190 2.5 cosworth

[savage86]

I'm looking to purchase a 190 2.5 cosworth but i live and northern ireland and they are few and far between to say the least! has anyone got a good ider on where would be the best place to source one in mint condition!

As well does anyone know what sort of price i'd be looking at to get one and what i should look out for?

[iluvmercs]

Not Ireland, but close, are Classic Benz

I've never used them myself, but they say they can source vehicles, and the Mercs they have are low mileage and mint, if a little expensive.

Darren

[MEEHAL]

I live near Belfast and own one of the best 2.5-16s in GB and I'm selling it soon.

[Cappadocie]

shame its an auto

[74merc]

Try driving a manual 2.5-16 before you dismiss an auto. I had a manual one which I sold 2 years ago. Hated driving it, really jerky drivetrain and it didn't handle very well. It didn't help that I had an E30 M3 before that which was amazing in comparison. IMO MB do not make good sporty cars.

[pikeyboy]

74merc said:

Try driving a manual 2.5-16 before you dismiss an auto. I had a manual one which I sold 2 years ago. Hated driving it, really jerky drivetrain and it didn't handle very well. It didn't help that I had an E30 M3 before that which was amazing in comparison. IMO MB do not make good sporty cars.

thats interesting, as i also had an e30 m3 and loved it but always hankered after one of these cosworth merc's

[Pentoman]

74merc said:

Try driving a manual 2.5-16 before you dismiss an auto. I had a manual one which I sold 2 years ago. Hated driving it, really jerky drivetrain and it didn't handle very well. It didn't help that I had an E30 M3 before that which was amazing in comparison. IMO MB do not make good sporty cars.

^what he said

The manuals are jerky to drive and coupled with the dog leg first which is stiffer sprung than in the M3 (which otherwise is the same gearbox) mean it's not a good town or commuting car. I bought a 206 for that! However it is still a good sporty car, coming truly good when you go beyond 8/10ths, having felt a bit unexciting below it. They were always jerky even when new, at least so Mark Hales told me in person. He also said it was a fantastic handler. This was while we were tracking a Renault Laguna press car at Anglesey so perhaps it's all relative .

[74merc]

I always found that it rolled a lot when turning in. A lot of people put in a thicker anti-roll bar to prevent this but you'll never get much feedback thru the steering box. I never felt comfortable driving the car hard whereas I could never drive the M3 at sensible speeds.

[Wadeski]

There was a thread on these in General Gassing, and someone raised the question of throttle bodies...do any of the merc brains here know how much a TB conversion (or lets be honest, if your going to do that a decent engine build up to get to a streetable trackday spec) on one of these would cost?

£3k? £5k? £10k?

[Cappadocie]

I dont think your opinion is qualified.
The auto's are pathetic. You may aswell go and buy a 2.6 190E.
So you think an auto 2.5-16 will handle better than a manual?

The drivetrain is NOT jerky at all. Clearly you have a problem with your car if it manifests this behaviour.
Like any sports saloon it needs maintenance and if you skimp then it shows.

There are many things you can do to the gear linkages to make it 'better'.
Go and drive a good 2.5-16 that has been well maintained and then you will realize what the fuss is all about.

I had a 2.5-16 auto. Its NOT a drivers car and the auto gearbox robs the car its true intentions.

But to each their own.

[74merc]

Cappadocie said:

I dont think your opinion is qualified.
The auto's are pathetic. You may aswell go and buy a 2.6 190E.
So you think an auto 2.5-16 will handle better than a manual?

The drivetrain is NOT jerky at all. Clearly you have a problem with your car if it manifests this behaviour.
Like any sports saloon it needs maintenance and if you skimp then it shows.

There are many things you can do to the gear linkages to make it 'better'.
Go and drive a good 2.5-16 that has been well maintained and then you will realize what the fuss is all about.

I had a 2.5-16 auto. Its NOT a drivers car and the auto gearbox robs the car its true intentions.

But to each their own.

I take exception to the implication that my car was not maintained, when you know nothing about me or the particular car. The car was in fact impeccably maintained by the previous owner and subsequently by me. However it was the only 2.5-16 I've driven so have nothing to compare it to, but if have driven an E30 M3 you might appreciate what I'm trying to say.

[rubystone]

I had a manual 2.3-16. There is some jerkiness to the 'box, but this manifests itself only in first gear and it's easy to drive round this - it's about clutch control. The upside of the 'box is that it feels totally unburstable. Note also that this 'box was used in the E30 M3.....

My car was the best handling saloon I've ever driven - as adjustable as my Caterhams, for instance. Certainly up there with the E30 M3 I drove, for sure...but not having actualy owned an E30 M3 I clearly can't provide an objective comparison. FWIW my car didn't roll in bends excessively either.

Both Ayrton Senna and Martin Brundle are on record as declaring the 2.3-16 a the best handling saloon they ever drove. Plaudits like that you just have to take seriously...

[martrider]

Hi Guys,

If you're interested in learning more and for a wealth of un-biased advice, i am an admin on www.mercedes190.co.uk. It's a very very friendly site, it's free and there are not the normal idiot chavs around.

We have over 2000 members here and in Europe and cars are always coming up for sale.

I am currently rebuilding/building my 2.5-16 for 280hp NA with bike carbs in a new shell.

These things are fantastic IMO, they have their quirks, but you are not going to find a better all rounder on the road as far as i am concerned.

The gear box is a Getrag, but it's not the same as the one in the M3, it's better. lol

We have a lot of members in Ireland and suprisingly there are often new cars up for sale which we keep track of. If you want to know anything more then please get in touch.

Regards

Mart