Highlights
- Under 59,000 miles from new
- Factory standard and very well kept 190
- Rare factory-option champagne rose chrome window and roof trims
- Current keeper since 2015
- Recent carburettor overhaul
The Appeal
The W201 was Mercedes-Benz’s bid for the mainstream, and they practically bet the house on it. The engineering team invested £600m developing its new compact BMW 3-Series rival. It was money well spent, delivering a capable executive four door that seemed to sacrifice nothing in quality compared to its larger siblings.
This 1990 car must be one of the best-preserved of the handful of remaining models. It has covered less than 59,000 miles from new and is in lovely condition - even the grey metallic plastic wheel trims are virtually unmarked. This is mainly due to the ministrations of the current keeper. He has looked after the car since 1993 and bought it from the previous keeper when he died in 2015. We are told that it was serviced annually until 2015 and then regularly, but not annually. Recent work includes a carburettor overhaul. It is said to run and drive well and is a reluctant sale due to limited recent use.
Painted black with rare optional champagne rose exterior trim and a hardwearing patterned grey and black interior, it is a highly original and unmodified. There are a few cosmetic points to note outside, but nothing that couldn’t either be lived with or easily remedied. It is the 2L 90bhp carburettor model with 4G-TRONIC 4spd auto, so no fireball - instead this is a car to sit back, relish the quality and merely waft along in. The car will require an MOT before hitting the road, but has covered a few miles since the last advisory-free test.
The vendor says:
“The car is in good condition and has low mileage at just under 59000. I bought the car because I had looked after it for so long. I love the car but needs a new owner to give it more love. I am getting too old and have other things to do.”
Key Information
- Mileage: approximately 59,000 miles indicated (unwarranted)
- Country of registration: UK
- Technical inspection status: last test expired September 2021 with 58,763 miles on test and no advisories
- Technical specs: 90bhp M102 1,997cc 4cyl petrol engine; four-speed 4G-TRONIC automatic
- Paperwork: some service history available from 2006 onwards, invoices as shown, factory handbooks, tax discs, stereo handbook and case, V5C, some spares as shown
The Detail
- Three registered keepers with current keeper since September 2015
- Factory standard car in black (040U) and very well kept for age and mileage
- Photos capture a few areas of deterioration to paintwork
- Slight scuff on the offside rear bumper end
- Some lacquer peeling on the offside rear quarter
- Slight dink in the bonnet chrome
- Light corrosion to note to edge of nearside front wing base
- Some minor stone chips and marks to note in photos
- Bodywork appears generally straight with minor points shown in photos and detailed above
- ‘Sacco Planks’ body kit in dark grey with minor scuffs to note
- Rear bumper corner shows scuff and front bumper has minor marks
- Rare factory-option champagne rose chrome window and roof trims
- Steel wheels with dark grey factory hub caps in good condition
- Steel spare wheel with tools as shown
- Recent carburettor overhaul carried out
- The vendor reports the engine is running well
- Electric sunroof fitted
- Factory fabric grey and black patterned interior looks barely used
- The vendor describes the interior as being in very good condition
- Rubber mats fitted to front and rear footwells
- Clean carpets including in boot area
- Fitted with modern Pioneeer Bluetooth stereo
- Dashboard, door cards, headlining and console veneer in good order
- Heater fan control noted as sticky
- Brake discs show surface rust from a period of standing, though the vendor believes they will clean up with use
- Reportedly serviced annually up to 2015, and periodically since
- The car is reported to have covered very few miles since 2015 as MOT confirms
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