EV0LVE

I don't know much about 190e, it may not be a dtm model. Well I saw a black dtm looking 190e on the 405 heading south on friday around 6pm, the car is sweet!!! it's got a huge lancer evolution-looking wing with fender flares. So what do you call those model? awesome car, I couldn't snap a pic, I was on two wheels.

1996_S500

was it one of these? The 190 E Evo? Sure sounds sweet.

MTI

The SoCal area has a few of the body kitted cars. Under the bodywork, it's not a real Evolution.

EV0LVE

THAT'S IT!!! It was awesome, the driver may have noticed me checking out the car and he pulled away pretty strong. I didn't try to catch up cuz my exit was coming up. Nice car, pretty clean, it was either on OE or a really clean rep, must be an OE though.

MTI

OE? Original Equipment? Phuleeze!

Only 502 2.5-16 Evolution II's were manufactured for street use by Mercedes. None (repeat none) were sold by MBUSA, and they were never certified to meet NHSTA, DOT or Calif CARB standards. You're more likely to see a real Ferrari 250 GTO in SoCal than a real Mercedes Evolution, since Ralph Lauren does actually have one in his east coast collection.

Fiberglass bodykits,however, were widely available. Prices range from just under $1K to $3K and require substantial cutting of fender wells and bodywork blending to approximate the factory finish.

EV0LVE

I'm not trying to convince you, I'm just saying I saw one, oe or not, just a beautiful car.

HLG600

MTI

Someone in this thread said it "must be oe" . . . lemme check . . . hmmm.

EV0LVE

It's an OE until proven wrong!!!

mctwin2kman

Look up the stats. Not one W201 Evo I or Evo II was ever imported into the USA. They both had 2.5 16V engines in them, the I produced around 197Hp and the II produced 230Hp as I recall. Not one 2.5 16V engined vehicle was sold here due to never meeting the above mentioned standards. MB made plenty of 2.5 16V 190's just only 502 of the Evo I and Evo II's. The Evo II came with fully adjustable SLS both front and rear.

1996_S500

Whatever the case, it must have really been Beautiful W201. RedW203, I'm glad you posted this thread. I drive on the 405 to L.A. every once in a while nowadays, and I will certainly look out for one.

I agree. They are superb looking cars.

EV0LVE

96s500, I'm glad someone shares my thought on this. It really was an awesome car. I saw the car getting on the 405 southbound from sunset blvd. it was a black car. You won't miss it coz the wing is huge. Goodluck.

DarkCreep

You seem pretty close to me! Im 90242!

mctwin2kman

Don't get me wrong they are an awesome car. Just wish I could get a real Evo II in the US. Now that would be sweet. If I remember correctly they put out somewhere near 230Hp from a NA 2.5 16V engine. Not to shabby!

C43AMG

You guys are right....its one sweet car !

MTI

No one, and certainly not I, is debating whether the Evolution II is one of the most "out of character" Mercedes street sedans ever built . . . but if you gullible enough to believe that there's a real one tooling up and down the 405 . . . then that person must believe that every MB with AMG badges and bodykit must be from Affalterbach.

Hal9000

There are a number of Evo II kitted cars on the west coast. A few of them are very clean looking and since they duplicate a stock body kit and not some "streetfighter" rice kit, they could be mistaken as OEM. Like MTI and a few others have already stated, the DMV will not allow the OEM versions of this car to be registered. I've heard rumors that there's a VIN block on them.

The best kitted cars that I've seen are on 2.3-16s, which are about the closest that the US ever got to the Evo. It would be able to pull away with some authority if the owner was inclined to do so.

190s with this kit show up on ebay or in the auto trader once or twice a year. Seems like people don't hold on to them too long for some reason.

DarkCreep

I like that!