It was a typical Friday night three years ago, the kind where summer still held a cool evening breeze. Instead of joining the house party my roommates were throwing, I found myself in the garage, happily lost in the intricacies of a BMW engine. A few friends joined me, seeking refuge from the loud music and the usual college revelry, preferring the quiet company of car parts and casual conversation. Suddenly, two young guys approached, drawn by the activity. “We saw the party and thought it was cool to come over,” they said. Being new to the area myself, I welcomed the chance to meet fellow car enthusiasts.
Their names were Cory Hutchison and Rodney Nichols. Even then, and certainly now, they struck me as one of the most genuinely funny and likeable pairs of friends I’d ever met. We talked for a while, discussing my BMW projects and, of course, their passion: Hondas. Preludes, specifically, held the same allure for them as BMWs did for me. That evening, as things wound down, I invited them back, suggesting we wrench on a car together sometime. With a bit of playful confidence, I added, “Mark my words… if you stick around here long enough, I’ll have you guys in BMWs before you know it.”
Looking back, it’s no surprise that Rodney and Cory became two of my closest friends. And perhaps even less surprisingly, my playful prediction about BMWs almost came true. Rodney did own a BMW for a time, an E23 735i, but eventually sold it seeking something that better fit his needs. This brings us to his current ride: a Mercedes Benz 190e. While technically not a BMW, it’s an exceptional car in its own right, and being European, it felt like a partial victory on my part.
Rodney’s automotive heart had always belonged to Honda. His dedication wasn’t limited to cars; his passion for street bikes ran just as deep. For years, a Honda CBR motorcycle held pride of place alongside his beloved 2nd-gen Prelude and his fiancée’s 5th-gen Prelude. “I think I’d have to sell the car before I’d sell the bike,” he once told me, echoing the sentiment of many motorcycle enthusiasts who understand the unique thrill of two wheels. However, to everyone’s surprise, Rodney eventually listed his CBR for sale on Craigslist. Whether it was for another bike, car funds, or life’s necessities, the reason became secondary to the fact that the bike was going.
Selling a cheap motorcycle on Craigslist attracts a diverse crowd, from serious buyers to those offering laughably low prices or irrelevant trades. Amidst the lowball offers and bizarre trade proposals, one inquiry stood out: a trade offer for a grey market Mercedes Benz 190e. The description wasn’t glowing – it barely ran, the paint was faded, and it had a grafted front end from an older, larger Mercedes model. Despite the questionable description, Rodney was intrigued, and I was definitely excited at the prospect.
Later that week, Rodney arrived at my place in the red Mercedes Benz 190e. The front end awkwardly protruded, resembling an overbite, and the faded red paint had the dullness of an old, sun-bleached soda can. The engine sputtered and struggled to accelerate, the finicky mechanical fuel injection system clearly failing – a system as foreign to Rodney, a Chevrolet technician, as it was to me at the time. Yet, despite its obvious flaws, Rodney was enthusiastic.
Beneath the faded, milky paint, an original Zender body kit appeared to be in remarkably good condition. The body itself, aside from the paint, was straight and free of major damage. Inside, beneath worn and torn upholstery, were original Recaro seats. Adding to the allure was a euro-spec dogleg manual transmission, a rare D&W steering wheel and shift knob seemingly untouched since new, and houndstooth cloth door cards concealing manual roll-up windows. This Mercedes Benz 190e had “it” – all the desirable features that Mercedes enthusiasts dream of finding, practically dropped into Rodney’s lap. However, bringing this classic back to its former glory would be a significant undertaking.
Rodney quickly became a master of paint correction. He dedicated countless hours to buffing and polishing the aged paint, fighting to restore its original luster. Without constant attention, the paint would quickly revert to its faded state, but Rodney’s persistent effort kept it looking respectable. Sourcing original European-spec headlights from overseas and finding a good condition hood from a local junkyard, Rodney and Cory took on the task of stripping and respraying the hood in a woodworking shop. Miraculously, the color match was near perfect, and the Mercedes Benz 190e began to resemble its original factory appearance. With the bodywork and paint addressed, Rodney turned his attention to the engine issues, ordering parts online to rectify the fuel injection problems and get the car running reliably. Once sorted, the 190e became Rodney’s daily driver, enduring a one-hour commute each way to the Chevrolet dealership.
After considerable thought, Rodney chose wheels: 17×8 and 17×9 split wheels reminiscent of the iconic “AMG Hammer” Aeros. Wrapped in 205/40 and 215/40 Falken 512 tires, the Krone wheels perfectly filled the square wheel arches of the 190e. To achieve the desired stance, Rodney engineered a custom set of strut mounts, combined with custom springs and struts, balancing a quality ride with an aggressive aesthetic. After refining a few finishing touches, the Mercedes Benz 190e was ready for car show season, and it became an instant head-turner.
Since then, Rodney has driven his once barely-running Mercedes Benz 190e across the East Coast, from SoWo to H2Oi, accumulating significant mileage while his previously cherished Prelude (Rodney Nicholss’s 1986 Prelude) patiently awaits reassembly after a year-long paint job. The wheels from the Prelude are gone, its future uncertain. While Rodney’s Honda days are far from over, he’s committed to further developing the Mercedes Benz 190e, with a driveline swap high on his list. What’s most rewarding is witnessing someone as steadfast as Rodney embrace the unfamiliar. He never imagined himself owning a legendary 80s German sports sedan when we first met, but now, I eagerly anticipate the next phase of this build, ready to lend a wrench and see what’s next for this unexpected Mercedes Benz 190e project.
