190 le

[V12]

Without more info/pics it's hard to tell.
We rolled a W140 out of a garage that had been sat there for 12 years following the owners death.
The son finally decided to clear the garage and we took it away for him.
It drove like new and after a wash it looked like new.
Took it for a MOT and only advisories were tyres.
Changed those and nothing else and drove the car around for a year or so...

My experience may be the exception rather than the rule, but there's only one person who can make the judgement call on this.

 

[John Jones Jr]

there's only one person who can make the judgement call on this.

Exactly.

 

[John Jones Jr]

TBH it doesn't really but if it's cheap enough he could buy it and move it on to a mug who thinks low miles & a car unused for 10 years = a fantastic, like new car another punter, make some money to buy an up & running, cared for car.

Who said it was fantastic?
Why call people 'mugs' that buy ten year old cars with low mileage?
Who said it was like a new car?

 

[neilrr]

Who said it was fantastic?
Why call people 'mugs' that buy ten year old cars with low mileage?
Who said it was like a new car?

JJJ,

The car is at least 20 years old, not 10. However, neither it's age nor it's mileage are not the issue.

The issue is it has apparently "been standing" unused for 10 years. Cars are complicated machines that need using. They do not benefit from v. long periods of inactivity.

I am not attacking the OP, you, 190s, old cars or low miles.

Again, the OP asked for feedback & he has received it, pro & con. You may not agree with mine but I find it interesting that the two commentators on this thread who have dealt with many 190s have said walk away & look for another car.

Should the OP proceed I wish him the best of luck with his new car.

 

[John Jones Jr]

My error meant 20 years old, 10 years standing. Still, my points stand.

Your post above adds nothing that hasn't already been mentioned, even I pointed out to the Op he maybe better off buying a car that's up & running - missed that bit did you? Of course you didn't, you quoted what suited you for some reason. Pointless.

 

[neilrr]

My error meant 20 years old, 10 years standing. Still, my points stand.

Your post above adds nothing that hasn't already been mentioned, even I pointed out to the Op he maybe better off buying a car that's up & running - missed that bit did you? Of course you didn't, you quoted what suited you for some reason. Pointless.

I quoted what you wrote in the post above mine in it's entirety, the post I was answering.

I apologise for missing where you said "even I pointed out to the Op he maybe better off buying a car that's up & running." I think that must have happened because I can't find where you actually said that.

Can you provide a link to the post where you said that please?

 

[John Jones Jr]

there are some good road going 190E's out there for sale, possibly not LE's and not with such low mileage, but they are worth considering also.

That was difficult to find...it's like spoon feeding, I'm worse!

 

[neilrr]

I foresee a future for you in politics.

To quote you in full -

Nice colour spec. Buy it right allow for obvious expenditure plus a bit and you could end up with a very nice old motor. But as Bolide mentioned there are some good road going 190E's out there for sale, possibly not LE's and not with such low mileage, but they are worth considering also. Anyway, your getting positive vibes from me.

If you do buy it, first fit a new battery, drain the old juice out, add some octane booster, clean the fuel pump replay & the OVP replay pins and hopefully she'll start. Might be worth having a spare set of plugs too. Consider changing the oil too before starting.

Also join one of the 190 clubs, they'll know them inside & out. Bear in mind you could be looking at a new fuel pump, perished suspension bushes, etc or some such.

Isn't quite the same as -

My error meant 20 years old, 10 years standing. Still, my points stand.

Your post above adds nothing that hasn't already been mentioned, even I pointed out to the Op he maybe better off buying a car that's up & running - missed that bit did you? Of course you didn't, you quoted what suited you for some reason. Pointless.

Is it.

 

[John Jones Jr]

You do realise how that post reflects on you...,it's time for you to find a play ground.

 

[Sp!ke]

I think W201's are cracking cars and finding a 20,000 miler thats been cocooned in a garage for 10 years is almost definitely a great project.

Quite why anyone that knows these cars (especially an enthusiast) would say otherwise I don't know.


If you don't go for it, pass on the details and I will be keen to snap it up myself assuming the money is right.

 

[new to mercs]

thanks everyone.if I don't buy it sp!ke ill post some details for you,cheers

 

[jamesfuller]

No disrespect but an alfa is not as resilient a car as a Mercedes 190.

The fuel injection and engine management is all Bosch. Much the same as a Mercedes or Bmw of the same period.

The body shell has absolutely no rust or paint defects and is literaly 'as new'
The interior, trim and roof are also like new.

The problems with the car are rubber parts degrading, Fuel going stale and gumming up the system, other fluids ageing and causing corrosion.
A foreign object entering the engine and holding a valve open.
Mice.

I have restored many cars from a lot of countries. They all fair pretty much the same when left unused.

That is why I felt it would be valid.

I am not trying to tell anybody what to do, Just advise on work that may or may not be required. Only the o.p will no exactly what car he wants, how much he wants it and how much work he is prepared to do.
Yes you could just go out and buy one ready to use, but any one can do that.

 

[John Jones Jr]

The body shell has absolutely no rust or paint defects and is literaly 'as new'
The interior, trim and roof are also like new.

Wow, that's a great starting point, many would give their right arm to be in that position.

Photo's would be nice, sometime

 

[jamesfuller]

Wow, that's a great starting point, many would give their right arm to be in that position.

Photo's would be nice, sometime

I will add a few pics up when I do the thread. Its a timewarp with only 9,000 odd miles from new.

The worst part is the tyres. A matching set of Goodyear NCT2 virtually unworn and not even cracking but you just can't trust them

 

[John Jones Jr]

The worst part is the tyres.

Count your blessings, ex Alfa owner (x3) here, tyres were never the issue!

 

[jamesfuller]

Count your blessings, ex Alfa owner (x3) here, tyres were never the issue!

I once bought a project alfa 33 without seeing it! i know what you mean. That car never did see the road again Thankfully the alco assisted pub based project buying has stopped since the TR6 incident of 2011

 

[John Jones Jr]

Oh, I had two Sud's & a beauty of a black 75 2.0lt. Drove the 75 all of three weeks or so and sold it in an Isleworth pub! Something about pubs & Alfas? I was delighted as I just really couldn't afford to run it (and the local Alfa dealership didn't know positive from negative when it came to electrics). It's best bit of drinking I ever did! Still, it was a cracking drivers car at the time.

 

[Sp!ke]

My w123 lang was standing for most of its life with ony 19,000 miles on it. It required a big service, a couple of bushes, one small gasket, a rubber hose and some tyres and that was all.

W201's are equally as hardy imo.