SOTW: Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3-16
Cosworth power, Mercedes build quality, what could possibly go wrong..?
It was that car that started my love for the 190 series; it was so solidly built and felt of the highest quality - just like a Mercedes Benz should do. The doors clunked shut, the ride was whisper quiet and I could even forgive its rather notchy manual gearbox because it was so good at everything else. It was with this car in mind that I bought my very own 190E 2.0 many years later, a car that has now been replaced by a brown Range Rover. It seems I grew to like the colour too.
Throughout my time at the dealership I drove many 190Es from the aforementioned 1.8, through 2.5 diesels right up to the fantastic 2.6. One day, however, my perception of these cars would be raised even higher when I was asked to deliver a 190E 2.3-16 to a customer who lived 20 or so miles from the dealership across deserted fenland roads. I apologise now to the owner of this car, should he be reading this.
I wandered over to the valeting bay to see the blue/black metallic car sitting there with its half leather Recaros front and rear, the additional dials in the centre console, the lowered stance and subtle bodykit. It looked fantastic and I was hugely excited at the chance to drive the car that we simply called 'The Cossie'. The dog-leg gearbox threw me at first but I found 1st in the end and set off on my delivery run. Naturally I was running a little bit late and so I needed to make up the time. Out on the flat and deserted fenland it was obvious that this car handled much better than your common or garden 190; the increased torque was noticeable, the 16-valver loved to be revved and even the usually notchy Merc 'box seemed smoother in this car. By the time I had reached my destination I had to allow the car to cool after the thrashing, top up the fuel and wipe off the flies, I then drove slowly up the road to the new owner and handed over his pride and joy.
Desirable may not be a word that you would choose to use about this week's SOTW. It’s a 1986 190E 2.3-16, an original Cossie with only 146,000 miles on the clock. The trouble is that this one has been sitting in a garage for an undisclosed number of years and has no MOT. However, take a look at the pictures and it looks largely original (steering wheel aside) and would make an ideal project for someone, especially when you consider that average-condition runners are fetching upwards of £2500 and mint examples over £5000. I imagine that we'll take some stick for this car, but I love it and would be tempted if I had a garage and could get it for the right price. The question is, however: am I alone in that view?
Ad says: 1986 MERCEDES-BENZ 190 190E 2.3 16V 4dr Saloon. 4 Door Saloon, Petrol, Manual, no tax or mot been parked in a garrage for a few years 5 speed dog leg gearbox very good condition bargain!. £999 ONO.
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Weeeell, seeing as you ask; everything!
Well, that's not entirely fair - but they do rust in some awkward places, eat LSDs on pre May '86 versions, wear out suspension bushes and SLS spheres, and the Jetronic constant fuel injection is a bloody travesty and a real black art to diagnose when it gets a hiccup.
A poor 2.3-16 is a terrible thing indeed, a good one is a miracle of poise and balance.
Better chassis than the E30 M3 in my opinion. The liberties which one can take with it on the limit are quite astonishing. It's a car that needs to be driven utterly flat-out to understand, otherwise they seem quite dull.
Its not driveable and it is therefore reasonable to assume that it would require at least some cash to get on the road. At least the cost of an MOT were we very lucky.
Having said that with a garage now empty of old XJS it IS very tempting.
The E30 M3 also stands out alot more than the 190 2.3 16v.
Either way a very good shed, especially considering that somebody at PH needs to find a new car for SOTW every week!
Don't buy this if you can't afford to repair it though.
Average ones between £7k - £10k.
Good ones go for anything upto £30k.
I still believe the ideal equivalent to the E30 M3 is the Mercedes 190 Evolution I / II:
http://www.mercedesclasicos.com/modelos/1982_Merce...
These have the wider, flared arches and big wheels, and are also similar in prices for the top end examples.
I love these cars - they still have a real nice stance to them, even today. Always wanted one. One day, I will have one!
However, I reckon the E30 M3 will be a better car to drive, more fun, more involved, more epic.
Excellent SOTW once again - well done.
This may not even have any major issues, so could turn out to be the bargain of the decade? Clean it up, make it mint, and you have a genuine £5k+ motor!
The E30 M3 also stands out alot more than the 190 2.3 16v.
Either way a very good shed, especially considering that somebody at PH needs to find a new car for SOTW every week!
Don't buy this if you can't afford to repair it though.
You used to be able to buy valve kits for the 2.3-16 which enabled it to rev to 12,500rpm without any other changes. Literally, the only weak point on them is the valve shims which need checking periodically to avoid burn-ups.
I've only heard of one 2.3 lunching itself - down to incorrectly shimmed valves. £8k is a figure more akin to rebuilding the 2.5-16 Evolution II engine. Which does go bang a lot.
Anyway, not all of us like our arches square.
t one for £5k.I overhauled my mint 86 example one winter - just 64k on the dial - and spaffed nearly 10k doing it right - and there wasn't really anything wrong with it, and I did most of it myself to save on the labour.
The Evo I & II are comparable to the very late Evo II and Evo Sport M3s.
One thing in the Merc's favour is that you can still buy every single part over the counter from MB main dealer, except the RHD exhaust manifold.
t one for £5k.I overhauled my mint 86 example one winter - just 64k on the dial - and spaffed nearly 10k doing it right.
The Evo I & II are comparable to the very late Evo II and Evo Sport M3s.
How quick are the 190 Evos compared to the standard Cossie ones?
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