Dear Mercedes Pros.,
I am a college student looking for my first Mercedes Diesel. I am very familiar with Mercedes and Volkswagen diesels after wanting to burn Veggie Oil for a number of years. I owned a Volkswagen Golf Diesel, but had to see it go. I am looking again and have found a 1987 190D with 146K. I am very familiar with the W123 300's (TD/D/SDL) and the W123 220D/240D but was unaware that the 190 came in a diesel. To my understanding it is the same in-line five cyl with a smaller displacement (2.5L vs. 3.0L). My question is: "Is the 190D as good a car as it's famous 300 big brother?"

It is common knowledge that the W123 are some of the (if not the) most well engineered and longest lasting passenger cars on earth, but does the same go for the 'Baby Benz'? I became very interested in the 190D's and did a bit of research. I was surprised to find that they seem to be going for a lot less on eBay and my first thought was: "Great, they are clearly not as good as the 300 if they are not commanding as much." However, is the situation not that they are any worse, but simply that they are slower (76hp vs. 100+hp?) or also that they are quite a bit smaller?

If it was the ladder two, I think that would fit my bill wonderfully. You see, I am a small car milage hound. After being spoiled by my Golf, I have made milage a priority (even before comfort). However my Civic is getting a bit long in the tooth, and I want the comfort/reliability of a Mercedes with good milage and in a compact size. I seem to be going against the grain in not wanting the traditional 'boat' that is the TD/SDL class. (Sorry guys, there just HUGE to me). It is to my understanding that the 190D is the most fuel efficent of all the Mercedes due to lower displacement and lower weight. Is this the case?

I am trying to justify to myself that as a college student I can ignore the traditional path of buying a cheap to fix, cheap to run, always start, no frills, petro based Japanese import and opt for a classic Mercedes that I can unschakle myself from the bonds of petro addition by burning veggie oil (made by www.capefearbiofuels.com) without worring about being stranded or paying tuition-level repair costs for a twenty-year-old German sedan. Is my justification valid or a fallacy?

If anyone would be willing to offer me advice, guidance, and even a bit of encouagement to get me out of my Honda and into the MB Diesel of my dreams, please do so! I thank you for your time, and advice.

-Bill

 

The engine is not the same engine as in W123.

Mercedes of the '80s are mostly worn out, needing lots of expensive transmission and HVAC fixes. Nothing wrong with this as it's normal, but don't get starry-eyed because it's a Mercedes.

Can't tell which VW you once owned, but 190D mileage isn't anywhere close to that returned by recent VWs.

It's been 10 years since Bosch introduced "common rail" diesels--TDI in VW-speak, CDI in Mercedes-speak--and it was a quantum leap in diesel technology. Previous diesels are now farm equipment in comparison.

Obviously it all depends on whether you can find a good example or not. Lots of evidence of dealer or Mercedes specialist service is very important. Fixer-uppers might look good but most people can't afford to do it.