190E Specialist in Hampshire?

[190EMatt]

Hi all,

Are there any specialists in Southampton/Hampshire who know the 190E?

I *think* my valve stem oil seals are gone (classic symptoms), one garage I spoke to said the head would have to come off to sort it and the job would be into four figures.

I would attempt to do the job myself however I need the car working and can't afford to mess the job up. If each piston is set to tdc then it can be done with the cylinder head in place - it's just finding someone to do it who believes it can be done that way.

I would be greatful for any recommendations of a specialist who knows older Mercedes.

Best regards,

Matt

 

[martyz]

Whats the symptoms?

 

[190EMatt]

If I coast down a long downhill and then accelerate there is a brief cloud of blue smoke. Also when accelerating very hard there is some blue smoke (I can only see it at night in the headlight beams of following cars).

The car has 203,000 miles yet it starts and drives perfectly. It doesn't feel at all down on power and it has 30 service stamps.

 

[trapperjohn]

I had an old 190 did exactly that. it ran forever, never let me down and I moved it on in the end. Had it for a year.

I was just "not right" that it smoked a bit. Run it til its next MoT is due perhaps, put it in for the test a month early and see what the inspectors say?

Mine was a 2.0 petrol cira 140k on the clock.

 

[martyz]

Are you sure it's not black smoke,as fueling issues are very common with the 201,does
the car have a lumpy idle?

 

[sirius9]

Try Prestige Car Service at Horndean. Excellent guys, knows their stuff!

Mercedes Benz & Smart Specialists | Prestige Car Service | Horndean, Hampshire

 

[jpwilliams]

Try Prestige Car Service at Horndean. Excellent guys, knows their stuff!

Mercedes Benz & Smart Specialists | Prestige Car Service | Horndean, Hampshire

+1
Regards
John

 

[neilrr]

Valve stem seals?

 

[190EMatt]

Are you sure it's not black smoke,as fueling issues are very common with the 201,does
the car have a lumpy idle?

The car did have a lumpy idle but I massively improved it with new breather hoses (only one more hose to now change - the crankcase breather to idle control unit). It's now okay at idle I think.

To me it definitely looks like oil smoke.

I should also add - the 190 appears to use very little coolant. Oil consumption is about 1l per 1000 miles.

 

[Will]

At 200k the valve guides will probably be worn too. You need to weigh up the economies of what you want to do. The advice about running it until the next MOT is sensible.

How long have you had the car and what do you think it's worth? If the car was immaculate and it was definitely burning oil from the top end I would consider a head overhaul - de-coke, head gasket, guides, stem seals etc and it should be good for another 100k easy.

You say it uses little coolant - it shouldn't really use any noticeable amount at all.

All IMHO of course.

Will

 

[bolide]

UK labour rates mean that it will be a relatively expensive job to repair.

I saw a G-plate 190E in Brighton yesterday that looked great. It's a shame that most of them will disappear from UK roads in the next 2-3 years as they'll be uneconomic to repair

Nick Froome

 

[190EMatt]

I bought the car in January for £1500 and it had an MOT last month.

It's not immaculate but obviously been well cared for. It's had at least a service every year, and in 2014/198000 miles it had a £1500 service at a Mercedes main dealer, followed by new injectors, new anti roll bar bushes, new tyres, new exhaust. At 200,000 miles it had another £500 worth of work including new fuel pump, distributor, rotor arm etc.

I checked the gearbox oil a while ago and it's a nice colour. Also, the engine oil looks a good colour after 4000 miles and if I take the oil cap off the cylinder head internals look very clean.

Downsides are a tiny spot of rust near the nearside C pillar, and other tiny bits of rust. Plus the smoking issue! If I was being picky I would want some new shocks and springs all round and a general suspension overhaul.

I guess it's difficult to know what to do as I reckon to make it absolutely perfect It'll need £3k worth of work in the next couple of years, which is the same price of a mint example!

 

[Rob77]

If you like the car and hope to keep it, I'd say go get it looked over at Prestige Car Service at Horndean, as suggested above, before doing anything else.

You could well spend £3k over the next few years on it but the alternative you propose which would be to spend £4,500 on a mint example would have no guarantees either. Mint is a word that's bandied about but I doubt there are many truly mint 190Es to be found for that money either.

 

[GP801]

As above get PCS to give it a look over. Jack pretty much rebuilt his 190 from scratch so he knows them inside out.

 

[190EMatt]

Thanks for the replies help everyone

Just to add - my other half was driving behind me the other day, as I accelerated after just starting the car (left overnight) she said there was a fair bit of smoke for a few seconds of driving, and then the smoke completely stopped.

I took the air filter housing lid off and there is no oil in there. If I was getting blowby surely it would be filled with oil from the crankcase breather?

Best regards,

Matt

 

[190EMatt]

UK labour rates mean that it will be a relatively expensive job to repair.

I saw a G-plate 190E in Brighton yesterday that looked great. It's a shame that most of them will disappear from UK roads in the next 2-3 years as they'll be uneconomic to repair

Nick Froome

Nick I wish I could afford the examples you have for sale! They always look amazing!