1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 e from North America

Summary:

Yuck!! The Hyundai of MB

Faults:

Emissions. Ran really rich.

Emergency brake.

Radio.

Electric antenna.

Front passenger seat... stuck, would not move out of the furthest back position.

Starting the car... clunky... had to step on the gas to catch... usually would not catch the 1st time.

General Comments:

I bought this car for $2,300 in 2005 and thought I got a bargain. Turns out it needed 2000 in repairs. I then got rear ended... 5 days after buying it and got $700 more than I paid for it from insurance.

I'm now buying a new 2006 Scion XA.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 15th November, 2005

17th Nov 2005, 08:36

What you have done is bought a lemon, and you were taken for a ride!

We have a 1989 Mercedes 190E 2.6 6 Cylinder Automatic, mileage-180 000, and still running strong.

We've had it for the last 3 years and besides minor maintenance we've had no problems at all! I suggest that you do your research before you buy another car!

27th Oct 2009, 23:57

My first 190e 2.3 was rust free and ran like a top. When I got rid of the car, it had 637000 kms on the clock. I take care of my cars though. I paid 1000cdn for the car in 2004 and sold it for 3900cdn, but I had to get a new eha 500 and thermostat housing 90. It still runs to this day and I see it everywhere bombing around. My current 190e 2.3 had 250351 on it now, and is like a new car still.

5th Nov 2009, 22:30

It's unfair of you to expect ANY second-hand car to be completely trouble free.

This is especially true by purchasing a "cheap benz" - THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS A CHEAP BENZ. Sometimes you may get lucky, but most of the time the cheap Benzes (or any cheap luxury car) are the ones that are in need of many repairs.

On top of that, it's a 15 year old car with over 100,000 miles - you can't expect complete reliability.

30th Mar 2010, 02:07

On noticing you said your car was running rich and it had problems starting; seems like bad sparkplugs or a faulty coil wire. Other than that, if the problems you list are just antenna and radio, I think you got a steal. Your car isn't a lemon, it's just showing you it's time for a sweet 16 good old fashioned tune-up.

24th May 2012, 00:54

You bought a car that was 16 years old then with those problems, that's pretty good.

I've seen worse from cars a lot newer than that.

1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 102 (2.0) from United Arab Emirates

Summary:

Great value for money!

Faults:

Never had major problems (the car is a Japanese spec and I may be the 3rd or 4th owner). Only problems I had was with the fuel consumption, but now, that too has improved after I gave it a new set of injectors. Brakes! Big mistake of replacing the discs with German Duplicates!!!

General Comments:

Power: OK for such a heavy car. Cannot expect more from a 2.0 liter.

Transmission shifts like hot knife in butter, however I really hate the fact that the version I have is permanently set to ECONOMY mode!

Electrics: Have to keep a close eye. The Air-Con fuses have burnt many times over!

Exhaust Test: Passes it without the catalytic converter. Cops amazed that a 1989 year model just emitting 0.39% by volume without a cat con!

Safety: Now I Do not need a Body Guard!!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th October, 2005

1989 Mercedes-Benz 190 2.5D 2.5 diesel from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A reliable; well-engineered car that should see 500,000 miles easily

Faults:

Nothing in my ownership, but was bought cheaply knowing it needed 2 rear wheel bearings and clutch replacement.

Nothing else has gone wrong; a tribute to the quality build of these cars.

Other work done has included standard servicing items; oil and filter change etc. I've also converted it to run on waste vegetable oil which makes running costs very cheap.

General Comments:

Excellent car generally; although being non-turbo overtaking needs to be planned.

Car handles well for a big saloon.

Good fuel economy on a run 45 mpg plus.

Comfortable, but feels somewhat old fashioned given it's now 16 years old.

Apart from 2-3 small surface rust spots the paintwork/bodywork is excellent.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 8th April, 2005

24th May 2012, 01:01

A little too late to reply to this, seeing that it's 7 years old, but there we go LOL.

I've seen Mercedes-Benz's with those 2.5 5 cylinder engines hitting 700,000 miles in Australia, so long as you service it.

I saw one in Melbourne that hit 1,200,000km, which is like 740,000 miles, give or take a few metres, and all it needed apart from normal wear and tear items, was a head gasket, and that was like 200,000km ago.