BMW E30 M3 vs. Mercedes-Benz 190E 16-valve

A short video review with some cool scenes and some great sounds.

On this episode of Head 2 Head, Automobile Magazine's Jason Cammisa rekindles a classic European sports sedan battle, pitting the legendary BMW E30 M3 against it's Cosworth-powered rival, the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16. Find out which homologation special is the most special of all!

first

However M3 WAY WAY cooler in my opinion!

I saw an AW e30 m3 today. It was pure

bekkers can help any 190e 2.3 owner turn their car into an EVOLUTION

Mkodama vs Yan-3.
make a video of the 2 cars!

nice. If they were going to compare those two, I wish they compared the Evo M3 vs. the Evo II Mercedes.

Kind of unfair, like they said in the video. I vote for the Merc 190E 2.5-16 Evo II.

Which do you respect more, Miles?

Originally Posted by phrozen06

bekkers can help any 190e 2.3 owner turn their car into an EVOLUTION

i havent heard that name since 03! wow

Originally Posted by AfghanScarface

Which do you respect more, Miles?

Street performance and legacy, the E30 M3 wins. For everything else, including respect, the 190E. Way better engineered and built car in every way despite being released 3 years before the M3.

If the 190E had electronic fuel injection instead of mechanical, it would have matched or beat the E30 M3 in power, and it sacrificed some handling, but in return it got a much more enjoyable interior, along with 2 extra Recaros seats in the rear and two rear doors. If you like modding, the 190E also has a lot more potential than the already maximized M3.

Originally Posted by mkodama

Street performance and legacy, the E30 M3 wins. For everything else, including respect, the 190E. Way better engineered and built car in every way despite being released 3 years before the M3.

If the 190E had electronic fuel injection instead of mechanical, it would have matched or beat the E30 M3 in power, and it sacrificed some handling, but in return it got a much more enjoyable interior, along with 2 extra Recaros seats in the rear and two rear doors. If you like modding, the 190E also has a lot more potential than the already maximized M3.

Better engineered with arcane, old technology? You brought up the demise of your own argument. I've never really thought of the 190E as having a better interior either.

I believe they called the Merc 190e the most successful touring car of all time, and a certain F1 driver called it a "wolf in wolve's clothing"

it won many many Championships including the World Touring Car Championship; 1 title (in 1987), European Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (in 1987 and then again in 1988), British Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1988 and 1991), Italia Superturismo Championship; 4 titles (1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991), Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM for all the noobs ); 2 titles (1987 and 1989), Australian Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1987) and the 24 Hours at the Nürburgring 4 time in a row!!! (1989 – 1992) as well as Spa 24hr race in 1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992, and many other one off races and stages in different race series.

oh wait... no Im sorry it wasnt the Merc it was the e30 ///M3!!!

haha ok ok, maybe I am a little biased

Two of my favorite cars. love the lines on the 190E.

I miss my E30 sometimes =[

Originally Posted by phrozen06

bekkers can help any 190e 2.3 owner turn their car into an EVOLUTION

Originally Posted by patdeezy

i havent heard that name since 03! wow

LOL. They're still getting it done.

The end of the video says it all. The host bought the car. You can't give a better review than that!

Originally Posted by zhp43867

Better engineered with arcane, old technology? You brought up the demise of your own argument. I've never really thought of the 190E as having a better interior either.

Newer technology does not necessarily mean better engineered. Cammisa himself argues that "progress" isn't always so. BMW decided to chase Mercedes down in their quest for pointless gadgets, and with lukewarm results. People fondly remember the E38, but would rather forget the E65. The W140 S-Class was built to outlast the families that bought them, while the W220 that followed seemed downright disposable.

Originally Posted by zhp43867

Better engineered with arcane, old technology? You brought up the demise of your own argument. I've never really thought of the 190E as having a better interior either.

Who said anything about arcane old technology? And what demise are you talking about? The 190E had multi-link rear suspension 22 years before the 3 series had it and a hydraulically lifting nose to clear speed bumps 16 years before the porsche carrera had it.

I prefer this.

Just because it's only a Volvo. A shitty looking boxy old Volvo. Nothing more.

Hold on, you're saying Regan caused the M3?

I have the weirdest....