall, it's a fantastic car. It runs perfectly, looks great, and has all the creature comforts that even some new cars don't have.