190s & Air Conditioning

[flat6buster]

I was just idly browsing through Autotrader, as you do, and came to wondering just how rare is it to find a nice 190 with air con. Strikes me there are some absolute corkers out there with low miles, few owners etc but I really consider functioning air con to be an absolute essential in a motorcar for anything one might use regularly.

Question is - just how rare is it? Of the 13 for sale on Autotrader not one came with air con. Just wondering whether I ought to have a 190 on my radar for when I sell my unused van & tractor (I'd hate to see the space on the driveway going spare...).

 

[Charles Morgan]

Very rare, but doesn't mean to say they don't exist.

Here's one from Car & Classic

Charles Ironside also has one, but that was only two in over 5 pages (about halfway through the listings on Car and Classic).

Aircon wasn't standard, and few people at the time thought it necessary in the UK.

Here's another

 

[manalishi]

It's not that rare, but back then AC was rare in cars in general (my Aygo has it now!), and ISTR it was a VERY expensive option when new. So few buyers ticked that box.

Actually, it is very rare to find one with working AC. And even rarer to find one that's properly converted to today's R134a. I jumped at the chance when I found mine.

Happy hunting. FWIW, I also think that AC is a must-have on a modern classic you want to drive in Summer. And never believe the old "it only needs a regas, mate" excuse for non-working AC.

 

[219]

Apart from highly specced 2.6's and 16 valvers , both of which were fairly expensive cars to start off with ( and were NOT bought because that was the entry level Mercedes and the only one the original buyer could afford ) it tended not to be specced because it was a costly option .

The majority of 190's in this country tend to be fairly basic spec with the 1.8 or 2.0 engine , cloth seats , about as many have wind up windows as electric and are split evenly between auto and manual . For most owners , this car was the chance to have a Mercedes they could not otherwise have afforded , lots of expensive options was NOT an option !

Some 190's WERE bought by well-heeled customers who appreciated the fine chassis and the fact that it was just as pleasant to drive as an S Class of the day ; it was also more nimble in its handling and handier in town for parking etc . Those customers who chose a 190 in preference to the bigger Mercedes they could just as easily have afforded did tend to spec things like leather , cruise , electric heated seats and , perhaps , air-con .

Initially , Mercedes said the six cylinder engines could not be fitted to the 190 , but eventually , with modifications , the 2.6 was offered and tended to be bought by the better-off customers who wanted ( and could afford ) more refinement - these cars tend to have a higher spec than the four cylinder models .

The most expensive 190's were the 16 valvers ( they were the fastest production Mercedes in their day ) and the owners who could afford one again tended to tick all the boxes for options .

So - if you're looking for a basic 4 cylinder 190 , not many have air-con ; if a 2.6 takes your fancy , you are more likely to find one with it , plus leather and a few toys ; 16 valvers , especially autos , tend to have most options .

 

[flat6buster]

And never believe the old "it only needs a regas, mate" excuse for non-working AC.

Laughed my sox off!

 

[manalishi]

Yes - Derek's given the full story.

There's a forumite dealer here who sells W201 and W124s and he has quite a knack for finding good condition and high-spec 2.0 and 2.6 190s. Some of them come from Japan and almost all of those DO have AC.

A very small number of those will have the early climate control option (again - mostly imports from Japan). There was a 2.6 with climate control for sale a year or so ago in Liverpool - that was a LHD import from the USA. I was tempted, but it was too far away to follow up.

 

[219]

A good place to look also is the dedicated site for 190 owners

Mercedes-190.co.uk

There's a member over there just now with a very nice 16 valver for sale - his father's car virtually from new , then his . FSH and good spec ( I could have sworn this had air con , but it doesn't ) . Still a very good car , known within the club .

Pistonheads ad , just for interest

http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1817496.htm