Jalopnik

"Engineered like no other car in the world".

Sigh. That used to be true, and it's why I will never part with my beloved W124.

I remember the '80s. Back then 16-valve was something that you could market. That was before pretty much every car and riding mower had that feature.

AND a rear wing? What other innovations are they not advertising? Love this car, though, and Benzos usually just leave me lukewarm

@graverobber: Yeah really. My toaster has 16 valves and DOHC.

Really great car, all squared off Merc granite block goodness. Although, I'd still want the 1st gen M3 more.

my wife's daily driver is an '87 2.3 sans 16 (doh) and even that is a great little car, actually handles pretty well and is quick enough if you floor in and force it down into first gear.

The 16 with the manual is probably a blast to drive, dont see them much, I would imagine many have been hooned to death, it would be a tall order not to drive them hard

I've never seen it, but I'd love to find a video of the all-star 190 2.3-16 race held at the (New) Nürburgring in 1984. The race was won by Senna.

I want to like this car (especially at current prices) but it doesn't do it for me right now.

I owned a high-mileage example in the summer of 2005, when I lived in Seattle. It was a grey-market, 1985 model in the champagne color, rocking plaid cloth seat bottoms with black leather bolsters - über Bruce.

I absolutely loved the car, but knew that it wasn't going to be a great daily driver for me at that time. The Eibach Pro-Kit lowering springs added by the previous owner made every Vashon Island ferry ride at high and low tides a scrape-tastic adventure. Opposite-lock drifting through a particular uphill to flat, right-hand sweeper on every wet weather commute was throuroghly enjoyable, but didn't bode well for the upcoming winter.

I sold it to a 17 year old kid's dad who had been convinced that a Mercedes would be a safe, reliable first car choice for his first born. I wonder how long that lasted...

Ever since, I've been back in more familiar, turbo AWD territory, but I still harbor fantasies about getting another 190E 2.3-16 when the right one comes along. I drive by a black one in a local driveway all the time, with stuffed animals, lacy doilies and a knit-covered kleenex box overloading the rear package tray. Makes me want to call the DMV and report a felonious case of Bruce abuse...

"2.3 16" isn't a name...it's a number, and the musical fluorish drowns out the narrator's voice. Bad editing. Great Car. Now Benzes look like Pontiacs.

I JUST saw one of these two weekends ago in Monterey. Thing was mint. Tried to take pics without looking like an uber-stalker.

@bmoredlj: Now Benzes look like Pontiacs

You are right, they do, and Pontiacs look like running shoes. Need a beer already, shit

@FLB: Check this web site for a little taste.
[www.mb190.de]
Can you imagine if ABC had broadcast this instead of the state-side International Race of Champions in 1984? One nation, under Bruce, with LSDs and dogleg gearboxes for all!
This car also gets major bonus points for being competitive in racing for such a long time period based on the same basic platform. 190Es continued to score podium finishes in the DTM series through 1993.

@bugattatra: I am with you, on my second W124 and cannot foresee any possibility of stopping, although next on the list would have to be an E500 or an E36 Wagon!!! Straight 6 FTW!!

@gamjccdad:

An E500 is one of four (nearly) attainable cars I allow myself in the dream garage.

Goes like this:

E500
993 Turbo S
Citroen DS21
Tatra T87

For now I'm thinking of trading my '94 E320 for a late TE or maybe even a CE.

Did you see the AMG Pagani-motored TE in evo a few years back? Droooooool.

I consulted for a very sweet IT chief of German birth, Helga. She had a 190E baby-Benz with the 2.3-16 drivetrain, no trunklid designation, no spoiler. Black on black, with red piping on the seats and machined aluminum dash inserts in lieu of woodgrain. A total stealth car, and Helga knew how to take it to its limits.

@gamjccdad: Get a beat-up 300TE and put in the floorpan (yes, you'll need the whole floorpan) from a 500E. I was looking at old Benzes on Ebay yesterday and they had an original AMG Hammer coupe. Ohhhhhh momma.

I drove a 190E 2.6 (single-cam six-cylinder) once and really liked it. A few 190Es were sold with that motor and a five-speed; if I could find one of those and drop in the three-liter engine I'd have a great high-speed cruiser. It'd have the same output as the 2.3-16, but it'd be much more relaxed. Also, it wouldn't have any spoilers to warn Audi A4s and such.

had a 92 190 2.6 with a 5 speed.from a roll it would pull on my buddys 1994 turbo talon.

@charles_barrett: Ummm...

German + Helga = Sweet does not compute.

612 torques is nice but I'd rather have a Mercedes from this era.

@charles_barrett: Helga's car sounds very nice, but its not a 2.3-16. The car you are describing with the badge delete, red seat piping and carbon fiber trim is actually the 1993 190E 2.6 Special Edition. It was a limited edition model (only 700 made) to commemorate the final year of the W201. And yes, it is a total stealth car. I'm sure Helga was very hot in it. :)