This 1985 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16v Cosworth was modified by Shulz Tuning in period and imported from Europe in 2023. Finished in Classic White (737) over Anthracite Leather (271), power is provided by a Cosworth-developed 2.3L 16v M102 I4 engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission. Shulz was known for their coachwork widebody with flared fenders molded seamlessly into the bumpers and skirts, along with C126 SEC front end conversions. Other features include Rial mesh wheels with KBA part numbers, quad exhaust outlets, an Alpine stereo system, custom ATIWE steering wheel, Schulz Tuning speedometer, factory Recaro seats, additional woodgrain accents. An extensive service was performed in June 2025 totalling nearly $7k. Service included a new fuel filter and accumulator, oil service, brake fluid flush, brake master cylinder, shifter linkage bushings, A/C compressor w/clutch, receiver drier, expansion valve, blower motor, pressure switch, EHA actuator, clutch master cylinder, and heater control valve. This Cosworth 190E Schulz shows just over 81k kilometers (~50k miles) and is now offered out of the seller's private collection in Florida with Shulz Tuning catalog and a Florida title.
The exterior is finished in Classic White (737) with integrated Shulz widebody featuring flared fenders which are molded into extended side skirts and bumpers. The front end has been converted to a C126 SEC as part of the Shulz widebody as well. The car was reportedly upgraded in-period by Schulz Tuning led by Erich Schulz and his nineteen man team. Fog lights along with the glass Euro headlights and amber corner lenses adorn the front end. The rear is finished with a factory Cosworth spoiler and quad exhaust tips.
This unique example wears 15” BBS Rial mesh wheels with KBA part numbers which are TUV approved and original to the Shulz conversion. Falken Ziex tires are fitted measuring 205/55 with date codes 2014 on the front and 2010 on the rear. Shulz tuned the suspension which also slightly lowered the car from its factory ride height.
The cabin is finished in Anthracite Leather (271) with matching doorcards and carpets. The factory Recaro seats are heated in the front and present in excellent condition. Zebrano wood trim is factory with additional wood accents added by Shulz across the dash and a wooden center storage box. Some cracks are noted in the wood veneers and the rear driver side door card needs adjustment. Interior features also include an Alpine stereo system with additional audio controls mounted in the glove box, power windows, a vacuum-powered adjustable headlight switch, and additional gauges for oil temperature and battery volatge along with a lap timer.
The four-spoke custom leather wrapped ATIWE steering wheel features a Shulz Tuning logo at the center and frames analog instrumentation including a Schulz Tuning 260-kph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, an analog clock and gauges for fuel level, instant fuel economy, coolant temperature, and oil pressure. A digital outside temperature sensor can be found mounted below. The six-digit odometer shows just over 81k original kilometers (~50k miles).
The 2.3-liter 16v M102 4-cylinder was developed in collaboration with Cosworth and power was rated at 194 horsepower and 173 lb-ft of torque when new. Power is sent to the rear wheels through a 5-speed manual transmission. The most recent service in preparation for the sale was completed in June 2025 and totalled nearly $7k. Receipts for the work will be included in the sale with services performed outlined below:
The car was sold new in Europe where it remained until being imported by the seller in 2023. The Carfax shows history beginning upon import to the U.S. and shows a mileage branding due to the cars age and kilometer reading. This Cosworth 190E 2.3-16v Schulz is now offered for sale out of the seller's private collection in Florida with a Shulz Tuning catalog and a Florida title.
A driving video has been provided by the seller below.
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
Get the best of The MB Market directly in your inbox every day. Subscribe for a curated list of our top market listings and articles!
20 Comments
Hello, first of all I want to say that I am very happy to see this car cause its a piece of history of the Mercedes golden era. I would like to make clear that the wheels are not Rial or BBS, the correct Brand is Heyking Alufelgen, these where made in Italy by Route O.Z, congratulations to the buyer.Thank you everyone for the bids — the last 25 minutes of this auction were incredibly entertaining. I honestly haven’t had this much fun in a while 😄$46,000 bid placed by @Braddd
$45,500 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$45,000 bid placed by @Braddd
$44,000 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$43,500 bid placed by @Braddd
$42,500 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$42,000 bid placed by @Braddd
$41,000 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$40,000 bid placed by @Braddd
$36,500 bid placed by @Hockenheim
$35,700 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$35,200 bid placed by @1edison1
$34,500 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$34,000 bid placed by @Hockenheim
$33,500 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$33,000 bid placed by @1edison1
$32,500 bid placed by @Callmelucky
$32,000 bid placed by @1edison1
$31,500 bid placed by @Hockenheim
$30,500 bid placed by @1edison1
$30,000 bid placed by @Braddd
$21,500 bid placed by @1edison1
$21,000 bid placed by @MAbbott
$20,000 bid placed by @Hockenheim
$16,250 bid placed by @Adrenalin
$16,000 bid placed by @MAbbott
@Mbeamdream it's a wind noise.Thank you for the driving video. I can’t tell if that’s wind noise or something else. Can you please explain?$15,250 bid placed by @1edison1
Underbody photos have been added to the gallery along with a driving video of the car.I’ve sent the undercarriage photos to MB Market — they should be uploaded tomorrow. Here’s an unedited driving video. I honestly forgot how much fun a four-cylinder Cosworth paired with a Getrag manual can be. An excellent balance of power, agility, and comfort — simple, engaging, and genuinely rewarding to drive. https://youtu.be/7AOfWwihWzs?si=KaMaX65s2hyJsDJkMy '85 16V had a bottom end failure after doing the top end a few months before. But I had been auto-crossing it and probably did something to cause it. I don't know its really that fragile but its not an engine that was used in any taxis. I'm sure plenty of E30 M3s have had engine failures as well. Loved the car though. Its and maybe one or two others are ones that I want back. Someday. Interesting that my 16V also had a wood kit like this. I thought it made the interior really nice. I didn't buy a few E30s I looked at since the interiors were not as nice as the 190s. (This was the 90s and they were both $12-20K for nice ones.) The Ati steering wheel on this is an $800 wheel these days. Fairly rare. I ran the Momo Monte Carlo on mine and it makes a big difference as well. Another cool thing on Euro 16Vs is the rear seats have headrests. US cars did not for some reason. Got to say I'm not a fan of the body kit. The stock 16V looks better in my opinion. But what a cool piece of history. @rwahng - no way you are registering this in California unless it has a BAR sticker hidden somewhere. You'd have a legitimate excuse for going the Montana route.$15,000 bid placed by @MAbbott
@Atatexan, for the record 190E's with the M102 engine have been used as taxis around the world, piling up hundreds of thousands of miles on those engines. Their reliability has been well proven. I own a 190 E with the M102 engine and it's not fragile. As the seller noted, a bad mechanic can do a lot of damage. The car in this auction is a really unique version. I wish the seller, GLWTA.Indeed on the timing chain tensioner. The previous owner, a prominent 300SL Gullwing guy put a superseded tensioner on the engine. That caused failure 1. The second one was failure was caused by not torquing the crankshaft to spec. My late father-in-law a 50 year certified MB tech and shop foreman rebuilt the engine. Never had another problem. The 16V is a fabulous driving car, a 4-door 944.@2018trackhawk negative on a full dual exhaust. I will take undercarriage photos over the weekend and have them posted asap. Thank you@Atatexan , thank you for sharing that — and I don’t doubt your experience after 10 years of ownership. You’re also right that these cars suffer when they’re maintained like a “regular” M102, and not every shop understands the 16V specifics. That said, I’d be careful calling the M102 16V “fragile” as a design. The 190E 2.3-16 was built as a homologation platform and has real motorsport pedigree, and the later 190E 2.5-16 Evo II went on to dominate the 1992 DTM season (16 wins in 24 races) and win the championship — which doesn’t happen with a fundamentally weak engine package. The two failures you mention are also consistent with *known, preventable items*: the timing-chain tensioner update is a recognized upgrade on these 16V engines, and the bottom end absolutely depends on correct fastener/torque procedures — shortcuts there can kill any engine. In other words: when they’re serviced correctly and kept to spec, they’re robust. When they’re neglected or worked on by someone unfamiliar, they can get expensive fast. This goes for any car.Hello @pablo76, yes — the SEC-style front end is correct and period, and not a Mercedes-Benz factory option. This was a signature conversion offered by Schulz Tuning in the late 1980s. Eric Schulz, along with other designers/tuners such as Franco Sbarro, used the SEC-inspired grille and front-end treatment on select builds to create a more exclusive, one-of-one aesthetic that Mercedes-Benz itself never offered. Please refer to the listing description and the original Schulz brochure displayed in the gallery for further documentation. While uncommon, this front end is intentional, coachbuilt, and part of what makes this Schulz example unique.Seller. is that grille original on the Schultz? It looks like it might be from a 560 SEC or SL. I’ve never seen a 190E with this front-end look.I hesitate to say this about a 190 2.3-16 having owned one for ten years. My 16V was a very nice one but I had two engine failures. One caused by a superseded timing chain tensioner and the other by an improperly (under torqued) crankshaft . I loved The way it drove but I just think these engines are too fragile and not many mechanics around who know their way around these cars.Is that true full dual exhaust or single to dual exit? Also any underbody photos on that note?Hello MB Market Community, Thank you all for the bids and comments. @rwahng — regarding the question about passing smog in California: regulations can vary and change over time, so I recommend checking directly with your local authorities or a licensed smog station for the most up-to-date information. I’m unable to comment or make any guarantees on emissions compliance. This vehicle is a Mercedes-Benz W201 Cosworth 2.3-16V, presented as shown. Thank you$14,000 bid placed by @Callmelucky
Amazing car. The bright white and black details are stunning.Will this car pass CA Smog to effect title transfer in CA?very cool benz$12,000 bid placed by @Bzero
$10,000 bid placed by @pillestein
Very cool!$5,000 bid placed by @Bzero
$1,357 bid placed by @Lfuselier