Qbrozen - I didn't see in your previous post that you listed the mileage of your new Benz. Anyhow - that's nothing for an older Mercedes, as it's barely been broken in. I would've asked you if you'd be interested in my '96 Volvo 850 sedan with 87k miles (yes it's original) on it; however I'd kill myself if I sold it! (which I won't do for a very long time)
Our previous one had a bad head gasket. It wasn't between the cylinders, though. Just oil leaking to the outside. I sold it with that leak still there because I didn't want to deal with changing it. I realized I either needed to pull the engine or remove the front end of the car to do it.
One thing I'm trying to determine on this car, because I don't recall with our other one, is if it has overdrive? Seem to go up to 4th gear and its like that's it. I took it on the highway and it was running at around 3500 rpms at 70 mph.
Oh, and now the climate control is throwing a fit. Worked perfect during my test drive and all the way home. Nice cold AC, fan working, etc. Drove it to the diner this evening, had the defroster on on the way there with no problem. Then on the way home, it started randomly turning the fan to full blast, then nothing. Played with the switches and couldn't get the fan to go on. :confuse:
OH, so get this. Wife says I should go get an E30, too. Maybe that $1995 one in Philly. :shades:
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I like that idea. It has crossed my mind that I could sell my accord, buy an older car like a volvo, and have money left over for something like that BMW. And a bigger problem of not enough garage space.
There's some kind of gasket sealant I have heard about that is ran through like oil, and might solve a small problem like that. My fintail has a weird issue where it would leak coolant to the outside of the engine rather than into the oil. I had my old MB specialist run the sealant through, and the problem was almost gone, not enough to worry about.
Good luck with the climate control. It will work when it wants. My W126 always put out warm air when the vent was on an ambient setting. Everything else worked perfectly.
It's not an OD transmission in that car. I don't think MB has really ever had an OD like an American unit, just a 5th gear, but I don't think that unit came out until 1992, and it might not have been in the W201 at all. It's a plain old 4 speed that probably has 2nd gear start. My W126 had the 3L variant of that engine, I seem to remember it revving around 3K at cruising speed too.
yes! 2nd gear start. Thanks for pointing that out, too. Man, is that annoying. If you really lay into it from a stop, she'll start out like a slug, then take off (I guess after it downshifts?), then slam into 2nd and spin the tire.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yeah, you have to floor it to make it kick down, and then it won't behave smoothly. It wants to be driven leisurely. I am pretty sure with the 5 speed unit the transmission became "switchable" and first gear start was finally used for normal driving, with second gear able to be selected for low traction conditions. MB did the second gear thing from the time they made their first automatic in the early 60s. Must have been a Euro ideal.
I'm surprised, with as much as you were talking about manual transmissions, that you ended up closing out the search with a slurry of autos and then you bought an auto! :P
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
I'm a tad remorseful now, to tell the truth. But, if I think logically about it, I'd be hard pressed to find anything pleasing for the $1500 I spent on this.
Another upside is that it gives me that much more appreciation for my 300Z.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
....I'm in a semi-buyer's-remorse stage with my 528e. I really like a lot of things about it, but......it really wasn't what I wanted. But, as with gbrozen, at my price point (in this case, $800), I probably got the best car for the money, or at least something I'm not completely miserable with, or totally embarrassed to drive. I even recently (accidentally) discovered that the A/C does work, despite previous owners' assertion that it didn't (no matter, it's already been below freezing here in Chicago!). I am, however, picturing myself getting a 21 year-old, RWD car with 14" wheels and no LSD or traction control out of my garage into an unplowed alley. Ugh. We do at least have the Jeep still, so I guess I won't be stranded. :confuse:
the Buick Skylark convertible does *seem* a few thousand underpriced. A really clean driver should go for about $9000, but with dull chrome (or chrome with the finish worn off perhaps?) and a broken top and a few other issues we may not know about---well, maybe the price is about right.
These 70s 'verts have to be smashing good to break the $10K barrier.
I know what you mean. But, then, sometimes the "remorse" is in the search being over moreso than a lack of appreciation for the final selection. Perhaps it is a matter of it being more about the journey than the destination.
Interestingly, all three of the vehicles I regularly use now are manuals. Assuming I can get my minivan running and out of the driveway at some point, the only automatics I will have left are my '76 F250 (which needs an engine overhaul next summer before I can even use it) and my '69 E100, which I just do not use at this point. I'm sure the next time I do drive an auto I will find myself, more than once, stomping the floor with my left foot.
2018 Subaru Crosstrek, 2014 Audi Q7 TDI, 2013 Subaru Forester, 2013 Ford F250 Lariat D, 1976 Ford F250, 1969 Chevrolet C20, 1969 Ford Econoline 100
That's nothin'... I used to get 100 mpg on mine....while towing....had a flat tire, too. It had 4 million miles on it...never even opened the hood. Honest.
Perhaps it is a matter of it being more about the journey than the destination.
Yes, that has often occurred to me. It becomes a bit less so, though, I think, when it becomes more of an urgency. I'm probably overly paranoid or spoiled in some way, but I was a bit nervous to have not to have a daily driver beyond a 25-year-old 2-seater. .... So now I've added a 19-year-old german car... :confuse:
Anyhoo... just got a call from the curbstoner with the $1995 325i. I'll be checking it out in the morning.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Congrats on your 190E. I think they're decent looking having that crisp MB 80s styling, plus it's a 4 door, and RWD, so fun for you, and good for the kids. What more could you ask for?
My 01 C240 also had a fussy climate control system. I learned to live with it somehow. :confuse:
The E320 is a plain E320. Maybe it's got a AMG muffler tip or floor mats, who knows, but those parts do not make it an AMG model.
The 500 SE looks cool, but it's a tad pricey. Plus it's got the euro cloth seats, so it makes me wonder if the AMG bits were added afterwards on a plain 500 SE.
Didn't we see this one for sale a while ago, or maybe another MB from the same location? Something looks familar there.
The 500SE looks legit to me. Back then 90% of AMG cars had no mechanical upgrades - the car would receive side skirts, bumpers, wheels, maybe a steering wheel, exhaust, and monochrome trim, and that was it. I don't believe AMG had their own seats then either, Recaro upgrades were not unknown, but usually the stock units remained. The seats in that car are the deluxe velour - which some actually preferred over leather, and cost about the same.
There have been a couple other W126 with AMG trim on Seattle CL...another often seen is usually photographed in a carport.
Good ones are actually getting pretty hard to find - although I suspect there will be some nice survivors coming out of the Vancouver area as I remember that was the car of choice in the 90s, and I am sure a lot of low mileage examples are being kept today.
I wouldn't mind having Bruno Sacco's blue-on-cream C140.
Here's something cool I recently found....proof of evolution:
I've been finding myself liking these things more and more. I guess it would make a nice baby brother to my LeMans. I wonder how much hp its 326 would put out with the mods he mentioned?
Yeah, I guess those 4:11 gears would get annoying on the highway. I know my Intrepid has a 3.89:1 axle, and 3rd gear is 1:1, with 4th being ~0.67:1. If I hold 3rd, or stomp it hard enough to downshift to 3rd, it'll pull around 3000 rpm@60 and 3750@75 mph. So that '76 Ventura would probably rev slightly higher than that.
I like the totally flush headlamps on the third one. All NA models have flush lamps with flush inserts that replaced the sealed beam type non flush lights before them.
Yeah Q, these are the higher performance models. I saw a late 80s 190E on our local CL a few months back and it looked really really sharp. The guy only wanted like 2 or 3 grand for it, but it looked nice. Keep us updated on how yours holds up. It might turn out to be a fun hobby car for you.
Yeah, the pseudo-flush units replaced the old recessed units in NA models for 1986.
My old MB specialist had a 1993 190E sportline, rare 5-speed...and he dropped a 300CE engine into it. It was pretty quick.
In my area there's an AMG-bodied W201, I've never seen another like it. It has a weird bodykit, especially on the trunk, with an odd filled-in spoiler, almost like a ducktail.
That LA car looks like it was attacked with a baseball bat.
I remember Sir Mix A Lot had a bunch of exotics, one of them being a wide body Gemballa.
Is the MB you're talking about have the testarossa style side slits? I recall those when I started reading duPont registry back in the early 90s. Lots of widebody Benzes with testarossa style kits and gold plated wheels.
Nah, the W201 I saw wasn't a widebody cheese grater conversion - no SEC hood or anything either. It was pretty stock looking apart from the skirts, but the rear end was odd, it had a spoiler, but it was solid and made the rear profile look kind of thick. The car was also white, and grimy, like it had just been dragged out of a barn. I've only seen it once.
I'd like a 6 liter AMG widebody SEC, but I don't know about the cheese graters, and a certain NO on the gold trim.
Comments
Given the price you paid, and the fact that you're good with a wrench, you did very well. I've always liked the styling of the 190.
One thing I'm trying to determine on this car, because I don't recall with our other one, is if it has overdrive? Seem to go up to 4th gear and its like that's it. I took it on the highway and it was running at around 3500 rpms at 70 mph.
Oh, and now the climate control is throwing a fit. Worked perfect during my test drive and all the way home. Nice cold AC, fan working, etc. Drove it to the diner this evening, had the defroster on on the way there with no problem. Then on the way home, it started randomly turning the fan to full blast, then nothing. Played with the switches and couldn't get the fan to go on. :confuse:
OH, so get this. Wife says I should go get an E30, too. Maybe that $1995 one in Philly. :shades:
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Good luck with the climate control. It will work when it wants. My W126 always put out warm air when the vent was on an ambient setting. Everything else worked perfectly.
It's not an OD transmission in that car. I don't think MB has really ever had an OD like an American unit, just a 5th gear, but I don't think that unit came out until 1992, and it might not have been in the W201 at all. It's a plain old 4 speed that probably has 2nd gear start. My W126 had the 3L variant of that engine, I seem to remember it revving around 3K at cruising speed too.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
The awesome 80s
Mechanic's Dream???
Fuel injected 455? Horsepower claim is pretty mild by Craig's standards
Take it to the next level
Blue Hornet
Cartoonish
GTO survivor
Looks good for the money
Different convertible
That kind of looks like a car but not completely
I can't tell what's on the car and what isn't
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I'm a tad remorseful now, to tell the truth. But, if I think logically about it, I'd be hard pressed to find anything pleasing for the $1500 I spent on this.
Another upside is that it gives me that much more appreciation for my 300Z.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
At least when you are bottom feeding the price chain, it's easy to get in and out quick!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Yeah, a detail and a once over on the major systems and you can sell it for $1750!
These 70s 'verts have to be smashing good to break the $10K barrier.
Interestingly, all three of the vehicles I regularly use now are manuals. Assuming I can get my minivan running and out of the driveway at some point, the only automatics I will have left are my '76 F250 (which needs an engine overhaul next summer before I can even use it) and my '69 E100, which I just do not use at this point. I'm sure the next time I do drive an auto I will find myself, more than once, stomping the floor with my left foot.
I'm joking, of course. I have no way of knowing when the photos were taken.
But something amusing caught my eye....wildest claim I've seen in awhile.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
Yes, that has often occurred to me. It becomes a bit less so, though, I think, when it becomes more of an urgency. I'm probably overly paranoid or spoiled in some way, but I was a bit nervous to have not to have a daily driver beyond a 25-year-old 2-seater. .... So now I've added a 19-year-old german car... :confuse:
Anyhoo... just got a call from the curbstoner with the $1995 325i. I'll be checking it out in the morning.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
My 01 C240 also had a fussy climate control system. I learned to live with it somehow. :confuse:
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
The 500 SE looks cool, but it's a tad pricey. Plus it's got the euro cloth seats, so it makes me wonder if the AMG bits were added afterwards on a plain 500 SE.
Didn't we see this one for sale a while ago, or maybe another MB from the same location? Something looks familar there.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
There have been a couple other W126 with AMG trim on Seattle CL...another often seen is usually photographed in a carport.
Speaking of AMG....I have seen this car in person, and it is really pristine. There are probably worse ways to spend the money
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
I wouldn't mind having Bruno Sacco's blue-on-cream C140.
Here's something cool I recently found....proof of evolution:
But yeah, I think the departure from the vertical lights marked a huge modern jump. The interiors did likewise at the exact same time.
you wouldn't be taking too many road trips with those 4:11 gears.
Found these 3 interesting models. All 2.3 -16V versions.
1987 Black Asking $10900 Actually looks sharp.
1987 Silver, but looks like it's stock with just the 16V engine and a kit. Asking $11000
1989 Silver. Looks sharp too, asking $8500
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
Probably be fun around town, though.
First one is gone and the second seems expensive, especially with the weak greenback.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Yeah Q, these are the higher performance models. I saw a late 80s 190E on our local CL a few months back and it looked really really sharp. The guy only wanted like 2 or 3 grand for it, but it looked nice. Keep us updated on how yours holds up. It might turn out to be a fun hobby car for you.
Just looking at LA Craigslist. Here's what someone calls his car in excellent shape :lemon: hahahha
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
My old MB specialist had a 1993 190E sportline, rare 5-speed...and he dropped a 300CE engine into it. It was pretty quick.
In my area there's an AMG-bodied W201, I've never seen another like it. It has a weird bodykit, especially on the trunk, with an odd filled-in spoiler, almost like a ducktail.
That LA car looks like it was attacked with a baseball bat.
Is the MB you're talking about have the testarossa style side slits? I recall those when I started reading duPont registry back in the early 90s. Lots of widebody Benzes with testarossa style kits and gold plated wheels.
2016 Audi A7 3.0T S Line, 2021 Subaru WRX
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_F76ySzk48
I'd like a 6 liter AMG widebody SEC, but I don't know about the cheese graters, and a certain NO on the gold trim.