Used car guide

1993 Mercedes-Benz 190: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190s, from 442 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

Small sample: only 442 of these were MOT tested in 2025, so treat the percentages as rough. The known faults below don't depend on it.

442MOT tests in 2025
73%pass first time (all 1993 cars: 69%)
3,900typical miles a year
4.4×the usual rate for sub-frame

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190s than on all cars registered in 1993.

  • Sub-frame4.4× usual
    Mercedes-Benz 190
    7.9% All 1993 cars
    1.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0%, against 0.1% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £300–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath at the frame the suspension bolts to. Flaky rust or holes are expensive to fix.

  • Coil springs2.1× usual
    Mercedes-Benz 190
    10.9% All 1993 cars
    5.1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 1.6%, against 0.5% of all 1993 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

By area

The share of 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190 MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Brakes
    33% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Suspension
    31% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Lights and electrics
    21% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Tyres
    19% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Oil and fluid leaks
    16% of testsRough price £80–£600

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and on the ground where the car is usually parked for fresh oil or fluid.

  • Rust and bodywork
    14% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Looking at a Mercedes-Benz 190?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
1992545Suspension 34%
1991405Suspension 35%
1990456Suspension 34%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 1993 Mercedes-Benz 190s registered in 1993. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score