Nowadays, Mercedes-Benz builds a whole range of small carsโonly a part of them are sold in the USโbut consider this: before 1982 when the 190E (W201) was introduced, the three-pointed star didn’t even have a compact! Of course, the four-door that is the 190E debuted in the over-engineered style the carmaker used back then, while also enjoying DTM racing fameโthis is Germany’s touring car racing series. Fast-forward to the 2020s, the W201 has become a popular modern classic for custom car fans, and we’ve brought along the best Mercedes 190E builds on Instagram and beyond.
One of the best parts of the 1980s and 1990s DTM era was that racing required homologation specials for the road, with street cars being much closer to their motorsport counterparts than they are today. And this is why legends like the 190E Evo I and Evo II are revered by W201 builders, as you’ll see in this article, which is part two of our Benz tuning tale.
Tattoo artist Mica Dori spent over 500 hours engraving her 190E
While it’s already a classic urge to build a Mercedes-Benz 190E Evo II ode, the first project on this list takes things in a different direction. And that’s because German-based tattoo artist Mica Dori wanted a car that would represent her passion.
The immaculate white covering most of the real estate is something that exceeds the already impressive factory finish the Benz had back in the day. However, with those wire wheels, the air suspension, and all the owner-made engine engraving visible through the massive hood cut, this Benz has strong lowrider vibz.
This is one of the factory-width cars on our list, but, if you manage to look past attention magnets like the side exhausts, you’ll notice it does feature a body kit. And while the headlights may appear stock, the middle section leading to a full-width taillight appearance is something else.
Mica’s engraving can also be found on the exterior trim, as well as across the cabin, from the door handles and the steering wheel to the headliner, with the red leather/suede and the brass knuckle shifter completing the custom setup.
That engine bay is now home to a Mercedes M104 3.2L straight-six, with Mica having stated on Instagram that the engraving took over 500 hours to complete. Who built the rest of the car? Mica’s SO Nic, whose 190E(s) we’ll cover below.
187 Automotive (Nic Stubbs) builds 190Es like this supercharged Evo I tribute
Going for an Evo II tribute and leaving it at that is not Nic Stubbs’s business. Sure, the enthusiast is working on such a project, but he stands true to his Instagram handle (mr_190E) via his 187 Automotive shop in the UK.
This silver 190E Evo I, one of his personal cars, packs the more street-savvy look of the original Evolution, but don’t mistake it for anything else than a heavily reworked example of the German modern classic. Oh, and by the way, the electric 190E Evo III isn’t real, at least not yet.
Look inside the engine bay and you’ll notice tubbed wheels, while the cabin reveals a complex roll cage reminding us of DTM racers. And if we look at the massive center lock wheels concealing AMG calipers, the lowering suspension, a static setup, instantly makes sense.
Running your own shop and specializing in Mercs means that M111 supercharged 2.3L four-cylinder engine on this 190E Evo I tribute recently blowing up doesn’t have Nic worried. And we’re itching to know what powerplant will take its place.
W201 carbureted Evo II replica
Even as a hooning enthusiast, one may need a bit of a reminder on why people turn W201 street cars into DTM racecar replicas in their Mercedes 190E journeys on Instagram. Fortunately, Jan Fischer (aka tante_kete.s_evo_2) provided a before and after image for us, which speaks for itself.
Jan’s 190E wears a livery dominated by an unapologetic shade of red and we mustn’t forget the sinister all-black front grille and headlights.
From the quick-release pins on the hood to the aero discs on the big wheels, there are plenty of track day references here. We can say the same about the cabin, which features a full roll cage and a single bucket seat.
With a 2.3L 8V L4 featuring dual carburetors (fuel injection came to the W201 in 1990), this 190E doesn’t pack the muscle of some other builds here, but the aficionado is working on that. And, judging by how detailed the rest of the car is, we’re expecting big news.
The NFS Unbound Mercedes 190E hero car of ASAP Rocky
Some car people prefer to keep machines like the Mercedes 190E somewhat below the radar, so they weren’t happy when the W201 became the Need for Speed Unbound hero car last November, with rapper ASAP Rocky at the wheelโthis is a real-world replication of the game, where the rapper is the main character.
Now, as car culture-feeding photographer Marc Riccioni (mark_scenemedia) explains on Instagram, this 190E had already been given a couple of track mods and was in need of some attention when it received the NFS treatment.
We mentioned that because this is an actual 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth, so knowing that it was rescued, not ruined, makes a big difference, at least if you’re on the traditional side when it comes to such classics.
Once again, the Evo II served as inspiration, but this is a more rugged approach, as demonstrated by the open rear bumperโcue the diffuser and dual mufflersโand the two-face black and white look with gold details.
Air Lift Performance provided the suspension and you should know all four arches are tubbed. While we’re at it, the deep-dish BBS rear wheels are matched with front units wearing aero discs.
Some of the names that built the car include Ryan Stewart (@7.nth on Instagram and a Speedhunters member) and Andy at Spike’s Vintage Restorations (@andythepaint), with the project having been completed in the UK before being shipped to the US.
FCP Euro’s Golden Era 190E DTM race car tribute with a 400 hp M133 from a Mercedes-AMG CLA 45
As promised in Part One of this story, where colors and horsepower run wild, we’ve brought along a Mercedes that’s closer to a DTM race car than any of the other 190E builds we covered, since this was built as a track day car with modern AMG technology.
The project comes from Connecticut-based parts store FCP Euro, which aptly named its DTM Tribute “Golden Era”.
This 1989 Mercedes 190E lost its factory 2.6L straight-six in favor of the world’s most powerful production four-cylinder production engine, a 2.0L M133 from a Mercedes-AMG GLA 45, which makes 400 hp and 332 lb-ft of twist, so more than the actual 190E DTM racers had!
The team fully documented the project on YouTube, so we can see all the little details that make a world of difference between the cool numbers above and making them happen in the real world.
On Mercedes-AMG “45” models, the M133 is a transverse application for an FWD-based AWD platform. So the crew had to adapt this for a longitudinal mount and RWD, plus they mixed the 2.0L turbo-four with a six-speed manual lifted from a Mercedes C300 track conversion they had previously done. This meant changing the M133’s flywheel and oil sump (from an M274), plus fabricated engine mounts.
After cutting the front subframe, the guys fitted bits like a BMW steering rack and tierods, along with Volvo intercooler bits. Remember, all these three carmakers used to compete in DTM.
Then there was the body and stripping down the interior. You see, the team had to lose tar used as sound deadening on the vehicle’s floor and they used dry ice before being able to remove the tar.
In its first track test, the Golden Era 190E with a Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 heart delivered a raw, but controllable driving experience. This thing has no electronic nannies, not even ABS, but top-notch bits like the limited-slip diff, reworked suspension and brakes mean it can powerslide in a predictable manner, which is just what awaits you in the clip below.