1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth - Smoke Silver - $42,000 - Perth WA

FOR SALE - 1989 Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth - $42,000

Location: Mt Lawley, Perth WA (delivery East coast can be arranged at buyer's cost)

Genuine 1989 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth in factory Smoke Silver metallic over anthracite leather. 103,310 km on the odometer. Imported privately 2008, complied with WA in 2009, currently on full WA registration not historic. All documentation back to compliance available on inspection.

The car:

• M102.983 Cosworth 16-valve engine, factory spec, never opened
• 5-speed Getrag manual, dog-leg first gear (correct for the model)
• Sport-tuned suspension, factory limited-slip differential
• Recaro front seats in original anthracite leather, very good condition
• Original 15" 8-hole alloys, no curb damage
• Smoke Silver metallic - one of only two factory colours available on this model
• Books, tools, jack, spare wheel all present

Engine bay is clean and correct. Cosworth-cast valve cover, original injection components, no aftermarket modifications. Compression check available on inspection if buyer covers the labour. I have not opened it because there has been no reason to.

Recaros are factory original. Some patina on the driver's bolster, otherwise excellent. No tears. Headlining is perfect. Dashboard has no cracks.

Why I'm selling: a 2.5-16 Evolution II has come up that ive been chasing for six years and I need this to fund that. Otherwise I would not be selling.

Price: $42,000 firm. This is a worldwide rare car (Mercedes built 19,487 across the entire 2.3-16 production run, less than 1.5% of total 190E production). Australian-market examples are extremely scarce - this is one of perhaps a dozen 2.3-16s in private hands in the country. Compare to what UK and Japanese examples are achieving and the price is fair.

Not interested in: trades, finance, "what's your best price," questions from people who haven't owned a 16-valve before. Genuine cash buyers only. PM for inspection arrangements.

VIN: WDB201.034 chassis, redacted by mod. Available on serious inspection enquiry.

$42k.

Andy mate im not trying to be a flog but $42,000 for a 1989 16V in Perth with 103k on it is R32 GT-R money. That is what a clean GT-R is going for at Pickles auctions right now and there were more GT-Rs built than there were 2.3-16s, sure, but the buyer pool for those cars is also about 50x bigger.

A really clean 1988 European-spec 2.3-16 in the UK is currently £14k to £18k retail. That's call it $28k to $36k delivered to Sydney before compliance. A Japan-spec imported through any of the usual channels is the same money or less.

im not saying don't ask the price, I'm saying don't be surprised if the only people who can pay it are also the only people who know the build plate question Hugo just asked.

BRO. Cosworth ! Love these cars. Quick note - I had a buyer ready at $48k for one of these last year. Black one. From a guy in Five Dock. He pulled out because the wife found out so I'm not saying it's a done deal but the market is there.

Andy if it doesn't move at $42 I have a guy in Lakemba who might be interested at $38. pm me.

Also re: the year - my cousin Yianni at the workshop sees 1989 plate Cosworths come in all the time. They were still building these into 89 just badged as 88. Trust me.

Andy hallo from Stuttgart 🤭

I have a colleague at the club who restores the W201 16Vs as his retirement project... he says european prices for a clean 2.3-16 with documentation are between €12,000 and €18,000 right now... that is around $18,000 to 27,000 at today's rate... plus shipping plus compliance plus state stamp duty you might land it at $35,000 to 40,000... so $42 in Australia is at the top of what a buyer here would pay 🤪

But! He also says the Australian-located car has no shipping cost and no compliance risk for the next buyer... and the supply in Australia is much smaller than Europe... so the price is defensible but not generous.

Hugo's question about the build plate is the right one... in europe we say "if the plate matches the title then we talk about price..." very dry but true 😋

If i'd be a Ford... never mind.

For $42k I could buy:

• a clean R32 GT-R
• OR a tidy W126 560SEL with full books
• OR Andy's Cosworth
• OR three '78 280Es and have $4k left for the spheres on my hydropneumatic

I know which one I'd pick.

(it's the 280Es)

Andy thanks. 11/88 build and February 1989 first reg in Germany closes it for me.

Plate stamp looks Sindelfingen. engine 102.983-22-01xxxx is in the late 1988 block, around 102.983-22-019xxx ending for Smoke Silver Euro cars per Stuttgart summary.

Still want to see aux cluster and dog-leg in person. if they check out then its the car. $42,000 buyer pool in Australia is small, but that is not the same as wrong.

Registry people can PM me if they knew the car before 2008. MCDA archive wants chain of custody if anyone has it..