Three years ago, on a relaxed Friday evening in the summer, I found myself in the garage, absorbed in tinkering with a BMW engine. Inside, my roommates were hosting a casual house party. Seeking refuge from the loud music and the typical college party crowd, a few friends and I were outside, polishing car parts and enjoying some quieter conversation. Amidst our chat, two young men approached us, curious about our activity. “We noticed the party and thought it was okay to come over,” they said. Having recently moved to the area and being away from my usual car scene, I welcomed the chance to connect with local car enthusiasts.
Their names were Cory Hutchison and Rodney Nichols, and they quickly proved to be one of the most genuinely funny and unique pairs of friends I’d ever met. We talked for a while, discussing my car projects and, naturally, theirs: Hondas. Preludes were what sparked their interest, just as BMWs did for me. But I had a feeling that was about to change. As the evening drew to a close, I invited them to come back the following weekend, suggesting we could work on one of their cars. As they left, I jokingly said, “Mark my words… if you stick around here long enough, I’ll have you guys driving BMWs before you know it.”
It’s probably no surprise to anyone reading this that Rodney and Cory have become two of my closest friends. Even less surprising might be the fact that they both ended up driving BMWs. Well, almost. Rodney did sell his BMW E23 735i, aiming for something that better suited his daily needs. This brings us to his current ride: a Mercedes Benz 190E. While technically not a BMW, it’s an exceptional car, and importantly, it’s European, which I considered a partial “victory” in my book.
Let’s rewind a bit. Rodney had been a devoted Honda enthusiast for as long as he’d been into cars. However, his passion wasn’t limited to four-wheeled vehicles. He was equally passionate about street bikes. For the first few years I knew him, a Honda CBR motorcycle was always present, parked alongside his 2nd-generation Prelude and his fiancée’s 5th-generation Prelude. “I think I’d have to sell the car before I’d sell the bike,” he once told me. Like many motorcycle enthusiasts, he emphasized the unique thrill of riding on two wheels. However, to the surprise of our group of friends, Rodney eventually listed his beloved bike for sale on Craigslist. Whether it was to fund another bike, get money for a car project, or for other reasons, I don’t quite recall. But the bike was indeed up for sale.
Selling a motorcycle on Craigslist, especially a budget-friendly one, attracts a wide range of responses. Lowball offers and bizarre trade requests flooded in – the typical messages from people offering far less than the asking price or trades for completely irrelevant items, like tickets to a past event. However, one particular call stood out and sparked his interest: a trade offer involving a grey market Mercedes Benz 190E. The catch? It barely ran, the paint was faded, and it had a somewhat strange modification – an older, larger Mercedes front end had been grafted onto it with fiberglass. Despite these issues, Rodney was intrigued and wanted to take a look. I couldn’t have been more excited about this prospect.
Later that week, Rodney arrived at my place in the mentioned red Mercedes 190E. The grafted front end protruded awkwardly, resembling an overbite, and the paint was reminiscent of a sun-faded soda can – the once vibrant red now a cloudy, pale pink. The engine sputtered and struggled to idle, and acceleration was hesitant. The car’s obscure diaphragm-based fuel injection system was clearly failing, a complex system that was unfamiliar territory for Rodney, a Chevrolet technician by trade. Despite these obvious problems, Rodney was enthusiastic.
Beneath the faded, milky paint, there was a pleasant surprise: an original Zender body kit in seemingly excellent condition. It was mounted to a car that, aside from the paint, appeared to be remarkably well-preserved, free from major dents or damage. Inside, beneath worn and torn seat fabric, were a set of original Recaro seats. These were paired with a desirable euro-spec dogleg manual transmission. A rare D&W steering wheel and shift knob, likely original to the car, were still in place. Adding to the classic feel, cloth houndstooth door cards covered manual roll-up windows. This Mercedes Benz 190E had “it” – all the sought-after features that Mercedes enthusiasts dream of finding. It had seemingly just fallen into Rodney’s lap. However, bringing this classic Mercedes back to its former glory would be a significant undertaking.
If Rodney wasn’t already skilled in paint correction, he certainly became one quickly. He dedicated, and continues to dedicate, a significant amount of time to buffing and polishing the old, single-stage paint to maintain its gloss. Without constant attention, the paint quickly reverts to its faded, washed-out appearance. Rodney’s persistent effort keeps it looking respectable. He then sourced original European-specification headlights from overseas and found a hood in great condition at a local junkyard. Together, Rodney and Cory stripped the replacement hood and resprayed it in the back of a woodworking shop. Miraculously, the color match was nearly perfect. The car was starting to resemble the Mercedes Benz 190E it was originally intended to be. With the bodywork and paint addressed, Rodney turned his attention to the engine issues. He ordered numerous parts from eBay, determined to get the car running correctly. After resolving the fuel injection problems and other mechanical issues, the Mercedes Benz 190E became Rodney’s daily driver, reliably handling his hour-long commute to and from the Chevrolet dealership.
After much consideration, Rodney made a decision about wheels: a set of 17×8 and 17×9 split wheels that evoked the iconic Aeros found on the legendary “AMG Hammer” Mercedes. Wrapped in 205/40 and 215/40 Falken 512 tires, the Krone wheels filled the somewhat boxy wheel arches of the 190E perfectly. To achieve the desired stance, Rodney fabricated a custom set of strut mounts, combined with custom springs and struts, aiming for a balance of a quality ride and proper aesthetics. After finalizing these details and other smaller touches, the Mercedes Benz 190E was finally ready for car show season. To say it attracted attention would be an understatement.
Since then, Rodney has driven his once barely-running Mercedes Benz 190E all over the East Coast, attending events from SoWo to H2Oi. He’s accumulated significant mileage on it, while his once cherished Honda Prelude sits awaiting reassembly after a paint job that started almost a year ago. The wheels from the Prelude have been sold off. Its ultimate fate? Only Rodney knows for sure. While I’m certain Rodney’s Honda days are far from over, he insists there’s still much he wants to do with the Mercedes. Plans for a driveline swap are high on his list. But what’s most rewarding is witnessing someone as determined as Rodney take a chance and venture into unfamiliar territory. Never did he imagine he’d be behind the wheel of an iconic 1980s German sports sedan when we first met. Needless to say, I eagerly anticipate the opportunity to help wrench on the next phase of this Mercedes Benz 190E build.
