*Interested parties should note, this vehicle was subject to a CAT N (Non structural) insurance claim in 09/20 *
Images supplied by vendor
Images supplied by vendor
Highlights
- New head gasket fitted
- Some service history
- Nice and clean interior
The Appeal
From 1982-93 the 190E was Mercedes’ offering in the saloon car sector, and over its 11-year lifespan, it would manage to sell an incredible 1.8 million units.
Thanks to a healthy development budget (around £600 million) the W201 was an amazing vehicle that people still love today.
Thanks to a healthy development budget (around £600 million) the W201 was an amazing vehicle that people still love today.
It would appear that this car has been looked after well throughout its life, with the interior and exterior looking like they are in good condition for you. It has even had a head refurbishment recently including a new head gasket, meaning it should now run well for you.
The History and Paperwork
- The history of this car is a little bit patchy, and we can only really comment on its time with the current owner
- After it left the factory in 1992 it came to the UK and has since had a few owners in the intervening 30 years
- When the current owner picked the car up it needed a bit of work to the engine, so the head was sent off for refurbishment and the head gasket was then replaced.
- The current owner has said that it now runs really well since this work was complete
- They also say that there is some service history that will come with this car.
- Looking at the photos, it would appear that this car has been looked after throughout its life, with the cloth interior being presented in very good condition
- What the car lacks in history it makes up for in character and shear curb appeal with the striking red paint and AMG wheels.
- It is now your chance to add to this car's history over the next few years. The 190E was engineered for reliability so with only 90,000 miles showing you should have a lot of time left with this amazing example
- This will look great on your drive
The Interior
- Great cloth condition
- The dash appears to be free of cracks
- Very comfortable place to be
Old Mercedes’ are known for their comfort the world over and the 190E is no different, with its armchair like cloth seats, meaning you will enjoy every moment spent in this modern classic.
If we start by looking at the seats, we can see that they are presented well in a nice grey check pattern.
You might expect to see some sort of bolster wear in a car of this age, but from the photos provided there doesn’t appear to be any on either front seats. Nor does there appear to be any large rips or tears to the material, there is one small mark on the passenger seat. The current owner says that the rear section also reflects the condition of the front.
You might expect to see some sort of bolster wear in a car of this age, but from the photos provided there doesn’t appear to be any on either front seats. Nor does there appear to be any large rips or tears to the material, there is one small mark on the passenger seat. The current owner says that the rear section also reflects the condition of the front.
Moving on to the areas of the interior that you will be interacting with the most throughout your ownership, so items like the steering wheel, gear selector, and heater controls we can see that even these have been preserved well.
The black plastic trim is presented nice and clean, with no obvious cracks to the dashboard or any other part for that matter.
The black plastic trim is presented nice and clean, with no obvious cracks to the dashboard or any other part for that matter.
There is also a small wooden accent around the gear selector, this also looks in good condition. Down in this area, we also find the electric window operators.
Some other, sometimes overlooked, features of the interior such as the door cards, carpets, and boot area are also all presented in a nice and clean manner.
Overall, the interior of this 190E is presented in very good condition.
The comfortable seats coupled with the easy driving characteristics of an automatic will mean that you arrive at your destination as fresh as a daisy.
The comfortable seats coupled with the easy driving characteristics of an automatic will mean that you arrive at your destination as fresh as a daisy.
The Exterior
- Striking red paint
- AMG wheels fitted
- Classic ‘90s styling
The W201 has that modern classic Mercedes look with its low chin, square headlights, and 3-box body design. It is definitely a bit of a looker, especially when presented in this striking red paint and its low profile AMG alloys.
Looking at the paint condition, it appears to be in good condition from the photos provided with no large areas of paint bubbling or even the dreaded rust that has caused the demise of so many 190Es.
Much like the paint, the exterior plastic trim is also in very good condition, they look nice and dark in the pictures.
Much like the paint, the exterior plastic trim is also in very good condition, they look nice and dark in the pictures.
To make the exterior look a bit meaner and eye-catching it has been fitted with some lovely AMG alloy wheels. All four of these alloys are presented in good condition with some marks to a couple of them, but on the whole, they seem to be well presented.
Overall, the exterior of this 190E is both clean and eye-catching. The red paint will turn a few heads as you cruise down the high street and the AMG alloys will certainly start a few conversations about your great looking modern classic.
The Mechanics
- Recent work to the head
- Some service history
- Smooth automatic gearbox
For a very long period, Mercedes were known for their bulletproof reliability, and with its £600 million development budget, the 190E was beautifully over-engineered by some of the finest minds in the automotive space.
With its 5-link rear suspension, anti-roll bars, special suspension geometry, and ABS the W201 190E will still be considered a very safe car today, being able to withstand a lot of punishment.
With its 5-link rear suspension, anti-roll bars, special suspension geometry, and ABS the W201 190E will still be considered a very safe car today, being able to withstand a lot of punishment.
It would appear that for the past 30 years this 190E has been looked after well in terms of its mechanical elements. With some service history available it should be a lovely car to own and operate.
When the current owner acquired the car recently the first job that they completed was some work to the engine's head. The head had to go off for some refurbishment work and when it was back a new head gasket was also installed. This should provide you with some peace of mind that you shouldn’t have to do this expensive job any time soon.
This car is fitted with the 1.8l M102 inline-4 which is then mated to a smooth 4-speed automatic gearbox feeding the power to the rear wheels. This drivetrain is a pleasure to drive with, a very nice and smooth experience that you will enjoy.
The mechanical elements of this 190E appear to be in good condition and you should be able to enjoy them for a long time yet.
Summary
If you like modern classic motors, with a track record for reliability and comfortable driving then this 190E should be your next car for sure. With the great interior condition, an eye-catching exterior, and recent work to the engine it should be a great companion for your future adventures.
With enough space for all of your friends and family, it will provide the catalyst for many happy memories in the future.
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