I had to junk my old 1984 190e 2.3 and recently scooped up another 190e, this time a 1982 2.6 and 5 speed

Im having some trouble locating after market parts for this year tho, all the headlights and grills i see are for 1984 and up. Also can not locate any lowering springs for this year. Is the suspension really that different from 1982 to 1984?

Any links for parts would be highly appreicated, looking to give her a facelift ( euros and grill) an drop it around 1.5'.

Thanks in advance

 

Production started in November 1982 at Sindelfilgen with only the 2.0 litre M102 engine available. Both the SOHC 2.3 litre and 2.6 litre became available in europe from 1986 but the DOHC 2.3-16 became available from late 1983 since the 190/W201 was originally intended for touring car racing so needed a homologation version (sports) sold to the public to qualify for race entry. The idea was a basic 2.0 litre version sold as an entry level wifey car and shopping trolley, with a 2.3-16 homologation version to get the type into touring car races. Diesels started in 84 as a taxi version initially to boost sales, since development was so expensive they wanted to ensure sales. Mercedes was a bit taken aback by its popularity (production of petrol versions increased 30% for the years 84-85 to meet demand) hence they expanded domestic sales with the 2.3 SOHC and 2.6 options in 86.

A few 2.6 litre were built at the end of 1986 as an entry level luxury/executive roughly equivalent to a more compact 300E executive, usually the earliest you find one is 1987 production. This version also came with cloth interior (for tropical regions) and exported in numbers to places like Hong Kong/Asia. Pretty popular, they handle so great and are tough as nails.

So either your dating of the vehicle is wrong, or someone has retrofitted an M103 engine and 5-speed (rare behind an M103) into an earlier model 190.
That means you should identify the original specification through the compliance plate and check exactly what modifications and changes have been made and whether OEM parts were used. The M103 version is worth checking too, an early engine production has a single row timing chain instead of a double, or it might not even be a 2.6 as the 3.0 is identical externally (may mean you need to install 300E brakes for compliance). The exhaust might be aftermarket and lack the sensors and pollution gear, this may not be roadworthy even if the car year model is pre-pollution because the engine version isn't so to install it even into an earlier year model car your local legislation may require the pollution gear fitted, because the model that came with that engine had it.
You need to check these sort of things when you find something like a custom engine install in a mid-80s car since that's right when pollution gear and tightened legislation became widely enforced, and a major reason for people installing later engines in earlier models was dodging the legislation for a cheap horsepower gain that isn't strictly legal.

You shouldn't have any trouble fitting later specified grills, lights and suspension. It never had any facelift exactly, just minor styling changes between versions rather than year model. There's air suspension and sportline suspension and AMG suspension but again it's model/version not year/model related.

I'd take it to a Mercedes specialist workshop, tell them the car has a later engine that wasn't available in its year model and you'd like them to look over the whole thing and tell you if it's roadworthy in your state, or if there's anything you need to install, change or remove. It should only cost a few hours labour for a detailed report referencing genuine Mercedes specification and local roadworthy and compliance laws.