1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 2.3

Summary:

A nice ride

Faults:

A week after I bought the car the transmission went out. I had it rebuilt.

$1,100.00.

The alternator froze about two weeks later.

$75.00 (used)

When the alternator froze the car got a little hot and the radiator cracked where the top hose is.

$100.00 (used)

And, of course,

The A/C doesn't work,

The power antenna doesn't work,

The right rear window doesn't work.

The odometer is broken.

All relatively minor things you would expect out of a 17 year old car.

General Comments:

This car is very comfortable to drive.

The handling is better than I had expected for a car this old.

It gets awesome fuel mileage.

The back seat is a little cramped for taller people, but I'm 5'5" so it doesn't bother me a bit. And I'm always driving.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th July, 2003

1985 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3L

Summary:

A Baby, but a real Benz

Faults:

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.

General Comments:

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).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th April, 2003

10th Jan 2005, 08:42

I also own a gray market 1985 Mercedes 190E, 5 speed manual trans. I've found it to be a superbly built, comfortable, reliable, and actually sporty car for daily commuting. (Lowered 1.5", silver paint, late model Mercedes wheels look great on it) The heater blower only works occasionally. Loose connection I'm sure, but what do you want from a 20 year old car with over 220,000 miles on it? That's the only problem with the car. I'm very pleased with it overall!

10th Feb 2010, 13:48

My dad and mother crashed 3 years ago their 190E 1987 against a parked truck by the middle of the night at 80kms per hour. They survive well, my mother just got a minor hit at the forehead.

This little tank accomplished what we expected from a Mercedes.

Now, we only drive Mercedes.

18th Feb 2010, 02:07

I bought my Mercedes Benz E190 1985 model in 2001 as a used vehicle.

To date I have not opened the engine, not even the top cylinder.

I have not parked it for more than a month. Use it an average of 6 days a week. Service it every three months.

I don't want to drive another car, other than Benz.

17th May 2010, 18:21

I have an 85 190 and it's an awesome car. THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH IT, and I have had it since 1985, I am the original owner, and ever since it came from the factory, the windows have always sucked. I've gotten them fixed at the dealer, but they still keep breaking. That is my only issue with this car.

23rd May 2010, 13:47

I bought my 1985 190-e new. I have 79,000 miles and it drives like a new car, quiet and a super ride. No rust and in showroom condition. This little Benz rides and drives like the big ones.