190E 2.5 16v - Abuse?

[topi]

Hi guys, thought I'd sign up to ask your advise.

I'm into older RWD cars, and like having things that are a bit different. I currently drive a '78 Opel Kadett C, with a 2.0 16v Vauxhall engine, Manta gearbox & axle etc etc which I like to slide around. But I'm getting tired of things breaking all the time.

I was just wondering how much stick the 190e Cosworth takes, and what are it's weak points? Will the gearboxes take alot of abuse etc, what are the choices in things like coilovers, engine tuning etc.

Thank yaah

 

[Bolide]

I think you'll find it expensive to tune - the twin cam engine is in a relatively high state of tune already and any tuning would most likely require a pair of (expensive) cams

I think the most common faults on the cars will be noisy diffs (a problem common to the W124s at high mileages), rusty bodywork (ditto W124), failed rear suspension (ditto W124) and scruffy interiors. As with the W124, all of these problems can be solved by buying the right car

A W201 expert will be along in a minute and give you more info...

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[topi]

Yeah I was expecting cams etc hmm.

With the diff, I would probably mig it anyway. Are coilovers available for the car at all? I've seen some Koni shocks and springs on ebay.. I could always turn those into height adj coilys I guess.

I don't know alot of history behind the race cars, but did they use the 2.5 16v engines, or were they totally different?

And do they share gearboxes and the rest of the running gear with other models?

Thanks

 

[star]

I have a 2.6-16 which i bought off ebay £1600 @ 170,000 miles a few years ago. Did a little work on it, stripped the interior, got a noisey diff but like the asd. its done loads of track days, nurbughring bouncing off the rev limiter all day. never misses a beat, burns a bit of oil but hey ho.

 

[topi]

Sounds good!

Only reason I'm concerned, is a mate of mine used to own a mere C180 and was constantly breaking the diff inputs, breaking gearboxes etc.

 

[topi]

Sounds good!

Only reason I'm concerned, is a mate of mine used to own a mere C180 and was constantly breaking the diff inputs, breaking gearboxes etc.

 

[Bolide]

The cars are basically bulletproof, like a W124, and the two models share lots of parts

If you're going to run it hard I'd replace the diff bushes, the front prop doughnut, the engine & gearbox mounts and the front ARB bushes. With that lot done most of the wearing parts will have been replaced

You may be able to find coilovers for the front, or convert what's there, but I'd leave the rear end alone as it has excellent rising-rate suspension as standard. You can lower the back end by adjusting the height corrector and shortening the rear springs but the spring rate is set by the hydraulic spheres. Some experimentation with sphere pressure (ask a Citroen specialist) will give you a harder rear end if necessary but I'd think just a stiffer bar would suffice

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk