W201 vs W124

[nalonge]

Hey Guys,

I have a chance to pick up a 1991 190E (2.3L) with about 140,000 miles. It has had the head gasket replaced as well as the water pump. A rebuilt transmission was installed 3 years ago, and now you have to let off the gas a little to get it to shift out of 1st.

I have a '92 300E 4Matic with 130,000 that runs pretty good but needs a few things fixed. The 4Matic is totally dead.

My question is (for those that know a little about the 190E) what differences will I encounter? Is this a "drivers" car or more of a nice cruiser. I know I'll be missing some power (130 hp).

Thanks,
Nick

[edfreeman]

Originally Posted by nalonge

Hey Guys,

I have a chance to pick up a 1991 190E (2.3L) with about 140,000 miles. It has had the head gasket replaced as well as the water pump. A rebuilt transmission was installed 3 years ago, and now you have to let off the gas a little to get it to shift out of 1st.

I have a '92 300E 4Matic with 130,000 that runs pretty good but needs a few things fixed. The 4Matic is totally dead.

My question is (for those that know a little about the 190E) what differences will I encounter? Is this a "drivers" car or more of a nice cruiser. I know I'll be missing some power (130 hp).

Thanks,
Nick

Let me start by saying they're both excellent cars. You wouldn't be disappointed with either on a cold purchase (ie - never having owned either). I own and enjoy both. However, after you've driven the 124, you'll be a little cramped in the 201. I have a 2.6, and I imagine the 2.3 will leave you wanting a little more foot response. I don't think you can go dreadfully wrong, but I'd invest my money in the 124.

[nalonge]

Thanks edfreeman, I tend to agree. I was driven by the fact that the head gasket, timing chain and water pump have already been replaced. I was worried about the lack of power and the smaller size.

I'm going to check it out Friday. If anything it would make a good 2nd Benz for me.

[augapfel]

The 201 shares a lot of styling cues with the 124 but outside of the M103 engine nothing (or not much) interchanges. I personally can't stand the 201 for a number of reasons. It's too small from an interior room standpoint and it looks stubby. I've worked on the 2.3 in a 201 and that wasn't too bad. I imagine that a M103 in there would be awful to work on.

If you're 6' tall you won't much like a 201. The indie where i worked had an elderly customer who had a 93 that he bought new and it had something like 30k miles on the clock. The car was in great condition but I just wasn't interested in buying it. I'd suffer through it if I happened upon a nice 2.3-16V cheap but that's not likely to happen. Drive it and see how you like it. To each his own.

[108.016]

Had a chance to own both 201 & 124 and imho in terms of upkeep you'll be spending almost the same since they share so many parts (machanical & electrical). The biggest factor that you should consider is the size itself and I agree with edfreeman that I'd go for a 124 given a choice between a 201 2.3 & a 124 300E with a lower mileage a year younger.

[neanderthal]

the interior may seem much larger in the 124, but if you measure the dimensions, they are nearly the same size. you get significantly more shoulder room in the 124 and that bestows it the feeling of room, since you have more room near your head. dimensionally, interior room is very close.

mechanically, they are extremely close. just about all parts interchange. the 2.6 liter engine and its transmission were shared for the NA market. the engines were shared completely from 2.0 (M103 carbed and fuel injected!) up to 3.0 (W201 police sedans had the 3.0 liter M103.) obviously the 201 had the 1.8 liter engine, and the 124 had the 3.2 and M119s to boot.

the 201 only came with mechanical injection though, no HFM and other than the cosworth homologation engines, never had multivalve engines.

other than interior packaging stuff which would be unique to the 201 there is a lot of interchangability with parts.

i personally prefer the 124, though id give someones left nut for a pristine 2.5-16 EVO.

[nalonge]

Thanks for the info everyone. The 300E is my first Benz, but now I'm hooked. This one seems like a good deal. The 300E needs some work, but the 190E seems like it's been fixed already so all I need to do is enjoy. I guess when I actually see it and drive it then I'll know.

It's black/silver with a gray interior.

[johnamoss]

The dealer I worked for years ago took in a 190 on trade & I took it for a drive. I'd had a 300E for a few years at the time: the 190 felt about identical but too small; I was very annoyed that my left arm almost had no place to go as the door panel was very close to my torso and the steering wheel. The c-class improved nicely on that aspect. 190 is a very handy size car though.