Changing my W220 SClass for a 190E. Help me decide!

[PJayUK]

I have been offered a really nice 190E (on a G plate) by a colleague at work, it’s a 2.6 auto with 103K on the clock is absolutely immaculate condition. The car has a nearly complete MB history and has only had three owners from new. I am confident that it’s genuine as the current owner has every tax disc and MOT certificate from the first one to the current. Now here’s the thing I am wondering whether I should replace my beloved SClass with this car. There are a few reasons why my thinking is heading this way; I wanted to get some opinions on this to help me decide…

1 The 190E feels like a “proper” Mercedes, and looks like it was built when MB was run by engineers rather than accountants
2 Its in absolutely pristine condition inside and out, everything works (even the AC!)
3 Whilst it’s basic in comparison to the technical marvel that is the W220, it still feels more advanced than some current cars (my Subaru Forester for example)
4 I simply love the look of it
5 I am constantly worrying that something on the SClass is going to fail and cost a fortune to replace or fix. The simplicity and reliability of the 190E will give peace of mind.
6 I will look less like a “gangsta” and more like a classic car enthusiast

Now don’t get me wrong, I love my SClass, and I have spent a lot of time and money getting it to how it is and I will be very very sad if I decide let her go. I already have three cars and can’t accommodate a fourth so practically it’s one or the other! I drive my SClass every day into work, around 65 miles, absolutely wonderful to drive every day, but again its technical complexity still makes me worry that one day I’ll see a dreaded “Airmatic visit workshop” message or something similar.

Guys I need some help here what do you think?

Have I lost the plot?

 

[Alex M Grieve]

I have been offered a really nice 190E (on a G plate) by a colleague at work, it’s a 2.6 auto with 103K on the clock is absolutely immaculate condition. The car has a nearly complete MB history and has only had three owners from new. I am confident that it’s genuine as the current owner has every tax disc and MOT certificate from the first one to the current.

I don't think you have lost the plot. When I retired from full time work a couple of years ago, I was offered my W211 E Class at a price I found easy to decline. Until year 2,000 we had a 190 petrol auto (carb) which we eventually sold with 80,000, no rust, no faults in order to buy an estate. I regretted selling it, but it would have been a car too many, as you say.

When I retired, I considered all options in the MB range and got very close to the sort of car you describe. The 2.6 (especially with A/C) is an excellent car, and relatively simple - sort of a Ford Cortina built to RR standards. If it is currently rust free, it should remain so.

Although it was a sporty choice in its day, it would not match today's 200K on power or economy - but it has the cachet of a "real MB" and almost no depreciation to worry about.

I think it is a very sober and sensible question. I would counsel you to drive the car for a couple of days, if you can, just to test that the heart is not influencing the head, and a design which is now quite old is still as good a drive as you expect.

 

[jberks]

The 190 is fabulous. I was leant a 2.6 by the garage whilst my E was in and its a great car.
The only thing was that I felt I had to treat it more gently than I did my E, after all it was an old classic.

But, whilst running sweetly when I set off, when I got off the motorway after a 50 mile run, she missed and spluttered which disapponted me. Not a reason to avoid it, clearly there was a fault and it will be a hell of a lot cheaper to repair than a 220 but however you look at it, it's 10 years older than what you have and will suffer from age related issues, however well it's constructed. Pipes will crack with age, things will stick and squeak. It's age and as as any woman will agree, you can delay it but it will get you in the end. you are going to spend a lot of time fixing something or other.

It all depends on what you want from it.
I would love to buy a older classic - maybe a 126 or SEC V8, buy it for maybe £2k and spend another £5-15k doing a 'regardless of cost zero mile' restoration job , and have a truly fabulous classic for half what I'd normally spend on a 211. But in reality I can do 30k per year and at that rate, and at 23mpg, it's just not really practical. I'd kill it inside 5 years. The only way I could do it would be to keep the E as well and I can't afford to do that.

Safety is another consideration. A 190 doesn't have the safety capabilities of a 220 (few cars do).

So plus - nice car with low maintenance cost
minus - not as nice a car as what you have with more regular maintenance needed.

 

[SilverSaloon]

I sold my E65 BMW 7 Series (2003 model) for a W124 estate and never looked back. miss it sometimes but happy with the W124.... like you say as these huge luxo barges get older the concern of costs relating to things going wrong soon start to pray on your mind. I know that with my W124 i will be able to fit a lot of stuff myself.

 

[television]

Time does move on. I still have the 1928 Autocar road test for the RR that I had. Reading the test and driving the car are miles apart as things have moved on so much

 

[philharve]

Retrograde?

Hi PJayUK

Reading your proposition I am left in little doubt that you have already made up your mind. Clearly ownership of your present car causes you some stress and worry because of its complexity and the potentially high cost if anything should go wrong. As Malcolm says, technology, like time, moves on.

Would I consider a retrograde? Most definitely, especially if it were a classic that was cheap to maintain. I believe the 190E has that distinction.

REGARDS

Phil

 

[hawk20]

I drive my SClass every day into work, around 65 miles, absolutely wonderful to drive every day, but again its technical complexity still makes me worry that one day I’ll see a dreaded “Airmatic visit workshop” message or something similar.

Guys I need some help here what do you think?

Have I lost the plot?

If you are driving 65 miles into work and 65 miles back that is a lot of miles per year. How many do you do in total?

The more miles you do the more you are at risk of an accident. Safety should be a major part of your equation. If you see a pre 1998 car hit a recent car, it is stunning how much safety has improved in the last decade or so.

BTW a car is as old as its oldest part.

 

[television]

BTW a car is as old as its oldest part.

Well if that is the case then the driver is the oldest part by a long way

 

[PJayUK]

What are you trying to say Malcolm???

I am keeping the SClass... Basically had time to think about it over the weekend, and it came down to three key things.

1 Safety. I have two young boys and just don't fancy the risk of an accident in a car thats 20 odd years old. As Hawk20 rightly points out I use the car daily on the motorway and its just not something that I want to risk every day.

2 Although the W220 is a sophisticated car, the more I get to know it I can see its logically designed. Most basic jobs are well within the reach of a modest DIY'er and the more complex ones can be tackled by my local Indi. All in all my car is a well "sorted" example with a known history. Admittedly some things are going to cost, but all in all I have been surprised how cheaply it can be maintained with a little planning, research and patience to locate parts at reasonable prices. The dreaded Airmatic failure that seems to be so hyped (mainly on the yank site) shouldn't spell the end of the road in reality..

3 And this might be a slightly emotional rather than practical reason, but I went out for a drive this weekend. Not for any other reason than just for fun and with no specific destination in mind. Driving this wonderful car around rural Surrey roads where I live made me realise how much enjoyment I get driving it. I have been a bit blinkered I think by the drudgery of the M25 and long hours stuck bumper to bumper.

It just crept past 120,000 miles last week and still feels better than my other cars that have less thank 35,000 on them. I truly hope that with regular quality maintenance its keeps going to much much longer!

So she's staying....

But I might just buy that 190E anyway

 

[charlfourie]

The best of both worlds then, wise thinking.

 

[PJayUK]

That is of course until I have purchased one these!!

 

[teddycatkin]

PJay--I have over the week -end replaced the two front springs two rear bake discs and fitted all new pads front and rear on our 190 for less than £150 -- you can't do that on an S class !

 

[Dosco]

That is of course until I have purchased one these!!

Do you have a wallet of similar capacity

 

[television]

PJay--I have over the week -end replaced the two front springs two rear bake discs and fitted all new pads front and rear on our 190 for less than £150 -- you can't do that on an S class !

:evil::evil::twisted::twisted::sad::sad:

 

[MBDevotee]

120,000 miles on an S-Class - crikey, it will be run in in another 20k then...

 

[PJayUK]

No I cant afford to run a C63 in reality, but I'll be interested to see what they go for in 5 or 6 years time!

Thanks New_clk_owner for your comment I do indeed hope that I can get at least another 100K out of this car...

Be interesting to see how she fairs over the next few months, I am hoping that regular basic servicing and nice long daily runs should help with longevity!

 

[Dosco]

Thanks New_clk_owner for your comment I do indeed hope that I can get at least another 100K out of this car...

Have no fear I suspect that if you added a further 200k you still be wondering when is this thing going to wear out. The problem is not the motor but all the other bits and pieces that go to make up this car such a gem.

 

[PJayUK]

Would the auto transmission cope with that amount mileage (722.6 afaik in these) with just regular say every 25K or so fluid and filter changes?

 

[Dosco]

Would the auto transmission cope with that amount mileage (722.6 afaik in these) with just regular say every 25K or so fluid and filter changes?

A member with far greater knowledge than I might be able to comment but I can say that some of W211 E220 I drive as a part time job have racked up in excess of 400,000 miles both auto's and manuals. Have to add that this is mainly long distance motorway running though.

 

[PJayUK]

Other than these major components the rest should be largely run of the mill running costs. Even the dreaded Airmatic shouldn't cost an arm and a leg if secondhand parts can be sourced and fitted by a local indi.....

Thats my justification and I am sticking with it.......

Oh and the fact that I have already spent a good few quid getting to sorted how it is today!