Current build
Project W201
An OEM+ restomod of a Mercedes-Benz 190E, built engine up.
The philosophy
This isn’t a build about how much can be changed — it’s about how little needs to. Every part is judged against one question: would this look out of place on a car Mercedes-Benz built? If the answer is yes, it doesn’t go on. That standard has already ruled out a 6-speed gearbox, a dual hydraulic handbrake, race-spec brake pads, and even our own badge when it was too prominent on the bodywork.
The build
Engine
M102, rebuilt rather than swapped. Target of roughly 150 HP with a wide, usable torque curve over outright peak power. Displacement still to be decided between 2.0L and 2.3L.
Electronics
A strict three-block architecture. The original Mercedes ECU is never touched. A dedicated STM32 handles comfort and performance systems — electronic exhaust, air suspension. A Raspberry Pi 5 runs the dashboard and UI only, with no direct control over the car.
Transmission & differential
The original Getrag 5-speed gearbox, rebuilt, paired with an aftermarket limited-slip differential (Quaife or Wavetrac).
Brakes
A balanced setup: 6-piston calipers up front, 2-piston at the rear.
Suspension
Air suspension with three ride heights — Show, Street, and Lift.
Interior
Nappa leather and Alcantara trim, a custom fiberglass center console, and RGB lighting.
Where things stand
Project W201 is currently in the planning phase. The donor car hasn’t been sourced yet, and we’re waiting on a workspace — a carport on private land, still pending approval. The project is funded and built one phase at a time; nothing starts until the previous phase is fully closed out, and there are no recurring costs along the way.