Thinking about buying 2.3-16v..input much appreciated.
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Upstate NY
400E (177k)
Thinking about buying 2.3-16v..input much appreciated.
Hey everyone, I am interested in buying a 1986 2.3 16v 190E, but there are some problems that the car has and the price is cheap so i am wondering how hard parts will be to find?? And how expensive they are. And any other info you can give me.. The car has 142,000 miles and the seller says that the engine, tranny and brakes are excellent.
Work done to the car in the past 5000 miles: Brand New Behr radiator ($425 installed with coolant flush) , Brand new Clutch Kit with about 4000 miles on it($840 installed), Brand new distributor cap and rotor $95.00, Rebuilt fuel distributor unit ($367), brand new thermostat, coolant temperature sending unit, fan switch, all fluid change - trans, differential, power steering - All synthetic fluids, brake fluid (ATE superblue racing fluid ).
And now the bad news : This is what the seller wrote - cold start problem - it starts up fine every time but cuts out when you try to rev high until the car is warmed up - needs cold start valve ( $38.00 ). After it warms up it runs like a champ. gauge cluster lights don't work, speedometer/odometer assembly does not work - cable was removed when installing the trans and wasn't put back for whatever reason - all original miles as can be confirmed on carfax. only the driver side window works, the other three don't work, I think it needs a new child protection switch. Also the seats only go forward and backward, the recline cannot be adjusted, but it is set properly so its no big deal. Sunroof motor works, but sunroof does not move. Driver seat bolster has a patch with no leather. The car is right now at $800. Any help much appreciated . - Thanks in Advanced.
Work done to the car in the past 5000 miles: Brand New Behr radiator ($425 installed with coolant flush) , Brand new Clutch Kit with about 4000 miles on it($840 installed), Brand new distributor cap and rotor $95.00, Rebuilt fuel distributor unit ($367), brand new thermostat, coolant temperature sending unit, fan switch, all fluid change - trans, differential, power steering - All synthetic fluids, brake fluid (ATE superblue racing fluid ).
And now the bad news : This is what the seller wrote - cold start problem - it starts up fine every time but cuts out when you try to rev high until the car is warmed up - needs cold start valve ( $38.00 ). After it warms up it runs like a champ. gauge cluster lights don't work, speedometer/odometer assembly does not work - cable was removed when installing the trans and wasn't put back for whatever reason - all original miles as can be confirmed on carfax. only the driver side window works, the other three don't work, I think it needs a new child protection switch. Also the seats only go forward and backward, the recline cannot be adjusted, but it is set properly so its no big deal. Sunroof motor works, but sunroof does not move. Driver seat bolster has a patch with no leather. The car is right now at $800. Any help much appreciated . - Thanks in Advanced.
Last edited by HeadTurning400E; Aug 7, 2004 at 02:51 PM.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 2,719
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From: Scottsdale, Arizonai
'85 190E 2.3-16 '99 C280 '11 GLK350
This Ebay car is illustrative of what typically happens to the 16 valve. Original owners baby and pamper them with regular service and maintenance. Then the second and third owners get their hands on them. They drive the cars really hard, since the 16 valve is the "hot rod" compared to the other W201s. Maintenance gets second shrift and things that break don't get fixed right away or at all.
Do your due diligence. The engine's compression needs to be checked, the cold start valve isn't the only reason for hard starts. Figure that 16 valve specific parts can be anywhere from 40% to 100% more costly than regular W201 parts.
BTW, Carfax is virtually useless on cars of this age when it comes to reporting accident damage.
Do your due diligence. The engine's compression needs to be checked, the cold start valve isn't the only reason for hard starts. Figure that 16 valve specific parts can be anywhere from 40% to 100% more costly than regular W201 parts.
BTW, Carfax is virtually useless on cars of this age when it comes to reporting accident damage.
