i have a hankerin for a new race car
Are you looking at the 2.3-16v then? I know a bit about the 190e 2.3 normal version. Had one for years and it was a good little car. A bit high geared for relaxed highway cruising, but comfortable enough (if a bit small inside) and easy to maintain.
Yes, I had a 190E 2.3 (8-valve version) with a 5-speed manual as my DD for a few years. Nice car, if a bit small and dare I say.....a tad underpowered. I've never driven the 2.3 16V with the Cosworth head, but those were a lot more spirited from what I've read. Brian
either the cosworth and some turbo work or something. I guess im looking at options. Maybe an LSX/T6060? how is it as a platform? arnt they around 3000lbs or so stock? hows the aftermarket?
i dont want it to drive like a big mercedes. I want it to be relitivly nimble and handle well on a road course
rare, but amg (before they got absorbed) built the "hammer" a 190 with the 3.2 shoe horned in ...i always loved that idea (they built a 300 with V8 same too) but i have to say, though reports are the car was never with enough power (even from the cossy 4 banger) the 190 2.3 cosworth evo2 cars look great IMO Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
interesting ebay find (no affiliation) these are going for about $15,000-20,000 usually, but an 190E 2.3-16V cosworth (first style) for no reserve (california car), bidding is around $3000 right now for it http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-190-Series-Cosworth-1986-Mercedes-Benz-190E-2-3-16v-COSWORTH-NO-RESERVE-/121006946390?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item1c2c937856
i thought odd at first too, but i've seen a few online pics of the 1st style 2.3-16V with autos...not sure if it was a north american only thing or not?
190e 2.3 i6v is great street car, or a pretty good race car (after doing a lot of work) but not a very good street/and track day car. Just not enough hp unless you strip the crap out of it. They are a very light car, with lots of heavy Mercedes luxury stuff tacked on.
true +1 and the performance parts are getting harder to find now down side items, the dash and upper door panels are prone to sun damage & shrink-back of the leather ....the OEM headlights cloud and discolor, being hard to see/poor night lighting ....the self leveling rear shocks wear out and expensive to replace ....the small 11" front brakes are adequate, most calipers need rebuild by now (age) ....steering was always a little vague (has old style mercedes RB steering box, not a rack and pinion)
so what are the options for suspesnion mods? im assuming coilovers, but these were race cars for a while no? Anyone making aftermarket suspension parts?
despite how they look in photos, the car is actually really small, and light weight (relatively speaking) around 2900lbs i'm going to build myself an Evo2 clone
more basic is better ...the proven combo are larger sway bars (there are some factory options), eibach or H&R springs, koni or bistein shocks ....end links (some models were plastic?) need improving to metal ones, and new bushings at this age would be a must do IMO i should add, coil-overs if you could get them, would be wrong anyways, as the suspension is designed with seperate spring perches from shock mounts
sorry, that should be benzworld.org ...there's a couple of 190 only site out there too (both UK i think?)
it depends on the section(s), but still a core group there ...the problem is that benz never supported sporting parts for thier cars, in the same way as other manufacturers, they instead just expect you'd buy an AMG version
