I've enjoyed this thread a lot. The 16V's problem lay with economics and demographics of "typical" MB owners. The 16V new cost the same as a new 300E and had roughly the same performance, on paper. It is cramped in the back compared to the W124. The problem is obvious. Wouldn't happen that way in the BMW world.

I recently took my 194 E420+ with E500 suspension to a BMWCCA driving school. The 420 was incredible in the straights and was very neutral handling but my 16V with its manual would have been better for sure on a road course 1.5 miles long with 10 turns.

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Charles Cleaver
1975 350SE + 1992 300CE-24 SportLine 5-speed + 2002 SLK320 6-speed + 1974 W114 280
1986 190E 2.3-16 (Decomm rear self-leveling suspension; Euro-code headlamps) sold
2004 Audi S4 6-spd - sold
1969 (2) and 1980 Porsche 911T, S, and SC - alas gone
1987 300SDL - Graf Spee; Euro-code headlamps; 16-inch 8-hole wheels - sold
1994 E420+(E500 suspension/E-code headlamps/PAD chip) sold
1968 250SE 4-speed (NICE car) - long gone
1962 220S 4-speed/column mount - long gone