Considering a 190E Cosworth

Ezah · 6 Dec 2011 at 11:57

Since buying a "sensible" car last month as a DD (Golf GTI) I still have a hankering for a project/weekend vehicle.. initially I wanted to get back into an Mx5 but they are just too hard to find here

. Other cars I was interested in are Supras, but all have been pimped beyond recognition in this neck of the woods and thats not for me.

I have however found some other options, namely 1990 Merc 190E 2.5 16V, in original condition with low mileage(40k) for around 6 grand which is peaking my interest.

I found an old thread on here with a 190 project, but anyone have experience with the Cosworth models or 190s in general?

Ideally it would be a bit of fun to drive, easy to work on by a non-merc garage, cheap on parts and it would be a bonus to hold most of its value if well maintained.

Other options could be a 320/500E sedan or cabrio, or an E36 M3 from around the same age. These are all cars I have appreciated in the past and are around the price point I could grab one without too much worry.

Much as I think the E36 is the best looking 3 series ever, the M3 version just sounds too high maintenance for me. What do you reckon Motors?

Edit: adding pics. The 190E is a 1990 with 40k miles, the M3 is 1995 with 70k miles and the E is 1989, no idea about mileage..just some examples, which all happen to be black

190E

300E

M3

Firestar_3x · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:08

The only 190E i'd buy is the Evolution model(s), the E36 M3 is simply the better car than the normal Cosworth 190 imho.

What do classic SL's go for in your neck of the woods?

Ezah · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:18

yeah, there is a fake Evo (or I think it is fake), for 8k.. but they are otherwise exceptionally rare and pricey.

560SL from 1983 with 60k miles for 7 grand.. looks lovely

I would be pretty happy with one of those also..and if I can convince the wife its an investment it would help lol

paradigm · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:22

Can you pick up a 90's 500 SL for anything like a decent price?

Ezah · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:28

paradigm said:
Can you pick up a 90's 500 SL for anything like a decent price?

I can see a '94 SL500 for 6 grand.. looks tasty too. But now I am moving back into CL territory which scares me a lot on parts cost

Ideally I wanted to keep it simple.. no computers, ECUs etc

Dandle · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:29

Ezah said:
yeah, there is a fake Evo (or I think it is fake), for 8k.. but they are otherwise exceptionally rare and pricey.

560SL from 1983 with 60k miles for 7 grand.. looks lovely

I would be pretty happy with one of those also..and if I can convince the wife its an investment it would help lol

Would be nice with euro spec bumpers but that just looks awful with those doorsteps on it.

Ezah · 6 Dec 2011 at 12:37

US Spec I believe.. so ugly bumpers but less chance of rot

Lashout_UK · 6 Dec 2011 at 14:08

I wouldn't buy a Cosworth Merc as a 'toy'. It's just not interesting or engaging enough.

At least, in my experience. That's why I sold my M5.

Especially not an automatic, as pictured. That's a bad combo.

Firestar_3x · 6 Dec 2011 at 14:10

You've sold the White M5?

bledd · 6 Dec 2011 at 14:25

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/sales/3376386.htm

Love these, they look like muscle cars

Lashout_UK · 6 Dec 2011 at 14:59

Firestar_3x said:
You've sold the White M5?

Yea, a while ago now. Got bored of it. Excellent daily but not much fun to take out at the weekends, or display. I did replace it with this, though, so swings and roundabouts.

http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt305/classiccarshots/IMG_4109.jpg

joem1983 · 6 Dec 2011 at 15:04

E36 M3. Just look out for crash damage. Dont get the Evo version either.

Ezah · 6 Dec 2011 at 15:09

Lashout_UK said:
Yea, a while ago now. Got bored of it. Excellent daily but not much fun to take out at the weekends, or display. I did replace it with this, though, so swings and roundabouts.

http://i622.photobucket.com/albums/tt305/classiccarshots/IMG_4109.jpg

Thanks for the advice. That was a fine looking M5 you had, so how is the Pontiac working out for you?

There are no shortage of US muscle cars here but I hadn't really considered it.

paradigm · 6 Dec 2011 at 15:14

joem1983 said:
Dont get the Evo version either.

Why? I'd always go for the EVO over the 3.0, the VANOS issues are not as common as you might think.

s0ck · 6 Dec 2011 at 18:35

That black e36 looks rather sexy!

paradigm said:
Why? I'd always go for the EVO over the 3.0, the VANOS issues are not as common as you might think.

Did you ever get one? You clearly have a soft spot

Thomas. PLease. · 6 Dec 2011 at 18:50

Ezah said:
I found an old thread on here with a 190 project, but anyone have experience with the Cosworth models or 190s in general?

Ideally it would be a bit of fun to drive, easy to work on by a non-merc garage, cheap on parts and it would be a bonus to hold most of its value if well maintained.

I think you might be talking about my old 190e?

http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18039798

I never really set out to buy it, just happened to come across it and thought it could be fun, it was great while I owned it. Parts seemed reasonable, and it was a pretty hardy thing.

Lashout_UK said:
I wouldn't buy a Cosworth Merc as a 'toy'. It's just not interesting or engaging enough.

At least, in my experience. That's why I sold my M5.

Especially not an automatic, as pictured. That's a bad combo.

Exactly the reason I wanted rid of it in the end. It was good fun, but nowhere near engaging as I would have wanted, especially for the purpose it was supposed to be serving, as a toy in the end. I was craving something more raw and direct in the end.

Also, some proper 190e pron:

paradigm · 6 Dec 2011 at 19:28

s0ck said:
Did you ever get one? You clearly have a soft spot

No

Doubt I ever will now, unless I can someone convince myself I need to own one to drive maybe 10 times a year.