Mercedes W201 190 E 2.6 Auto, 83K miles, 1992

Registration : K818 KGH

Mileage : 83000

First Registered : 1st August 1992

RFL (12 months) : £270

Colour : Midnight Blue (904U)

Interior : Cloth Grey (068)

 

Fantastic Mercedes 190 E with the sublime 2.6 litre straight-six engine and super smooth automatic gearbox and having covered just 83K miles.

 

A 1992 car that has clearly been cherished by just 4 previous keepers, one of the more recent of which owned the car from 1997 to 2019 (with 2 keepers prior to him August 1992 to November 1994 and November 1994 to November 1997, both resident in Surrey).

 

This car was supplied when new by Brunswith Mercedes in London with PDI carried out on 7th July 1992 and with the new owner waiting for the ‘K’ registration plate change on 1st August before taking delivery. An early inspection service was carried out back then, in this case at 2863 miles also by Brunswick on 11th March 1993.

 

Brunswick continued to care for the car completing services at 9699 miles, 12276 miles, 17614 miles, 21933 miles in the period 1994 to 1997 when the vehicle passed to the next and long-standing keeper.

 

At this point Churchill Bennitt (later Shelby) in New Kings Road, London took up care and servicing at 24620 miles, 29520 miles, 32562 miles, 35122 miles, 39699 miles and 42920 miles. All of the above services included brake fluid and coolant changes at the required intervals. At this point in the history it is understood that the keeper traded plumbing and electrical work at a garage in exchange for regular servicing other than for specialist work such as a gearbox rebuild and replacement torque converter in 2016 at 73329 miles. More recently a service to include precautionary replacement of front and rear coil springs and front track rod ends (with tracking adjustment) was carried out in September 2019 at 80933 miles and a gearbox oil change in January 2020 at 82219 miles. It is clear from our full inspection of fluids and all usual wear components and issues that each owner played their part in the excellent upkeep and condition the car is presented in today.

 

An exemplary and virtually unblemished MOT history backs this and the mileage up with only a couple of advisories and fails for tyres and bulbs.

 

Simple things such as door check straps, windscreen wiper and sunroof guide rails greased, items so often missed at service time, have also been carried out over the years pointing to an example looked after correctly. Brake and fuel lines are free from any corrosion as are the jacking points and other vulnerable areas (ramp inspection encouraged and welcomed on this stunning example).

 

New and correct MO rated tyres will be fitted at time of sale to the near perfect 8-hole alloys.

 

Naturally we have carried out a full inspection and service to include oil and air filter and a new aux drive belt and idler pulleys. A brake fluid change was carried out.

 

We also changed the propshaft rubber couplings and suspension top mounts to ensure the legendary smooth Mercedes ride was retained and at its best. For extra peace of mind the water pump and tensioner was replaced and the coolant system flushed.

 

This superb and rare example of the 190 E has the benefit of an electric tilt and slide sunroof (and electric windows with heat insulating glass) as well as the rare and desirable option of air-conditioning (blowing ice cold) and is ready to be used and enjoyed.

 

The 190 was launched in 1983, the first really compact car Mercedes had produced. Initially, buyers could choose only a 2.0 litre, four cylinder petrol engine model. Six cylinder versions arrived in 1987, with the 2.6 litre as offered here arriving in 1988, when the range was also facelifted. This engine came quite late to the 190 party and a cut above the 4 cylinder variants in specification, performance and of course price, thus making it quite rare and certainly a very desirable derivative in this bodyshell. Probably the best and most usable and with only ever a handful for sale.

 

The range was superseded by the C-Class in 1993 and history shows the 190 to be better built and now very much sought after, especially in this configuration.

 

Mercedes themselves later stated that the 190 was “massively over-engineered”. The W201 190 range introduced a number of features, notably the 5-link rear suspension subsequently used in E and C-Class models, front and rear anti-roll bars, anti-dive and anti-squat geometry, ABS brakes and seatbelt pretensioners.

 

The ‘E’ after 190 stands for Einspritzung, or fuel injection. The Bosch KE-Jetronic system delivered more power and fuel efficiency than its carburettor-equipped predecessor.

 

This superb example is presented in Midnight Blue paintwork with subtle two-tone lower and a retro yet timeless looking grey check cloth interior which really sets the whole package off.

 

Body, paintwork and interior present superbly, testament to the build quality of that time. The paintwork is still as smooth as glass and Mercedes even had on the build sheet ‘Paintwork - Preservation’ which certainly worked in this case. There is no sign of any rust whatsoever and paint and trims are largely blemish free.

 

Safety is a recent obsession for most manufacturers, but not Mercedes. ABS, seat belt pre-tensioners, double-skinned pillars, anti-burst locks and crumple zones featured in the substantial yet compact bodyshell.

 

Take this car out on the road and feel for yourself the faultless Mercedes-Benz heritage. Every switch and stalk performs its function faultlessly. Lovely little extras such as the rear reading light controlled by a switch on the dashboard surprise and delight along with the luxury feel of the leather steering wheel. Fitment of folding armrests and electric windows front and rear are complemented by a tilt and slide electric sunroof. Everything works, including the electric aerial.

 

This example is unusually fitted with air-conditioning which performs faultlessly.

 

The performance of this car will likely surprise you. Extremely usable today, safe and comfortable and just that little bit different.

 

Mercedes means prestige and quality. Other executive saloons lose their looks after just a few years but a 190 will always look and drive the part.

 

A small deposit will secure this car until you are able to view in person. Please also talk to us about delivery options - contact us for details.

Many more photos available along with a walk-round video, on request or via our website. All of our cars are fully HPI checked and our simple ethos is that we will only stock cars that we would be happy to own and drive ourselves and that have passed our stringent checks.

Please email us for more details.

 

 

• Vehicle Summary
• Technical Specs
• Performance Specs