1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 review from North America

-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.