Chassis No. WDB2010361F741003

At the March 1990 Geneva Auto Show, Mercedes unveiled the 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II, with all 502 units already sold before the reveal. Priced at DM 136,720, nearly double the price of a standard 2.5-16 and four times the price of entry-level 190 E 1.8, the Evo II featured a 2.5-liter inline-four engine producing 232 horsepower and 180 lb-ft of torque, along with a fully adjustable SLS suspension. It also boasted a distinctive body kit designed by aerodynamicist and Prof. Richard Eppler, including a large rear wing and 17 inch alloy wheels. This aerodynamic kit reduced drag to 0.29 and increased downforce, leading BMW research and development chief Wolfgang Reitzle to remark, "The laws of aerodynamics must be different between Munich and Stuttgart; if that rear wing works, we'll have to redesign our wind tunnel." Reports suggest that BMW did redesign its wind tunnel in response. Of the 502 units, 500 were finished in 199 Blauschwarz, while the last two were in Astral Silver. Built specifically for homologation requirements for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), they succeeded in their goal by winning the manufacturer championship in 1991 and 1992.

This Evolution II was delivered new in Belgium, where it was first registered on 8 August 1990. Finished in 199 Blauschwarz, the car was well-optioned with Black Leather (271A) seats, driver's airbag, rear headrests, an outside temperature indicator, electric sliding/tilting sunroof, electronic Becker Mexico cassette stereo radio, heat insulating glass, and air conditioning. Ideally suited for road use, the car had covered nearly 80,000 kilometers or 49,000 miles when it was noted as receiving a replacement engine from damage to the pistons and cylinder walls.

The car's original Fahrzeugbrief shows that it began in Belgium and was imported to Germany on 31 January 2006, where it resided in Neumarkt in der Oberpfalz, Bavaria. It then found a new owner in Germany on 28 February 2011 in Leichlingen, North Rhine-Westphalia. Additional documentation in the history file illustrates that the car was transported to Monaco on 20 November 2022. After completing the necessary technical inspections and importation paperwork, it was registered on 30 December 2022 at 106,545 kilometers, marking another chapter in its journey.

Today, this 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution II is not just a well-presented example, but a thrilling opportunity to experience a road-going homologated DTM champion.