190E 2.5 16V - Making it perfect!

[Gurd63]

(mods, move this thread to the projects, if you deem it necessary)

So, i recently purchased a 1989 Mercedes 190E 2.5 16V.

The car

The car was owned by a good friend of mine, so i knew in brief the history of the car. He had owned the car for roughly 16 odd years, his relative owning the car beforehand. I first saw the car popping into his house when picking up a clarion set (for the earlier wish of an sec widebody project). I saw the car and though hmmm i like that! I then saw the car again in May, at the 190e Coventry GTG, it was sitting on custom 18" wheels then and was looking blingin'! I then got onto the mission of convincing him to sell me the car, only took a few months!!

The overall condition of the car was really very good for its age, nearly all of the paintwork seems to be original and to the same thickness which is always a reassuring thing. The car was really well looked after by the previous owner, each year it being inspected for rust etc. Its history is pretty much like no other car I’ve ever bought or come across. Absolutely everything being accounted for and documented properly! Services, mots, tax disks, mag features, yearly rust/general inspection pictures from the last 16 years, original booklets, order sheet, pre-inspection sheet and more! All this was informing me of the care the car had for the majority of its life.

The car on the 18's at the Cov GTG
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
The cars we took to the GTG, quite the opposite to the 2.5!
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Just some of the documentation!
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr

 

[Gurd63]

The is far from standard, which for some people devalues the car, I get that but I’ve got other cars which are purpose bought stock investment cars so i wasn't too fussed about that. If anything, it’s made it look even cooler than a 2.5 16V already is!

At the moment the car is lowered on Eibach springs and Bilstein Shocks, with the addition of adjustable camber arms, deleting the SLS standard suspension. However, the SLS lines have been kept installed so I can choose to turn it back to standard if I ever wanted.

Engine wise the car is 95% standard, having a K&N air filter and Remus backbox (the heavy bas***d!)

The car has had as many wheel set changed as I have meals I think! Everything from Carlsson’s, AMG Monos to BBS Splits. But when I saw it with the staggered Pentas I loved it! They’re 8J/9J x 16 genuine Pentas. I did like the custom 18 splits but me being a pre-merger AMG fanboy… I had to have it on the Pents!

The day I went to see the car before confirming a sale
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr

Note how small the 190 looks compared to the Spur!!
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr

 

[Fununcle]

Nice car man.

 

[grober]

Are the wheels in the first pictures Lorinser or another manufacturer?

 

[merc85]

Cracking looking car, I dont get the whole "Stance" Stretch tyre thing :/ But a lovely car nevertheless

 

[Gurd63]

Are the wheels in the first pictures Lorinser or another manufacturer?

They were custom 18" wheels built for the car, crazy expensive he said

 

[Gurd63]

Cracking looking car, I dont get the whole "Stance" Stretch tyre thing :/ But a lovely car nevertheless

Thanks mate, and yeah I don't get it either tbh. But hold on, I'm goning to touch on that in my next post.

At the pub now though

 

[jaymanek]

Glad it went to a good home!

 

[Gurd63]

Glad it went to a good home!

Thanks Jay!

 

[Gurd63]

Afternoon all, so I finally got the car home after buying it and lorddddd what a car!! Drives brilliantly for a car of this age, drop a gear with the dogleg box and it just pulls non stop! Handles like a go kart too. The reason I've bought this car is to use it, i'm fortunate enough to have other cars which were purchased for pure investment purposes, but i felt that this car had to stay on the road. It would be sacrilege to lock it up!
The night we picked it up...
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
IMG_4583 by gurd singh, on Flickr
IMG_4584 by gurd singh, on Flickr

 

[Gurd63]

That following weekend I couldn't wait any longer and had to give it a good clean, even though it wasn't dirty. Just allowed me to get a better idea of the paintwork as you'll always miss something when just generally looking over the car. Washing and drying the car always allows me to take note of any defects!

The wash method was the usual safe wash... two buckets, grit guards, ph neutral sown foam etc etc

Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr

 

[Gurd63]

This was after the wash...

Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr
Untitled by gurd singh, on Flickr

 

[grober]

Bilstein decals on the rear of the sills ? What's the lettering under the 2.5 16V badge?

 

[Gurd63]

Bilstein decals on the rear of the sills ? What's the lettering under the 2.5 16V badge?

Yep, Bilstein/Nurburgring stickers, keeping those on as i'm planning to do another Nurburg visit early next year and take. The badge is a Cosworth badge added by the previous owner, but planning to take that off as it isn't the 2.3 (i know how rear end hurt people can get in regards to badges)

 

[Gurd63]

My plan for the car...

Other than a few burnouts

The first thing is to raise the right height, mainly to the rear. It scrapes like hell getting out've the drive!
At the moment i'm just going to add thicker coil ring shims, 8mm to 18mm with a non stretched thicker tyre, i think it should raise it a little. If it needs to be done more, i'm going to look at installing full AMG suspension all round.

I'm definitely going to remove the cambered & stretched tyre euro look, not my cup off tea. I'm trying to get that old 80's look, a squared stance and thick tyres! as if the car was modded in the 80's.

To further the 80's look, i'm having the centres of the AMG Pentas colour coded in 702 Smoke it wont be to everyones taste but i cant wait to get that done.

Also sent off the grill surround to be colour coded in 702. It's been sent to Bentley Conversions in Ilford, still the only company i know of who can paint all chrome/metal and it will not peel at all.

Bodywork wise there isn't much to do. The only little thing is that somebody had previously machine polished the car and slightly burnt through the paint on the boot lid Still unsure whether to get that done as there are no signs of previous paintwork...

And also to remove the Cosworth badge and maybe the DTM style wiper mod.

Once its all done the car will be polished and then ceramic coated

 

[grober]

Here's a picture of the AMG DTM Evo 2 car driven by Klaus Ludwig which I believe shows the DTM style non "jumping" style wiper

 

[Abb]

What a beautiful looking example. Congratulations.

 

[neilrr]

These cars always look better in stock configuration, more valuable that way too.

This one is in need of serious de-chaving. Lose the stickers, decals, exhaust, the wrong steering wheel, the wrong wheels, the wrong ride height (& presumably the wrong suspension). It doesn't need AMG suspension, it needs 2.5-16 suspension with P6s all round. Park the wiper correctly & put the bloody number plate back on. The 'Cosworth' badge is off a Ford.

 

[Gurd63]

These cars always look better in stock configuration, more valuable that way too.

This one is in need of serious de-chaving. Lose the stickers, decals, exhaust, the wrong steering wheel, the wrong wheels, the wrong ride height (& presumably the wrong suspension). It doesn't need AMG suspension, it needs 2.5-16 suspension with P6s all round. Park the wiper correctly & put the bloody number plate back on. The 'Cosworth' badge is off a Ford.

Hi, thanks for your comment. I understand people have their own taste and preferences.

As stated before, I haven't bought this car because of the value or future value, as I don't have a need to, I've bought it to enjoy it and drive it regularly.

De-chaving is a little harsh wouldn't you say? I'd prefer the term 'euro look', the serious camber, ride height and stretched tyres give the Euro impression. But if you'd read my previous post, I'm working to remove those aspects.
You'd be happy to know that the original Alan Day front numberplate is back on, I too am not a fan of the plateless front.
In regards to the suspension, it doesn't "need" 2.5 suspension, as I'm clearly not turning it back to standard. I'm reducing the mods yes, but not deleting all of them. It will have whatever suspension I deem necessary to get (in my opinion) the right stance.
The exhaust is a Remus back box, which is period correct so it will be staying.
And yes I am fully aware that the Cosworth badge is indeed off an Escort Cosworth, and is coming off (did you read any posts?). I know it's not from a Sierra RS Cosworth as my RS has the Cosworth decal on the left hand side

I hope that clears a few things up for you Neil, even though I'd mentioned most points before

 

[Wolfie1]

Personally i quite like it the way it is, its subtly modded that adds to the overall look, but im not a fan of the dangerous stretched tyre thing either. Post 12 2nd pic down is the money shot in my eyes