Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 for sale
1 car in stock right now, inspected in the European country where it is located, priced landed at a US port with the import paperwork done.
Mercedes sold the 190 E 2.3-16 in the United States for two model years, 1986 and 1987, and then stopped. Europe carried on: the 2.5-16 of 194 hp from 1988, and then the homologation Evolution I and II built for the DTM, with the Evo II’s enormous rear wing and 235 hp. The Cosworth-developed 16-valve head is the same family; the displacement, the gearing and the bodywork are not.
Why Americans want it
The 2.3-16 is the one American enthusiasts already know, and the 2.5-16 is simply more of it — more torque, better gearing, and the later dogleg five-speed. The Evo II is one of the most valuable sedans of the era and has never been legally sold in America.
What the US never got
- 190 E 2.5-16 (1988–1993), 194 hp.
- Evolution I (1989), 502 built.
- Evolution II (1990), 502 built, 235 hp, the wing.
- The 2.3-16 after 1987, and the 2.5-16 in any year.
Eligible years (25-year rule)
Every 2.5-16 and both Evos are eligible now. Production ended in 1993.
What to look for
- The head: the Cosworth 16-valve needs its timing chain and tensioner history. A rattling chain on a cold start is expensive.
- Self-levelling rear suspension: specific to these cars and a known failure. Test it.
- Rust: the W201 is solid, but check the jacking points, the rear arches and the sunroof drains.
- Originality: the specific seats, the dogleg gearbox and the body kit. Replacement 16-valve-specific trim is scarce and expensive.
- Evo claims: Evolution cars have their own VIN range and build documentation. Replicas on 2.5-16 bases are common.
Typical landed price
Europe: roughly €39,000 for a good 2.5-16; the Evolution cars are an order of magnitude above that. Landed at Newark or Baltimore with duty at the rate in effect on entry: roughly $63,500 for a 2.5-16.
Registration notes
- California: built after 1967, gasoline; CARB lab certification applies, not guaranteed.
- Fuel: gasoline.
- Title: 17-character VIN that decodes as a Mercedes W201. Registration depends on the state where you register the car: California requires CARB laboratory certification for gasoline cars built after 1967 and cannot register diesels, and the CBP package establishes the car as an import.
Our take
The 2.5-16 is the sweet spot: materially better than the US 2.3-16, and a fraction of what an Evo costs. If a car is offered as an Evolution, the VIN and the build documents decide it, not the wing.
FAQ
Was the Mercedes 190 E 16-valve sold in the United States?
The 2.3-16 was, for model years 1986 and 1987. The 2.5-16 and both Evolution models were never sold there.
What is the difference between the 2.3-16 and the 2.5-16?
Displacement and gearing, mainly: 194 hp for the 2.5-16 against 167 hp for the US 2.3-16, with more torque and a revised five-speed.
How do I verify an Evolution?
By its VIN range and Mercedes build documentation. Replicas built on 2.5-16 bodyshells are common and the price difference is very large.