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Buying A 190 2.5l 16v; HELP AND ADVICE
Topic Started: Wed Jun 13, 2007 11:17 pm (761 Views)
syphon
Newbie
[ * ]
Hello and nice to meet you all..i though id pick you brains if that ok.
i am buying my friends merc 190 2.5 cosworth in smoke silver..
it is on an F reg with 160,000 on the clock..
was wondering with you guys knowing the cars a lot better than me is there anything that i should look out for in regards to rust places and breakage an stuffs....
he wants £1500 for it and has red leather interior and leather put on the roof by a merc dealer all recepits and history,, 3 owners from new wth over 10k or receipts and it has stood on his drive for 8 years...
there is a couple of rust spots, a bit of welding in one place underneath, and a section of exhaust..
oh and some strange twist maple steering wheel and solid wood all over the dash..
just wondering on what you think ans i am selling my bike to get it..
also it says 2.5 16 on the back with an AMG badge above it..but i aint seen another one with that badge..do you think that was just stuck on fo effect..
thanks....
regards
Alex
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Neil
Newbie
[ *  *  *  *  *  *  *  *  * ]
Welcome.

Has the car really stood (ie not moved) for EIGHT YEARS?
If so, it will need the mother of all mechanical inspections as improper maintenance
will have all but ruined the engine.

The interior sounds heavily modified - the interiors of these cars were only ever Black, either
full or half leather.
AMG badge on the back has no significance, AMG had nothing to do with this car.
Cosworth designed the original 2.3-16-valve cylinder head, of which yours is derivative.

£1500 is almost the lowest price i've ever heard of a 2.5 going, i would expect
even a competent mechanic to sink twice that into the car in the first two years of ownership.

The important thing is that you find out exactly what has happened to this car in the past 8 years.
If it's been started and driven a few times, oil changed, stuff like that.

If you're handy with a socket set, all the better.
If not, either walk away or prepare to sell a few more prized possessions.
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syphon
Newbie
[ * ]
thanks for that harsh but fair reply..
am ok with a socket..
welding ok (i work in a sheet metal shop)
bodywork ok (a friend wons an insurance repair shop) which is lucky.
from what i can see on the receipts the guy bought it brand new and got the half leather interior,profesionaly done mind, changed to red leather and the central strip like a red velvet.lol sounds tacky dont it..
he also had all the roof covered in leather too..there is a receipt for the steering wheel for £700 which i think is rediculous.
anyway the car has stood for 8 years and has been started on the odd occasion.
he said he had it running the other day..am going back on saturday to take it round the block a few times to see what engine is like...
is there any major things i should look out for..
i know a lot of people would run a mile, i know he hasnt tinkered with it as ive known him for a while. just purely lack of use that he getting rid of it he paid £8k for it 8-9 years ago..he wants my motorbike so i think we gonna have to strike a deal somwhere, just wanted to know your thoughts..
cheers
Alex
p.s i thought the badge looked out of place
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Matt
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Administrator - Hawk Eye

I would be very wary of driving a car that hasn't been driven or serviced properly for 8 years :o Especially a 16v 190.

Prepare to sink a good few ££££'s into it.
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stwat
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Hello and welcome B)

You never know it might be the bargain of the century but do check it over VERY carefully. A car that has been stood 8 years is going to need lots to get it ready for daily use. All the ruber bits could well have perished and the oil, petrol,coolent will need changing ASAP before you drive it any distance.

Good luck and get some pics up if you can mate.

Stu
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syphon
Newbie
[ * ]
ok and thx..
what i really need to know is there anything typical of the 190's that i should look out for in regards to rotting in places an stuff..
cheers
will get some pics up on sat night if i suss out how to do it..
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Neil
Newbie
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Please take a look at this thread
as we appear to have the same converstion happening twice...

You have a lot on your side - friends in bodywork and your own welding skills will
likely turn this into a really enjoyable project!
I speak as a city-dweller with zero tools and no off-street space to work on my own car, so
please excuse my 'worst-case' outlook!

However, that engine is capable of driving a sane man BERSERK!

Good luck sir! ;)
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romeopapa
Part of things
[ *  * ]
And you'll need a new set of tyres. Can't drive too far or fast on those, regardless of tread thickness.
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jimjimthehumanbin
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Part of things
[ *  * ]
Well you found the right site for info on buying 190's. I would agree that you need to have a budget set aside for works to be done. 1500 sounds a deal but then you will easily spend that again to get it decent. Mines a 2.3 that I got for a good price and I will have spent the same amount on getting it how I want by the end of the year.
Post up some pics as that red leather interior sounds mad.
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syphon
Newbie
[ * ]
thanks very much for the link it was more than interesting...it has made my mind up..
ill go check properly and running on saturday, check underbody work too...
interior is well mad an will get some pics if i can...he looking at swapping plus cash for my motorbike...
there is definately something about the 190 that catches my eye..they seem to jump out at me in car parks and stuff...dont know if anyone else has the same thing but i think im gonna go for it depending on saturday..
the link answered more than my questions....cheers
deffo found te right site....when i get pics ill ask how to get on here for you all to see..
sweet and thanks....
Alex
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kentronix
Member Avatar
I'm only really here for the Kitchens

points to check for rust :-
jacking points
battery tray
top of front shock mounts
boot wells
around the rear clusters
under any cossie trim (front arches is common although rear arches is far nore money to get put right)
Sls under car lines, pump and rear spheres.

These are common points although may not actually cost much to put right. Sls stuff can add up :(
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stwat
Member Avatar


Also check for rust under the rear screen as it can get quite bad as it doesn't get noticed so the rot worm has a chance to dig its heels in!!

Also, remove the rubber blocks where the wires pass over the top of the strut tops. I found utter horror on my last 190 under there :( Mine was also rotten on the inner wing seam under the coolant bottle.

Good luck.

Stu
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syphon
Newbie
[ * ]
Well sorry i aint got any pics just yet bar one..lol felt a bit of a wally just askin if i could take a pic..
any ways the damage is like this..
front left wing got a hole poked through it from my finger lol about the size of a tennis ball..
battery tray ok..
engine runs sweet
there is a hole in the centre part of the exhaust (non cat type i think)
both front jacking points need plating and welding
didnt get under the body kit.
the bottom of the rear windscreen under the boot had 2 rust spots fely solid (ish) under my poking..
struts were fine..

what you think will get some pics up the weekend am just a bit worried that im gonna pick up a clanger..but it is so nice an the interior is way cool...
...and one of the good things is absolutely everyting on the car works including all the guages..
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190neil
More than part of things
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Difficult to say without seeing it but it sounds like it's pretty rust rotten. If it's got holes in the wings, the jacking points are gone & the rear windscreen is bad then you'll find much, much more rust when you delve deeper. Add to this the fact it's sat for 8 years, will need tyres, an exhaust, a brake job & Christ only knows what else and you are about to buy a nightmare on wheels.

Get the guy to MOT it. If he won't or can't offer him a few hundred.

Sorry to say but it sounds like a £500 car TBH.
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