Old Mercedes diesels

Post by dp » Sun Jul 16, 2006 12:48 pm

Hi, very off-topic this but can anyone advise whether 1980s/1990s Mercedes's are easy to work on? To expand on 'easy to work on' I mean easy to work on in the street with the normal range of tools one might use for the Minor.
I'm researching my next daily driver as the current one is an expensive mix of strange electronics and jobs requiring special tools, presses measuring devices etc.

Looks like a nice 190d or 300d can be had for the same money as a newer Mondeo or Astra (£500-£1500) and my gut feeling is the Merc would be cheaper and easier to keep reliable given I would do the work myself.

Many thanks,

Darren

Post by **chickenjohn** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:44 pm

I've known a few people who have had/ still have Merc 190E's and I'd say go for it as their maintainance experience has been relatively straighforward (Meric tools, though, no AF and Whitworth here). Parts are sensibly priced, although you won't need many of them as these cars are tough and reliable. The only drawback is the seats- they have very soft squabs (seat base sides) for a German car, I'd rather sit in a standard Minor seat!

Post by **Alec** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:48 pm

Hello Darren,

surely the real question is can you bear to be seen behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz?

Alec

Post by **Cam** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:23 pm

Alec wrote:surely the real question is can you bear to be seen behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz?

I completely agree, Alec.

Having said that though I spent last Thursday behind the wheel of a Mercedes Benz but it was a long wheel base Sprinter so I think I can be forgiven.

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:40 pm

As long as it was to transport Minor bits

:P

Post by **Cam** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 3:47 pm

Erm, no, it wasn't.

But I was at work and the money I earned will go towards Minor restoration.

Darren, I'm not sure how true it is but I heard that old Mercs can be rot-boxes and also what about insurance? There are lots of other cheap 2nd hand cars out there for that kind of money. I would imagine that you'd get more car for your money if you went 'down-market' a bit.

Post by **Peetee** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 4:40 pm

If I were spending that sort of money I'd go for a early 90's Passat. the saloons were unloved and now very cheap. They go on almost as long as Mercs (the 1800 engine was based on a merc engine anyway). New parts are cheap, even the 1800 petrol will do 40mpg and corrosion protection is as good as it gets. Perhaps the best recommendation is second hand parts availability. Aged Mercs are all going abroad but just about every scrappy over here has a pranged Passat.

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 5:07 pm

Old mercs (80s) don't tend to rot as bdly as the newer models. I can't recall seeing that many rusty 190Es!

Mate of mine has just passed half a million miles in his '81 250D
Never been welded.

I would look out for service books, they were used a lot as taxis, and those tend to have more experience than your average HGV

(colleague has '99 C200 CDI with 575.000 km on the clock)

Post by **Alec** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 7:10 pm

Hello all,

this is off topic but there are many instances of posts with the comment

"Never been welded.".

Just how do the manufacturers make the bodies stick together then?

It should at least be 're-welded'

Alec

Post by **Onne** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 9:49 pm

OK it never needed post-production welding

Happy?

Post by **Alec** » Sun Jul 16, 2006 10:59 pm

Hello Onne,

thank you, it is better

Alec

Post by dp » Sun Jul 16, 2006 11:26 pm

Wow, what a lot of comments:) Cheers all.
I was under the impression that the older ones were tough as old boots and the newer ones were not as well made.

Not sure about Alec's comment about bearing to be seen behind the wheel of one. Do they have a stereotypical owner?

Post by **chickenjohn** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:20 am

dp wrote:_snip_
I was under the impression that the older ones were tough as old boots and the newer ones were not as well made.

Not sure about Alec's comment about bearing to be seen behind the wheel of one. Do they have a stereotypical owner?

True, newer ones are rubbish!

I think they are thinking of the "pimp" stereotype, but then again I drive Morris Minors and am not a district nurse or a vicar! ;)

Ignore the stereotypes, the old Merc 190's are great cars (make sure you get a good one!), the other cheaper cars referred to will give more trouble and rust more.

Post by **Alec** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 10:14 am

Hello Dp,

it is my perceived idea I suppose, based on observation that the average Mercedes Benz driver would struggle to drive a nail into a piece of wood.
Similarly BMW and latterly Audi drivers seem to be more pushy, and inconsiderate.
I would be interested to see whether insurance companies' data would bear out my beliefs.

Alec

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Jul 17, 2006 7:49 pm

I was under the impression that the older ones were tough as old boots and the newer ones were not as well made.

According to a friend of mine who is a bit of a Merc guru, DON'T buy anthing post 1996 as they rot / fall to bits / both at the same time. 80's Mercs were about their peak (so he says).
He ran an late 80's Merc diesel estate for 4 years before changing to a mid 90's one. He still swears that they are great but never got 40 mpg and is on first name terms with all the Merc breakers within 30 miles.
Personally I'd go for Japanese instead of German. Old Honda's will break occassionally but much less often than most cars. My Honda is now 14 years old and after 4 years & 40K miles (it's now 130,000 miles) this year it finally needed some repairs (£10 thermostat and for the MOT £24 of suspension bushes and some brake pipes). It still manages >40MPG on a run although I've not changed the air filter since 30K miles ago

Post by dp » Mon Jul 17, 2006 8:02 pm

Thanks one and all. I'll have to discount the, 'do you want to be seen behind the wheel of...', argument as I'll end up walking everywhere

Want proof - start your own thread and ask what car everyone likes? and before you come back to me with 'Minor', I'll want consensus on which body type, year and whether it should have drums

, Wolesely drums

or ... disks

But seriously, cheers for all input. I'll be checking out Passat and Honda prices on Loot shortly.

Post by **chickenjohn** » Fri Jul 21, 2006 8:01 am

old Hondas and Passats rust though, Ols Mercs don't suffer like they do, plus the Passat is just not a refined solid car like the 190.

Go and try a 190, close the door and hear the satisfying THUNK!

Post by dp » Fri Jul 21, 2006 10:59 am

In the flats where I live, one guy has a 190 diesel and a 300D. Another has two(!) v8 soft tops (the Hart to Hart ones) and an MG TD. It does seem that there's no shortage of Merc parts.

Post by **badfelafel** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 12:21 pm

lol i opened this expecting to read about some fantastic shoehorning of a 3 litre mercedes diesel automatic engine with aircon into a moggy!

Post by **dunketh** » Fri Aug 11, 2006 1:11 pm

If the lord offers you one to keep up with Porsche owning friends it'd be rude not to take him up on it.
Other than that, they're reliable old buses. Less boring than a monvectra clone.