190E 2.6 question
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
2001 C320
190E 2.6 question
Or more like questions i should say. I am trying to find some information on a couple of things, like are these somewhat easily obtained in U.S. if they are nearly Impossible then was there a American model that was similar. The last may sound kind of dumb but did they come with a manual transmission at all in the U.S.
Me and a guy at work are starting a project to kind of challenge our skills. There are allot of elements to it but the basic structure is a 11.5 second street driven daily with 350Hp or less. After a couple of nights of research i came across the 190E 2.6 cosworth info and it fit the bill in terms of weight, drive train, suspension etc. So we talked and decided to look further into it. so i am here lol. We already decided if we manage to get a actual cosworth we are using that engine. If not we most likely wont be. I cant cut up a real cosy anything benz escort doesn't matter.
By the way we are both well aware that we could accomplish this task with a fox body mustang fairly easily. We really want the challenge and the 190 would be pretty unique to so double score.
Me and a guy at work are starting a project to kind of challenge our skills. There are allot of elements to it but the basic structure is a 11.5 second street driven daily with 350Hp or less. After a couple of nights of research i came across the 190E 2.6 cosworth info and it fit the bill in terms of weight, drive train, suspension etc. So we talked and decided to look further into it. so i am here lol. We already decided if we manage to get a actual cosworth we are using that engine. If not we most likely wont be. I cant cut up a real cosy anything benz escort doesn't matter.
By the way we are both well aware that we could accomplish this task with a fox body mustang fairly easily. We really want the challenge and the 190 would be pretty unique to so double score.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 35
Likes: 2
2001 C320
With some research i answered a couple questions already, Yes manuals were available but rare. I still cant find the numbers on how rare this 2.6 is in the U.S., i have even found a couple for sale which makes me think they are not to rare. Those were both to nice for this project though. I would really like to get a 2.6 i have never worked on one and would love to open it up and play with it but its not looking like that may be in cards.
Newbie
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Plano Texas
'92 190E 2.6
the 2.6 is more common ( from what I've seen in adds etc here ) and I even have a '92 ( in an auto ) and love it. I just had the transmission replaced and that was a challenge because it's pretty much year specific. They had to go from Dallas to Houston to find one. Only drawback to the 2.6 is it's mechanically and electronically fuel injected so ya can't really tune on it. There Is a kit to drop a RB25/26 from a Skyline in it though 
Newbie
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12
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190E 2.6
I think you're a bit confused.
The 190E was sold in the US with a choice of two 8v gas engines: the four cylinder 2.3 or the six cylinder 2.6. Neither are "rare." Both were available with a manual transmission but they were not usually specced that way. So most of the ones you see for sale are automatics (I suppose that makes the 2.6 manual "rare" in a sense).
The truly rare version of the 190E is the 2.3-16, also referred to as the "Cosworth" because the head was made by Cosworth, a British racing outfit. The motor in US-spec cars was a tuned 2.3 liter 16v four cylinder engine (the European market actually also got 2.5 liter version, which is why later year Euro cars are badged as 2.5-16s). The Cosworth was available with a dogleg-pattern Getrag manual gearbox or an automatic.
The 190E was sold in the US with a choice of two 8v gas engines: the four cylinder 2.3 or the six cylinder 2.6. Neither are "rare." Both were available with a manual transmission but they were not usually specced that way. So most of the ones you see for sale are automatics (I suppose that makes the 2.6 manual "rare" in a sense).
The truly rare version of the 190E is the 2.3-16, also referred to as the "Cosworth" because the head was made by Cosworth, a British racing outfit. The motor in US-spec cars was a tuned 2.3 liter 16v four cylinder engine (the European market actually also got 2.5 liter version, which is why later year Euro cars are badged as 2.5-16s). The Cosworth was available with a dogleg-pattern Getrag manual gearbox or an automatic.
