Carsieve All versions
| Variant | Running cost per month | Median price | Listings | Fuel | Engine codes | Gearbox | Production years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 Kat., 109 PS, 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €5,980 | 138 | Petrol | 102910 | Manual (4) | 1990–1993 |
| 1.8 Kat., 109 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €5,980 | 138 | Petrol | 102910 | Manual (5) | 1990–1993 |
| 1.8 Kat., 109 PS, 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive | – | €7,700 | 78 | Petrol | 102910 | Automatic (4) | 1990–1993 |
| E, 122 PS, 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €6,500 | 58 | Petrol | 102962 | Manual (4) | 1988–1989 |
| E, 122 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €6,500 | 58 | Petrol | 102962 | Manual (5) | 1988–1993 |
| E Kat., 118 PS, 4-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €5,970 | 55 | Petrol | 102962 | Manual (4) | 1988–1991 |
| E Kat., 118 PS, 5-speed manual, rear-wheel drive | – | €5,970 | 55 | Petrol | 102962 | Manual (5) | 1988–1991 |
| E Kat., 118 PS, 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive | – | €7,000 | 51 | Petrol | 102962 | Automatic (4) | 1988–1991 |
| E, 122 PS, 4-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive | – | €6,800 | 51 | Petrol | 102962 | Automatic (4) | 1988–1993 |
At a glance
- Years: 1982 to 1993, saloon only, rear-wheel drive. Petrol M102 and M103 engines, diesel OM601 and OM602. The 190 E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 Evolution are the sporting versions.
- Reliability: 3/5. Rust is the main risk.
- DIY: 2/5. Most checks need only a lift and a test drive. Rust repair needs a body shop or a specialist.
- Prefer: a car with sound jacking points, rear window frame and wheel arches, and no large-area body repair. The 190 E 1.8 and the 2.6 have no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- Avoid: rust at the jacking points, wheel arches or rear window frame, and cars that hide rust under body kits.
Engines and gearboxes
- 190 and 190 E 2.0, M102 petrol (102921, 102924, 102962; 90-122 PS): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 190 E 1.8, M102 (102910; 109 PS, from 1990): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 190 E 2.3, M102 (102985; 132-136 PS): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 190 E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 Evolution, 16-valve M102 (102983, 102990, 102991, 102992; 170-235 PS): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 190 E 2.6, M103 six-cylinder (103942; 160-166 PS): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 190 D 2.0, OM601 diesel (601911; 72-75 PS): No common fault confirmed.
- 190 D 2.5 and 2.5 Turbo, OM602 diesel (602911, 602961; 90-126 PS): No common fault confirmed.
- 4-speed manual: no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 5-speed manual (Getrag): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
- 4-speed automatic (W4A 020): no fault confirmed in the sources read.
Known issues
| Issue | Affects | Typical km | Repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Body rust | All cars; worst at the jacking points, arches and rear window frame | Not stated | No confirmed price |
Before you buy
- Lift the car. Probe the jacking points, the rear window frame and the boot floor with a sharp metal stick. Bad result: soft metal, fresh filler or bubbling paint. Ask whether the rust was cut out and welded, or only covered.
Running costs
| Operational | – |
|---|---|
| Workshop | – |
| Fixed costs (tax, insurance) | €112 |
| Total per month | – |
| New-car depreciation (not included) | – |
ADAC figures for 15,000 km a year over 60 months
Market
Listings on mobile.de priced up to 50,000 EUR, 29 October 2026.
- Listings
- 666
- 25th percentile
- €4,999
- Median price
- €6,999
- 75th percentile
- €9,900
- Median mileage
- 193,570 km
- Median first registration
- 1991
- Dealer share
- 18.2%
- Price at 100,000 km
- €9,137
To check a listing's price, open its variant in the table above. Each variant page has a price check.
In detail
Body rust
Symptoms: rust blisters at the jacking points, the front wheel arches, the rear window frame and the boot floor. Diesel owners on PistonHeads also report rust in the boot area above the lights and in the boot corners.
Cause: ADAC names the jacking points, wheel arches and rear window frame as the main rust areas. Wide body kits can hide rust. AUTO BILD (2025) warns of this. AUTO ZEITUNG (2023) adds that a failed rear window seal lets water into the outer rear wells, where rust shows only late.
Which cars: all cars. ADAC says facelift cars from 1988 have better rust protection.
Fix: the sources name no fix procedure. AUTO BILD advises buying an unmodified car with no large-area repair.
Cost: no confirmed price.
Sources: ADAC, petrol Gebrauchtwageninfo (PDF), PistonHeads, Buying a 190D (2012), AUTO BILD KLASSIK, 2025, PistonHeads buying thread, 2015, AUTO ZEITUNG, Kaufberatung (2023)
Recalls
No recall was found in the sources read. Check open campaigns for the car's VIN with a Mercedes dealer.
Maintenance
- Check the jacking points, wheel arches, rear window frame and boot floor at every service. These are the usual rust spots.