Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3/16V - Highly Original
Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.3/16V - Highly Original
General information
Model range: May 1983 - Oct 1988
Model code: W201
Technical information
Torque: 235 Nm
Transmission: 5 gears, Manual gearbox
Fuel tank: 70 litres
Drive: Rear wheel drive
Acceleration (0-100 kph): 7,5 s
Top speed: 230 km/h
Empty weight: 1.248 kg
Wheelbase: 267 cm
Interior
Number of seats: 4
History
Service history: Present (serviced by dealer)
Product safety
Manufacturer: Carrosso Classic & Sportscars Eekstraat 2 8375HN OLDEMARKT, NL 0625351515 http://www.carrosso.com sales@carrosso.com
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3 16V W201 1986
• Owned by the first owner until 2018
• Serviced by the same Swiss dealer up to a mileage of 137,157 km
• Exceptionally original condition
• Well maintained (documentation available)
• Original documentation available (including delivery and owner’s manual)
• Legendary 2.3-litre 16-valve Cosworth engine
• 5-speed manual ‘Dogleg’ gearbox
• Sought-after options such as Recaro leather sports interior
• Air conditioning
• Professionally detailed in 2026
HISTORY/DOCUMENTATION
An exceptionally original and well-documented example of an iconic and rock-solid Mercedes: this car was delivered new on 13 August 1986 in Milan, Italy. Notably, the documentation shows that the first owner retained possession of the car until at least 2018. Furthermore, up to a mileage of 137,157 km in 2008, the car was frequently and well maintained at the Mercedes dealership just across the border in Lugano (Switzerland). In 2026, we imported the car from Italy and had it professionally detailed, ensuring it is in pristine condition for its next owner. A folder full of original documentation dating back to the 1980s is included with the car: the original delivery and service booklets, ownership history and even all service invoices have been well preserved.
EXTERIOR
The entire car is in a very original condition, with no visible damage, well-aligned panel gaps and no rust. Unlike the standard 190E, the 2.30/16V was supplied with the aerodynamics package: a specific front bumper with spoiler, side skirts, wheel arch extensions and the distinctive rear wing. The car was only available in silver and the colour Blauschwarz (colour code 199), which is the colour in which this example was delivered. The paintwork has a lovely sheen. Due to its age, some imperfections are visible, but these only serve to emphasise the car’s originality. The original alloy wheels are fitted with Pirelli tyres all round, which still have sufficient tread depth. Windows, lights and rubber seals are in good condition. An interesting detail is that the car is fitted with optional side indicators (SA code 341, Zusatzblinkleuchten). In the 1980s, side indicators on the mudguards were not yet a legal requirement in many European countries (such as Germany and the Netherlands). Mercedes therefore supplied them as an option.
INTERIOR
The SA codes (Sonder-Ausstattung) present provide a good indication of this car’s original configuration. For example, SA code 586 refers to the combination of manual air conditioning and electric windows all round. SA code 466 refers to the central locking system. This system operated via Mercedes-Benz’s well-known pneumatic vacuum system, whereby the door locks and the fuel filler flap were opened or closed simultaneously by means of air pressure. In the 1980s, this was still a luxury feature and not standard equipment. A particularly valuable option is SA code 271, the all-black/anthracite leather interior (instead of half-leather upholstery). Furthermore, the car features four individual Recaro sports seats, with the rear bench also comprising two sportily shaped seats rather than a traditional flat bench. The centre console houses three additional instruments: a stopwatch/lap timer, an oil temperature gauge and a voltmeter, directly inspired by motor racing. The interior is in an exceptionally original and good condition: the leather upholstery is free from damage and wear, the dials and buttons are still fresh, and the dashboard, steering wheel and headlining are all in good condition. It is clear that the car has been treated with care, as the interior still feels virtually as good as new.
TECHNICAL
The 190E 2.3-16 was not just any sporty version of the W201, but a specially developed model with a clear link to motorsport. Mercedes-Benz developed this car as a homologation model for racing, which meant it featured technical specifications that went far beyond those of a standard 190E. These included a hydropneumatic level control (SLS) on the rear axle, a mechanical limited-slip differential with 32 per cent lock-up for better traction, a larger 70-litre fuel tank, a smaller sports steering wheel and the famous Getrag five-speed gearbox with a dogleg shift pattern, where first gear was positioned at the bottom left. The Mercedes has been well maintained: up to a mileage of 137,157 km in 2008, the car was serviced frequently and to a high standard at the Mercedes dealership just across the border in Lugano (Switzerland). This is neatly documented in both the service booklets and the numerous invoices. Maintenance has also been carried out since then: for example, a new battery was fitted in 2020 and a service was carried out in 2024.
GENERAL
The 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 is one of the most iconic sports saloons of the 1980s and is regarded as a technical highlight within the W201 series, the compact Mercedes that was launched in 1982 as a smaller, more modern addition to the brand’s larger models. The 190E 2.3-16 was not a direct successor to an earlier ‘16-valve’ Mercedes, but built on the standard 190/190E models and was developed as a homologation model for motorsport, featuring a 16-valve cylinder head developed by Cosworth on the 2.3-litre four-cylinder engine. As a result, it delivered 185 pk in Europe, making it one of the fastest compact sports saloons of its time. A well-known fact is that the 190E 2. 3-16 became world-famous thanks to the record-breaking runs at Nardò in 1983, where Mercedes set long-standing speed records with virtually standard production cars, and later through the spectacular opening race of the new Nürburgring GP circuit in 1984, which was surprisingly won by a young Ayrton Senna in an identical 190E 2.3-16. The car also stood out with four individual Recaro sports seats, a dogleg Getrag five-speed gearbox, a limited-slip differential, rear-axle height control and subtle spoilers that gave the car its characteristic DTM look. In 1988, it was succeeded by the 190E 2.5-16, which featured a larger engine and further technical refinements, whilst the ultimate evolution followed later in the form of the 2.5-16 Evolution and Evolution II, now legendary homologation models. As a result, the 190E 2.3-16 is now regarded as the car that definitively brought Mercedes back into the sports saloon segment and laid the foundations for the brand’s later compact AMG and sports models.
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