Let’s get the obvious out of the way: the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 Cosworth is a car that’s near and dear to my heart. Long-term Barn Finds readers will remember that I dragged one out of a junkyard in Pennsylvania and…well, I’ve done a lousy job of updating what’s happened since then. The good news is, there’s new activity to come since it finally has entered the body shop phase. But today we’re checking out a 1986 Cosworth listed here on the Barn Finds Classifieds that is far less rusty than mine, and rides on some gorgeous period-correct wheels. It runs and drives and the seller is asking $14,500 in Columbus, Ohio.

Now, you might be thinking: Columbus? This thing has to be as rusty as Lavery’s battletrap. But no, this seller was much smarter than me as he found this limited-production sports sedan in California before moving it out to Ohio. Therefore, the body actually looks pretty sound. The Cosworth-specific body kit is present and accounted for, which included the front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and cladding on the doors. The Cosworth also came with an integrated rear spoiler with a third brake light. There were just two color options, and this 190E wears the more commonly seen Smoke Silver scheme. Another specific feature of the 2.3-16 was a self-leveling rear suspension, which commonly collapses over time – but the seller has already remedied that, likely with new hoses and pumps (and definitely the rear accumulators.)

Now, the Cosworth is equipped with the optional automatic gearbox. This is not necessarily the preferred enthusiast spec, but it’s not the worst combination. Informal feedback collected from the  Cosworth community is that the transmission pairs nicely with the high-revving Cosworth mill, so it’s not the penalty box it might be in other performance vehicles. The 190E 2.3-16 came with a Recaro interior, which included the front buckets and a contoured rear seat – in other words, it was a true four-seater.  The steering wheel was leather-wrapped and you also got that cool three-gauge pod right below the radio. The seller notes the seats have some tears, and the leather generally looks like it could use some re-conditioning. While California cars tend to be rust-free, the sun can also damage fragile surfaces like the dashboard.

The engine bay presents well, with the Cosworth-specific head retaining its unique L-shaped cover. The seller indicates he had the engine serviced, which consisted of new gaskets and seals. Some additional detail would be helpful, especially since the fuel injection was quite finicky on these 80s homologation specials. My car starts fairly well, but you can tell it needs further fine-tuning to ensure a smooth cold start. The seller’s car seems like the type of project that would benefit from a cosmetic refresh in order to bring it full circle from the mechanical repairs that have been completed. The value of these limited-production M3 fighters is only going up, so I’m sure it would be money well spent to clean up the interior and paint.