Mercedes 190e 2.5-16 - Dashboard Removal, More issues....

Jonnyboy, have just read this start to finish. Am really impressed with your commitment and decision to do it right. Yep, had one too; they're a really special car! I loved my old 2.3 16v. Regret selling it as it was an exceptional car - especially with the Mosselmann Turbo kit fitted!. If you ever get the chance to try something different, that really does push the horses up! Unfortunately being hit & damaging my spine meant it was too painful to wiggle in & out of (too low), so it had to go.
Keep up the brilliant work!

Not to put more ideas in your head, but you can run a turbo on the ke-jet with a few mods. Standalone efi is the best way of course, but just saying it can be done.

 Don't mind carat 3.6, he'd fit a turbo and a massive one too, to a scooter!   In keeping with spirit of the 2.5-16 you should go EFI with throttle bodies. I'll get my coat... 

And what's wrong with that?

As for KE-jet and turbo's, it depends on what your trying to do. It basically involves parts from old audi's and alot of plumbing, also moving the metering head off the engine entirely.

Seems more aggro than its worth. I think (and only if I were to consider turboing) then i'd have the engine out, low compression pistons, new fuel system and a sensibly sized turbo to push 4-500 hurse pwers! I could see the parts bill for that running into £3k without trying.

Would make for an interesting car, but at that point, what am I tying to achieve? I love my Merc and although it'd be fun, i've converte into a better fitted out Sierra (sorry Ford guys, i'd still kill for an RS500). A R32/33 4 door Skyline would be a better buy and at least i'd retain the originality (or most of) of the Merc. I just need to persuade the wife that she needs an old 4 door skyline in her life

Luv all your great work Jonny a really good quality tests to a proper proper car luv the way your keeping its look too just looks spot on just the way they are

It's been a while, but i've been busy keeping SWMBO happy by replacing the bathroom. Now that's almost finished, I can focus more on garage time. Mark has finished my wing and completed all the modifications to make it look like a genuine 16v front wing.
These include rolling the edge (as per factory) and the indicator light repositioning as i'd bought a federal wing.









You'll note that Mark has undersealed all the exposed back areas and pre-drilled for the wing cover. The car at present is missing the rear subframe as i'm cleaning and repainting it all. I've bought ALOT of parts that are all being installed once the subframe is finished.
More recently the SLS fluid has changed colour meaning that the spheres are shot, good job that i've bought a new pair and have plenty of SLS fluid....

Bit of a break recently, I took a job taht dictated 12 hour days and regular weekends. So now that's come to an end, I can spend some time on the car. Rear Subframe rebuild works have been continuing, to the point that it's almost ready for refitting.







You'll see that i've gone for patent arms for the most part. I only did this as I got the whole kit for less than £80!! I will keep the old for when they become worn, i've had varying experiences of cheap parts, so best to keep the old....
With one side of the subframe repainted, I fitted all the new parts. Nothing is torqued up as I will have the tyre shop do that when it's tracked.

The only arms that I did have to repaint and replace the bushes in where the spring mounts. I opted for poly bushes in these as they proved to be cheaper than conventional bushes?! I did forget to buy stabaliser bars, which thanks to Autodoc (with 27% off) cost £3.60 each, plus p&p. We are finally moving forward.....

Mark came over, completed the welding and I started subjectively looking over all the under car fuel/SLS/Brake lines. Everything SLS was too knackered (same for the brakes). So I removed the lot. What I found (in some cases) was odd and i've never seen before...



The above broke off in my hand. It was a brake line to one of the rear wheels.....



Above was an original SLS feed line. It appears to have been blocked from new. Therefor, my self levelling has never really worked from new?! Anyone else ever had this problem?



As i'd gone as far as I had with the rear suspension, I rebuilt the rear brakes. As per normal, everything was shot. It took new discs, handbrake shoes, handbrake lines, brake pads, lower bushes and a caliper to get it all back to what i'm comfortable with.



One rebuilt subframe. I haven't installed the hubs as it's heavy enough with just a diff fitted! All new bushes fitted and everything thoroughly cleaned and painted. Far too nice to be hidden, but it should be good for a few more years to come.



Whilst waiting for paint to dry I fitted the second hand grille. The wife had bought me a copy from China, but the quality was soo poor I just couldn't bring myself to fit it. I did replace the Mercedes badge as the original didn't have any paint left on it!



Another picture of the subframe... Only because it's taken me months to get to this stage! I 'm tidying up the underside at the moment and waiting for some cupro-nikel line to arrive. Then for the reassembly! One day it'll be finished!!