Figured its time to post up my Baby Benz project.
1985
190D 2.2 Diesel
182k
Autotragic
Blue Green Metallic / Olive two tone
Have had this car sitting for a couple years as a side project & just started work on it earlier this year on and off. Originally was a friends fathers car that passed away years back. Family sold the car off to another friend, and he drove it to death. He offered it to me for free so why not. PO didnt put many miles on the car, but it definitely has its issues.
When I got the car interior was absolutely trashed tan. Headliner torn, seats unbelievable dirty, and the carpet resembled used toilet paper. The dirt was EVERYWHERE in every crack and crevice I could reach, even inside of the switches. Needless to say the dash was cracked and it just wasnt pretty. Sitting inside felt like I was trapped in an 1980's flashback
Mechanically the trans was toast, motor would not shut off, basic maintenance was well non-existent. Brakes were toast, vacuum leaks galor, and just everything was wrong with it. However knowing the original owner always babied the car, so I had faith that the PO didnt own the car long enough to cause irreversible damage.
Dont have any pics of the car before I started to tear it apart, but basically add faded paint and trashed interior with a nice oil spot under it.
First step was to get it right mechanically.
-Trans swapped
-Vacuum leaks found and fixed
-Vacuum pump replaced. Discovered a nice dime sized hole in it.
-New Glow Plugs
-New serpentine belt
-Oil pan gasket changed, found all the chunks of the vacuum pump in the pan
-EGR delete
-Replaced tensioner pulley
-Diesel Fuel Thermostat delete
-Simple wire tuck
-Washer bottle delete
-Magnetic Fan clutch inoperable so hard wired a switch to the aux fan, until I can find a suitable replacement.
-LubroMoly Diesel Purged
-Fuel, Oil, Air, Power Steering filters changed.
-Fresh Fuel
-Fresh oil
Now at this point the car hasn't been started for atleast 2.5 years. To my surprise she fired right up. Let it run to temp shut it off and checked for leaks or anything out of the ordinary. Sealed up nice and tight. Revs very happy, starts and stops strong, needless to say I'm very pleased.
Next was cosmetics, and what I'm more interested in. Early style 190s just dont have that "zaz" like early e30s. Interior and exterior looks 70s dated compared to late 190s. So I decided to update the look and feel to late style.
So far
-Replaced the dash
-Cleaned the seats as best I could
-Carpet and Headliner in the garbage
-Ditched the faded black trim for Bronze
-Fresh tail lights
-Still scrubbing the floor pans to get all the gunk out
-Cleaned most of the switches inside and out
One of the things that bothered me the most about the interior was the cluster. Just couldnt look at it since it was so fugly something had to be done. Since the needles weren't illuminated I figured a simple solution to paint the needles orange, and replaced with amber bulbs. Easy on the eyes and looks awesome at night. Need to get some night shots.
Stock
Painted
Late bumpers front and rear, painted the USDM lights Olive to match. Added my junkyard special lip.
Couldn't stand the US lights anymore, so I opted for some DEPO euro lamps, and some bronze tint. Being the junkyard vulture I am, I scored some Centra Type 31's 16x8 +11 chrome peeling and all. Also snagged some gold emblems off 3 different cars.
Sadly 190s cant handle those low wheel offsets, but I'm not discouraged. After some research I discovered original AMGs had fender spacers to accommodate wider wheels. Hopped on fleabay picked up some 3/4in universal swaybar bushings. (Honda, Nissan) Spaced, beat, and pulled the fenders till I was happy. Knocked most of the chrome off which was a PITA. Sprayed the wheels Almond. Picked up some cheap tires to test fitment. 205/40 & 205/45 and this is what I ended up with.
Springs are unknown Eibachs, chopped a coil. Spring pads rear none in front. Still debating on ride height, but current height seems daily drive-able. Magic of pshop
Still hunting for struts and shocks short enough. Only solution I've come up with is to shorten e36 struts with an e30 collar and run iX struts. Rears are going to take saab 900 shocks & yes e36 struts are direct bolt on.
I just started to work on Olive again a couple days ago. Power washed the bay and front fender wells & need to finish the underside. For now need to snag some late side skirts and cladding.
Current plans
-w124 4pot BBK upgrade
-Finish interior
-Wire system
-Paint?
Its a slow build, no idea what direction im going in. Nothing is set in stone so just having fun with it. Almost there still rough, but nothing I cant handle.
If I brought my e30 back from waffleswaffleswaffles
Confident I can breath new life into this forgotten 190. Going to enjoy the MPG and no emission.
Money Spent so far about 500$.
1985
190D 2.2 Diesel
182k
Autotragic
Blue Green Metallic / Olive two tone
Have had this car sitting for a couple years as a side project & just started work on it earlier this year on and off. Originally was a friends fathers car that passed away years back. Family sold the car off to another friend, and he drove it to death. He offered it to me for free so why not. PO didnt put many miles on the car, but it definitely has its issues.
When I got the car interior was absolutely trashed tan. Headliner torn, seats unbelievable dirty, and the carpet resembled used toilet paper. The dirt was EVERYWHERE in every crack and crevice I could reach, even inside of the switches. Needless to say the dash was cracked and it just wasnt pretty. Sitting inside felt like I was trapped in an 1980's flashback
Mechanically the trans was toast, motor would not shut off, basic maintenance was well non-existent. Brakes were toast, vacuum leaks galor, and just everything was wrong with it. However knowing the original owner always babied the car, so I had faith that the PO didnt own the car long enough to cause irreversible damage.
Dont have any pics of the car before I started to tear it apart, but basically add faded paint and trashed interior with a nice oil spot under it.
First step was to get it right mechanically.
-Trans swapped
-Vacuum leaks found and fixed
-Vacuum pump replaced. Discovered a nice dime sized hole in it.
-New Glow Plugs
-New serpentine belt
-Oil pan gasket changed, found all the chunks of the vacuum pump in the pan
-EGR delete
-Replaced tensioner pulley
-Diesel Fuel Thermostat delete
-Simple wire tuck
-Washer bottle delete
-Magnetic Fan clutch inoperable so hard wired a switch to the aux fan, until I can find a suitable replacement.
-LubroMoly Diesel Purged
-Fuel, Oil, Air, Power Steering filters changed.
-Fresh Fuel
-Fresh oil
Now at this point the car hasn't been started for atleast 2.5 years. To my surprise she fired right up. Let it run to temp shut it off and checked for leaks or anything out of the ordinary. Sealed up nice and tight. Revs very happy, starts and stops strong, needless to say I'm very pleased.
Next was cosmetics, and what I'm more interested in. Early style 190s just dont have that "zaz" like early e30s. Interior and exterior looks 70s dated compared to late 190s. So I decided to update the look and feel to late style.
So far
-Replaced the dash
-Cleaned the seats as best I could
-Carpet and Headliner in the garbage
-Ditched the faded black trim for Bronze
-Fresh tail lights
-Still scrubbing the floor pans to get all the gunk out
-Cleaned most of the switches inside and out
One of the things that bothered me the most about the interior was the cluster. Just couldnt look at it since it was so fugly something had to be done. Since the needles weren't illuminated I figured a simple solution to paint the needles orange, and replaced with amber bulbs. Easy on the eyes and looks awesome at night. Need to get some night shots.
Stock
Painted
Late bumpers front and rear, painted the USDM lights Olive to match. Added my junkyard special lip.
Couldn't stand the US lights anymore, so I opted for some DEPO euro lamps, and some bronze tint. Being the junkyard vulture I am, I scored some Centra Type 31's 16x8 +11 chrome peeling and all. Also snagged some gold emblems off 3 different cars.
Sadly 190s cant handle those low wheel offsets, but I'm not discouraged. After some research I discovered original AMGs had fender spacers to accommodate wider wheels. Hopped on fleabay picked up some 3/4in universal swaybar bushings. (Honda, Nissan) Spaced, beat, and pulled the fenders till I was happy. Knocked most of the chrome off which was a PITA. Sprayed the wheels Almond. Picked up some cheap tires to test fitment. 205/40 & 205/45 and this is what I ended up with.
Springs are unknown Eibachs, chopped a coil. Spring pads rear none in front. Still debating on ride height, but current height seems daily drive-able. Magic of pshop
Still hunting for struts and shocks short enough. Only solution I've come up with is to shorten e36 struts with an e30 collar and run iX struts. Rears are going to take saab 900 shocks & yes e36 struts are direct bolt on.
I just started to work on Olive again a couple days ago. Power washed the bay and front fender wells & need to finish the underside. For now need to snag some late side skirts and cladding.
Current plans
-w124 4pot BBK upgrade
-Finish interior
-Wire system
-Paint?
Its a slow build, no idea what direction im going in. Nothing is set in stone so just having fun with it. Almost there still rough, but nothing I cant handle.
If I brought my e30 back from waffleswaffleswaffles
Confident I can breath new life into this forgotten 190. Going to enjoy the MPG and no emission.
Money Spent so far about 500$.
DREWLIENTE
Comment