Instrumentation includes a BRABUS Autosport 200-mph speedometer, 7k-rpm tachometer, analog clock, and gauges for fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature, and instant economy. The odometer showing just 23,365 miles.
Power comes from a 2.0L inline-four featuring Bosch KE-Jetronic fuel injection which was completely rebuilt due to a broken timing chain. The teardown of the engine was extensive and included new connecting rods, bearings, a more aggressive camshaft, upgraded exhaust system, all new hardware, and much more. The full refurbishment took multiple years to complete and also included an overhaul of the suspension and braking system. The four-speed automatic transmission was also rebuilt at the time. The receipt for the work totalled over $55k and the odometer was reported at 18k miles at the time. The power steering pump was replaced in 2019 and the most recent service in October 2025 included a new battery, coolant flush, and oil service.
A cold start video has been provided below.
When it comes to the world of rare tuner Benzes, this BRABUS 190E is a standout amongst the crowd. With an interesting documented history, this W201 has traveled from its homeland in Germany to Hawaii, Missouri, and now Florida. It's relocation to Florida in 2018 was by no mistake. The collector who has overseen ownership of this W201 in Florida has a trained eye for some of the highest quality and rarest classic Benzes in the world. From the early 90's until 2005 the car sat largely unused, remaining idle for over a decade. Around 2005, it was brought to the mainland United States, and in 2007 it was sold to a new owner with a failed timing chain. What followed was not a quick repair, but a year-long Brabus transformation. The 2.0-liter inline-four was fully rebuilt and upgraded with a more aggressive camshaft and a larger exhaust system, giving the engine a noticeably sharper character than stock. At the same time, the car underwent a comprehensive Brabus conversion, including full Brabus bodywork and paint, suspension upgrades, braking components, and new wheels and tires. According to the shop owner who carried out the work, the restoration stretched on until 2016 largely because of the owner’s evolving vision. As he put it: every time the car was ready and the owner came to pick it up, he decided to add or change something else. The result was not a rushed build, but a carefully refined car shaped over time, detail by detail. Tragically, just one month after the car was finally completed and picked up in 2016, the owner passed away. The car was subsequently sold, and in 2018 it entered its current ownership. Today, this W201 stands as a deeply personal BRABUS-spec build; less a catalog conversion and more a reflection of years of incremental decisions, patience, and commitment, preserved in a single 190-series chassis.
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Enclosed Transit:
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23 Comments
Close but still below the reserve. Thank you everyone for your participation and your bids.$26,000 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$25,500 bid placed by @J288
$25,000 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$24,750 bid placed by @J288
$24,500 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$24,000 bid placed by @J288
$23,750 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$23,500 bid placed by @J288
$23,250 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$23,000 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$22,500 bid placed by @VonMB
$22,250 bid placed by @AMGKopf
$22,000 bid placed by @J288
$21,250 bid placed by @VonMB
$21,000 bid placed by @J288
$20,500 bid placed by @VonMB
$20,250 bid placed by @mattenglish
$20,000 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$19,750 bid placed by @mattenglish
$19,500 bid placed by @VonMB
$19,000 bid placed by @mattenglish
$18,750 bid placed by @alohameans143
$18,500 bid placed by @mattenglish
$18,250 bid placed by @VonMB
$18,000 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead
$17,500 bid placed by @VonMB
Any sense of what all that aftermarket wiring is in the engine bay?$17,000 bid placed by @DriveClassic
$16,500 bid placed by @VonMB
@Stuttgart_Steel The shocks are Bilstein. The springs are red, but I don’t see any visible markings on them, so I can’t say for certain what brand they are.@Clutch which Monoblock wheels are you referring to? Please clarify. Thank you$16,000 bid placed by @DriveClassic
A cold start video has been added to the listing.@Clutch Here is the link to a Cold Start Video for you. Thank you for your interest https://youtube.com/shorts/kwYq2UkD_i4?si=vSyxCPDekurtY89d@refusedname What kind of springs are on the car? The copy just says "performance springs." It sits perfectly -- would love to know the formula.$15,000 bid placed by @JWclassic
Hello @refusedname, lovely car. Any chance for a cold start video? Do you have monoblock wheels for it? Thanks$13,500 bid placed by @alohameans143
@MercedesDad Hello Mario. Long time, no talk. I hope you are doing well. It's always good to hear from you.@Stuttgart_Steel Thank you 😄 I’m not as smart as you are. I usually buy the car first and only then decide where to put it. Not the best strategy when you’re married with kids… Bwhahahah.$12,000 bid placed by @JWclassic
Me having no space to store cars is saving me so much money. I'd buy the heck out of this. It's wonderful and the engine rebuild looks great. I just did a top end refresh on my Avantgarde Rosso and the M102 is really fun to wrench on. Love the car. I wish you all the best.I was this car’s custodian, briefly, before passing it on to its current owner. First, the owner: you simply cannot purchase a Mercedes from a more dedicated enthusiast, stand-up individual, and serious collector. Period. As for the car itself, this is a truly special machine. Extensively documented and carefully maintained throughout. It presents exactly as it should, sounds fantastic, and drives in a way that makes every outing feel deliberate and rewarding. It is every bit as impressive in person as it appears in the photos. The next owner will be very pleased.@TheDailyVroom The Daily Vroom has featured this example today with some great takes on this auction. A daily newsletter that is well worth subscribing to for those of you that are car people. Great car and a great platform for this enthusiast Mercedes. Best!$10,000 bid placed by @VonMB
@DrAMG I posted before reading the history. It’s definitely the one car I saw many years ago.I think I remember this car from many years ago. Not often you see a Brabus 190E. I think this car had history in Missouri and Hawaii? Brabus offered a few versions of M102 mods, so we know for sure what was done?@dirtynails44 — No rubbing issues at all, neither front nor rear. Guaranteed.What a cool 201! How is the suspension? any rubbing issues in the rear?@ProdigalPetrolHead thank you for the bid. Best of luck to you!!@refusedname Thanks. I'll be watching this one.@ProdigalPetrolHead — Currently, this Brabus has zero known issues. I had it serviced right before this auction, and all recommended work was completed. Please note that the tires have a 2013 date code; depending on intended use, you may choose to replace them, though they are not worn and do not require immediate replacement.@refusedname Love it, thanks. If you were going to keep this one and plan to put 3-5k miles on in the next year or two, are there any parts you'd want to replace?@ProdigalPetrolHead — Here is a link to a video that was made for a YouTube channel unrelated to this auction. The video was shot for a Russian-speaking audience, so please excuse the Russian language. It should still give you a good idea of how the car sounds, drives, and handles. I don’t want to oversell it — but it’s definitely a rocket 😄 https://youtu.be/nh8q_5es6SQ?si=8PckpxqOX9sYmoFMGorgeous car! @refusedname, are you able to take some videos showing it driving? Mostly thinking engine/exhaust noise along with normal functions.$5,000 bid placed by @ProdigalPetrolHead