Guess This 1987 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth’s Value
It’s Mercedes’ Storied Answer to the BMW E30 M3, But Is This One Worth the Asking Price?
In Jalopnik’s latest “Nice Price or Crack Pipe?” segment, we encounter quite the classic — at least when it comes to Mercedes and its sports car heritage — 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth. This was the car Mercedes used to assault the BMW E30 M3. The same car Ayrton Senna ripped in a one-make race at the Nurburgring Grand Prix circuit.
DTM Beginnings
How the 2.3-16 Cosworth came about is an interesting story. In the early 1980s, Mercedes wanted to take the 190E rallying, but needed an engine supplier. They eventually turned to British engineering company Cosworth to develop an engine with 320 horsepower. However during that time, Audi was dominating the rally world with its all-wheel-drive Quattro and its ferocious turbocharged engine.
Mercedes then decided to scrap that idea and turned to DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft) instead. In order to compete in the series, the racing car had to be based on a road-going production model … thus the 2.3-16 Cosworth was born. The road-going version made 185 horsepower, but like always, the U.S. version was de-tuned, and only put down 165 ponies to the rear wheels.
Clean for a Dirty 30
This 1987 example seems to be in quite a good state, despite being nearly 30 years old. The best part is that the body seems to be rust-free. That’s a major load off any potential purchaser’s mind. The U.S.-spec headlights were ditched for Euro units, which adds a nice touch to the already-sporty exterior. Taking a look inside, the sport seats are in mint condition, and the period Becker head unit is as period-correct as you can get.
The windshield has been replaced, and even the single wiper blade still works. An array of other new parts has been installed to keep the old girl feeling fresh, like engine/transmission mounts, battery, HVAC fan, speedo cable, and more. However, with old cars, not everything is perfect.
There is an electrical drain issue that seems to be connected to the power seats, a cold-start problem, and the usual paint imperfections. A crack can be seen on the rear spoiler, but the car comes with a new one that’s unpainted.
With 157,000 miles on the odometer, and a list of upgrades/imperfections, what do you all think about this ’87 2.3-16 Cosworth selling for $17,500? Nice price, or crack pipe? Let us know on the forums!
CHECK OUT: What Forum Members Are Saying About This Classic Cosworth?
