Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II
Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II
Photo: More Cars, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vehicles · Anglo-German Precision

Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.5-16 Evo II · 1990

The 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II is Mercedes-Benz's DTM homologation special: 502 road cars built in 1990 (500 in Blue-Black metallic, the final two in astral silver) to legalize a wilder aero package and the Cosworth-developed destroked 2.5-litre 16-valve four. The towering adjustable rear wing and flared body make it the halo W201, with the earlier 2.3-16 and Evo I as the accessible cousins.

The one to have: 1990 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II in original Blue-Black metallic, numbers-matching Cosworth 2.5 16v, low kilometres, documented build number within the 502, unmodified factory aero and Getrag dogleg 5-speed.

Specification
Engine
2.5L DOHC 16v inline-4
Cosworth-developed head; destroked 2,463 cc, power peak at 7,200 rpm
Output
232 hp
235 PS / 173 kW at 7,200 rpm; 181 lb-ft (245 Nm) at 5,000 rpm
Top speed
155 mph
250 km/h; 0-100 km/h in 7.1 sec
Built
502
500 Blue-Black metallic, 2 astral silver; DTM homologation run
The market
Verified sales on file
4
Mar 2024 – Aug 2024
Median sale
$278k
all tracked results
★ Original, low-mile, numbers-matching Evo II
$305k
median of 2 target-spec sales
Top result
$330k
RM Sotheby's · Aug 2024
Benchmarks: Sorted, low-mileage cars trade $255,000-$365,000; exceptional examples have topped $430,000. · Trend: Firm; blue-chip since 2020

Know the real one

Of the 502 built to homologate the DTM aero and revised 2.5 16v for 1990, 500 left in Blue-Black metallic (blauschwarz); the final two, build numbers 501 and 502, were finished in astral silver, making them the rarest Evo IIs.
Identity tells: deep front splitter, boxed wheel-arch flares and the large adjustable biplane rear wing separate it from the Evo I and the tamer 2.3-/2.5-16.
Cosworth-derived engine is destroked to 2,463 cc to chase revs, peaking at 7,200 rpm; the W201 rides on a hydropneumatic self-leveling rear axle.
Verify the numbered build plaque (1-502), matching WDB2010361F chassis and Getrag dogleg 5-speed; lesser cars wear Evo I or base 16v bodyshells dressed up as Evo II.

Verified sales · ★ = target spec · foreign results converted to USD as noted

DateVenueYearSpecMilesPriceLocNote
Aug 2024RM Sotheby's19902.5-16 Evolution II, #168/502 ★24,450$329,500—Numbers-matching, ~39,350 km; strongest recent public result. Verified on RM lot page.
May 2024RM Sotheby's19902.5-16 Evolution II33,800$275,000—Sold EUR252,500, converted to ~USD; 54,440 km. Verified on RM lot page.
Mar 2024RM Sotheby's19902.5-16 Evolution II, #226/502 ★34,032$280,000—~54,770 km indicated. Verified on RM lot page.
Mar 2024Broad Arrow19902.5-16 Evolution II, Lot 215—$255,000—Amelia Island 2024 sale; USD255,000 confirmed via search index (source page live but blocks direct fetch).

Where to hunt

Bring a Trailer — 190EUS auction comps and active listings Classic.com — 2.5-16 Evolution IIMarket page: sold history and asking prices Glenmarch — Evo II resultsEuropean auction results archive
Research file — market data verified through July 18, 2026. Sources: individually observed results via Classic.com feeds, BaT, Cars & Bids, Mecum, RM Sotheby's, Broad Arrow, Gooding, Collecting Cars, PCARMARKET and venue coverage, plus marque registries and factory press material.