Bid for your chance to own this 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth on The MB Market. Finished in Metallic Dark Blue over Anthracite Leather (271), this W201 is powered by a 2.5 Cosworth-developed engine mated to a 5-speed transmission. The car shows recent maintenance and a clean MN title.
Bid for your chance to own this 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL only on The MB Market. Finished in Black over Light Brown Velour (934) and powered by a high compression Euro 5.0-liter V8, this W126 features extensive period modifications, just 24k miles shown from new, and service records since 1987.
Bid for your chance to own this 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL only on The MB Market. Finished in Black over Light Brown Velour (934) and powered by a 5.0-liter V8, this W126 features extensive period modifications with just 24k miles shown from new.
Boostin bid $26,000
Boostin bid $15,140
Boostin bid $3,250
Boostin bid $3,100
Boostin bid $63,500
Boostin bid $550
Boostin bid $2,050
Boostin bid $500
Boostin bid $850
Boostin bid $13,123
Boostin bid $4,250
Boostin bid $25,500
Boostin bid $24,750
Boostin bid $10,252
Boostin bid $1,250
Boostin bid $1,000
Boostin said:
@TheLordSoufyes, I am the second owner and have owned it since 2021.
@Adeesno, there is not.
@MercsandBimmerscorrect, it was discussed earlier in the comments.
@jbd5859 edit isn't working. If you want to use PayPal or some other service to pay for a portion with credit card, that's fine with me so long as you cover any and all fees.
@jbd5859 I'll accept cash, cashiers check or wire. And if you want to pay with a credit card for a portion through PayPal or some other service, I'm fine with that so long as you cover any and all fees.
@AE1728I'd agree with @ekstarr that I'd just drive it as is. I tried to take comprehensive pictures of the defects which likely makes them stand out more. When viewing the car in person, it looks great all around and you only notice the defects if you're looking for them up close. The rear bumper is clean and wouldn't need a respray. The front bumper and wing you could either respray, or get touched up if you have a good person that sprays catalyzed paint and clear, knows how to wet sand and polish, etc.
@Mbeamdream no rust as can be seen in the underbody pictures. The Canary Islands is dry and it's largely been stored in CA since it came to the US. Yes, I will get a photo underneath the battery.
@Zannzibar they did but it is worth noting that while the same displacement, the EVO cars had a shorter stoke and larger bore to enable the engine to spin and reach higher RPM more quickly.
@mzzgrno, the window trim mouldings are made of rubber so are not able to rust. Pictures 58-61 show the mouldings up close. You may be referring to picture 58 which shows the separation of the leather / vinyl from the door panel at the top outer edge which was referenced in the listing. The rubber door seals around the doors are all intact, in good shape and functioning properly. The only damage to one of the door seals can be seen in picture 86. And for further clarity, all of the window seal rubber is in similar condition.
@AdeesI was just looking back at my comments. I should have clarified, the car was not federalized when imported, however, it does have a catalytic converter so may be able to pass California emissions testing, though I have not tested.
@ekstarr great to meet you and thank you very much for the kind words. Beautiful S124 you have!
@germancarfanas far as I know, it spent it's life in the Canary Islands but I don't have documentation to support that. However, it was delivered there new, was repainted there in 2005 and had inspections between 2009-2015. No, as stated in the listing, the AC does not currently work. All components are present but I have not recharged it with r12 or converted to r134a.
@Swingandamissit is located in Los Angeles, CA, 90066. It's registered in MN as it's much more cost effective than CA. It has a catalytic converter but I have not done any emissions testing.
@Motorsports yes, this is an auction site and across the top of your browser window you can see the current bid and when the auction ends.
@germancarfanI understand your perspective on recent imports but with that approach, you'll miss out on many great models that were never offered in the US originally but are finally making their way stateside under the 25 year exemption. In any case, yes, the repaint was completed in April 2005 as can be seen by the sticker under the trunk lid in photo 182. The motor pulls very strong and the transmission shifts through the gears as it should with no grinding. There is no smoke of any color - blue, black, white from the tailpipe. I have not done a compression test but can perform one over the weekend.
@germancarfanPhotos of the owners manual in Spanish as well as the Canary Island's inspection card have been posted to the gallery. To provide some color on this car's history, it remained in the Canary Island's through 2015 before being imported to the US via Germany in September of 2015. It has covered ~500 km / ~310 miles since being in the States.
@ekstarryes, it is. Please contact me via the message seller function and we can coordinate.
@AE1728 no problem. And as I look back at the listing, it appears the cold and warm start videos along with a mediocre driving video didn't get posted. I have just messaged @thembmarket regarding those and will take a video of the engine bay with the car running later today.
@BabyBenzFanThanks for the comments. I'd agree with just about everything you had to said. This car isn't perfect but is a nice example with a few details the next owner could address to elevate it to the next level. I really wavered on selling given it's rarity and that it's actually quite fun. Frankly, much better than I had expected. But I need to downsize a bit and this one didn't make the cut.
@seemslegitI’ll be honest, I need to familiarize myself further with the system but in looking at the pictures, the pump (passenger side front of the engine), lines and the accumulators are all still present. I’m not near the car today but can do some research, look at the car and get back to you tomorrow.
@seemslegit no, it is currently equipped with Bilstein 24-014052 shocks in the rear.
@CarCrazy24AC is not working as stated in the overview. I have not attempted to charge or diagnose. Heater is a good question. I have not used previously. Windows locks, sunroof and passenger exterior mirror are operable. I don’t recall any power adjustments on the seats but will check. There is also no exterior power antenna on the rear driver’s quarter - it may be in the windshield? I’ll have to check.
@ekstarr thanks! It wears it very well.
@Adeesnegative on being federalized. As to California, it has a catalytic converter but I have not had it tested.
@HammerEdthanks for the info!
Good morning everyone. It’s the final day of the auction and I am available to answer any additional question that may be out there. The reserve is reasonable and below where this car was bid to last time around. I would love to see it go to a new home today.
@Amine78it is certainly possible but I have no idea what it would cost. You will have to do your own research on that.
@HammerEd Thanks for the comments. I viewed the car similarly - I loved the mods by well known period tuners as well as the significant documentation so thought it would be a nice complement to my '82 500SEL AMG that's white. I cleaned it up a bit but it certainly could use further clean up underneath and agree that dry ice would be a great solution. And then there are some odds and ends to be addressed as listed in the ad to make it 'perfect' from a functioning perspective. I was planning on doing that but decided to downsize my collection to only one 500SEL. The paint is quite nice and very presentable but not perfect by any means. Personally I would leave it as is but that will be up to the next owner.
@TheAMGKita few more miles, that’s about it. And a lower reserve.
@GASMotorcars unfortunately, the EQ does not work at this time. The stereo turns on, but there is no sound or reading on the EQ. I will also note that the foam surrounds of the Blaupunkt speakers is nearly all but disintegrated. I have not spent the time to diagnose the wiring. Give me a day or so and I'll get the video you requested.
@NYCdriverthank you for your comments. Much appreciated.
@Ilovebigtoys thanks for your post and completely agree with honesty and transparency on this site. I would also encourage all members to review a listing in full including the accompanying photos and previous listing if applicable before posting unproductive commentary. Had you looked at the photos and previous listing, you would see the import documentation with mileage and annual registrations with mileage since, as you had requested. As for paperwork from before that time, I don't have it and am not going to make any representations other than those that can be made with the documentation and information I have, all of which is included in this listing. You could very well be correct that this car had hundreds of thousands of miles or KMs on it before being imported. These cars, like many of the era that have now become collectible, were just plain 'cars' back in the day. They weren't all that special and most people didn't bother to save records. But in this case, the owner did, and I'm very happy about that so we at least have some insight into this car's cool history. In any case, for any members that are actually interested in the car, I'm available and happy to answer any questions, take any photos or videos, show the car in-person, or bring it to a shop for a PPI. As I stated in the beginning, I'm all about honesty and transparency. I'm happy to share everything I know about the car and based on that, will leave it to you to come to your own conclusions about the car.
@Merc2000thanks! Just checked them out. Looks like a fun car that gets up and moves a bit better than I would have expected and with nice firm shifts too.
Did the other photos and videos get uploaded? I can't seem to find them unless I'm just completely missing something. Thanks
@djw911it has not been tested but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t pass.
@Alphadeltahonestly the motor runs very well - smooth idle and when cruising. Same for the transmission - shifts through the gears as it should both up and down. There is no smoke on startup or when running but I’ll see what I can do in terms of video for that. There is a small oil leak that can be seen in the pictures but I would have to get it back in the air and further inspect to tell you more precisely where it is coming from. I have a driving video that I will get uploaded.
I just looked at my other 500SEL (that does have AMG logs and solid lifters) with 100K miles and there is a very visible difference in internal cleanliness between the two motors. I'm happy to post pics for reference if someone would like, just let me know.
@BlueridgeMB @Porschephile unfortunately there are no clips present on this one but the motor top end looks to be quite clean based on what can be seen through the oil filler. I'll upload pictures shortly.
@karlkaczmarczyk sure, take a look at the documentation in the photos, the condition of the pedals, the wood, the rest of the interior and the motor internals which I'll post pictures of shortly. The driver's seat is not easy to get in and out of and the material is not terribly durable to begin with let alone its 42 years old at this point. But regardless, you're free to make your own assessment.
@BlueridgeMB I would be happy to take those pictures when I get home this evening. Didn’t even think about the likely tell of solid lifters with clips. As for the chain, tensioners, rails, I do not believe they have been done. I will go through the receipts but the car wasn’t driven frequently since the original owner moved it to Florida so I doubt he did them. And I have not.
@Porschephilethe candid answer is I do not know. It had the AMG badge when imported but I suspect if anything it would be shocks / springs and differential. I’ll pull a wheel and see if I can see any part numbers or otherwise. And then refresh on how to identify the diffs. I will also take the pictures that BlueridgeMB requested.
@kokolomoushthanks. While the black looks great, I’m with you on the brown. I think I might prefer it with the Rial centers color matched or mesh BBS with gold centers.
Good morning everyone and welcome to my auction. I'm happy to answer questions and take any additional photos or videos that are requested. I can also be available to show the car and will assist with PPIs within a reasonable distance. I am going to be sad to see this car go but as I posted in the comment below, life has other plans at the moment. This is a great example that runs and drives beautifully. I can't comment on any motor work that was completed but it gets up and goes. It shifts through the gears as expected and has a firm yet comfortable ride and handles very well for being as large as it it. While there are a few items to be addressed as noted in the listing to make it perfect, they should be relatively easy and I just haven't had the time. The AC blows cold, all windows work, the sunroof is operational though I've only used it once in fear of a failure while open, and even the Recaro seats operate under power.
@KeymasterofGozerthanks! I wasn't planning on this one leaving my collection but life has other plans.
Beautiful example and tastefully modified! A few questions - when you found the car, were the AMG parts already on the car or did you add them? If they were on the car, do they have AMG stamps and if so, can you please post pictures of each? Do you have any historical documentation on the car such as the federalization book with pictures or any purchase orders from the dealer or AMG? Do you know what ratio the diff is? Thanks
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1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@TheLordSoufyes, I am the second owner and have owned it since 2021.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Adeesno, there is not.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@MercsandBimmerscorrect, it was discussed earlier in the comments.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@jbd5859 edit isn't working. If you want to use PayPal or some other service to pay for a portion with credit card, that's fine with me so long as you cover any and all fees.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@jbd5859 I'll accept cash, cashiers check or wire. And if you want to pay with a credit card for a portion through PayPal or some other service, I'm fine with that so long as you cover any and all fees.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@AE1728I'd agree with @ekstarr that I'd just drive it as is. I tried to take comprehensive pictures of the defects which likely makes them stand out more. When viewing the car in person, it looks great all around and you only notice the defects if you're looking for them up close. The rear bumper is clean and wouldn't need a respray. The front bumper and wing you could either respray, or get touched up if you have a good person that sprays catalyzed paint and clear, knows how to wet sand and polish, etc.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Mbeamdream no rust as can be seen in the underbody pictures. The Canary Islands is dry and it's largely been stored in CA since it came to the US. Yes, I will get a photo underneath the battery.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Zannzibar they did but it is worth noting that while the same displacement, the EVO cars had a shorter stoke and larger bore to enable the engine to spin and reach higher RPM more quickly.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@mzzgrno, the window trim mouldings are made of rubber so are not able to rust. Pictures 58-61 show the mouldings up close. You may be referring to picture 58 which shows the separation of the leather / vinyl from the door panel at the top outer edge which was referenced in the listing. The rubber door seals around the doors are all intact, in good shape and functioning properly. The only damage to one of the door seals can be seen in picture 86. And for further clarity, all of the window seal rubber is in similar condition.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@AdeesI was just looking back at my comments. I should have clarified, the car was not federalized when imported, however, it does have a catalytic converter so may be able to pass California emissions testing, though I have not tested.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@ekstarr great to meet you and thank you very much for the kind words. Beautiful S124 you have!1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@germancarfanas far as I know, it spent it's life in the Canary Islands but I don't have documentation to support that. However, it was delivered there new, was repainted there in 2005 and had inspections between 2009-2015. No, as stated in the listing, the AC does not currently work. All components are present but I have not recharged it with r12 or converted to r134a.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Swingandamissit is located in Los Angeles, CA, 90066. It's registered in MN as it's much more cost effective than CA. It has a catalytic converter but I have not done any emissions testing.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Motorsports yes, this is an auction site and across the top of your browser window you can see the current bid and when the auction ends.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@germancarfanI understand your perspective on recent imports but with that approach, you'll miss out on many great models that were never offered in the US originally but are finally making their way stateside under the 25 year exemption. In any case, yes, the repaint was completed in April 2005 as can be seen by the sticker under the trunk lid in photo 182. The motor pulls very strong and the transmission shifts through the gears as it should with no grinding. There is no smoke of any color - blue, black, white from the tailpipe. I have not done a compression test but can perform one over the weekend.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@germancarfanPhotos of the owners manual in Spanish as well as the Canary Island's inspection card have been posted to the gallery. To provide some color on this car's history, it remained in the Canary Island's through 2015 before being imported to the US via Germany in September of 2015. It has covered ~500 km / ~310 miles since being in the States.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@ekstarryes, it is. Please contact me via the message seller function and we can coordinate.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@AE1728 no problem. And as I look back at the listing, it appears the cold and warm start videos along with a mediocre driving video didn't get posted. I have just messaged @thembmarket regarding those and will take a video of the engine bay with the car running later today.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@BabyBenzFanThanks for the comments. I'd agree with just about everything you had to said. This car isn't perfect but is a nice example with a few details the next owner could address to elevate it to the next level. I really wavered on selling given it's rarity and that it's actually quite fun. Frankly, much better than I had expected. But I need to downsize a bit and this one didn't make the cut.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@seemslegitI’ll be honest, I need to familiarize myself further with the system but in looking at the pictures, the pump (passenger side front of the engine), lines and the accumulators are all still present. I’m not near the car today but can do some research, look at the car and get back to you tomorrow.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@seemslegit no, it is currently equipped with Bilstein 24-014052 shocks in the rear.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@CarCrazy24AC is not working as stated in the overview. I have not attempted to charge or diagnose. Heater is a good question. I have not used previously. Windows locks, sunroof and passenger exterior mirror are operable. I don’t recall any power adjustments on the seats but will check. There is also no exterior power antenna on the rear driver’s quarter - it may be in the windshield? I’ll have to check.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@ekstarr thanks! It wears it very well.1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16v Cosworth
Boostin said:
@Adeesnegative on being federalized. As to California, it has a catalytic converter but I have not had it tested.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@HammerEdthanks for the info!Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
Good morning everyone. It’s the final day of the auction and I am available to answer any additional question that may be out there. The reserve is reasonable and below where this car was bid to last time around. I would love to see it go to a new home today.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@Amine78it is certainly possible but I have no idea what it would cost. You will have to do your own research on that.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@HammerEd Thanks for the comments. I viewed the car similarly - I loved the mods by well known period tuners as well as the significant documentation so thought it would be a nice complement to my '82 500SEL AMG that's white. I cleaned it up a bit but it certainly could use further clean up underneath and agree that dry ice would be a great solution. And then there are some odds and ends to be addressed as listed in the ad to make it 'perfect' from a functioning perspective. I was planning on doing that but decided to downsize my collection to only one 500SEL. The paint is quite nice and very presentable but not perfect by any means. Personally I would leave it as is but that will be up to the next owner.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@TheAMGKita few more miles, that’s about it. And a lower reserve.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@GASMotorcars unfortunately, the EQ does not work at this time. The stereo turns on, but there is no sound or reading on the EQ. I will also note that the foam surrounds of the Blaupunkt speakers is nearly all but disintegrated. I have not spent the time to diagnose the wiring. Give me a day or so and I'll get the video you requested.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@NYCdriverthank you for your comments. Much appreciated.Euro-Spec 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL
Boostin said:
@Ilovebigtoys thanks for your post and completely agree with honesty and transparency on this site. I would also encourage all members to review a listing in full including the accompanying photos and previous listing if applicable before posting unproductive commentary. Had you looked at the photos and previous listing, you would see the import documentation with mileage and annual registrations with mileage since, as you had requested. As for paperwork from before that time, I don't have it and am not going to make any representations other than those that can be made with the documentation and information I have, all of which is included in this listing. You could very well be correct that this car had hundreds of thousands of miles or KMs on it before being imported. These cars, like many of the era that have now become collectible, were just plain 'cars' back in the day. They weren't all that special and most people didn't bother to save records. But in this case, the owner did, and I'm very happy about that so we at least have some insight into this car's cool history. In any case, for any members that are actually interested in the car, I'm available and happy to answer any questions, take any photos or videos, show the car in-person, or bring it to a shop for a PPI. As I stated in the beginning, I'm all about honesty and transparency. I'm happy to share everything I know about the car and based on that, will leave it to you to come to your own conclusions about the car.1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E AMG Hammer Tribute
Boostin said:
@Merc2000thanks! Just checked them out. Looks like a fun car that gets up and moves a bit better than I would have expected and with nice firm shifts too.1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E AMG Hammer Tribute
Boostin said:
Did the other photos and videos get uploaded? I can't seem to find them unless I'm just completely missing something. Thanks1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@djw911it has not been tested but I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t pass.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@Alphadeltahonestly the motor runs very well - smooth idle and when cruising. Same for the transmission - shifts through the gears as it should both up and down. There is no smoke on startup or when running but I’ll see what I can do in terms of video for that. There is a small oil leak that can be seen in the pictures but I would have to get it back in the air and further inspect to tell you more precisely where it is coming from. I have a driving video that I will get uploaded.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
I just looked at my other 500SEL (that does have AMG logs and solid lifters) with 100K miles and there is a very visible difference in internal cleanliness between the two motors. I'm happy to post pics for reference if someone would like, just let me know.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@BlueridgeMB @Porschephile unfortunately there are no clips present on this one but the motor top end looks to be quite clean based on what can be seen through the oil filler. I'll upload pictures shortly.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@karlkaczmarczyk sure, take a look at the documentation in the photos, the condition of the pedals, the wood, the rest of the interior and the motor internals which I'll post pictures of shortly. The driver's seat is not easy to get in and out of and the material is not terribly durable to begin with let alone its 42 years old at this point. But regardless, you're free to make your own assessment.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@BlueridgeMB I would be happy to take those pictures when I get home this evening. Didn’t even think about the likely tell of solid lifters with clips. As for the chain, tensioners, rails, I do not believe they have been done. I will go through the receipts but the car wasn’t driven frequently since the original owner moved it to Florida so I doubt he did them. And I have not.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@Porschephilethe candid answer is I do not know. It had the AMG badge when imported but I suspect if anything it would be shocks / springs and differential. I’ll pull a wheel and see if I can see any part numbers or otherwise. And then refresh on how to identify the diffs. I will also take the pictures that BlueridgeMB requested.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@kokolomoushthanks. While the black looks great, I’m with you on the brown. I think I might prefer it with the Rial centers color matched or mesh BBS with gold centers.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
Good morning everyone and welcome to my auction. I'm happy to answer questions and take any additional photos or videos that are requested. I can also be available to show the car and will assist with PPIs within a reasonable distance. I am going to be sad to see this car go but as I posted in the comment below, life has other plans at the moment. This is a great example that runs and drives beautifully. I can't comment on any motor work that was completed but it gets up and goes. It shifts through the gears as expected and has a firm yet comfortable ride and handles very well for being as large as it it. While there are a few items to be addressed as noted in the listing to make it perfect, they should be relatively easy and I just haven't had the time. The AC blows cold, all windows work, the sunroof is operational though I've only used it once in fear of a failure while open, and even the Recaro seats operate under power.1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL w/24K Miles
Boostin said:
@KeymasterofGozerthanks! I wasn't planning on this one leaving my collection but life has other plans.1982 Mercedes-Benz 500SEC AMG
Boostin said:
Beautiful example and tastefully modified! A few questions - when you found the car, were the AMG parts already on the car or did you add them? If they were on the car, do they have AMG stamps and if so, can you please post pictures of each? Do you have any historical documentation on the car such as the federalization book with pictures or any purchase orders from the dealer or AMG? Do you know what ratio the diff is? Thanks