We’ve seen them slammed to the ground at Ultrace, we’ve heard them howl along the backstraight at Hockenheim, others surpassing 1,000,000 miles as taxis in Africa, and we’ve even seen one or two drift through mud-soaked rally stages, scenarios that not many other cars from Mercedes-Benz’s lineage could do with quite so much ease. The 190 E is loved by many, all over the world, and this particular example is loved by Stuttgart-based owner Rasim Divrik, and is a love story spanning almost a decade, shaping his entire career and future. We caught with Rasim to find out more…
“For my 18th birthday, I was given a 190 E 2.3 automatic in miserable condition. From that day, I’ve invested almost every cent I earned into this car. I started by completely rebuilding the body and overhauling the engine, and over time the car kept evolving and getting better.” It’s a familiar love story, and one that Rasim firmly believes has helped him to become the person he is today, as he continues, “It’s hard to put into words how strong my emotional connection to this car is. I’ve put blood, sweat, tears, time, money, and love into it. This car means everything to me – it carries so many memories and visions for the future. In the nearly 10 years I’ve owned it, the car has been through a lot. It was once written off after ending up in the woods, and it has even caught fire twice!”
So, what exactly are we looking at here? As, glancing at these stunning images you’d initially think a Cosworth-powered certified classic should be safely tucked away in a temperature-regulated garage, but Rasim’s 190 E is more of a celebration of Mercedes-Benz’s greatest parts, rather than a lookalike 2.3-16. “It started as a M102 2.3 automatic, which was removed following its first accident, which I then replaced to a 2.6 manual, modified up to a 3.1-litre with tubular headers, an aggressive camshaft and larger throttle bodies. That engine, sadly caught fire at around 250 km/h on the Autobahn after approx. 60,000 km, meaning it was back to the drawing board for the car’s powerplant.”
Now, Rasim’s 190 E runs another M104 engine, but is now pushing at 3.2-litres with tubular headers and a host of other modifications, producing an impressive 255 horsepower, far more than the marque’s much-loved 2.3-16 Cosworth. Aside from the engine, we were keen to find out more about what Rasim has done to make his car stand out, “It has a complete Azzuro interior, which is an incredibly rare thing to find nowadays, I believe one of 950 made. This interior is extended into the livery, seat belts, steering wheel, brake calipers and even the centre caps. I went for the Evolution 1 body kit, with customised wheel arches that allow the car to sit around 7 cms lower than the original Evo 1.”
The aggressive stance and period racing details are set off with 17-inch BBS RS wheels, a custom suspension setup and our favourite modification, the removable Hella auxillary lights for fog and high beam. This touching nod to the car’s history as a rally contender works perfectly with the custom livery designed in collaboration with Max Salzborn.
We were keen to discover where Rasim’s love for cars, and in particular working on cars came from, “I do everything myself – from the smallest bolt to the smallest sticker. My father taught me a lot about automotive engineering, and this car has been my greatest teacher. It ultimately laid the foundation for my professional career as an automotive technician, which I still practice today at a Mercedes-Benz dealership. For me, it’s a way of expressing myself, my style and who I am. I’ve been continuously developing and improving it for a decade. My horizon of ideas keeps expanding, just like we do as people. I drive the car at least 30,000 km per year and regularly take it on long road trips and holidays.”
Even at 27-years-old, Rasim’s positive outlook and high ambition is showcased through his car. Like so many, his 190 E is far more than a vehicle, it’s an extention of his personality and a symbol of his success. “Seeing that people appreciate my work – especially when kids look at it with wide eyes – makes me happy, keeps me motivated, and shows me that I must be doing something right!”
See more of Rasim's adventures here.
