When it comes to compact German performance machines, one name -- M3 -- stands above them all in terms of street cred. Even my Toyota-driving grandmother knows of the Bimmer's legend and might even forfeit her death grip on the left lane to let one by. Four generations strong, each more astonishing than the last, the BMW M3 was the original wolf-in-sheep's-clothing Autobahn assaulter. Wasn't it?
Benz faithful with balk at that claim, and anyone familiar with the past few decades of Germany's ever-evolving horsepower war will know why and agree. Another homologation special actually beat everyone's favorite BMW to the U.S. in 1986 - the Cosworth-engined Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. The fact that this rare '80s racer (less than 2000 were officially imported) is so commonly overlooked is evidenced by our initial attempts to find one in the Chicago area, when a mass e-mail to the Mercedes-Benz club returned one reply that began, "Hello, I own a 1991 190E 2.3 that I bought at about 75,000 miles . . ." Even some inside the Merc fold don't understand the importance of the 16-valve version of the 190E, a car that graced the States for only two years: 1986 and 1987.
I love these cars a ton. I'd love to pick one up. They seem like decent daily drivers, too, with a little bit more creature comfort than the rival e30. How's the reliabilty of these things?
I love these cars a ton. I'd love to pick one up. They seem like decent daily drivers, too, with a little bit more creature comfort than the rival e30. How's the reliabilty of these things?
For the most part, the car should be built like a tank, as most mid-eighties Mercs are. The one we drove had a slight idling issue due to a bad fuel distributor. The owner said that for most cars, that part would run for about $500, but that the 2.3-16's was $1100. I suspect any engine problems will be pricey, along with any other repairs involving 2.3-16 specific parts. Common 190E parts I'm sure are a lot cheaper.
Jason Cammisa from Automobile Magazine (2ManyCars) has one and the magazine did a nifty little article on his black 2.3 and the E30 M3 Sam Smith bought. You can read the article in the February 2007 issue.
I almost bought one 2 weeks ago...35,000 original miles, one owner, but sadly the asking price was $10,000....yes, a steal on mileage alone, but it had been tapped in the front, the interior fan made funny noises, and neither the heat nor AC was working. On top of those things it would have needed numerous rubber suspension bits, new brakes, tires and the associate alignment.
Easily another $5,000 worth of work.
Despite all that, driving the car was an absolute blast. The Getrag transmission make so much sense, it's not even funny, and the driving ergonomics are great. I would like to own one at some point, but one that would far less work.
Jason Camissa from Automobile Magazine (2ManyCars) has one and the magazine did a nifty little article on his black 2.3 and the E30 M3 Sam Smith bought. You can read the article in the February 2007 issue.
I almost bought one 2 weeks ago...35,000 original miles, one owner, but sadly the asking price was $10,000....yes, a steal on mileage alone, but it had been tapped in the front, the interior fan made funny noises, and neither the heat nor AC was working. On top of those things it would have needed numerous rubber suspension bits, new brakes, tires and the associate alignment.
Easily another $5,000 worth of work.
Despite all that, driving the car was an absolute blast. The Getrag transmission make so much sense, it's not even funny, and the driving ergonomics are great. I would like to own one at some point, but one that would far less work.
Motive Rocks....again
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the write-up. Cammisa's car is an incredible example of the 2.3-16, and it has quite a history leading up to him buying it at a police auction after the cops used it to go undercover to bust hookers. Here's a link to that article Automobile ran:
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the write-up. Cammisa's car is an incredible example of the 2.3-16, and it has quite a history leading up to him buying it at a police auction after the cops used it to go undercover to bust hookers. Here's a link to that article Automobile ran:
A bit of self-serving trivia: To the best of my knowledge and the MBCA researcher's ability, the 2.3-16's last motorsports event in the model history was the 2005 One Lap of America, twenty years after the car's debut. That was my car and I was one of the drivers.
Since then, that same car has been autocrossed in SCCA events, but I'm not aware of any SCCA/NASA TT or wheel-to-wheel activity for the model in general since the late Nineties.
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Very fun and amusing cars. I've had friends with them and have worked for a team that has been racing a 190E 2.3L 16v (www.rc-imports.com) for the better part of 10 years. The cars have run in a multitude of venues from SCCA Club Racing to SCCA Endurance Racing to SCCA Pro World Challenge to Motorola Cup and finally Grand Am Cup.
Yes, they're built like tanks which is both their benefit and their burden. It's a benefit when the car gets hit and it's a burden because the cars are heavy. In any case, it's fun to watch races where all the other cars are buzzy little 2-door cars that complete against this monstrously tall, wide and LOUD sedan
The U.S. version of this car, detuned to deal with our emissions regulations and lower-octane fuel, is rated at 167 hp at 5800 rpm and 162 lb-ft of torque at 5800, and 0-60 acceleration is in the mid-seven second range.
The typical 2.4-L four-cylinder today pushes out roughly 165 hp to 180 hp--which means, after almost 25 years, no one's really improved on the 190E 2.3-16's performance. And 7-seconds to sixty for a four-cylinder sedan today would still be impressive, if not as downright earthshaking as it was at the time.
It's worth noting, too, at the time this car was launched, most vehicles were still wheezing from the gas crises and emissions restrictions. In that regard, this Benz was a downright miracle.
Frankly, it's vehicles like this that are the reason why I say Mercedes-Benz hasn't built a Mercedes-Benz in roughly a decade.
Frankly, it's vehicles like this that are the reason why I say Mercedes-Benz hasn't built a Mercedes-Benz in roughly a decade.
MB took a very different path after their partnership with Cosworth in the mid to late 80s. Instead, they partnered with AMG and focused on producing "luxo-rods" instead of racecars with leather interiors. What resulted were some cars that were fun to drive but nothing along the lines of the 2.3-16v.
Quick semi-related question. I'm looking for something interesting for a daily, a comfy highway cruiser with some muscle. Does this 1993 190e retain any of the sportiness of the 1986 described in the article? I know it's an automatic, otherwise, how similar in handling/performance characteristics?
190E 2.6 and sportiness aren't exactly used in the same sentence very often unless you're referring to the Sport appearance package. That having been said, it's a nice car with a bit of power - it's on-par with the 2.3L-16v but without the raw edge. Handling will be much softer than the 2.3L-16v (not to be confused with the 2.3) but those parts are available if you wanted to create a hybrid.
Quick semi-related question. I'm looking for something interesting for a daily, a comfy highway cruiser with some muscle. Does this 1993 190e retain any of the sportiness of the 1986 described in the article? I know it's an automatic, otherwise, how similar in handling/performance characteristics?
Nearly all of what makes this car special is specific to the 2.3-16 valve. Take away the Cosworth engine, take away the wider wheels, the bigger brakes, the stiffer suspension, and the 190E isn't anything particularly exciting. Especially an automatic. If you want a Benz with muscle from that era, maybe a 500E would better suit you?
The 2.3-16 was the first Benz I ever drove. My father-in-law had one (his first of two), and it was an exceptional car. The only real shortcoming was the shift action of the gearbox. As well, the old-skool shift pattern (with first outside the 'H') took some getting used to.
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I know it's not in the same class of vehicle as the 190E, but I'd love to see a Motive history feature on the 1980s Quattro. Eighties German sport coupes and sedans were a rare bright spot of that decade.
Between the Ice Road Truckers, the show about lumberjacks and the show about a pawn shop, The History Channel must change its name to the "Poor Life Choices Network." What's next, Porn Shop Janitors?
I know it's not in the same class of vehicle as the 190E, but I'd love to see a Motive history feature on the 1980s Quattro. Eighties German sport coupes and sedans were a rare bright spot of that decade.
Oddly the 80's quattros all seem to have the same notchy shifter the reviewed MB has. I'm sure if the shift linkage on the 190E received a new set of bushings and grease it would be a lot less clunky.
The Nice Car: 2009 Ibis White Audi A4 quattro 2.0T - Have HEX+CAN VCDS, PM Me
The Hoopty Beater: 1987 Alpine White Audi 4000cs quattro "special build"
Nearly all of what makes this car special is specific to the 2.3-16 valve. Take away the Cosworth engine, take away the wider wheels, the bigger brakes, the stiffer suspension, and the 190E isn't anything particularly exciting. Especially an automatic. If you want a Benz with muscle from that era, maybe a 500E would better suit you?
Yes, but the nice thing is you can get 2.3-16 bits relatively cheap, and suspension setups that are actually better than the stock 2.3-16 running gear. It's not that hard to turn a 2.6 into a equivalent or better car than the 2.3-16 was stock.
Now the 2.6 isn't exactly a sporting engine, but there are sooooo many swap options that it's not really a big deal.
A future project of mine is turning a 93 2.6 into a track machine
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A slightly modified, higher-geared version of the car broke twelve speed records by covering 31,000 miles at the Nardo oval in Italy in just eight days, moving at an average of 154 mph. Yes, that includes all driver changes and refueling stops.
A slightly modified, higher-geared version of the car broke twelve speed records by covering 31,000 miles at the Nardo oval in Italy in just eight days, moving at an average of 154 mph. Yes, that includes all driver changes and refueling stops.
I own a 190e 2.3 with over 225000 miles on the odo. I've had this car almost 2 years, only serious problem was the vacuum modulator needed to be replaced I got it replaced for cheap,and some minor electrical problems but thats expected.She is a freaking tank although shes 14yrs old she drives like nothing else I've ever driven.
did any of the 190D 2.5 turbos make it to the US with a 5-speed trans? i found some of the 2.2 non-turbos on craigslist with a 5-speed but none of the turbos...all auto
A friend of mine had a MBCA concours winning 190E 2.3-16. He spent 4 years looking for that car. He showed it for several years and when he finished winning all the concours trophies he could he took it autocrossing a few times and once or twice to the track. But it really was too nice to subject to that kind of use so it mostly sat protected inside the garage. One day this summer on a lunch break I helped him look at a car that he spotted on Craigslist. It was another 190E 2.3-16 just like his only it hadn't run in 3 years and was sitting at the bottom of a steep driveway in an alley behind a multi-million dollar townhouse on Capitol Hill. Other than a dent on the passenger fender and one split seam on one of the seats it was really in nice shape. The wheels were unmarked and the AMG body kit was perfect, no cracks. He bought the car for $200 including all original keys, books, and paperwork. We pulled it out of there and trailered it back to his place. He got it running a few days later for less than $1,000. Now it is going to become his track day car. He enjoys it immensely. So much, in fact, that he sold his mint 190E 2.3-16 and kept the beater!
did any of the 190D 2.5 turbos make it to the US with a 5-speed trans? i found some of the 2.2 non-turbos on craigslist with a 5-speed but none of the turbos...all auto
yep, they did send 2.5 Turbo 5 Speeds to the US. Easier to find a mint 2.3-16 than one of those.
Yes, but the nice thing is you can get 2.3-16 bits relatively cheap, and suspension setups that are actually better than the stock 2.3-16 running gear. It's not that hard to turn a 2.6 into a equivalent or better car than the 2.3-16 was stock.
Now the 2.6 isn't exactly a sporting engine, but there are sooooo many swap options that it's not really a big deal.
A future project of mine is turning a 93 2.6 into a track machine
Ummmmm... Yeah, what about the Getrag, the LSD, driveline, bodykit, etc, etc... I own both a 2.6 and a 2.3-16. The cars are night and day! It would cost more than BOTH cars are worth to turn the 2.6 into the equivalent of the 16V and you still won't have a 16V!
I worked on and drove one of those babies for two days. It was an 85 or 86 Benz 2.3. 16V, well maintained mechanically but neglected aesthetically. It was actually the owners son who brought me the car for a detailing as a father's day present, because his dad didn't wash it for about three years. What a car though!!!
Before:
After (duh!!). I was in a rush to take pics before it got dark, so these are before finishing touches such as polishing up the grille, logo and muffler, shining the trim, etc, but you get a pretty good idea of the paint restoration!
Ummmmm... Yeah, what about the Getrag, the LSD, driveline, bodykit, etc, etc... I own both a 2.6 and a 2.3-16. The cars are night and day! It would cost more than BOTH cars are worth to turn the 2.6 into the equivalent of the 16V and you still won't have a 16V!
You won't have a 16v but you can build a car that could keep up/be faster on the track.
2.3-16s are great but I'd be putting it in a garage now for safekeeping rather than tracking it...
There's only one replacement for displacement..... BOOST!
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I'm sure if the shift linkage on the 190E received a new set of bushings and grease it would be a lot less clunky. 
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