1992 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.6 Sportline

This car is pretty much top of the 190 tree, if we put the rare Cosworth engined cars aside for a second. And with an unstressed 2.6-litre M103 six cylinder SOHC engine built in the traditional Mercedes way, it offers similar performance without the fuss of all those high revs and multi valves. With around 160 horsepower and 190lb-ft of torque it’s quick, but dignified.

This car not only has the desirable 2.6-litre silky six powerplant, it also has the full Mercedes Sportline package of extras fitted, which includes stiffer and lower suspension, sports chassis, smaller leather steering wheel with more direct steering, wider alloy wheels and low profile tyres.

This could very well be a rare example of the breed too – some Mercedes experts insist that only 10 190Es were built to this specification in right hand drive form.

127,000 miles could be considered relatively high mileage for any other make of car from this era, but not for a Mercedes, such is the bullet proof spec of these cars’ engineering. We have a friend with a similar vintage of Merc that’s currently on 225,000 miles and still running just as smoothly as it did back in the 1990s.

The Brilliant Silver Metallic paintwork on this car demonstrates the very high standards to which Mercedes adhered in the 1990s. It still looks like the paint on a three-year-old car, with a deep shine and fluid feel. There is the odd tiny mark on the very front of the car, but you’ll have to hunt them down to see them.

All the shutlines and panel gaps would keep a Stuggart quality control inspector happy, the brightwork is all excellent and the wheels and tyres are equally well preserved.

This 2.6 sits lower than a standard car thanks to its Sportline suspension, and on top of this performance package the car also has headlamp wash-wipe units fitted, plus a steel sliding (electric of course) sunroof.

There have been many variations on the three box theme for saloon cars over the years but in many ways, if you had to pick on car that perfectly illustrated the design, the 190 would be it. The fact that it still looks current 40 years after its introduction marks its card as a design classic.

The Recarro leather seats ion this car are the same as fitted to the lairy Cosworth engine versions, and save for some very minor wear on the driver’s seat, they too could pass for a few years old. In addition, back in the ’90s leather still looked like leather, rather than the over-treated stuff manufacturers use today.

The rest of the interior mirrors the seats’ condition too – carpets, woodwork, door cards and headlining are all excellent. There’s a reasonably modern stereo head unit fitted and what looks like a lead allowing connection of an auxiliary source in the glovebox, so it should be possible to connect a smart phone.

The boot is very clean and clearly hasn’t been used to transport any old junk, and the engine bay is also very tidy. The engine’s cam cover could do with tidying up, but this is purely a cosmetic matter, as the engine itself sounds beautifully smooth and rattle free.

The car’s underside looks very well sealed – the underseal Mercedes used during this period is characteristically durable – and we couldn’t see any corrosion that would worry us at all.

The seller is a keen Mercedes expert and dealer, and has sold this car several times during its lifetime. Having sold it to the previous owner some years ago he bought it back when the owner decided it was time to move it on. He says:

‘I couldn’t resist buying it back. The car has a large and full history. I recall that one owner bought the car from me twice! It comes with the original bill of sale in the file, and the brochures and handbooks. It’s a very rare version of the 190E 2.6 model. ‘It’s been well maintained throughout its life, as the file and service books show. I spent quite a bit on the car fitting new rear shock absorbers and a new ball joint from memory. The wheels are also refurbished.

‘Its condition is very good for the age of the car, with no visible corrosion, and all the owners have stayed on top of the car, keeping it in good order. It’s mechanically excellent and has a clean good interior. ‘The option list is rare, with the original owner specifying the full Sportline option package. This and the fact that it’s a very late model make it special. ‘These 201-series Mercedes cars are very popular and they were manufactured to the same very high standard as Mercedes’ bigger and more expensive cars. It is a very practical 4 door 4-seater car with very lively performance, which isn’t far off the Cosworth version.

'Indeed many people might prefer the 2.6 version as it is much cheaper to maintain and nearly as fast. The 103-series engine in 2.6 format which grew into the classic 3.0, is one of the best engines that Mercedes ever made.’

If you’re considering dipping your toe in the classic car market then you’ll struggle to find a better entry point than this Mercedes 190. With a lusty six-cylinder engine and unrivalled build quality, a 1990s Merc really is the pain free way to classic Nirvana.

This is literally a classic you could use every day if you so desired. Of course, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t coddle it in a heated garage and bring it out for high days and holidays in the warmer months, but it’s nice to have the option.

We estimate this car to fetch between £10,000 - £14,000 in auction.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.