This 190E 2.3-16v is finished in Smoke Silver Metallic (702) with matching lower cladding and bumper inserts. The model-specific body kit is specific to the Cosworth specs and includes a deeper aerodynamic chin spoiler, extended side skirts, rear air dam, fender flares, and trunk spoiler. Other exterior features include a sliding sunroof with tilt function, an electrically adjustable side mirror, and fog lights. Detailed photos of the exterior can be seen in the gallery. The seller notes a repaint in the factory color was done in late 2025 to fix the failing clear coat as this car had seen sun from sitting. The door mirrors were not painted and the rear factory wing shows some warping. Overspray is noted around the sunroof seal. The glass Euro style Depo headlight on the passenger side has some water intrusion. A Remus exhaust has been installed from the center resonator back.
Factory 15” Cosworth specific Gullideckel wheels are mounted and wear their original Astral Silver finish with matching center caps. Vredestein Sprint + tires were mounted in preparation for the sale measuring 205/55 and were mounted in late 2025 with 2024 date codes. A full-size spare is located under the trunk floor along with the factory jack. Some chipping paint is noted by the seller in the gallery. ABS brakes are equipped on all four corners and the Cosworth comes with Self-Leveling Suspension at the rear which does operate as intended. The seller notes the suspension has no creaks or pops with just a very small amount of vertical vibration felt through the steering wheel. The previous owner said the car was owned by an enthusiast who had an open checkbook who serviced the car well since they were the one that worked on it at a Mercedes-Benz shop and they remember doing SLS and suspension bushing services about 10 years ago.
A detailed walk around, cold start, and driving video have been added below:
Open Transit:
Enclosed Transit:
The winning bidder will receive an email with the quote and option to proceed with shipping.
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19 Comments
Well fought to everyone -- really exciting end to the auction. If anyone has a Mercedes-Benz they need help brokering, please reach out!$22,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
$21,250 bid placed by @mrg210
$21,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
$20,250 bid placed by @mrg210
$20,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
$19,750 bid placed by @mrg210
$19,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
$18,750 bid placed by @mrg210
$18,500 bid placed by @moesalamah
$20k anyone???$17,875 bid placed by @mrg210
$17,500 bid placed by @moesalamah
$17,000 bid placed by @mrg210
$16,500 bid placed by @moesalamah
$15,575 bid placed by @mrg210
Big moves!!!$15,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
$14,500 bid placed by @mrg210
$14,250 bid placed by @moesalamah
@DCMotorWerks The induction noise is close to S2000 levels of good.I’ve been fortunate to be able to put a couple hundred miles on this car. Up and down the freeway at 80 miles an hour and bombing through some back roads. It has been a blast every time. The induction noise of a 16 valve is addictive.$13,500 bid placed by @mrg210
$13,000 bid placed by @moesalamah
Awwww thanks.$10,351 bid placed by @mrg210
@Stuttgart_Steel the best in the business!!Just checking in on everyone as we enter the final hour. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.$10,101 bid placed by @henryr
$9,750 bid placed by @mrg210
Thanks for the PMs and the interaction so far. Please let me know if you need anything else from me. We have one day left!$9,500 bid placed by @Fahadhabeeb
@warpedrotors Hmmm strange. PM me your email and I’ll shoot it over. Same with anyone else that wants it. Also love the user name lolI am having a hard time seeing the Carfax report for this specific entry. Is it posted anywhere else in this listing?Paint “Was the car originally 702 Smoke Silver? Any photos pre-paint?” ------> Car was originally Smoke Silver per the copy and the option plate. Cosworths only came in 199 Black Pearl and 702 Smoke Silver. I do not have any pictures of it before it was painted. I did see it before it was painted and it just had sun damage clear coat on the hood, trunk, and roof. Engine “Timing chain and guides—when were they last serviced?” ---------> This car has very little in the way of documentation. I don't know if timing chain components were replaced. “Any compression or leak-down results?” --------> No compression numbers. The engine feels most healthy which is why I was willing to sell it. It rips down the road and pulls hard. It's sitting at a Mercedes-Benz shop right now, so I can always put you in contact with the shop and I'm sure they've be happy to help doing a compression test for you. SLS “Is the rear self-leveling system fully functional or converted/deleted?” --------> SLS is still intact and works wonderfully. It's easy to feel bad SLS within the first few feet of driving. The previous owner said it had new spheres and a service done under their ownership. I looked at the spheres when I had my head under the car to confirm. SLS is a super simple system and I'd keep it in. Interior “What components are included in the spare interior parts?” ---------> Spare parts are laid out in the gallery. Mileage “Any documentation to support approximate mileage despite TMU?” ----------> The car has like no documentation. The CF has a ping in 2005 when the miles were higher than what's on the odometer. But that was over 20 years ago. No idea how accurate that is. The odometer gears also do not spin (teeth probably broken, it's a $25 kit and an hour on your workbench to replace them). TMU is a very accurate description for the miles. But considering the chassis condition, engine bay, suspension health, transmission feel, I'd say it's well under 150k miles. The 2025 recommissioning details are in the copy above. Fluids, lines, fuel system flush and service, CIS service, A/C recharge, tires, blower motor and overall safety check. @mrg210 @Atatexan Agree the thing is a RIOT to drive. I need to own one, but it'd have to be an early Euro car -- which will be one helluva hunt to find the right one.One other comment. If anyone is nervous about the very good SLS system going forward, it is easy to deactivate it and remove the rear hydraulic shocks. The main US guy who campaigned the 16V replaced the rear springs with Euro spec Sportline 190-2.6 springs and Bilstein sports. I did this on mine. The car handled great! I miss my 16V. This looks like a very nice well taken care of 190-2.3 16V. These cars are just such great handlers.@BD450SL Thanks for the comments and the PM. I just replied to your PM answering all the questions — didn’t see you posted the same ones here.Paint “Was the car originally 702 Smoke Silver? Any photos pre-paint?” Engine “Timing chain and guides—when were they last serviced?” “Any compression or leak-down results?” SLS “Is the rear self-leveling system fully functional or converted/deleted?” Interior “What components are included in the spare interior parts?” Mileage “Any documentation to support approximate mileage despite TMU?”“Why does the car show 124k miles in 2005 but 92k TMU now?” “What specifically was done in the 2025 recommissioning?” “Timing chain, guides, and head work history?”$9,005 bid placed by @Kris3
$8,755 bid placed by @BD450SL
$8,505 bid placed by @henryr
@Atatexan That honestly sounds like not the car's fault. These engines are not complicated and the rest of the car is just a W201. I had to rebuild my M102 in my 1993 2.3 last year but that was because whoever did the head gasket previous forgot to install the head bolt washers reassembling the engine, so the bolts bottomed out and it wasn't torqued properly. Rebuilt everything I took off to factory spec using OEM parts and the car has been flawless. There's so many people on the internet that hate of terrific cars because of user error, I don't think your comment is very fair. Replacing a Cosworth engine with a M104 is kind of blasphemous.. Do that with a 190E 2.6 -- now that would be fun swap. The 944 and 300CE are excellent cars -- I've owned both before and those are great choices.Seeing a W201 190E2.3-16 makes my flesh crawl. I owned a 1987 for ten years and two engine failures: one caused by a superseded timing chain tensioner and the second by an improperly torqued crankshaft (needs 240 ft/pounds to properly torque it). These Cosworth are finicky and outside the skill set of many techs. My late father-in-law, a 41 year certified MB tech rebuilt the engine to perfection. I gave Up on the amazing with its Porsche 944 handling. It is replaced by a Euro C124 300CE-24 Sportline with the 5-speed Getrag and M104 engine. So similar but bullet proof. Replacing the engine with an M104 is pretty easy. Radiator mounts from the 190-2.6 would do the trick.$8,250 bid placed by @BD450SL
$6,000 bid placed by @Kris3
$5,050 bid placed by @BD450SL
Welcome everyone to the auction of this really neat car. I'm a huge W201 fan with one in the current collection, so I was more than happy to help my friend sell his Cosworth! I think "project car" is a little harsh with this one, but I wanted to have that in the title to make sure people know this isn't like the usual cars I sell on this platform. This one needs some love, mostly in the interior. I made sure to point out everything that needs attention in the gallery and in the video. That said, this car drives FANTASTICALLY. The engine pulls hard and cleanly, the transmission is telepathic and shifts without issue, and the suspension feels really dang tight. There's a TON of potential here. These are getting super rare and I want to be the one to help find this car a new home since it deserves it. Also please read through the copy as I provided a lot of information to The MB Market covering its needs. I'm available to show the car in person and am open for phone calls as well. I have a high resolution Google Drive of the car available upon request so you can zoom in and really look at everything if needed.$250 bid placed by @henryr