Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 & 2.5-16

The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 was a homologation special built to take the W201 chassis racing in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). Mercedes turned to Cosworth to develop a performance cylinder head for its 2.3-liter 8-valve engine, resulting in a new 16-valve unit that revved to 7,000 rpm. This sedan's motorsport pedigree, sharp Getrag dogleg manual gearbox, and understated looks made it a direct competitor to the BMW E30 M3.

Collectors are drawn to the 16V's unique history and its place as Mercedes' first modern sport sedan. The later 2.5-16 model offered a slight bump in displacement and power, and both are now seen as significant 1980s performance cars. While they were once bargains, values have climbed steadily, following the larger trend for homologation specials from this era.

The market for the standard 16V models shows a wide spread based on condition, mileage, and model year. The average sale price sits around $23,000, but driver-quality cars can be found for much less, while pristine, low-mileage examples command prices over $60,000. These cars sit in a more accessible price bracket than their direct rivals, the E30 M3 and the ultra-rare 190E Evolution models.

Based on 108 sales, prices for the 190E 16V range from $5,900 for project cars to $62,500 for top-tier examples.