Dear late-night Oppo; I just bought this

"190e30-Now with COSWORTH" (190e30)
02/22/2015 at 00:18 • Filed to: None

I just roadtripped down to New Jersey in the M3, where I met the (previous) owner of this nice Cosworth and we exchanged keys, permanently. My dad and I then proceeded to drive it home, in about 3 inches of snow, on unplowed roads, on Direzza's, with a track suspension setup (meaning aggressive camber and toe). 5 or so hours later after averaging 40 mph, we were home in one piece.

Here she is. An elaborate story post will be coming soon:

And one of myself in a slightly awkward pose 2 minutes after purchase:

For size comparison, I'm 5'10" and 145. It's a very small car.

DISCUSSION (37)

Dsscats > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:20

190e30-Now without VANOS(forever)

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:20

OF VERY MUCH EXCITE.

It looks sooooooo good.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Dsscats
02/22/2015 at 00:21

I should change that.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut
02/22/2015 at 00:23

Thanks! I was a little iffy on the decals and thought they might look cheap and cheesy in person, but they're the exact opposite.

TwinCharged - Is Now UK Opponaut > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:24

Indeed.

Kinja'd!!!

stuttgartobsessed > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:25

WHAT??? This is fully approved. Though I haven't decided if I like or dislike the SENNA badging.... It's cool, but loud. But also really awesome.

Also, you're (you seem?) hella young and you've had an M3 AND a 190E Cosworth?? You are most definitely doing life right.

D > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:28

change nothing

My citroen won't start > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:28

YES

Sam > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:29

I love it! But the Senna decals, ehhhhhhh, it's kinda like putting M3 badges on a E36 325i.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > stuttgartobsessed
02/22/2015 at 00:31

There's a story behind the Senna badging, he essentially got his start in a car identical to mine (exact same color, decals, etc.) and the PO recognized it and added them. I was on the fence myself, but seeing it in person, it's a lot less cheesy and a lot more bad-ass looking.

I'm 18, and definitely consider myself fortunate. I started with a $3900 SCCA-driven Dodge Neon ACR, sold that and used the money to buy a 1991 Audi Coupe, then sold that and used it's funds to buy the M3, and just picked up this little monster a few hours ago in a trade. A combination of my car ADD and some good business decisions have allowed me to have some pretty sweet rides under my own funding at a young age.

JGrabowMSt > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:32

What if I told you there's now more than one 190e on Oppo?

Seriously love the car, road trip down to NJ again, and in better weather. I can show you around!

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Sam
02/22/2015 at 00:33

I agree that they're iffy. In pictures, they aren't great. In person, they're pretty cool.

Just in case you weren't aware of it, here's the car Senna proved himself in;

Kinja'd!!!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:34

Are you leaving the writing?

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > JGrabowMSt
02/22/2015 at 00:35

I'll have to sometime!

I've already talked to our good friend Ay Ay Ron, after I went on Instagram after confirming my deal and learning he had one he was working on. I can't wait to see it, and also can't wait for his help in solving the inevitable issues that will occur considering its an '80s German sedan.

Sam > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:35

That car is what my whole M3 badge thing was about. At it's basics, the 325i was pretty much an M3 (from a layman's perspective). Just as the Cosworth you have is pretty much Senna's Cosworth. It's just kinda... faking it.

But hey, if you like them, screw the haters (including myself). It's your damn Merc.

stuttgartobsessed > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:36

I am a huge supporter of good investments, they're what kept my Alfa on the road while only make ~10k/year. And I'm well aware of the race of champions at the nurburgrung with the mighty, the mighty, the mighty 190. The decals are pretty dope overall though, just not sure if I'd have them on my car.

Which gen M3 did you have?

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
02/22/2015 at 00:37

I think I will. It has history, looks decent in person, and has a great effect on the general public (everything from pictures, to thumbs up, to the odd elderly racing fan drumming up a conversation, apparently- hasn't happened to me yet, did to the PO frequently).

EL_ULY > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:38

duuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude!

JGrabowMSt > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:39

Word on the streets is that he may be dropping the car off at the shop that did the motor swap in my HEMIWagon, and if he does, it'll be back on the road in just a few days, and it wont be piecemeal, it'll be a one and done stop.

The 190E is on my list of cars that I'd like to at least drive for a weekend at some point in the future.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > stuttgartobsessed
02/22/2015 at 00:41

It was an E36, M/3/4/5 in Boston Green Metallic with a Nappa Brown Leather interior. Rare, pretty, fast, and fun. Great in the snow, too!

My primary reason for getting rid of it was that I wanted something Japanese and turbocharged, Japanese to cost less in maintenance and turbocharged because I've never had one. Clearly, that went well.

I had it listed as for sale/for trade on a couple forums, and got an offer for this thing. I had drooled over one Diamond Black Metallic example for sale a few years back when I was looking for a first car, so I pulled the trigger on this one and currently have no regrets. Hopefully it stays that way!

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:42

Fair choice. Awesome car, I didn't know we even got the cosworth here in the US. Also, you have something in your eye.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > JGrabowMSt
02/22/2015 at 00:43

Sweet, we can hard-park together at C&C (my bags have been deleted, but I'll pretend).

One weekend is about how long it would take to get used to the dogleg. I'd give it a solid 3-4 days, so you'd have a good chance to enjoy it.

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > EL_ULY
02/22/2015 at 00:44

JGrabowMSt > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:54

Well, we can all hard park together at C&C right now, my motor is just breaking in (2500 miles so far), but I'm having power steering issues in the brutal cold.

It'll be cool to have an Oppo Benz club get-together in New Canaan sometime this year. I can guarantee 4 of us, maybe even 5 if Rico can make it.

Big Bubba Ray > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 00:57

PLEASE repost this tomorrow when I'm sober enough to read it. Congrats on the new car!

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > Big Bubba Ray
02/22/2015 at 01:02

If you're sober enough to read this, I plan on doing a larger story on the car in the coming days. Enjoy the alcohol!

stuttgartobsessed > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 01:11

Nice! I fully approve of the 190.

Though I'm a bit confused about the M3/4/5....? I don't follow

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > stuttgartobsessed
02/22/2015 at 01:13

M3, 4 doors, 5-speed. Just a lazy way of saying its an M3 sedan that's manual.

What's the story with this Alfa? I'm sure I've seen it on here, I'm a daily regular, but can't put a car to the username.

stuttgartobsessed > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 01:21

ah, right.

Well, the Alfa no longer exists. Well, it does, but not with me. It's getting a complete rebuild wither in Berkeley or GA. I rewired the coil wrong and it sort of kind of cought fire just a bit. But it served me very well for a year and I was lucky enough to drive the length of the west coast on 101 and 1 in it with the top down.

So now I've got an '02 530i M-Sport.

Leadbull > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 01:34

Just keep trading up and see where it leads you.

Mathias Rios > JGrabowMSt
02/22/2015 at 03:12

Does my ML count

Mathias Rios > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 03:13

Congrats!

JGrabowMSt > Mathias Rios
02/22/2015 at 07:03

Absolutely

j.davism5 > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/22/2015 at 07:48

Fuck.Yes.

that's awesome mate, post plenty of pics including engine bay. They are rare as fuck in Aus, and I've always wanted a steer. Enjoy it, it may be a hard one to part with.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Sam
02/22/2015 at 08:38

It's not really faking it though. If you had an e30 M3 and you had it in an '80s M3 racing livery, that's not faking it. Senna's car was a Cosworth Merc and this is a Cosworth Merc...the 325i to M3 comparison doesn't seem valid to me, it's more like M3 to M3.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > 190e30-Now with COSWORTH
02/26/2015 at 16:29

I love the Senna Graphics. So appropiate. Are you going to put any new wheels on it (perhaps the evo II wheels that were also put on the 500e)?

190e30-Now with COSWORTH > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
02/26/2015 at 17:29

I'd like to, but with the span I'll be keeping the car the cost probably isn't justified.

As it sits now and in the picture, those are Evo I wheels. The OEMs are currently in the basement on Proxes RRs