Which to go for in the 190 range ??

[ENZ91]

I know I'm asking a few questions but I do hope you all bear with me and give me your opinion if you have owned one.

I need a car to use as a run round over the winter and as I do 50 mile a day 7 days a week in the early hours of the morning I need something reliable and easy on the juice.
I have been offered either a 93 manual 190 2.5 diesel or an 89 2.0 petrol auto. (I have the choice of either one for the same money).

I have no details on the 2.5 yet apart from it's dark blue.
The petrol one has 155k but has just had a top end engine rebuild, new radiator, new exhaust, new driveshaft, full interior vallet and is motd until May 06. It's blue as well.

I'm told the petrol will do around 30mpg and the diesel around 45.?

I can't make my mind up on which one to go for so any info/help would be appreciated.

Ta, Stu

 

[mike65]

Never driven a diesel but I'd work on the theory of letting someone else spend the money before you buy, so I'd go for the petrol model. 50 miles suggests mainly open road in which case you should get 35 miles per gallon from the 2.0 ltr.

Mike.

 

[ENZ91]

Thanks Mike, you're right about the open road it'll be mostly motorway driving. 35mpg sounds fine to me. The car does look very clean. Hopefully I'll know more about the diesel tomorow.

 

[WDB201]

I’ve had a 190 2.0 litre diesel for the past ten years with trouble free motoring
Not the fastest by all means but it returns 40 ish just running about and you get a lot more on the long run. I would be a bit dubious of buying the petrol one unless you can see what has actually been done to it i.e why was the head gasket done, was it only the gasket that was replaced and was the head skimmed when it was off. If it had the cylinder head gasket done because of overheating or it was leaking I would walk away if the head has not been skimmed as the problem could re-occur. Also the diesel will do 250,000miles on the original gasket, hope this helps.

 

[ENZ91]

The reason for the head rebuild is one of the things I intend to find out as much about as I can. The owners in Bristol at the mo and won't be back until Friday. In the meantime I'm hoping to see the diesel car.
Would there be much of a difference in power between the 2.0 and the 2.5 diesel engines?
I have to say the idea of maintanence free driving does appeal. I've to much other work to get through.

 

[WDB201]

The reason for the head rebuild is one of the things I intend to find out as much about as I can. The owners in Bristol at the mo and won't be back until Friday. In the meantime I'm hoping to see the diesel car.
Would there be much of a difference in power between the 2.0 and the 2.5 diesel engines?
I have to say the idea of maintanence free driving does appeal. I've to much other work to get through.

The 2.5 is faster and should return 35ish running around don’t know what the auto will return on diesel. What I did notice about the 2.5D auto it was sluggish on the take off

 

[ENZ91]

I think I'm ok with the diesel, it has a manual, it's the petrol that has the diesel.

 

[mike65]

I think I'm ok with the diesel, it has a manual, it's the petrol that has the diesel.

I hope not!

 

[ENZ91]

"Ooops" that didn't make much sense. I ment to say The diesel is manual and the petrol is auto.

 

[230K]

Hi

From experience 190E Manual will just do 35mpg if you are gentle, i imagine that the auto would do 10% less say 32mpg.

230K

 

[ENZ91]

Ok the petrol one I was after I'm going to pass on. I rang the owner today to enquire about why the engine was rebuilt and he responded by saying that he would not be back into the country until next Tuesday so I should look for another one?! He was due back tomorrow. I can't help but think I'm getting the run round.
Oh and the dealer who was getting the diesel one in hasn't got it yet. I could end up in an Audi yet. :wink:

 

[drainaudio]

There is a pristine 1993 2.5 diesel 100k miles in this months Mercedes Enthusiast magazine priced at aprox £3000. I spoke to the owner on behalf of a friend and I would say that he was very informative and the car has been extremely well looked after - full history, same mechanic the last 5 years etc. PM me if you are interested or go grab the magazine, there is a photo of said car and it looks very nice in gleaming red bodywork.
Cheers, Geoff.

 

[ENZ91]

There is a pristine 1993 2.5 diesel 100k miles in this months Mercedes Enthusiast magazine priced at aprox £3000. I spoke to the owner on behalf of a friend and I would say that he was very informative and the car has been extremely well looked after - full history, same mechanic the last 5 years etc. PM me if you are interested or go grab the magazine, there is a photo of said car and it looks very nice in gleaming red bodywork.
Cheers, Geoff.

Thanks for that Geoff. I live in N.I so to far to run I'm afraid. Mind you if it's 3k it makes the one I'm after a bargain if it is anywere near as described. I was able to find out after my last post that it's owner up to now is an elderly gentleman who does little miles. The dealer whos selling it is a close friend of a friend of mine and has done all the servicing etc on it for the last few years. Here's hoping.

Theres a manual 93 2.0 E with 84,000 miles and mot'd to next november 06 in the local trader here for £1000. it's that goldy/silver colour.

 

[mike65]

That cars in Devon if its the same one which is hell of a slog from Norn Iron!

Mike.

 

[ENZ91]

Excellent Mike, have you seen the site http://speaknorniron.8m.net/


Stu

 

[drainaudio]

HI, yes the 2.5 diesel is unfortunately in Devon. I find it somewhat interesting that you want a reliable, everyday winter car and are considering £1000 as the purchase price for this vehicle? At the end of the day you get what you pay for and considering what I've seen in terms of the 190's available for that price, I wouldn't be going there by any stretch of the imagination.
Good luck, I hope you find a good one.
Cheers, Geoff.

 

[ENZ91]

Sorry Geoff I hope you don't think I was trying to be smart,

£800-£1300 for 89-93 190's over here is the going rate with anything over 80k on the clock.
I've drove Italian most of my life and the reasons for picking a 190 for reliability is because a mate bought one for £2,500 2 years ago with 140k on it and it's now past the 250 mark. He is the most laziest person you will come accross and has given the car the minimum amount of TLC possible. If a car has taken what he has threw at it it has to be something special.
I only need the car as runabout over the winter hence I don't want to spend big money on it. That and I can do most of the work myself as I restore cars and my friend is a bit of a MB specialist who swears by them.

Again apoligies if I came across as trying to be clever. It was not my intention. :sad: