Model history, buying advice, maintenance, and roadside assistance. The Mercedes-Benz 190 from the W 201 series was one of the most successful German car models of the past decades. With nearly 1.9 million units produced from 1982 to 1993, it broke numerous production records and became the fiercest competitor, especially to the BMW 3 Series. It was available with four- and six-cylinder gasoline engines as well as four- and five-cylinder diesel engines. The top models were the sport versions 190 E 2.3-16 and 190 E 2.5-16, which achieved over 50 victories in various Evolution versions as factory and customer race cars in the DTM. Tuners like AMG, Brabus, and Oettinger helped the Baby-Benz gain more power. The 190 was ahead of its time with innovative features like a multi-link rear axle and insulation for the diesel engines. The technology was otherwise solid and robust, designed by Bruno Sacco.