Vehicle: 1986 190E 2.3-16, 1992 190E 2.3 and 2007 GL450
Location: new york city
Posts: 867
Quote:
Originally Posted by 355190E26
Very nice find!! Good luck w/ the restore job By the way, was the car vandalized while it was in the storage building?
It may have gotten vandalized both during and after storage. Some scratches look as if the underlying metal is rusting in tiny spots while other scratches show clean metal.
I am lining up Prestige Autobody of Poughkeepsie to restore the bodywork.
It may have gotten vandalized both during and after storage. Some scratches look as if the underlying metal is rusting in tiny spots while other scratches show clean metal.
I am lining up Prestige Autobody of Poughkeepsie to restore the bodywork.
Thanks for taking the time to post some pics, waiting for more. Paint looks very good, such a shame someone decided to damage a little of everything. Most items like the cassete/console look like show room, amazing.
Let's hope most of the seals, engine/trans/A/c and such are still good. I bet you wish it could talk to you to find out what went on all those years.
Congratulations on your rare find. One like that was for sale in my area. Had been stored and covered for many years. At first he wanted $4500.00 for it, but then he raised it to $7,000.00. While it was almost perfect cosmetically, I worried that it would cost another $2,000.00 to get in on the road again mechanically. I am really pessimistic about a nice car that hasn't been driven for many years--seals dry out, and you know the rest. But still, such cars are a real challenge and can give many hours of pleasure in restoring them and then to see the final result. Good luck! Keep us informed.
Vehicle: 1986 190E 2.3-16, 1992 190E 2.3 and 2007 GL450
Location: new york city
Posts: 867
Today, I placed an order for about a dozen parts: hoses, clamps, caps and pads. I also scheduled an inspection and diagnosis. I got a replacement hood star and grill.
Obviously, before engaging any bodywork or spending money on trim pieces, the powerplant and drivetrain should be completely inpsected and brought back to spec; then the life safety pieces like the brakes, suspension, and structural aspects.
Vehicle: 1986 190E 2.3-16, 1992 190E 2.3 and 2007 GL450
Location: new york city
Posts: 867
Quote:
Originally Posted by MTI
Obviously, before engaging any bodywork or spending money on trim pieces, the powerplant and drivetrain should be completely inpsected and brought back to spec; then the life safety pieces like the brakes, suspension, and structural aspects.
Correct.
The parts purchase is intended to bring the cooling system back to spec immediately. Then, the car has an appointment at Helms Brothers Mercedes for a DMV inspection. With that, the dealer will review and diagnose the motor. Once the motor is restored to proper operation, the rest of the drive train will be reviewed and diagnosed. I reviewed the brakes and they are mint and the self leveling rear suspension and the suspension pump at the starboard side of the motor work correctly. I saw new front steering linkages and bushings. There is no deterioration. The front shocks work correctly. Once I take to the road, I will further review the car and make appropriate fixes.
Then, the body and paint will proceed.
Price is no object as I am very serious about a 100% recovery and near concours restoration of the car. I intend to use it too while I do a number on my original 2.3.
Last edited by lomtevas : 04-05-2008 at 05:22 PM.
Reason: the air pump is not on the port side of the motor....
The EHA is out and there is air in the fuel system. The OVP is out: the ABS light is on, the radio has four bars across its screen and the antenna is out. Alternatively, the ABS light may be on because the connecting cable that runs through the steering wheel boss and connects the airbag bushing ring is defective.
The right rear window does not work either at the shifter console or the door switch.
There are no other electrical errors apparent inside the vehicle.
Just guessing because this happened to mine, but you mentioned that your ABS light is on, and the OVP is Shot. Maybe as soon as you replace the OVP, that ABS light will magically be off?
Vehicle: 1986 190E 2.3-16, 1992 190E 2.3 and 2007 GL450
Location: new york city
Posts: 867
Quote:
Originally Posted by GWanted
Great buy. As you may remember, I wanted it but wasn't able to see it in time.
I know that you got to see the car before buying it but is it in better or worse condition than you expected?
How much do you anticipate putting into it to get back up to showroom condition?
This is tough to answer simply.
The car floored me in 98 out of 100 aspects. I never imagined I would be sitting inside of a time capsule from 1986. The interior is a shocker and the drive train is so sound that I was able to chirp the tires on a popped clutch acceleration. The paint is gorgeous despite the nicks.
The only real disappointment I had was that the fuel delivery system was tampered with and the car has a hard time starting. Helms Brothers Mercedes will get the job of restoring the fuel delivery system starting this upcoming weekend.
The second disappointment is that the minor flooding ruined the starboard side front carpeting. There is a strong moldy smell from that area for which I will replace the carpeting.
Everything else is a delight.
The anticipated final cost is unknown. If I discover the block is cracked in half, that'll add to the cost. I believe the block is not cracked because I have the ear of a seventeen year owner of a 2.3, so I believe my assessment that the motor is ready to reenter service life is sound.
Paint and body work may be peanuts because there is not one bit of evidence that this car was ever in any kind of accident, so the body may be a low cost concern.
I'm apologetic that I jumped in line for its purchase. It seemed the car was gone before I could finish negotiating for it, but I was wrong. The seller and I hit a common figure, and I paid and he delivered the car.
By the way, was the car vandalized while it was in the storage building?
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