1990 Mercedes W201 190E 2.5 16-Valve Sedan

Since the 190E 2.5-16 was included in our top 10 modern classics article, it's about time we started having a look at a few that have come up for sale to see what's happening with values. This car presents a particularly nice example from the UK. This is one of only 5,743 of the 2.5 litre Cosworth cars produced (excluding the later Evo models), and having only 77k miles from new, represents a well preserved modern classic.

This particular car sold for £18,000 at the end of April 2016 through a well-publicised auction which we think provides a good transparent market value for cars of this condition. Looking elsewhere in the market, there are several 2.5 litre cars in the British market asking between £11K - £15K with higher mileage and in average used condition for their age. Indeed, there are a number of cars out there asking less, but those generally require a lot of work to get up to the standard of this car, and are few and far between in the 2.5 litre form. A price of £18,000 is not a bargain, but does demonstrate what it takes to secure one of the more sought after 2.5 litre cars in excellent condition, and we don't think it's too unreasonable in the circumstances.

As noted in our article, the Cosworth Mercedes cars have a rich motorsport history in addition to a formidable reputation for build quality, as is the case for many Mercedes-Benz cars of this era. Available in 5 colours, this car retains its popular factory Blue-Black paint, and appears to be all original with nothing at all to mention in terms of wear and tear based on the provided photographs. In addition to its Cosworth-developed engine, the Cosworth 190E had many features which set it apart from its standard W201 counterparts. A few of those modifications included a revised steering ratio, sports seats (full or half leather), body kit, 15 inch wheels, limited slip differential, Getrag 5-speed gearbox, 4 wheel disc brakes, larger fuel tank and self-levelling sports suspension.

We've always believed these cars represent a great future investment. If you're interested in purchasing one, check out our 190E 2.5 identification guide here, which goes through some of the various unique features, options, and criteria necessary for accurate identification of an original 2.5 Cosworth. As some of these cars have been driven hard, we always recommend consulting with the MB community of 190E enthusiasts before a purchase, as they can tell you what to look for in terms of wear and tear, and any potential problem areas. The ID-guide for the Cosworth cars will shortly be expanded with additional information, so please stay tuned to Classic Register and like us on Facebook to keep in touch.