The W201 — sold as the 190, 190E and 190D — was built from 1982 to 1993 and introduced engineering to the compact class that Mercedes-Benz previously reserved for its larger cars. That shows in the interior, which was built to the same standard as its bigger siblings and shares many parts with the W124 that followed. Today, the W201 is a popular, usable classic, and its interior plastics are the part most owners end up attending to.
Ventilation: the part everyone touches
If there is one W201 interior component owners replace more than any other, it is the dashboard air vents. The vent frames and the adjustable blinds inside them are used constantly, and the small plastic pivots that hold the blinds in place become brittle with age. A vent that no longer holds its position, or whose blind falls inwards, is a familiar W201 sight.
We list the dashboard air vent frame and blind, the centre heater and air conditioning grille and the centre console side vent grilles. Note that the centre grille is specific to left-hand-drive cars; if yours is right-hand drive, check the listing or ask before ordering.
Seats and seat rails
Seat-rail covers are small trims that hide the runners beneath the front seats. They are easily kicked, stepped on during cleaning and broken when seats are removed. The W201 shares these with the W124: the front seat rail cover trim is listed per side in a range of colours, and cars with electric seats use the separate power seat rail trims.
Seat side trims are similar. The front passenger seat outer lower side cover is one of those parts you only notice once it has gone.
Switches and the centre console
The W201's window switch surround is shared with the W123, W124 and G-Class — the window switch frame trim carries a number beginning A 126 because it was first used on the W126. This is common with Mercedes-Benz parts of the era, and it's why you should match by number rather than by which model a listing names first.
If you want to add modern convenience without cutting anything, the centre console switch blank with USB charger fits an unused blank position in the console.
Sliding sunroofs
Many W201s have a steel sliding sunroof, and the most common problem is not the panel but the drive: the cables that move it. A stretched or broken cable leaves the roof stuck or skewed. We list a sunroof cable core that fits the W201 and W124 sliding roofs. Sunroof repairs are fiddly, and if you are not confident, it is worth having a specialist fit the part.
Exterior details on the Cosworth cars
The 16-valve Cosworth-engined cars and the Evolution models have specific body details, including the tow eyelet plate cover. If your car is one of these, look for listings that name the 16V or Evolution models specifically.
Ordering with confidence
Three checks will save most mistakes on a W201: confirm left- or right-hand drive for anything around the dashboard and centre console; confirm the side for any part listed as left or right; and confirm the colour where the trim was offered in several. The number on the back of your original part settles all three. If in doubt, send it to us before you order.
Browse everything we list in the Mercedes-Benz W201 parts collection. Every part is made to order and matched to the original Mercedes-Benz part number.