The name Mercedes-Benz is a synonym for luxury, reliability, and quality. In the early 1980s, Mercedes has introduced the W201 model which was a huge success, selling almost 2 million units during its production lifetime.
Just one year after the original model was released, the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v was introduced. It was a performance variant of the standard W201 model, and it quickly won the hearts of thousands of car enthusiasts.
Born to Slay the Beasts
The idea of improving the 190E came after the main competitors of Mercedes had their cars ranked well in DTM and rally. Mercedes knew its base model couldn’t even compete with BMW’s E30 M3 or the Audi Quattro in any aspect. It had potential, but it needed power and lots of it.
The Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v was an upgrade of the base 2.3-8v M102 engine that had only 136 bhp. Cosworth developed a new cylinder head that included dual overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder. This ended up being one of the best things Mercedes did because the 2.3-16v model had 183 bhp with a top speed of 230 km/h. Mind you, this was the production model we are talking about.
An Excellent Racing Pedigree
Due to racing regulations, all cars that competed in rally and DTM at the time had to be based on a production model. The initial idea was that Mercedes would enter the rally with the new and improved version of the 190E, but the Audi Quattro left it far behind with its incredible all-wheel drive. Long story short – Mercedes decided not to go with rallying, but do DTM instead.
It’s said that the 1980s and 1990s races in the DTM were the best racing the world has ever seen, with many attributing such accolades to the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v, BMW E30 M3, and similar cars.
Whether that’s true or not is up for debate, but the fact is that these cars have become the object of many a gearhead’s affection. And rightfully so. The 190E 2.3-16v was special in its own way. It wasn’t the fastest nor the most agile car you could buy, but it was unique to a point where nothing came quite close to it.
This car set a record of 50,000 km in less than 200 hours. Crazy, right? It was set at the Nardo speed ring in August of 1983, just a couple of weeks before the Merc with the 2.3-liter and 16 valve engine went into production.
Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v – a Limited Production Masterpiece
Despite being an extremely successful model in the DTM, the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v was made in less than 20,000 units. When compared to the backdrop of 2 million regular W201 cars that were made, those 20,000 Cosworth models are a drop in a very large bucket. However, Mercedes only needed to build so many of them for homologation purposes.
Of all Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v that were made, less than 2,000 were exported to the US, which makes it a very valuable collector’s model on this continent.
Oddball Design Features
Very few things about the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v were considered normal when it first came out. Even so, some of its features were more surprising than others. For example, the first gear was located left and down, contrary to most manual cars where the first gear is located opposite this.
On a Cosworth 2.3-16v, the place usually occupied by the first gear is where the reverse sits. There are plenty of stories out there of people slamming the car in reverse when trying to peel off from a stop light. There was also an automatic version of this car, but no one really cares about that one.
The driver and passenger side rearview mirrors are also of different shapes and sizes. No, this wasn’t a design fault, but rather a clever solution for covering blind spots.
Another interesting fact is that even though the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v is a four-door saloon car, it’s only a four-seater. And no, this has nothing to do with W201 being the smallest saloon car in Merc’s offer at the time. It has everything to do with the fact that this particular version of the car features two bucket seats in the back. It was also available in just two colors – blue-black (DB 199) and smoke silver (DB 702).
Common Issues Found On The Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v
Every car has its weak spots and the same goes for the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v. Some issues are more common than others, but today, it all comes down to how well the car was maintained, both in terms of maintenance frequency and quality of parts used.
Rust
One of the most common issues with the Mercedes 190E is rust. This is mostly an issue with cars located in colder areas where roads are full of salt during the wintertime. When it was new, it wasn’t a huge deal, however, the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v is more than 30 years old, and a little bit of rust is expected here and there, especially around the wheel arches and jacking points.
Head Gasket Issues
Although the engine in the 2.3-16v isn’t quite like the rest of the Mercedes 190E gasoline engines, it too is known to blow a gasket from time to time depending on how the engine was maintained.
If you’re looking to get one of these cars, very carefully inspect the motor for any oil leaks, especially around the cylinder head. These things are about as complex as an ‘80s car could have been at the time, and they are a pain to rebuild.
Timing Chain Rattle
The 2.3-16v Cosworth engine utilizes a timing chain. However, where modern timing chains are known for their indestructible nature and the ability to last for hundreds of thousands of miles, the ones found on a Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v aren’t.
In fact, it was meant to be replaced every 40,000 miles or so. If you’re looking at a car that has timing chain rattle issues, there’s a possibility that it wasn’t maintained on time. Like most chains, the ones on this car would fail prematurely if previous owners skipped an oil change or two.
Can these timing chains last for more than 40,000? Some will, for sure. However, keep in mind that Mercedes issued a recall under warranty for revised timing chains. Depending on how many miles are on the clock of the car you’re looking at, there’s a decent chance it still has the factory chain. Make sure to carefully inspect the maintenance history and find out when and if the timing chain/chain tensioner has been serviced.
Timing Chain Tensioners
Timing chain tensioners on the original Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v were replaced under warranty at the same time the chains were. The original tensioner design was faulty.
Namely, they would retract when there was no oil pressure available, which happens when you turn the car off for instance. The issue here is the short period of time before sufficient oil pressure is achieved. There is a window of time when the chain is operating under insufficient tension, which can cause timing issues, but also chain guide issues as they’re made of plastic.
The updated tensioner design solves these problems by introducing a spring that keeps the tensioner engaged when there’s no oil pressure. That way, when you go and start the car in the morning, there’s sufficient tension on the chain.
Premature Oil Pump Wear
Speaking of timing chain issues, there’s one more thing to look out for — worn-out oil pumps. Truth be told, not many people drop oil pans while doing a pre-purchase inspection, but this info could be useful if you’re looking at collector pieces.
Anyway, timing chain tensioner issues often led to stretched timing chains. Depending on the amount of stretch, some of these cars ran for thousands of miles with stretched chains before anyone even noticed that something was wrong. Since it is driven by that very same stretched chain, some oil pumps were simply worn out in a short amount of time.
If you’re suspecting that the car was neglected but it has a brand new chain and tensioner, you can check the oil pump for wear. Not many people replace it unless it is straight-up stops working. Mind you, these types of problems are rare, but they’re worth mentioning.
KE Jetronic Fuel injection
The fuel injection system wasn’t a huge problem on these cars the car was relatively new. Nowadays, the KE Jetronic system can cause some headaches, not because it fails often, but because there are so few mechanics that know how this system works.
One thing to remember is that you can’t skimp on injection parts when dealing with these engines. A 2.3-16v Cosworth motor needs quality injectors, something like Bosch 62274 or equivalent. Using affordable aftermarket injectors is a great way to introduce a lot of headaches to your life.
Oil Consumption
Just like the fuel injection system, oil consumption wasn’t a common issue on the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v while the car was relatively new. Being a performance vehicle, it was owned by many different types of drivers – from those who want to enjoy a luxury saloon car with a bit of oomph to those who wanted it only for the performance features it had to offer. Unfortunately, not all of these rare Mercs were maintained the way they should have been, and as a result, there are a lot of them that consume oil these days.
Mechanical Issues Are Less Common Than Aesthetic Issues
The interesting thing about this modern classic is that the mechanical parts are pretty much bolt-on, bolt-off, and are pretty simple to fix and maintain. However, panels and bodywork can get complicated due to a limited supply of original parts on the market. Engine and transmission parts are much easier to find compared to original body parts and interior.
If you’re looking into buying a Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v, make sure the interior is in the best condition and that the body doesn’t require much work. Missing or irreparable body parts can cause massive headaches if you’re in the process of restoring this car to its original state.
Is The Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v A Reliable Car?
We’ve covered some of the common issues with this car, and it’s safe to say that the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v is fairly reliable care given proper maintenance. When you’re dealing with cars this old and this specific, it’s all about finding the right specimen. Cars that were carefully taken care of will be very reliable. Neglected ones will quickly turn into endless money pits.
Is It Worth Buying?
If you stumble upon a great example of this vehicle, it’s most definitely worth buying. These cars will only go up in value as they are pretty iconic. There is a limited number of these Mercs still on the road, and having one in mint condition can turn out to be a financial varsity move in a decade or so.
Proper Maintenance Will Keep It On The Road
The most important thing when it comes to the Mercedes 190E 2.3-16v, or Baby Benz as many call it, is proper maintenance. These cars are known for their reliability, and by using OEM or high-quality parts, they’ll serve their owners for years to come.
Because these classics require only the best, we at eEuroparts.com have made a selection of OEM parts that will fit this car perfectly and provide the features you’d expect from a luxury sedan. Whether it’s brake discs, shock absorbers, spark plugs, bushings, or engine oil, you’ll find it here. All you need to do is select the year, make, and model of your Benz and browse through the available parts on our website.
