Mercedes-Benz W 201

Mercedes Benz
Mercedes-Benz 190 E (1982–1988)
W 201
Sales designation:	190
Production period:	1982-1993
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	limousine
Engines:	Otto engines : 1.8–3.2 liters (66–172 kW) Diesel engines : 2.0–2.5 liters (53–93 kW)
Length:	4420-4448 mm
Width:	1678-1706 mm
Height:	1361-1390 mm
Wheelbase :	2665 mm
Empty weight :	1080-1340 kg
successor	Mercedes-Benz 202 series

The Mercedes-Benz W201 is the first Mercedes of the middle class and forerunner of the C-Class . It was aimed primarily at the buyers of the successful BMW 3 Series .

The W 201 was always marketed as the Mercedes-Benz 190 , regardless of the engine's displacement. Mercedes-Benz presented it on December 8, 1982 and produced more than 1.8 million units by August 1993. This makes it one of the most successful models from Mercedes-Benz.

Model history

General

Rear view

The Mercedes-Benz W 201 marks the transition to a new generation of vehicles for Daimler-Benz. Multi-link rear axle, newly developed encapsulated diesel engines and a streamlined and functional body represent the new style. The W 201 was produced for over 10 years and was primarily intended to oppose the BMW 3 Series , which achieved high sales figures in the USA.

At the same time, the 1974 oil crisis demonstrated the need for a more economical and compact model. Nonetheless, the passive safety was at a high level: With an offset crash design, anti-lock braking system and driver airbag, the W 201 offered equipment features that the competition only offered in this segment around 10 years later.

The mid-range Mercedes-Benz W 124 series in particular was to be strongly influenced by the concept. This applies to both the design characteristics and essential technical features. Paradoxically, at the time of its introduction, the prices of the W 201 were above those of the W 123 mid-range sedan, although it was positioned in a higher segment.

The start of sales of the new model was disappointing at first. Due to the successive expansion of the model range (the 190 Diesel and the sports model 190 E 2.3-16 followed in 1983), the new model quickly enjoyed great popularity, so that delivery times of a few months became common.

technology

Bruno Sacco with a hard model of the W 201

The W 201 is the first Mercedes car with the so-called multi-link rear axle . She has five per wheel steering , which at the knuckle and the rear subframe of the body at a respective rubber bearings are held. Each of these links takes one of the six degrees of freedom of the movement of a body in space from the steering knuckle, so that just one degree of freedom remains for the compression and rebound. One of the lower links carries the spring. Compared to conventional axles, this construction offers more options to adjust the change in camber and toe-in depending on the deflection and the acting forces (elastokinematics) and still comfortably suspend the bike in the longitudinal and transverse directions. It is more compact than the semi-trailing arm axle previously used and a quarter lighter. The "stem axis" was developed by Manfred von der Ohe.

The front axle is a comparatively simple strut axle with a triangular wishbone on which the coil spring acts. Both axes have a torsion bar stabilizer .

A “normal” handbrake lever on the center console takes over the function of the typical Mercedes foot parking brake . The reason for this is the relatively narrow footwell of the car, which did not offer space for a parking pedal. Another new feature is the single-arm wiper, which was equipped with special lifting technology from autumn 1984 and thus covered a larger area - according to Mercedes-Benz AG, up to 86% of the window pane. It was also used in the 124 series introduced in November 1984 , in the successor series 202 and other later models.

Initially, the models were offered as the 190 and 190 E (with the M102 petrol engine ); From autumn 1983 the 53 kW diesel variant 190 D ( OM601 ) and the sport version 190 E 2.3-16 ( M102 with four valves per cylinder and 136 kW / 185 hp) added to the range. From 1985 further models were offered, the 190 D 2.5 ( OM602 ) with 66 kW, the 190 E 2.3 with 100 kW and the 190 E 2.6 with a 122 kW six-cylinder in- line engine ( M 103 ). The 190 D 2.5 was later delivered in a turbo version increased to 90 kW, initially with a four-speed automatic transmission as standard. The 180 E was reserved for export markets . The new generation of sixteen-valve valves was presented at the 1986 Paris Motor Show. The 190 E 2.5-16 model with 143 kW (195 hp) is also making a name for itself as an Evo racing touring car.

The 16-valve engines are the result of a cooperation with the engine developer Cosworth and were also offered in some markets as the 190 E 2.3-16 Cosworth . The tuning model 190 E 3.2 AMG with 172 kW (234 hp) was also sold through Mercedes-Benz dealers from 1992.

design

Basically, the proportions of the W 201 were retained up to the 203 model series . The design with the relatively short, high and tapering rear broke radically with the previous Mercedes models. The W 201 was also the first Mercedes - with the exception of the radiator grille - to do without chrome jewelry. The drag coefficient (C _w ) is, according to Daimler-Benz in 1983 at 0.33. Mercedes later included design elements of the W 201 in the mid-range and upper-class models of the 124 and 140 series .

• 

  Mercedes-Benz W 201 (front view, version for the European market)

• 

  Mercedes-Benz-190 E-2.3 (US version)

• 

  Mercedes-Benz 190 D 2.2 (US version)

• 

  Mercedes-Benz 190 (1988–1993, US version)

• 

  Mercedes-Benz 190 (1988–1993)

• 

  Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3-16 (1982–1987)

Facelift

In September / October 1988 the following changes were made as part of a major facelift :

• new painted bumpers and side planks (" Sacco boards ")
• new seats with tilt adjustment, new upholstery and foam core instead of spring core
• Height adjustable belts at the front
• electrically heated exterior mirror, electrically adjustable on the right
• hematite-colored anodized window frames

In the spring of 1991 the exhaust system of the 190 E 2.0 and 2.3 was changed, whereby both variants got back the 3 kW lost by the catalytic converter. They now produced 90 and 100 kW again.

Special models

In 1992 there was the Avantgarde special model series . The range consisted of three models (named: Azzurro, Rosso and Verde), which were sold in limited numbers. On the one hand, the models each had a special tone-on-tone metallic paint finish and, on the other hand, a striking interior. The Avantgarde lettering is on the right-hand side of the glove compartment lid on all models.

• 190 E 2.3 Azzurro (blue), approx. 950 pieces
• 190 E 1.8 Rosso (red), approx. 2300 pieces
• 190 D 2.5 Verde (green), approx. 750 pieces

Other special models:

• 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution, 1989, 502 pieces, blue black metallic
• 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, 1990, 502 pieces, blue-black metallic
• Berlin 2000 , 190 E 1.8 / 2.3 / 3.2 AMG, 1992, 190 pieces
• DTM '92 , 190 E 1.8 / 2.3, 1992, brilliant silver or blue black metallic
• 190 E 3.2 AMG , from 1992
• 190 E 1.8 / 2.3 Primavera, 1993, green metallic of the Avantgarde series (only built for Switzerland)
• 190 Limited Edition 1.8 / 2.0, from 1992, 1000 pieces, velvet blue, brilliant silver, burgundy red (only built for the English and Irish markets)
• 190 Limited Edition 2,3, 1993, 1400 pieces, emerald green, black (only built for the American market)

Engines

For a number of years Mercedes-Benz offered both models with catalytic converters (KAT) and without (RÜF). The RÜF models could be retrofitted at a later date. The versions without a catalytic converter had a slightly higher performance. The performance deficit of the 190 E 2.0 and 2.3 models caused by the introduction of the catalytic converter was compensated for from 1991 by using the exhaust system of the 190 E 2.6. The output increased from 87 to 90 kW for the 2.0 and from 97 to 100 kW for the 2.3.

Otto engines:

model	construction time	Engine type	compression	cylinder	Valves per cylinder	drilling x Stroke [mm]	Cubic capacity [cm 3 ]	Power [kW / PS] at speed [1 / min]	Torque [Nm] at speed [1 / min]	Remarks
190	1982-1984	M 102	9.1: 1	4th	2		1997	66/90 at 5000	165 at 2500	not for E10 fuel suitable
	1984-1988							77/105 at 5200	170 at 2500
190 (RÜF)	1985-1988							77/105 at 5500	165 at 3000
190 (KAT)	1985-1990							75/102 at 5500	160 at 3000
190 E	1982-1988							90/122 at 5100	178 at 3500
190 E (RÜF)	1985-1988
190 E (KAT)	1985-1991							87/118 at 5100	172 at 3500
190 E 1.8	1990-1993		9: 1				1797	80/109 at 5500	150 at 3700
190 E 2.0	1991-1993						1996	90/122 at 5300	175 at 3500
190 E 2.3	1985-1988						2299	100/136 at 5100	205 at 3500	not suitable for E10 fuel
190 E 2.3 (RÜF)
190 E 2.3 (KAT)	1985-1991							97/132 at 5100	198 at 3500
190 E 2.3	1991-1993		9: 1				2298	100/136 at 5200	200 at 3500
190 E 2.3-16 (ECE)	1984-1988		10.5: 1		4th	95.5 x 80.25	2299	136/185 at 6200	235 at 4500	not suitable for E10 fuel
190 E 2.3-16 (RÜF)	1983-1984		9.7: 1			95.5 x 80.25		130/177 at 5800	230 at 4750
190 E 2.3-16 (KAT)	1982-1987		9.2: 1			95.5 x 80.25		125/170 at 5800	220 at 4750
190 E 2.5-16 (RÜF)	1987-1988		9.7: 1			95.5 x 87.2	2498	150/204 at 6750	240 at 5000-5500	not suitable for E10 fuel
190 E 2.5-16 (KAT)	07 / 1988-06 / 1993		9.7: 1			95.5 x 87.2		143/195 at 6800	235 at 5000-5500
190 E 2.5-16 Evolution (RÜF)	03 / 1989-05 / 1989		9.7: 1			97.3 x 82.8	2463	150/204 at 6750	240 at 5000-5500	not suitable for E10 fuel
190 E 2.5-16 Evolution (KAT)			9.7: 1			97.3 x 82.8		143/195 at 6800	235 at 5000-5500
190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II (KAT)	05 / 1990-07 / 1990		10.5: 1			97.3 x 82.8		173/235 at 7200	245 at 5000-6000
190 E 2.6	1985-1988	M 103		6th	2		2597	122/166 at 5800	228 at 4600	not suitable for E10 fuel
190 E 2.6 (RÜF)
190 E 2.6 (KAT)	1985-1992							118/160 at 5800	220 at 4600
190 E 3.2 AMG	1992						3206	172/234 at 5750	305 at 4500

Diesel engines:

model	Model	construction time	Engine type	Cubic capacity [cm 3 ]	Power [kW / PS] at speed [1 / min]	Torque [Nm] at speed [1 / min]
190 D	201.122	08 / 1983-05 / 1989	OM 601 .911	1997	53/72 at 4600	123 at 2800
190 D		06 / 1989-08 / 1993			55/75 at 4600	126 at 2700-3550
190 D 2.2	201.122	1983-1985	OM 601.921	2197	54/73 at 4200	130 at 2800
190 D 2.5	201.126	09 / 1985-05 / 1989	OM 602 .911	2497	66/90 at 4600	154 at 2800
190 D 2.5		06 / 1989-08 / 1993			69/94 at 4600	158 at 2600-3100
190 D 2.5 turbo	201.128	09 / 1988-05 / 1989	OM 602.961		90/122 at 4600	225 at 2400
190 D 2.5 turbo		06 / 1989-08 / 1993			93/126 at 4600	231 at 2400

1. ↑ ^{a b} vehicles with oxidation catalytic converter 66 kW (90 PS) at 4600 rpm / 154 Nm at 2800 rpm

Mercedes 190 DTM versions

190 E Class 1 DTM version 1993

The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 achieved great success in the 1992 racing season: it won 16 of 24 races in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and finished first to third in the final accounts. To date, no other car has collected more victories, more points, more best practice times, more fastest laps and more lead kilometers in a DTM season than the 190 E 2.5-16 prepared by Mercedes-Benz in-house tuner AMG in its second evolutionary stage (abbreviation EVO II ).

Thanks to four-valve technology and Motronic, the 2.5-liter four-cylinder in the winning car driven by works driver Klaus Ludwig produces around 272 kW (370 hp) at 9,500 rpm. Consistent weight savings mean that the EVO II weighs just 980 kilograms when ready to drive. It accelerates from standstill to 100 km / h in 4.5 seconds. It delivers its power via a straight-toothed six-speed gearbox to the rear axle with a mechanical differential lock. Shifting takes place without using the clutch at full throttle . The cylinder head of the engine came from the British company Cosworth .

production

Production of the 190 at the Daimler-Benz plant in Stuttgart-Untertürkheim (1988)

The total number of all Mercedes-Benz W 201s produced amounts to around 1.9 million units. A special feature was that for the first time in the history of Daimler-Benz a model was produced at two locations at the same time. The Bremen plant built exactly 58% of the vehicles . The other 42% of the vehicles were manufactured in the Sindelfingen plant.

About 53% of the vehicles built were sold in Germany, only every tenth vehicle in the USA. This ratio was unusually low at Daimler-Benz, especially since the impetus for development came primarily from the USA. The most popular types were the 190 E 2.0 (around 34%) and the 190 D (24%). Although it was only introduced in 1990, the 190 E 1.8 was able to achieve a third of the market in a short time, possibly due to its good price-performance ratio Take total sales for yourself.

The last Mercedes-Benz W 201 was built in the Bremen plant in August 1993 and handed over to the Mercedes-Benz Museum . The successor to the W 201 was the 202 series under the designation “C-Class” in 1993 .

Total number of units Mercedes-Benz W 201
All in all	1,879,629 pieces
Share of diesel versions	33.6%
Share of six-cylinder versions	5.6%
Share of sixteen valve versions	1.4%
Share of special models	0.4%

Existence in Germany

The following parts of this section seem since 1 January 2015 is out of date to be : Missing data for five years
Please help with to the missing information research and insert .

Listed is the inventory of Mercedes-Benz W 201 with initial registration from 1990 and evaluable vehicle identification number in Germany on January 1st every year since 2003 according to statistics from the Federal Motor Transport Authority . Until 2007, the inventory included the number of vehicles registered as well as the number of temporary shutdowns. Since 2008, the inventory has only included "flowing traffic" including the seasonal license plates. The inventory as of January 1, 2007 was retrospectively converted to the new recording method.

Including temporary shutdowns / decommissioning

Deadline	1.1.2003	1.1.2004	1.1.2005	1.1.2006	1.1.2007
number	202.183	192,448	179,371	164,639	149.815
change		- 4.8%	- 6.8%	- 8.2%	- 9.0%
source

Without temporary shutdowns / decommissioning

Deadline	1.1.2007	1.1.2008	1.1.2009	1.1.2010	1.1.2011	1.1.2012	1.1.2013	1.1.2014	1.1.2015
number	128,582	114,098	102.007	86,954	78,819	71.005	63,299	56,281	50,574
change		- 11.3%	- 10.6%	- 14.8%	- 9.4%	- 9.9%	- 10.9%	- 11.1%	- 10.1%
source

The total number of Mercedes-Benz W 201 vehicles on January 1, 2002 in Germany was around 518,500 vehicles. With almost 100,000 registrations on January 1, 2013, according to the VDA , the Mercedes-Benz W 201 is the fourth most popular classic car in Germany after the Mercedes-Benz W 124 , the Audi 80 B3 / B4 and the VW Golf II .

According to the final report of the Federal Office of Economics and Export Control , 13,836 Mercedes-Benz W 201s were scrapped in favor of the environmental bonus between January 27, 2009 and July 31, 2010.

On December 7, 2012, the first Mercedes-Benz W 201 received an H license plate .

Trivia

Convertible conversion of a 190 E.

The vehicles of the W 201 series were commonly referred to as "Baby Benz".

To mislead the public, the Erlkönig of the W 201 was christened Ushido by Mercedes-Benz .

Kaengsaeng 88

→ Main article : Kaengsaeng 88

In 1988, the Sungri engine factory in North Korea copied the models of the Mercedes-Benz W 201 illegally and without the approval of Daimler-Benz AG and produced small numbers. Individual imported original vehicles from Mercedes-Benz were completely dismantled and all components were rebuilt. The vehicles designated as Kaengsaeng 88 had severe manufacturing defects. The model was alternatively named Pyongyang 4.10 .

literature

• Simsa, Paul (Ed.): The Mercedes-Benz 190. Portrait of an automobile , Econ-Verlag Düsseldorf 1986.
• Schwartz, Egbert / Gerstl, Theo: Mercedes 190. Everything about the legendary Baby-Benz W 201 , Geramond-Verlag Munich 2012.
• Neßhöver, Jost (Ed.): Mercedes-Benz 190 (W 201). Development - Models - Technology , Heel-Verlag Königswinter 2012.
• Schneider, Hans J./Schneider, Valentin / Schrader, Halwart: Mercedes 190. Model history - purchase advice - breakdown assistance, Schneider-Media-Verlag 2014.
• Purchase advice in Oldtimer Markt , issue 10/2007, p. 36 ff.

Web links

Commons : Mercedes-Benz W 201  - Collection of Pictures, Videos and Audio Files

• Extensive further information
• Extensive collection of information
• Motors, technical data, color and upholstery tables
• Adam and Evo II - The Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5 Evolution II
• New price calculator, determine the original W201 price at that time using the data in the original price lists online

Individual evidence

1. ↑ The star will still shine in 100 years , In: Der Spiegel , No. 37, September 9, 1985, p. 44.
2. ↑ https://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/reise/technik-der-raumlenkerachse-revolution-an-der-hinterachse/
3. ↑ ^{a b c d e f} List of Mercedes-Benz car models ^{that are} not suitable for the E10
4. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2003 by segment and type group (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 109 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
5. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2004 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 121 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
6. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2005 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 131 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
7. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2006 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 143 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
8. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2007 compared to January 1, 2006 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 140 kB) (No longer available online.) Federal Motor Transport Authority, archived from the original on July 16, 2014 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
9. ↑ ^{a b} Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2008 compared to January 1, 2007 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 181 kB) (No longer available online.) Federal Motor Transport Authority, archived from the original on July 18, 2014 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
10. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2009 compared to January 1, 2008 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 177 kB) (No longer available online.) Federal Motor Transport Authority, archived from the original on July 19, 2014 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
11. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2010 compared to January 1, 2009 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 352 kB) (No longer available online.) Federal Motor Transport Authority, archived from the original on March 5, 2016 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
12. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2011 compared to January 1, 2010 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 298 kB) (No longer available online.) Federal Motor Transport Authority, archived from the original on April 2, 2015 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.  
13. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2012 compared to January 1, 2011 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 603 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
14. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2013 compared to January 1, 2012 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF; 182 kB) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
15. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2014 compared to January 1, 2013 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
16. ↑ Number of passenger cars on January 1, 2015 compared to January 1, 2014 by segment and model series (registrations from 1990). (PDF) Federal Motor Transport Authority, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
17. ↑ Living legends. (PDF) In: Press report 2003. Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt, p. 17 , accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
18. ↑ 30 years of the VW Golf II. Really ready for the H license plate? (PDF) In: Auto Bild Klassik 1/2014. January 2014, p. 51 , archived from the original on April 17, 2015 ; accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
19. ↑ Final report - environmental bonus. (PDF; 1.6 MB) Federal Office for Economics and Export Control and Federal Motor Transport Authority, November 1, 2010, accessed on October 22, 2015 . 
20. ↑ Ralf Weber, Thomas Frankenstein: The first Mercedes-Benz 190 (W201) with H license plate. Classic status for the Baby Benz! Mercedes fans, January 22, 2013, accessed October 22, 2015 . 
21. ↑ : https://www.welt.de/motor/modelle/article125619819/Zuverlaessiger-als-der-alte-Baby-Benz- geht-nicht.html
22. ↑ The impetus for the W 201 comes from the USA - Daimler invents the USHIDO brand, January 20, 2014 mercedes-fans.de (accessed on November 23, 2019)
23. ^ Illustration of a Kaengsaeng 88 on the website www.caranddriver.com (accessed on December 2, 2015).
24. ↑ PYONGYANG 4.10, also named KAENGSAENG 88 | chinesecars. In: www.chinesecars.net. Retrieved October 20, 2015 .