Regular Car Reviews: 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E

The car was ordered in 1986 from 231 - Coblenz Branch in Germany and was the 1,537 car ordered from the Coblenz branch in 86. It was ordered in 172 Anthracite Gray with 071 black cloth. The option codes are 410 - electric sliding roof, 466 - central locking system, 534 - Manual antenna without radio set, 580 - manual air conditioning, 591 - green heat insulating glass with heated rear window made of single sheet safety glass, 620 - vehicle with catalyst / emission control system. You are correct about being able to order a euro car with english instruments but your particular car had the standard metric speedo originally. If it had english instruments from the factory it would have option code 461, 467, or 469. Rare it was ordered with the cat since most euros were ordered as catalyst ready since it wasn't required in europe yet and unleaded fuel was not as common. The seat belt buzzer and warning light is not factory but is easily removed. Obviously all the outside lights are not the original euro ones.
The slowest car I've ever driven next to my stock Falcon...but, oh man, I look so cool and hip driving this little Merc!

[@feelx92ger]

As a German, I'm frightened by those non-original headlamps

[@g__wizz]

i would run them.

[@Depreciating_Daily]

Maybe it’s part of the import requirements? My 190D has the exact same headlights

[@g__wizz]

honestly its probably a dot thing. they are original just not for you.

[@a-aron5691]

Until 1986, the US Department of transportation required that all cars use sealed beam headlights. You either had square or round dual filament bulbs, or quad headlights in either round or square sealed beams. when the bulb went out, you replaced the whole glass assembly. It was so that all headlights met US aiming and brightness regulations easily.

[@thedaimlerden]

Ganz ehrlich, mir gefallen sie besser hahaha. (To be honest, i like them better hahaha.)

[@LuxLazar]

Hey everybody! This is the owner. After looking into it. The owner was a U.S. military guy who purchased the car in Germany. He ordered the gauges so it would be legit back it the states. I was confused. I'm sorry internet... I'm sorry.... But everything about this car is confusing and it's not like I can get a carfax. Ha!

[@thestig572420]

Fuck the internet haters.

[@LuxLazar]

Agreed!

[@kobbetop]

This makes it even more cool, it's not your standard Euro import, it's a weird mix of both US and EURO. A mutant. Internet will forgive you in 15 minutes.

[@imantisocial3179]

+Kobbetop 9/21 Never Forget. Anonymous does not forgive, Anonymous does not forgot Germany does not use Mph.

[@TheGuyFromUme]

+XLPCX That's a beautiful car you have there! Looks to have survived the rust massacre that's claimed so many Mercs!

[@meteormedia7021]

190E. One of the best cars ever built. Also with the larger engines they are kinda not that slow

[@broesilov]

The Mercedes 190 was not a fast car but it had VERY good build quality.

[@danam0228]

The 2.3 litre version was actually quite fast.

[@sniff1197]

a normal 2.0 that runs as it should isnt as slow as the one in this video is.

[@hueyfinesse]

@@sniff1197 the 190e is a quick car if properly maintained. the 2.0 has around 177 nm and at a weight of around 1200kg (less or more) depending on features. the cars keeps up with modern traffic quite nicely.

[@ahmedislam2580]

i have a 190d not fast car but i love to drive this

[@omarsaletovicprins9632]

@@sniff1197even my 90s 1.8 190E WILL spin its wheels if you give it the beans. and the clutch engages at the same place every single time. RCR probably got a bad way overdue on maintenance…

[@LordYllsacky]

Such a simple and classy looking car.

[@D19051996]

+Lord Yllsacky Agreed, theres something about how perfectly plain it is. Luxurious understatement? Its so cozy too, it looks at home in the rain

[@mattbartholomew5707]

+Lord Yllsacky Back when cars were designed by men with rulers not computers and wind tunnels.

[@gustavoalmanza2673]

It looks like a car the villain in a kid's movie would drive. And the hero in this movie is a dog.

[@davidconde1521]

Matt Bartholomew companies had been using computers and wind tunnels since the mid 60's

[@Dufffaaa93]

Car owner's knowledge about Germany and German cars is zero to none.

[@JunkyardDong]

+Dufffaaa93 Yep, I second this. "A mix of the metric system and MPH" (sic). Errrrr, no?

[@hf7188]

+Dufffaaa93 Agreed, i was hearing him, and i was like "the f*ck is on about?!" To Mr. Regular, next time, instead of taking the owners word as gospel, just do a quick old Google research about facts and figures, specially in forums.

[@LuxLazar]

+Dufffaaa93 This is true (me being the owner). Everything about the car is weird. I found out the guy who bought it special ordered the gauges from factory. I guess he was in the military or something.

[@justanotheryoutubeuploader]

+XLPCX just stop embarrassing yourself

[@AxelPLasg]

+XLPCX Sir, I'd suggest that You learn about Your car before You go full expert on the video. You kind of lack knowledge about this car or eurocars sphere in general, and it's nothing bad unless you try to sell misconceptions as facts to other people. You don't have to be anybody to order new tacho set, You just go into dealership and after some talking (and putting some money on the table) they'll happily import that part for You. You've mentioned that importing spares from europe is pain. Than why in the name of God have You bought car with engine that was not avaliable in US in the first place? In europe (where this car belongs) parts and pieces are everywhere and are not that expensive. This is kind of stuff You have to take into consideration when buying car that literally does not exist on that continent (supplies and stuff).

[@RegularCars]

Today I learned that you can't take way a owner says about his car at face-value. That Merc 190e is not a true Euro Import. This is not the owners fault, this is mine.

[@kobbetop]

I was just going to comment why the headlights are US-spec? Did someone fake it? Like put German service records in the glove box etc.? Either way, it's a cool car from a time when Mercedes used to mean something.

[@AxelPLasg]

+RegularCars How is that Your fault?

[@MTLoveridge]

+RegularCars Nice camera work dude :)

[@mortens1]

And there is no mix between metric and mph in Germany.. The whole of mainland europe uses metric. This dude is full of it!

[@strand8994]

+RegularCars It looks like the car IS an imported model, but was federalized upon arrival (as was common practice at the time--this would include a US speedometer and headlamp conversion). The crank windows, cloth seats and lack of wood trim suggest that it is a base Euro-spec car, not a USDM model. TL;DR it's an import, just modded on arrival to meet US regs. No need to retract anything! The part about Germany mixing imperial and metric is complete BS, though.

[@dsofe4879]

The most appealing part about the 190E to me is that they don't break. I've seen several with the odometer stuck at 999.999km in Europe, mostly cabs.

[@ElChus]

That dial is for leveling the headlights, so when you're carrying weight in the back you can aim your headlights down, it's there to avoid dazzling drivers on the other side of the road.

[@spacekii]

yeah, common feature in europe. even a lot of hatchbacks had this back then. same goes for parking lights. my 90s polo is base spec but you can still leave the indicator down when you turn the car off and it will turn on parking lights for only one side of the car

[@rhkips]

So it's a European import, but the headlights have been converted to the USDM spec? That's a waste... And yes, that is a headlight leveling switch, intended to be used in cars without auto-leveling suspension in the rear, for high-load situations. The "Economy" gauge is hooked directly to engine vacuum.

[@MrRandomcommentguy]

190 E is still such a timeless looking design - to think it came out before the W124 E-Class but looks much more modern.

[@mateuszzimon8216]

Yes, xxxE become E-Class.... In europe, if u have 190E u have W124. If E is 1st is e-class

[@noahh914]

The 190E is not a W124 or an E-Class. The model name is 190.

[@petercandance2330]

You forgot the most important part, It will "run forever".

[@swsephy]

I love 190s. They just look so nice.

[@B.D.B.]

The dial he didn't know what is for is for adjusting the beam angle, for use when you have something heavy in the back which lifts the nose, blinking oncoming traffic (I have the same thing in my NB MX5).

[@Boemel]

+B.D.B. Every car iv ever been in has this ...

[@TassieLorenzo]

+Tom Jacobs Old Japanese cars don't -- only manual adjustment, no fancy electric motors to adjust it. :)

[@mcspikesky]

+TassieLorenzo My BMW E30 headlight adjuster is controlled by pressure! There are plastic lines running to each headlight from behind the dash! They don't work.

[@boheyo]

+mcspikesky Vacuum lines strike again

[@DredTather]

Pretty sure they're on most British cars, even my shitbox corsa had that dial.

[@alkoyyy]

yeah, uhm... I'm pretty sure that speedo isn't european and neither are those ugly headlights

[@AxelPLasg]

+Spastmatiker Frenchmen trully had yellow lights, but not on mercs :)

[@ifrit35]

+Spastmatiker France here. Never seen these headlights on 190e ever. Yes cars had to have yellow lights but in most cars it was just the bulbs that were yellow.

[@elvirhaskovic8020]

+Matthias Schmitt yea this is the american spec one. Euro spec had rpm gauge and full glass headlights. seen in the 95 w124

[@d33b33]

+Matthias Schmitt Clock instead of speedo was a common low budget option in Netherlands, France, UK, and those yellow headlights were a legal obligation in France at the time.

[@LucaCarMods]

+Daniel van Slooten A lot of older cars indeed have a clock instead of an speedometer.

[@benzlover55]

As a classic Mercedes fanatic, this was fucking painful. This, physically, hurt me...

[@abdullahsaleem6179]

good old simple cars are never gonna return. it breaks my heart.

[@deathbastardable]

Supposedly old Mercs are ridiculously reliable, so it's got that going for it...

[@LeftCoastDrones]

I had this car. It wasn't as reliable as a Honda and when things needed to be replaced, it was expensive to fix.

[@LeftCoastDrones]

I'd restore a 1991 190E. 2.6 in Teal Blue Metalic. But put a better engine in it.

[@jakelamotta2387]

deathbastardable. "something going for it" this is the problem nobody knows a classic wen they see one it pisses me off. Its a nice looking car and fast for the 80's... 0-60 10.9 not bad at all. If u want speed go for the 2.5 0-60 7.3. Its a Mercedes and its reliable asf. People are comparing it to cars from 2015, 16, 17... stop its the feeling that matters the classic stall wen putting ur foot down the sound of the Carberated engine the far-apart gear ratios. Say wat u want but this is my opinion and everyone is aloud to state it at one time or another.

[@LeftCoastDrones]

My repair bills were so much and I live in SoCal where the weather doesnt affect our cars.

[@northamericanauto43]

The 190E was a bad car. The W124 is good though.

[@Proff0ak]

As a person that lives in Europe I have to say that I've never heard a sentence spoken by an american that starts with "well, y'know, in Europe..." that didn't make me facepalm.

[@joshualaw375]

Eggly Bagelface What makes that so odd?? Just wondering.

[@Jobbazz]

Joshua Law Americans talk about Europe likes it’s this homogeneous state. Every country is extremely different culturally and no one really represents themselves as or think they’re European. And laws are different in countries.

[@Michael-pf8we]

Yeah kind of like how every state in the US has its own laws, we aren’t all from Texas.

[@ts9749]

@@Michael-pf8we Go to Europe. From your comment it seems like you’ve never been there.

[@energymc22]

Be happy it's the 90 hp 2.0 petrol engine. it could have been the 2.2 diesel with a whole 73hp

[@megarafjogos]

2.0 petrol engines have 100+hp in europe. that's not an import car. The dash, the speedo, the lights... there is just something wrong.

[@energymc22]

+megaraf jogos true, I was just giving the worst case scenario. If it's the more powerful version and he thinks it's slow then even more reason he's lucky not to be driving the diesel.

[@yupitellwhut]

energymc22 my 81 Mercedes Benz 300D 3.0L diesel only makes about 80hp

[@UncleLuqman]

I thought the 2.0 190E produces 122hp?

[@energymc22]

Luqman Hakim there are many versions depending on the year and market.

[@behemothokun]

it's an old 190E. . . why did you expect it to be fast? Also, the headlights are wrong. And we use both kW and HP (well, rather PS) officially on spec sheets and stuff, but if you ask a german guy how much power his car has, he will answer in PS in almost all cases. the switch besides the light knob is there to adjust the height of the headlights.

[@ChannelNotFound]

Someone put German papers in it, a German plate and sold it to this guy. The denial with him is strong.

[@McVerne]

+ChannelNotFound I´m from Germany. The plate is complete fake, original German plate has a blue stripe with a "D" and the stars of the EU on it. Funny they made it extra "authentic" with the black/red/gold colors, even put a typical letter like "ü" on. The dashbord isn´t a european version either, nor is the spoiler with the third brakelight or the sealed beam headlights. Lack of power is cause the car had to match the even at the time way more strict US exhaust gas laws, original 2 liter had enough grunt to spin the wheels at least a little bit.

[@ChannelNotFound]

Jules Verne I was thinking of the pre-EU plate.

[@McVerne]

pre-EU plate had a different DIN letter type, no color stripe and a small black strip between the tax registration badge and the TÜV badge. Yes, we like them bureaucracy :)

[@shkodnik]

+ChannelNotFound Also, Berlin is not in Bavaria.

[@mateuszzimon8216]

@@McVerne It's "RAMSTAIN" spec, i think they have separate plate for this also they can use bundeswehr platestyle

[@augustuscaesar4976]

The Mercedes 190 is a good solid car, it was never meant to be fast or a race car. The Merc. is perfect for European roads, where I am in the UK the roads are narrow and were built for horses, not wide enough for two cars to pass, a few of these roads are Roman and I drive on them most weeks. On roads around here, 50 mph is a good speed, some roads 30mph is the advisable speed due to the twists and turns. It's a gentleman's car, let the world pass you by and sit in comfort and safety.

[@MG-ko6jf]

I had the 2.6L US version. It was the best car I've ever owned and I'm on like my 29th car.

[@ironmanandhisflyingpan6572]

What are other cars you owned?

[@MG-ko6jf]

@@ironmanandhisflyingpan6572 1983 Toyota Pickup, 1989 Toyota Supra, 1984 Toyota 4rumner, two 1996 I think Isuzu Amigo, an Isuzu trooper, another 190E but it was auto, several jeep Cherokees, a Lexus, a couple of Nissan d21 and d22, another 4runner that I rolled so got another 4 runner, want me to keep going or do you have some smart ass response ?

[@BasedMan]

@M G Meanwhile I have only driven a 1994 Opel Frontera A (long wheelbase) and my mother owns a 1988 Mitsubishi Montero (short) The w123 or w124 are on my go to classic cars to own, and might get one as my first car (19, w123 240Diesel or w124 2L petrol with 5 speed manual)

[@thenthson]

I got a 2.6l 190e as a first car. It needs quite a bit of work to be done on it.

[@MG-ko6jf]

@@thenthson The plastic bit that moves the sunroof is a common part to fail and is a PITA to replace, so do it before it breaks and you're stuck with an open sunroof. The speedometer cable that runs to the transmission is also a common failure part, pretty easy to replace. The exhaust piping seems to rust unusually quick. Other than those common issues, it's a great car.

[@ExtraBigO]

In Germany every cars tachometer has a km/h scale. If there are a km/h and mph scales in the tachometer the car was intended to be sold outside of Germany. And like rhkips already said these headlights are USDM too

[@LuxLazar]

+ExtraBigO Everything about the car is weird (I'm the owner). I found out the guy who bought it special ordered the gauges from factory. I guess he was in the military or something.

[@ExtraBigO]

+XLPCX and the little wheel on the left side of the dashboard is a "Leuchtweitenregulierung" you need it to regulieren your Leuchtweite which absolutely nobody in germany does but you need to have it 'cause of reasons

[@AxelPLasg]

+ExtraBigO :D let me translate: regulate headlights ;)

[@LuxLazar]

Thanks for the info! I like the little quirks in the car.

[@RattlerBK]

+ExtraBigO That's the one good thing I like about digital speedometers; can go from mph to km/h with a touch of the button.

[@genocidic]

German numberplate but US headlights? Horrid.

[@xMrin10se]

Imagine if it had american spec bumpers

[@kobbetop]

+Cory _182 you can use them as park bench...

[@GrandTheftChris]

+James Walford this plate is funny. it has the B for Berlin but a bavarian sticker. and we don't have the german flag on our plates but the european. like that: schubert.lv/photos-in-domainconsult/ml320.jpg

[@mats7492]

Thats a fake plate...

[@mateuszzimon8216]

@@mats7492 Yes, but this car WAS semi eurospec for military guy in Ramstain AFB.... This car should be originally (1st owner) equipped with US Plates issued by state of 1st owner

[@diablomix]

Damn that '86 looks better than most cars from the 90's/early 2000's.

[@GlamStacheessnostalgialounge]

*Every single 80's looks better than all cars from the 90's/early 2000's.

[@Phunker1]

No European would have been surprised by the epic slowness of this thing. (Try the 190D and you can have a race with a John Deere). It's 190E for god's sake. The shout's GREY right into your face. Btw., we do NOT mix metrics with imperial and his speedo was NEVER originally delivered with mph on it. Someone also swapped the headlight assembly. That's US spec. The he doesn't know what it's for is for adjusting the headlights for having a load in the trunk or on the tow-bar.

[@mateuszzimon8216]

In another comments owner tell this was RAMSTAIN spec, if u don't know it's bigest us base in europe

[@noahh914]

@@mateuszzimon8216 It's called Ramstein.

[@traxnada]

Yeah, well it's 72hp so... yes it's slow :) As for Germans, they use "PS" (Pferdestärke), which is "German Horsepower" and which is used pretty much everywhere in germanic countries... It's very similar to US horsepowers (100PS = 98.63hp) They are also not "mixed" between the metric system and anything else lol They uses kph, kilometers and PS. No idea how he got a mile per hour gauge, but if it has been imported to the US privately, my guess is that it has been changed by a previous owner... If it has been imported by a dealer, he changed the gauges before selling it.

[@tboHammu]

Isn't the diesel 72hp? This is petrol so ~120hp?

[@traxnada]

EvilRacer123 Indeed! Just double checked and the normal gasoline 2L is actually... 90hp!!! :) EDIT again: Apparently there is a carburated and an injection one... The carburated 2L is 90hp while the injection version 122hp. So yes the 190E is actually 122hp. Gears must be REALLY long though to feel that slow...

[@jospi2]

+EvilRacer123 Yes, it's a petrol, or else it would be called 190 D.

[@BreakItLikeItsHot]

+traxnada Most likely, since it has the hideous USDM headlights. Should have kept the german ones.

[@tboHammu]

+traxnada Yeah, 90hp for carb (190 without E) and 113hp for 190E 2.0 injection

[@jochem1986]

Dutch guy here (ze Germans are our neighbours), that little wheel with the headlight icon is indeed to level the headlights. Or better yet, to make them point down further. Reason? Over here, we like to tow caravans, so if they're hooked up, the rear of the car hunkers down a bit, forcing the headlight beam to be intrusive to other traffic. Hence, manual headlight level adjustment.

[@BasedMan]

Comes in handy when loading the boot of the car as well as the seats

[@timeactor]

I miss that car..it was slow...it was reliable it was tough ….a mini tank..so composed on the highway. But most of all it had soul...it drove me from L.A. to DC

[@VanBurenOfficial]

Mercedes-benz made it through the 80s with dignity

[@nicolasdurden116]

YOU RATHER SEE, ME IN THE PEN, THAN ME AND LORENZO ROLLIN IN A BENZO

[@wjadams2]

You know, Martin Brundle once said that this had one of the best handling saloon car chassis anywhere in the world.

[@RushSampson]

I happen to love my 190E. It's odd, does strange shit sometimes, and likewise, not particularly fast, but it's unlike anything else I've owned or driven, in all the best ways I can't quite put my finger on. Germany built a winner with the W201, in my honest opinion. Oh, and mine has a rev counter AND a clock. : D

[@JimboRustles]

6:00 This is to adjust how far the headlights go, if you put cargo in the trunk the front of the car goes up so you need to adjust the headlights so you don't blind other drivers... every car I've owned has had this, is this really something unusual in America?

[@MikeDragon]

I think it might be. I'll be honest; I live in Brazil and I also never even heard about that. As far as I know, cars nowadays don't have that in here. I've never seen one with it. Though I THINK the Fiat 147 had that. I remember my dad's 147 had a little slider, kind of like that, on the dash. Though it had no numbers or any sort of description/label to identify it. I never really knew what that thing was for or even if it worked at all. I don't doubt it's about the same on the US.

[@MikeDragon]

***** 147s and maybe some early Unos, I imagine? Like I said, my dad's 147 had one of those on the dash, though I never knew what it was for.

[@SianaGearz]

In EU, cars equipped with Xenon lamps must have automatic headlight adjustment by law; older cars with weaker lights have manual adjustment, required since about 1990 in Germany, so in general that's what you'll see on EU spec vehicles.

[@joshualaw375]

It is uncommon for American cars, but in the states, most older Japanese cars (like my ‘99 Nissan Pathfinder) have similar features.

[@joshualaw375]

It is odd though how most domestic cars here in the US don’t come with this. I can’t even tell you how bad some headlights blind you, especially GM cars. Their headlights are the WORST.

[@kiMMzy]

This isn't an Euro import -.-

[@LuxLazar]

+ᴊᴇʙᴀᴜᴅɪɴ Paperwork says otherwise.

[@marek594]

+ᴊᴇʙᴀᴜᴅɪɴ They didn't sell the 2.0E in the US so it must be imported, but I guess somebody changed the cluster panel and front lights with the American ones.

[@kiMMzy]

+XLPCX Euro model would have a different headlights and clock INSIDE the rpm gauge, and probably some wood trim... Even if it is imported from Europe it has many aftermarket US parts Source: I live in Europe and I used to have 190e, same model same engine as this one

[@LuxLazar]

+ᴊᴇʙᴀᴜᴅɪɴ This is true, but the car is 30 years old. I'm sure the previous owner replaced all sorts of things with US parts. I'm trying to slowly get it back to original, but finding Euro parts is super difficult.

[@kiMMzy]

XLPCX I know the feeling, same thing with American cars in Europe, they are super expensive and most of the parts have to be bought overseas and shipped to Europe :/ Good luck though

[@somervillearron]

the lights are wrong for a euro

[@Ramcharger]

Not for one imported to the US market.

[@TheChiefHobbit]

Yesterday I bought a 1987 190E with a 2.6 L in-line six I am so happy with this purchase and it is such a fun car and it definitely isn’t as sluggish as the one in the video! great video though!!!

[@f_bomb_3000]

My first ever car was a 1991 190e hand-me-down. It had 60k miles in 2007 and I LOVED it. I put in a monstrous subwoofer and covered it in every sticker I could find. Maybe its nostalgia goggles for your first love, and sure it was so heavy that it leaned side to side in the turns like an ocean bouy, but it was 2.6L of freedom and it was happiness. I miss that car.

[@jgpwlcs36]

my old man had a 190 i remember riding in it as a kid. he drove the damn thing to almost 500,000 miles. i long to own a 190e with a 2.5 cosworth engine

[@MartinIbert]

What's with the bogus front plate? An umlaut in the serial number part? A "B" for Berlin with a Bavaria state seal? A German tri-colour flag instead of the European blue band? WTF?

[@mateuszzimon8216]

@The Cats Pajamas Yes, and tricolour flag is used by german army. I think owner took this as honourable for 1st owner, because this is possible Ramstein Spec

[@ironmanandhisflyingpan6572]

I have not driven the 190e but I have a diesel with 5spd, it’s not fast but gives descent torque and very smooth on highway. The build quality is incredible and I will take mine instead of e30 bmw any day!

[@bahahbahabaha]

That dial next to the headlights moves the headlights up and down automatically

[@LuxLazar]

+James Robinson Thanks!

[@IndyF1FanMarquis]

Ah the 190E, the car every early 90's rap star aspired to. I've always loved the styling of these cars, and when Cosworth got ahold of it; I absolutely fell in love. It still wasn't the fastest thing on the road as Top Gear so eloquently showed, but it held its own and looked good while doing so. I'd take a '92 2.5 Cosworth right now over almost any car produced now!

[@yung.letuce]

In the 90's I was young (Born in 97') But even then I remember all the pimped out Geo Trackers, And Samurai's. But there was the occasional 190E to.

[@IndyF1FanMarquis]

+GetTacoFaced If you saw one of these in the hood, you knew who was supplying to the dealers. And if it was rolling on 5 stars, they were ballin' outta control. Even rimmed up, 190's still have class!

[@yung.letuce]

+Marquis M. Haha no doubt. I mean I wouldn't call it timeless but when I see it well always have that classy look!

[@IndyF1FanMarquis]

***** Time will tell how timeless it will be, but it has aged fairly well considering how old the w201 platform is now.

[@yung.letuce]

+Marquis M. Only time, for sure

[@FelixO]

Still one of the most awesome cars ever made.

[@HELP_I_HAVE_NO_SKIN]

I have a 1993 190E, the last year they made this car but mine has the 2.6L 6 cylinder and it is surprisingly torquey and smooth...The 190E is also built like a tank, super solid and rides very sound proof.

[@sethlavinder]

Took my drivers test in a 190E 2.6 , it was a very quick little car, hugged the road. Very fun to drive

[@AMexicant]

I'm gonna buy a 190E, put an Evo2 body kit on it, and there is nothing you can do about it.

[@Rentta]

+Alfonso Guerrero Throw in td engine and build a superturbo

[@Deadgamer60]

+Alfonso Guerrero no,no,no just no please dont

[@DeadNoob451]

+Alfonso Guerrero Why would i,that kit looks fucking awesomme,and nobody can afford a real evo2

[@unlisted9494]

+Alfonso Guerrero Genuinely, do it, but with a 2.6 model. People have those M103's well over 800hp. They're sluts for boost. For example, check out the youtube channel Pumpish/turbobandit.

[@BeJosephThis]

do it

[@BreakItLikeItsHot]

USDM Headlights and Speedo. Why would you even do that on an import D: Oh and we don't use miles per hour in Germany... lol. The only "imperial" unit we use in Horsepower.

[@sebastianeschenbach9659]

PS =|= HP ;)

+Sebastian Eschenbach that is correct. German Horsepower (1,000 PS = 0,987HP) that's why the Veyron doenst have 1001 HP, but 1001 PS which is 987 HP :P

[@AKADriver]

+BreakItLikeItsHot those parts would have been added when the car was imported.

[@E34Benzin]

And inches for the wheels.

[@BreakItLikeItsHot]

Sebastian Eschenbach You don't say. Most Americans just wouldn't understand the Term "Pferdestärken" ;)

[@bjornkeizers]

Nice! You used to see these 190's EVERYWHERE in the early to mid-90's. They were extremely popular in Europe as taxi's. When companies retired them, they got a second life as daily family cars. Especially Turkish people seemed to really like those ex-taxi 190's.

[@zacdalziel4840]

You've nail it again. You summed up every car you drive perfectly. Love your vid's man. Keep them coming. The Philly and NY car show vid's where awesome. No car is free from criticism in your hands. Love it.

[@February54]

Euro import with those headlights? I don't think so.

[@sorsorsor11]

5:50 correct. That is because we have narrow streets and in some cases you need to park 2 wheels on the curb, 2 on the road, so your half car is hanging out, better light it so nobody smashes into it at a rainy, foggy, night.

[@grizzleypeak]

I miss my ol' 190e... It was a damn good car.

[@aceofclubskid]

I had the pleasure of driving one of these today. It's amusingly slow, very comfortable and just plain made me happy.

[@truantray]

Do a test of one of those VW clean Diesels, I hear they are awesome.

[@compu85]

+truantray He did already, a Malone tuned Jetta.

[@truantray]

+compu85 don't keep up on the news, do you? whooosh

[@compu85]

+truantray Yes, I'm a moderator on TDIClub. The thread discussing the NOx is the most busy on club... ever! Over 1200 people have been viewing it at once all day.

[@itsDanielOfc]

+compu85 fake emission test results bro

[@iant720]

Impossibly amazing right? ;)

[@The0riginal]

this is the solid truth about the US falling out of love with the automobile. makes me sigh thinking about it.

[@CityLifeinAmerica]

This is true with people buying things like a Prius even though they can afford a BMW.

[@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax]

The US is much larger and harder to navigate without a car. Europe has many trains and the cities are close and the countries are small. We need cars for longer drives

[@derbigpr500]

+Bahama Lynn Sawdin That's the most ignorant and uneducated bullshit I've read in a long time...

[@FluffyBuzzard2TheMax]

How so? Our cities are more spaced out, especially in the western half.

[@TerryFT86]

the fact it has a sunroof that still work from 1986 is amazing.....

[@fred_e]

That was pretty good. It was very well put together and the visual and audible symbolism was well timed.

[@X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X8X]

The 190E is a great car!

[@TheQuatchman]

Need the 190D manual. Also inline engine one of the most reliable engines ever made

[@jpizzy5474]

My first car was the 2.3. This is nostalgia. Thank you.

[@noway5590]

I want one. Love the Bremen manufacturing. It runs forever

[@arealbigboss]

I love when mr regular gets sentimental, he’s a real romantic guy

[@TheBiggestCrazyDuck]

The official car of Turkey.

[@rentalblue5712]

top kek

[@appelpower1]

+Edgy Bloke Nope, it's the official car of Albania. Apparently, about 80% of the cars in Albania are (old) Mercs.

[@Interceptor810]

+appelpower1 I have seen these old Mercs as cabs in Istanbul

[@johnnyjohnson8928]

appelpower1 thats not true anymore... most people have replaced their Benzes with newer cars because of the taxes put on old cars.

[@ledio87]

I can confirm, as an Albanian, that Mercedes is the national car brand. :V :P

[@DavidFromUtopia]

I was just looking for one yesterday, thinking of buying one as a project here in Czech Republic. Thank you for your honest review.

[@_scott_chegg]

Your vids are the first thing I look for when I have a minute on a Monday. Keep up the great work, some fantastic content! Hail Fink.

[@FlamerK6]

That thing next to the light switch is called LEUCHTWEITENREGULIERUNG. Ah, compound words.

[@michaeljoiner2503]

I've been driving my 190d since 1987 yet I don't understand this video.

[@heatherremlin8607]

RIGHT!? These two KNUCKLE HEADS haven't a clue about the 190E 2.3! At least IT DOESN'T SEEM like they do!? I bought my 1987 190E 2.3 5speed back in 2005 and it's the best car I've ever owned!! Paid 3,400 and boy what a deal. Besides average age related issues, it runs great! I liked your comment and felt like I needed to agree with you:-) Today is Dec 9th 2018 ...Happy driving & happy Holidays!!

[@bassibimmers6226]

That wheel adjustor to the right of the headlight switch is for the euro spec lamps. It is used for manual vertical height adjustment of the euro style headlights via vacuum hoses.

[@TypeVertigo]

The first Benz we ever had was a 190E with a gated automatic gearbox, central locking, and power windows. I was a kid at the time and it felt so bad-ass. Still one of the classiest cars I'd ever ridden in. The only thing that outclassed it was an even older Benz, a 1969 280S my dad kept around as a "project" and that barely saw any mileage under our watch. Thanks for this Mr. Regular.

[@KidThomsonMediaProductions]

that roller knob is to level the headlights so that if the car is full you can level the headlights so you are not blinding other drivers at night

[@TheSatanicPie]

exactly, what a dumbass that owner is..

[@Ledfndr]

+RegularCars This is a federalized import. The cloth door cards, engine type, manual windows, big clock etc point to this. The speedo, lights, emissions etc are changed during importation. His headlight adjustment will not work with the US market headlights from federalization, he'll need the ECE market one piece glass lights.

[@Neuromantic_86]

I have a 1991 UK auto model, for a 26 year old car it drives beautifully​ and i can truly​ say driving a modern car is totally soulless.

[@tm1182]

My mom had a US one. It was literally indestructible, pretty much no maintenance for years and then it was sold to my uncle who won the 500 for 500 with it. I love these cars

[@AxelPLasg]

Seriously? Here we go: 1) Clutch is shit? Than tell owner to install new one, I've driven 190E and it's normal clutch, working like a charm. 2) This car is hmmm... european car where intersection is not a size of a small town, so don't be surprised that I kind of stands out in Your place. 3) This is cruiser not a race car. It wasn't intended to be fast, it was meant to be reliable and comfortable. 4) As it was made to be reliable, so it is... reliable. And I find disturbing that You didn't mention it. This car nearly killed benz with how durable it is. This is literally the most durable care ever made (and most likely for ever since new cars reliability isshittier and shittier). How could have You missed that? This is major miss on Your part. This car is a fucking legend. With diesel it makes over 2 milion km at ease (I've seen such cars with my own eyes). This is a fucking road tank. 5) As for parking lights, it's only in some 90's and early 00's german cars. Nothing common for europe, also as far as I know they've dropped the idea and it is not available in new cars anymore (but I'm not sure about that). At leas here it is unavailable. 6) Germany is 100% si scale, no mix of mph and kph. Stop bullshiting people. Mph were put there for export reasons simple as that. Just like some cars sold in UK have smaller kph scale. Fuck, germans are so "si" scalled that they even dropped idea of 60Hz mains for the sake of more "si-like" 50Hz. So yeah... they REALLY are mix of both... "yeaaah"... 7) You don't have RPMmeter because owner is a cheap ass. It was an option back in the 90's. Only some (mostly performance) cars had those in standard in europe so yeah another thing where You (and owner) clearly lack basic knowledge of a car. 8) Benz should always be driven with diesel, no exceptions. (also diesel is even slower, it makes like 75Hp from nearly 2L engine). If You hook it up to auto gearbox than You end up with slow ass cruiser that lasts gonna centuries, gonna be comfy as fuck and (in european conditions) will be "slow, but fine". This is the very first video from You I'm disliking. No I'm not offended and stuff like that, I don't own or "fanboy" benz, but I hate when someone is skipping facts and lying (not telling truth based on wrong knowledge is also a lie). Don't take euro cars for show if You don't know much about them. K? kthxby

[@kcm732]

jesus christmas bro, take a chill pill. Mr. Regular's videos are an acquired taste, but you don't need to take a giant diarrhea dump all over his video especially with it being the first one you've ever watched from him. and he doesn't claim to be a full on expert and sometimes I notice spots and thinks and facts he's overlooked or neglected to mention in other videos... cut him some slack. he works hard to do what he does and produce these vids.

[@AxelPLasg]

*read above comment in friendly voice*

[@AxelPLasg]

Kyle Morgese It's not the first one I've watched from him, I've been subscribed and viewed like every upload he's ever had. So I DO understand his style, but I don't like the fact that he is bending the truth here not because it's funny but because he lacks knowledge on the topic. And that is not cool. I do understand that he is not expert but there is significant difference in what He knows (and tells) about us cars and this euro car. This is not funny bending truth to match jokes and stuff like that. This is just messing facts and filling "fact" space with total mess. I do appreciate that he works hard to produce those vids, I really do. I find it marvelous that his passion is that great and stuff, but for fucks sake, I won't "pat his back" and say "good work" when He obviously fucked this up. That is why I wrote this long ass comment to justify dislike and tell him what went wrong. You've ever hear about constructive criticism? Well there You have it.

[@kcm732]

AxelPLasg​​ theres constructive criticism, and then there's being overly pretentious. German and euro vehicles on a whole aren't that fantastic anyway. And while some facts might be off, they aren't that far from the truth, and honestly, the vehicle owner should brush up on his knowledge because he doesn't seem to know very much on his own car and then it seems like he feeds mr. regular falsehoods that are then relayed to the viewer... But thats just a personal observation. And ... Like he said ages ago, this channel is an experiment, not meant to be 100% perfect.

[@AxelPLasg]

Kyle Morgese Well, I agree with all You've said. But as for euro cars (in general, not limiting to german ones), they are not perfect, of course. But it should be kept in mind that european cars are... well... made for european market, so they have to fit in... european market, not us one (that is why usdm version had different engines and suspension). This is the very same problem that us cars have in europe. The are just different. But that doesn't have much to do with topic. I agree that owner lead Mr.Regualar into misconceptions and stuff, but at the end of the day, he's the one marking it with his name (?) so he should check the facts. Of course nobody is perfect, but damn, it's as if I was reviewing eg. mustang and said that "it's uncomfortable for such luxurious car, and the only way to turn on intersection is to call crane that would rotate car in mid air. Also the car is most loved by car guys because of it's high mpg and comfort". This is that kind of misinformation in the vid. 124 is a fucking legend in europe, it is classic young-timer of top tier which is known for being immortal. I don't think that pointing mistakes, which in this case are major is being overly pretentious, but that might be just me.

[@torinored7606]

3:45 , mail truck with a 80hp 2.5l iron duke engine passing this Benz

[@josephlynch3843]

I was the not-so-proud owner of a 1986 American-spec 190E. I bought it used in 1987, I think it had about 15K miles on it. It spent most of its life at the Mercedes dealer. The good news: it had a very unusual 5 speed (why I bought it), it was fun to drive, like RegularCars guy said, it had a certain appeal (I was a young exec), I had arrived. The bad news: a/c broke constantly, the sunroof broke constantly, motor mounts at less than 20K, the list goes on and on. I endured this car for 2 years and sold it to someone taking to Sweden. Strangely enough, the 5-speed was only important to the guy that bought it. Thanks RegularCars, I truly love your reviews, your humor, the singing, not so much. :) Keep up the great work!

[@cosminpopescu92]

The vertically rotating knob is for adjusting the angle of the light beams compared to the road , so for example if you have something heavy in the back or pulling a trailer the front of the car will rise and it will send the light in the eyes of the oncoming drivers so with that you can compensate for the angle change .

[@longshot789]

Heh, watching that mail car catch up to you is funny.

[@ichheissedamian]

that numbers plate is definetily fake, as it has a ü on it, its from berlin but also says it is from bavaria

[@srtthis]

+regularcars my friend passed away last week 9/13. in highschool he had an 1987 190e. seeing this review really brought back some awesome memories of the affectionately known ghettobenz. thank you for this car review even though his was the great 2.6

[@frido15]

Germany does definatly not use a "weird mix" of metric and imperial units. Horsepower one of the only units that people use around here that isn't metric, the other common one being inches for stuff that only comes in inch based sizes (Rims, TVs, etc). And if a imperial unit is used, you will always have the metric equivalent next to it. Imperial units are only used in everyday speech, not in official documents. Also, the one sided parking light is a very rare occurance here. Very few cars have it, very few cars even have the option to have it. It's not a euro thing

[@mats7492]

@Mick's Budget Rigs eehh... nope!

[@lokdabest]

my first car!

[@0riginal835]

You people are so clueless about European cars, sorry :D

[@yung.letuce]

Lol what can you tell me he didn't? I'll be waiting.

[@0riginal835]

+GetTacoFaced Ok, the headlights are not european, the scroller controls the height of the headlights and is used when the back of the car is loaded, so you don't blind upcoming trafic, and this isn't the best engine (not even talking about the cosworth), go read it up on wiki. In USA they just see us Europeans "different" for some reason, and makes them giggle anytime they see something what they dont have in America, and don't look it up, simply write it off like some Euro nonsense.

[@rcracer1991]

+GetTacoFaced He literally said he had no idea what that switch does. Also metric units.

[@shiftyslc]

+0riginal835 I feel like you misunderstood the tone of this video. Their look at the scroller and the engine were short and inquisitive, not accusative. I think we're all appreciators of European cars. And people!

[@yung.letuce]

+shiftyslc Honestly I got love for everything regardless of the the place the car came from. EVEN MY INDESTRUCTIBLE 1981 240D 478,577 miles.

[@pubbiehive]

These are great cars, maybe not very fast but with a 5 speed it's decent. What should be noted about driving them is that they have typical old school german gearing where the gear ratios are really long, even in 1st and they are meant to be revved high. One thing you barely touched on too is the comfort and handling of these, which is superb especially considering how old these are now. If you want a faster one, go for the 2.6 or 16V engines, we had the 2.6 in Europe as well however most people bought the 4 cylinder versions. Also they last for god damn ever if you care for them. Extremely solid build quality.

[@aaronbays4]

A friend of mine had one of these in high school, circa 2001. I think his was an early 90's model, it had more flush headlights with those stupid wipers on it. It was an inline six, two tone burgundy/grey, burgundy benz tex interior with the rare 5 speed manual. All the power options, sunroof even. Really damn nice car, had 100k on it at the time, his dad bought it off of some old doffer he knew thru work, looked immaculate. Main thing that impressed me with the 190e was how well it aged, it was at least 10 years old at the time, looked like a damn new car, not a ding or scratch on it. I drove it a couple of times, once to 100mph. Main thing that impressed me is that little car drove like a much larger car. It was quiet, rode nice(kind of firm compared to my Buick at the time), but the bumps didn't make the car rattle, you felt it a bit, but it was just a solid and very muted thunk. Main thing was how solid it felt, no rattles, the way the doors shut, the way it drove at 100mph felt like you were doing 50mph in my Buick. It wasn't fast though, even with that smooth as silk inline six, it took a good while with the foot to the floor to reach 100, my 3.8 V6 Buick would've left it for dead off the line, but I think the Benz would have passed it past 70mph.

[@a7i20ci7y]

Roman kills it, well done

[@johnh6561]

A Benz with a manual, crank windows, but there's a headlight leveling switch....

[@jacobfleming565]

It's called options

[@olgam.5756]

It's mandatory in Europe, at least in Poland. Every car, even the cheapest one has reflectors leveling.

[@HaraldSjellose]

@@olgam.5756 true, i even have that in my citroen c1

[@ev4n5eli0n01]

You guys hurt my brain. The car is definitely a European spec car. It was common in the eighties to either import the car in the grey market, or take a European delivery and have the car shipped over. The small bumpers, lack of options, small engine, and base wheels were all things that never came to US shores. US spec cars could be purchased in Europe or "Bastardized" versions like this car with US spec lights and cluster. Also, such things were part of the process of federalizing cars as well to meet US specifications. Many E30's also came the same way. Mr. Regular, yeah the car is slow, but how could you not appreciate how very solidly that car was put together and how refined it does drive? It's all part of the charm of vintage European vehicles you simply cannot get anymore.

[@syncmaster710n14]

That switch at 6:08 is for adjusting your headlight beam, its very handy if your carrying something heavy in your trunk like a dead body and you don't want to bind oncoming traffic.

[@tristanhorner2484]

My 1985 W123 300D Turbo Diesel and I share a love hate relationship. I love how she turns on every time I tell her to unlike my Datsun, but hate how every time she does something else has stopped working, whether it be a dome light, head light, one of the windshield wipers, the cruise control, the antenna motor, both fog lights, all dash gauge lights, drivers side window switches, odometer and tripmeter, high beams, and the switch for the hazards. Just this past week alone, everything I have listed just went out one after the other. No joke, I would fucking get in the car and drive somewhere, park it, do whatever, come back, get in, and find a new thing not working when it was just a couple hours ago. It sure as hell isn't fast either.

[@thisisnightshop2037]

Clean your fuses

[@oneminutefixed5003]

The European 190D is still seen a lot around here and some of these cars already flipped the mileage gages twice, I kidd you not

[@aaroncostello8812]

Back in the day, an American could fly to Germany, find a Mercedes dealership, pick out a German-spec 190e, and purchase it. Mercedes would then ship it to the US and you could pick it up at your local dealership. In order to drive it on US roads you had to do two just things. Install federally-mandated, US-spec, sealed beam headlights and install a speedometer that read in mph. That's it. I am sure this is what the original owner did. That car is a European model. US-spec 190s were never offered with the 2.0 engine...for the very reason described in the video. They were also never offered with crank windows, manual transmission, cloth seats, remote headlight height adjustment, or manual heater controls (some of these were offered in the rare 2.3-16). These are often called 'grey market' cars, which is a misnomer since they were purchased at a Mercedes dealership in another country and imported legally. You could do the same thing at a BMW dealership back then as well. European manufacturers had stopped allowing this by the early 1990s, but it wasn't unusual in the '60s, '70s, and '80s. I had one of these 'grey' cars back in the late '00s. It was an '88 190e 2.3 with the 5-speed manual. Gray-over-black, same as this one! I wouldn't call it fast, but it wasn't slow.

[@13slot28]

Your videos give me a reason to wake up on Mondays.

[@KBear43rd]

"Asymmetry is a practical joke the Germans are playing on the rest of us." Words to live by, people.

[@joshbrailsford]

I don't think it's uncommon for some (mostly base model) euro cars to have a manual transmission but no tachometer - my brother's '96 Fiat Punto has an analogue clock in place of a tach. No temperature gauge either! Base model cars were not worthy it seems.

[@behemothokun]

+Josh Brailsford my old 98 Corsa also had a 5 speed manual and no tachometer but it had a temperature gauge :) My newer 2010 Corsa has a tach but no temperature gauge for some reason (also manual of course).

[@boheyo]

+Josh Brailsford Yeah my friend had an e36 BMW 316 with the big clock. Lots of 'dude it's half past time to shift!' jokes with how gutless it was.

[@MaxXTVBlackBerry]

+Behemothokun The temp is shown in the radio though, unless we're talking water/oil here.

[@ELGlueckert]

A 4 speed in an '86 Mercedes? BMW was putting 5 speeds in their later model year E21 3 Series' which was discontinued in 1982.

[@Danse_Macabre_125]

5 spds were optional

[@beSpira]

With the roller switch next to the headlight switch allows you to set the level of the headlights with a vacuum system. On the highest setting you can see really far even with using only the dimmed lights. As for the giant clock: the RPM gauge was an optional extra for a pretty hefty amount of money. Althought it did came with the basemodel for 2.5 turbodiesels.