I received the invitation to post here as well. *I been restoring a 1989 190E 2.5-16. *There were only 4784 2.5s produced. *This one is an ECE non catalyst car, which was only available by special order it was originally delivered in Italy. *The engine was rated at 205 HP which is just a tick higher than the Evo 1 version. *This car was also ordered with self leveling suspension all around and ride height control and to complete the banker's race package, radio delete.

I bought the car in 2009 from a young Navy man who imported the car to United States and dealt with all the hassles back then. *The car was held as non compliant for several years before finally being released on a bond. *I believe it was the only one ever allowed into the states before it was 25 years old.

Here she is when I bought her


And here she is when she was much younger and hadn't run into the slam bam bling storm.





I lost all the bling and collection of EBay AMG goodies and got her looking like this.



I have sorted out all mechanical issues and most cosmetic ones. I am now reassessing the feasibility of restoring the ride height control and SLS. Recently Mercedes has been restocking the bins on some of the ultra rare parts and it may be within reach.

Great car.

I don't know if I've ever seen a 2.5-16 in the U.S.

__________________
Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

A few more pics, the interior still has the Momo fitment, I have grown to like it but have acquired the parts to restore it. I did not do the short throw shifter. However it has brass bushings and it took me a lot of trial and error to get it dialed in but was worth the work.


I rebuilt the rear suspension and rebuilt the exaust.



A previous owner had worked the car over as a show car. He had installed the nice racing muffler just for looks. I fixed that up and got rid of that poorly installed cat in favor of the resonator.



Here's a pic of the engine, big, know known as Evo headers, insulated fuel lines to the injectors, ECE timing knob by the x11 port just a few of the differences from the 2.3.



And under the valve cover the double row timing chain and camshafts. There are also duplex springs on the valves.



The internals are so stout compared to the 2.3, something I think about when I am flogging my 85 track car.

__________________
Charlie

85 2.3-16 ECE Track Car "Connie"
86 2.3-16 Slushbox Devils Stepchild. "Red"
89 2.5-16 ECE. Bimmer Eater "Sophie"
02 ML 55 Towmeister "Gertie"

Is that a damping control switch to the right of the headlight switch?

-J

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.

That is the ride height control. There are hydraulic connecting rods on the self leveling suspension and the switch will lengthen or shorten them and sls adjusts the height of the car accordingly.

__________________
Charlie

85 2.3-16 ECE Track Car "Connie"
86 2.3-16 Slushbox Devils Stepchild. "Red"
89 2.5-16 ECE. Bimmer Eater "Sophie"
02 ML 55 Towmeister "Gertie"

I do like those 16V exhaust manifolds - I guess they don't crack like the cast ones. Is the oxygen sensor in the down pipe or the manifold?

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!

Sensor in the pipe, while the car did not come a cat, it does have some emission control, like that and vapor recovery.

I am beginning some preliminary work on my SLS and hope I can find some help here. Here is a pic of the front SLS valves.



Above the valve are the locking valves for the ride height control. Here is a function diagram.



The rear SLS is standard fare with the addition of this regulating rod which is how the ride height control uses the SLS to make adjustments



I also must restore the ASD and am looking parts. This is pic from another car and shows the ASD valve, accumulator and associated lines. I need all of these parts in particular the brackets, lines, hoses and unions particular to the area behind the right front wheel.



A little more about the car. It is currently on a H&R cup kit which makes it slammed down low, the stuff is garbage as it to stiff for this kind of kind car and the dampers are poorly matched to boot. Here she is low, with 18x8's.



It wasn't all bad the PO had the head rebuilt polished and ported, with new valves and springs so she has a bit of extra power. Both the PO's have torn, up clutches, guibos, and the rear suspension links. On of my friends also shredded and wadded up the clutch disc, fortunately a skilled mechanic who fixes what he breaks.

__________________
Charlie

85 2.3-16 ECE Track Car "Connie"
86 2.3-16 Slushbox Devils Stepchild. "Red"
89 2.5-16 ECE. Bimmer Eater "Sophie"
02 ML 55 Towmeister "Gertie"

Love the car, I have a couple regular 2.3 190e's. I just enjoy driving them, I have had 2 E30 M3's and sold them before they became unabtanium . I keep looking at the 190e 16v's but worry about the reliability of them. I have had quite a few issues with my standard cars. The fuel systems and so many other sensor issues, I wonder if the 16v may be a bit easier to deal with? I have even considered going to a different fuel management system on my 2.3. I have not found another car that I enjoy driving as much as the baby benz, even have a Porsche 911sc and I would drive the merc every time over the Porsche, it's just fun to drive. I just wish they were easier to work on and track down problems. Love your car, and will be watching the build. If I had anything even remotely intelligent to add about your SLS system I would, but alas I know nothing other than it looks to be a pain in the rear. If you have time I would really like to see pics of your other 2 cars as well.

Here are some pics

This is my daily driver, personally I love driving the old slushbox.


Here is my track car and my hauler.

I agree that these cars are one of the most rewarding drives. Somehow when you get into a 16v, that engine growl, the balanced stiffer suspension, something about the high bolster seats, it just encourages bad behavior and then generously rewards it.

I don't think there is any difference between any of the models as far as sorting out things goes. One thing I have found about the old CIS is that it is robust and durable. It is very finicky and there is no OBD to guide you. However, if you removed it all, it would fit in a shoebox so there is not that much to it. Most of my sorting out of CIS has been cleaning electrical contacts to insure accurate signals. In restoring four 16v's I may have replaced two or three sensors and a couple switches across all of them. Again, most of the parts are very durable and once well sorted I have found it to be very reliable.

I have been building out a replacement for my ML55 that I use for towing. It is just a well kept MB serviced example with 120k. I had not previously worked on my original ML but decided to do a lot of the work on this one. By comparison I am convinced that an old w201, well sorted, may be the best driving value out there, because it so cheap to work on.

The properly sort out things on the ML, I needed FOUR catalytic converters, and four o2 sensors, and 16 plugs with wires to their eight coil packs, and on and on. I could completely sort out any w201, throw in a paint job and a vacation for two for the cost involved in just replacing the ML's wear related serviceable parts, shocks, mounts, brakes, fluid changes and the aforementioned.

__________________
Charlie

85 2.3-16 ECE Track Car "Connie"
86 2.3-16 Slushbox Devils Stepchild. "Red"
89 2.5-16 ECE. Bimmer Eater "Sophie"
02 ML 55 Towmeister "Gertie"

that car sits nice!

I'm thinking more and more along those lines too.

I just did a through three countries trip of about 600km at an average speed slightly in excess of 100kph - not bad when you consider there were three (or was it four?) sets of road works where you really had to slow down. These little W201s just keep on giving and urging you on!

__________________
1992 W201 190E 1.8 171,000 km - Daily driver
1981 W123 300D ~ 100,000 miles / 160,000 km - project car stripped to the bone
1965 Land Rover Series 2a Station Wagon CIS recovery therapy!
1961 Volvo PV544 Bare metal rat rod-ish thing

I'm here to chat about cars and to help others - I'm not here "to always be right" like an internet warrior



Don't leave that there - I'll take it to bits!