190 keep or sell?

[Jeddy]

My mother is now in her mid 70s and has been driving a MB190 (1989) with approx 135k miles on it and full MB history for the last 17years or so.
It looks like it now needs a some work on it, it is leaking a certain amount of oil from the engine somewhere (head gasket?) along with a couple of other leak type issues.
To get all the work done is likely to cost quite a bit, maybe over £1k if we don't take it to the MB garage which is obviously more than the car is worth.
Given that she no longer does any significant mileage (a few thousand a year) I'm trying to decide if she should sell the car for something newer for reliability issues (and maybe cost) or stay with something she is familiar (and otherwise happy) with.
Please can anyone advise of things which tend to go wrong and which cost significant money at this sort of mileage please. I'd also be interested to know of anything which could leave her on the side of the road which we either need to keep an eye on or may sway the decision.

Should we keep it or sell it?

Many thanks.
Jeddy

 

[Bolide]

This is a really good question and it doesn't have an easy answer

I think you need to cost the repairs, but not at an MB dealer, and look at predictable downsizing / older person alternative cars like the Honda Jazz

It should be possible to keep the 190 going for quite a few years but whether that's viable will depend more on bodywork & rust than on anything mechanical. Mechanically they're very robust but, obviously, at this age (the car, not your mother) they do tend to need replacement parts

If you let us know where you are in the country someone will recommend a local independent garage

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Jeddy]

Thanks for the reply. I think the bodywork is pretty sound aside a couple of slight knocks acquired in supermarket car parks courtesy of others.

Downsizing isn't something my mother is really interested in, if she was going to replace it she'd be looking for a similar sized car (she feels safer in a larger car - you and I know that a modern Jazz etc. is probably safer than her 190 but I'm having trouble convincing her of that).

She is based in Bournemouth / Poole area, which from this forum it looks like Connelly's or Star Tech would be favourites for specialist independants. I have suggested she takes it to Star Tech for them to check over and price up the work for starters.
In the mean time at least she has a mobile phone and a good breakdown and recovery policy.

Thanks,
Jeddy

 

[Nickc]

The first car that springs to mind is tha Honda Jazz. The build quality, reliability, running costs and safety are remarkably good. All from a design that is six years old now, with the replacement being launched very soon.
All this is well and good but a significant function of safety is confidence and despite the fact that a Jazz is light years ahead of the 190 in that respect, your Mother may take some convincing.
I'd be inclined to take her to a couple of dealerships and try both a Jazz, a Civic and a Mercedes C class - a later C class should at least be equipped with muliple airbags, ABS etc. and should feel very familiar.

 

[stumpy]

My ex had a Jazz. It's an amazing car and held onto nearly all it's value. BUT, it aint no Merc. I can see why mum wants to keep the 190. Out of all the cars I've owned, my old 124 is up there with the best of them and I can justify spending money on her, as it still costs less than the depreciation on a new car.