M104 flavors
2.8 HFM injection from w202 C class and 1993 300E 2.8
3.0 CIS injection (easiest to swap into a 2.6 190e), 3.2 HFM injection - from early R129 -W140 and 1990-1992 W124 coupes
3.2 HFM injection from W140, R129, and W124 cars
3.6 HFM injection from 1995-96 C36 AMG cars
3.6 ME injection from 1997 C36 AMG
If swapping into 190E, using aftermarket injection makes things simplest. You can also swap a 3.0 M103 into a 190E 2.6 very easily and get a nice boost in power.
All of these engines take very well to turbocharging with the possible exception of the 3.6 which has the thinnest meat between the cylinders.
all I know about them. My Sister and my Uncle each had one. My Uncle bought his new, drove it to Florida and traded it in down there because he hated the seats so much. My sister bought her's used, the seats had not gotten any better. Sitting on milk crates would have been an upgrade. After riding in her's for half an hour, I understood why my uncle traded his in so quickly
Funny about the seats, I had a 2.6 as a daily driver for a couple of years, loved the classic Benz build quality, but I admit I never loved the seats.
There is so much baked-in luxury in the W201 chassis, even the 2.3-16V doesn't feel that sporty, at least when stock. They can be made quite lively, but they'll never feel like a BMW. Recirculating ball steering, shift linkage, comfort seats...
LanEvo
Dork
1/13/20 10:21 a.m.
In reply to c0rbin9 :
Stock for stock, an '80s Benz is chock full of "old man luxury" compared to a BMW from the same era. That's why a W201 16v feels less sporty than an E30 M3 when they're both in street trim.
Having said that, if you start with a 16v and do the same modifications you would do to any E30 M3 track car ... then they end up very close not only in terms of performance, but also in feel. Even the steering is surprisingly close, despite one being recirculating ball and the other rack-and-pinion.
m4ff3w
UberDork
1/14/20 12:38 a.m.
We put about a 100k on my ex-wife 89 190e 2.6 it was a fantastic car
Still one the looking at these on and off, I saw mention of a "sport line " package. Any one know what those came with over regular 190E's.
LanEvo said:
By the way, Evo I kits assume that you have a 16v as the starting point.
In other words, whichever Evo I kit you buy, you'll still need the stock 16v front/rear bumpers, door cladding, and side skirts. If you're starting with a regular W201 then you'll need to buy that stuff, too. Add the prices of the stock 16v bodykit on top of the Evo I add-ons (plus shipping and import duties) then the cost of fitting/prepping/painting. You're topping $3k in no time.
A clean non-16v W201 will be at least $2-3k and it's almost 100% certain to be an auto. So you'll need all the parts/labor for a 5-speed swap. Before you know it, you've hit $6-7k ... and you can find a decent 16v for that price if you're patient and dig around a little.
Without doubt, the Evo I is a fantastic looking car. But even a stock 16v looks pretty badass if you just lower it a little bit. Here's mine:
Looks like Seven Lakes, you a local?
In reply to fatallightning :
Yes. A group of us sometimes meet in Tuxedo Park and drive on those roads around Bear Mountain and Harriman.
