DTM Inspired Twin Turbo V8 Swapped Mercedes 190e - The Wildest Mercedes at SEMA??

Here at Hoonigan, it's pretty much a given that old-school DTM footage is playing somewhere on our screens. The late 80s/early 90s were one of the finest points of automotive racing in Germany. But it's very much a "don't meet your heroes" situation sometimes when it came to the street versions of these DTM monsters. You'd be hard pressed to say these days that the 190e Evo is "fast", and it definitely didn't have the greatest fitment in the world. So Tim Lajambe took it upon himself to create what in his mind is the perfect 190e street car.
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[@LarryChenPhoto]

Make your walls epic! Support AutoFocus and purchase a large wall Photo Print today: www.etsy.com/shop/larrychenphoto

[@nathanferrarese6363]

I have a friend whos brother has a filthy sticker on both his BMWs. I was wondering if you knew jesse tian?

[@supersevenn]

Diffusser to finish the DTM look? Fail......DTM of that era did not have diffussers. Sorry to hate but the car just looks odd. rear wheel size?, height?, stance? there is just something weird about it. and to finish it off that steering wheel is horrible. but hey, to each their own....workmanship is great though

[@michealwilliams7757]

Hopefully people dont start buying 190s keep them cheap for me

[@kingofohio5689]

Thats why i love underrated cars.

[@christianwc9458]

They're getting kinda popular here in Northern Europe, because of the classic/veteran status, which cuts down enormously on road taxes. I find myself checking the German market more and more often, keep those cars out of the crusher!

[@kingofohio5689]

@Marius Ipad i think you're 12 years old, who doesnt have respect to car community.

[@AutobahnVault]

Agree with you Sir. He sounds like he never drove one (maybe doesn't have a driver license yet?) and it is repeating whatever else he read on a forum.

[@FenderBenz]

@Marius Ipad you're just a stupid fortnitekid. "Marius Ipad" Haha 😂😂 190E is a really good car. Won't see such a good car again for a long time

[@wheelheart]

He built my dream. 90% of my vision for a 190 EVO build. I'm so jealous. But I'm happy for him!

[@HollowR6S]

My dream build would be a w202 c class or e190 evo 2, I’d put full dtm style road legal body kits upgrade the internals, upgrade exhaust and maybe put in a bitching sequential 😍😍shame it would cost upwards of £50,000!!!

[@herculaspretorius7708]

@@HollowR6S hey man, just work on it slowly. im 17 and just got a 88 190 (carbed not injection), theres a lot of body work to do but luckily my uncle is a panel beater and painter, so slowly im gonna make it to my taste and when i get bored engine swap etc... its very do able your dream just work hard for it and remember the changes dont need to happen over night

[@marcusjohansson7439]

I have a 230 ce (w124 coupe 1989) the engine on my car is on the brink to becoming broken (lots of knocking noises and leaking everywhere) I have not decided whether i should just restore the old engine or just buy an ls engine and swap the hole kit (transmission included, even the suspension should be upgraded when swapping from 4 cyl to v8 i believe) And btw boschs ke jettronic problems make me roll my eyes... Thats why im also considering swapping to another engine..)

[@Carlo-_]

Even cooler that this car is owned by a vampire!!!! 🧛🏼‍♂️

[@colonslash6609]

Totally couldn't stop looking at his teeth.

[@Carlo-_]

Dean Gibbons yeah they’re normal..... for blood suckers!!!

[@se1663]

😂😂😂

[@Prodriver33]

checked out the comments just to make sure someone else saw this as it is....

[@leathalinterjection7274]

Loool looks like his name should be Corbin or some shit😂 and if a vampire had a race car this would be it!

[@bubbajspnkypants]

Owner " everybody on Instagram gives me shitt for not doing a Mercedes swap" Everyone on insta " where is the hose clamps at on the intake manifold?"

[@lordroku8256]

Caught that

[@unlisted9494]

I'll be honest, I do kinda agree with them though. There are so many Mercedes engines (like the m103 this car could come with) that are SICK and nobody touches them in America. Only a few people who mess with them and they're all in Europe, most notably a guy running 1300hp on the street with a mostly stock m104. They're insanely strong because they started out as a diesel, which is why you can stick the om605 diesel crank in the m104 and build a 3.6 stroker with mostly factory parts. Cool ass engines, wish this car had one in it.

[@zerodamonsta942]

Un Listed the reason why people don’t touch Them is the after market support. When you have a engine nobody don’t know how to tune ect. It’s kinda hard to do and it takes a lot of money to get parts. When you can get a v8 literally from a junkyard and get cheap parts and make great power. You’re right though it would have been great to do a different swap but I understand why he didn’t.

[@pkuudsk9927]

My guess is that they ran out of time,as with most show cars , and it will be getting Vibrant clamps as he intends to drive this car some day. Plane old hose clamps would look like shit even t type would look out of place in such a clean built engine bay. The attention to detail on the rest of the car makes me think he put some on and said take them off .

[@bubbajspnkypants]

@@pkuudsk9927 same can be said for all the bluetooth driveshafts. It's gonna be pointed out at SEMA. Should change the name since its not held to the same standards as before.

[@malcolmjcullen]

Changing the stock mirrors was mistake, IMHO. Those asymmetric originals were special.

[@cf8004]

Bah w123 chassis did it better anyhow

[@pointlesschannel1679]

i own a 190 ,and the stock mirrors are not good , they look good , but harsh to see

[@-smp-scientificmethodpersp838]

@@pointlesschannel1679 the ones in this video are worse

[@ricky4638]

If only this car was equipped with an m156

[@swandonovan]

m103/104

[@amorphous14]

M113 ftw.

[@brunobegic3841]

@@swandonovan m104 with a big turbo is the way to go for me

[@bernardwarr4187]

M119 with those hair dryers

[@independentcontractor1633]

I was stationed in Germany for 13 years and went to every DTM race I could, The ADAC 24 Stunden and more. Great build and tribute to an awesome series/ time.

[@kadce992]

Where is the dtm tribute I don't get it 🤔

[@bengt-io3ou]

dtm was so sick

[@sonatine3266]

@@bengt-io3ou DTM is still sick.

[@sonatine3266]

@@kadce992 Then watch the DTM series of 1995 / 1996 - I remember watching those with my dad when I was 4-5 years old. Barely remember it, but I often searched for those cars afterwards on Google (like in recent years). The 1996 C-class from DTM looked very similar. Just search for "C-Klasse DTM 1996 schwarz" on Google.

[@justus1995]

The drool is strong with this one edit: Boris Nonte giving some major Hans Zimmer vibes here

[@colonslash6609]

Texas Speed...making everything sound like Leroy!!!

[@XBullitt16X]

Kinda lame thats its just another LS swap, would have been a lot cooler if it was an AMG V8.

[@donttreadonusdotgov2086]

yeah ls swaps are kinda lame... plus this is like a Leroy Cletus McFarland type engine.... no daily like he said

[@gibsoneustermann9846]

No Fr I thought it was cool But nah this kinda just okay now

[@marcusjohansson7439]

Ls or amg, does not matter to me as long as it is a high performance engine.. but yeah, an amg v8 or v12 picks a little bit more "cool-points" and amg is built for Mercedes.. but i cannot see how an ls engine would be a bad engine, especially when it is high performing. 😊

[@thiefsenseixkamui_bass]

a Judd V8 would also be nice

[@jamesrockford6416]

An LS motor is much more reliable than actual AMG and gives you equal power anyway.

[@zukgod]

This car is so sick, and Tim is such a humble guy. I've talked to him a few times about my own builds and he takes the time and is always so cool. The industry needs more guys like him. Great build Tim, hope to see it and you in person this summer.

[@andrewlee88]

This guys car needs more coverage. Its so well executed and just incredible.

[@paulwade5853]

🤞Don't be LS🤞 🤞Don't be LS🤞 🤞Don't be LS🤞 aaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww that's a shame😕

[@aimDiego]

Why? It's a badass engine, sounds like a beast, makes a shitload of power, is reliable as fuck.

[@paulwade5853]

It's boring and lazy. And imo it sounds like ass, or maybe I'm just sick of hearing them ALL THE TIME!!!

[@paulwade5853]

And reliability is questionable, seen more of them spewing out coolant than I can count!

[@aimDiego]

An engine that can achieve 700HP without forced induction is boring? And lazy? Unless you've built a SEMA car I really don't know if you can call anyone lazy for using an LS engine, and yes, they are reliable as hell. I love almost any LS sound there is.

[@aimDiego]

@@paulwade5853 also, any car can spill coolant, that happens way more than you may think, and that's not an engine reliability issue, unless it happens through the block, I mean come on those things can handle +1000 HP no sweat. I get your point, everyone is doing LS swaps, but that doesn't make a car less badass, nowadays any engine swap is played out, heck, engine swaps are played out by themselves.

[@mehkayla6685]

This was a dream of mine at one time, i bought a 190e, then continued to spend my money smoking weed. The engine blew (timing chain) and I just abandoned that whole idea completely.. I realized, i didn't want to build cars as much as I once felt like i wanted to anyways.. LoL!

[@masonkelly6694]

Jesus story of my life I can't even afford an e38

[@youtubesafe8011]

The Mercedes 190e evo2 is my favorite car, it's such a hidden gem with so little of them being made, this episode of autofocus is a treat even if it's v8 swapped

[@mohdadli1046]

Ahh adding up to my obsession over the 190e... thank you very much!

[@justdave100]

I am going to have nightmares about this car, it just looks mean as hell! Details are flawless. 😍

[@rikosway]

Dope video. Guys. 190e build like this has been on my list. It is awesome to see crews building dope stuff. Also I like seeing myself in the background of the interview :). Keep it F7LTHY

[@tommypayne1980]

Always a DTM 190 E Merc . the build harks back to the Judd V8 DTM Merc of the era . Well done Sir.

[@sonatine3266]

Great build - I love DTM! But I mean 1000 BHP reliable would be no problem with a Mercedes-AMG M177 4.0L V8 as well. GAD Motors from Germany brings those to >1500 BHP while being super reliable for middle-eastern temps - they have many sheikh customers from Dubai, UAE etc.

[@gearhead3500]

the 190E 2.3 was my first car i blew the engine then sold it now i miss it.

[@ipwndrums]

jeeze one of the dopest 190e's ive ever seen hands down

[@nightreapers3425]

Nrg rice wheel needs to go

[@willpayforbaconbacon9569]

@@nightreapers3425 Theres alot of rice on this thing not just the steering wheel lol. wheels, mirrors, wing along with the rest of the fake aero, plastic headlights! tf is that dash? the whole interior looks like it was thrown together by an 8 year old. Classic case of all the gear, but no idea.

[@nightreapers3425]

Willpayforbacon bacon And the air ride needs to go

[@paveantelic7876]

This isnt even a 190 anymore

[@keithstoodley6233]

we only get 3 months of nice weather in Canada to be able to drive cars like this...Mad Respect for this build!!!

[@darksidetize5183]

i vote 1:14 one of hoonigans most rad advertisements

[@Thee_Sinner]

You just had to go and remind me that I was never able to finish the IA-15 license test in Gran Turismo 4....

[@drbelli]

nice one!!! i dream of a DTM road legal Opel Calibra V6 4x4 done in full carbon, for ages... just havent got the resources to build it yet... yet.....

[@jstdrv]

Definitely cool but needs amber turn signals for that retro look!

[@medievilassassin]

OMFG! This 190E is biblical . Like it’s risen from the depths of hell. I imagine it coming from hell to rip up the roads of earth , like the headless horseman in sleepy hollow coming out of the tree 😍

[@ahmedjabbar7467]

Critical needs to get his hands on this and put it on highway 3 to drive it like it needs to be driven

[@leekasu]

Sick build. Must be a blast to drive this car. P.S. Nice choice for picking music from Within Temptation every time DTM is mentioned.

[@danielimmeyer9229]

Air suspension to "get the gap" gag barf gag

[@PoonDestruction]

i love everything aside from the wing, the clips that hold the lip and the steering wheel.

[@TheRwdyAudi]

YES !!! PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST BAD🍑 BENZ TO EVER COME THREW SEMA EVER ... I LOOK AT THIS CAR PROBABLY FOR A SOLID HOUR

[@jsquared1013]

"Through". If you're shortening it, it's "thru".

[@diegoaponte8512]

Sorry but it should be an AMG engine. I still love the look though. Always thought that this car was underrated on its look.

[@hypernaj]

dude i wanted to do this exact thing to 750il

[@kyleflowers2641]

My favorite car at SEMA this year!

[@jryalls]

Been waiting for someone to do a video on this. Thanks Larry.

[@TrickFactory]

We've also done a video on the build on our channel, check it out if you want to see where it started 👍

[@TrickFactory]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWalmqSlbpp_rZI

[@w201history]

Агылшынша уйрену керек болды. 😁😁😁 тусину мумкин емес

[@Vermontguy87]

He should of used an AMG engine instead!!!!

[@Joish247]

Bag over coil my dude

[@jsquared1013]

Should "have".

[@MDDeGrande1994]

Yes, a 6.2L V8 from the older C63!

[@andresutherland4306]

Love this DAME CAR but rather the DTM evo wing instead 😜

[@gabrijelbrobosnjak5028]

Mercedes w124 500e comes stock with a v8 and w124 looks better.

[@OctaneMonkey]

How is this channel not bigger!

[@puggzymalone5824]

I Love this car! I've always had a soft spot for the 190E as it was my first car and kept it for about 8 years! I would love to do something crazy like this! I've always fantasised about doing a racy version with a Merc v8 manual and also a modern engine with an automatic gearbox.

[@1dirty7]

Love the evo2 DTM. This thing is next level

[@alexk.8715]

One of my favourites of this year's sema.

[@papa_pt]

dream v8 would be a low compression TT m119 like the Sauber Group C cars. the exhaust almost makes this ls sound euro though

[@carholic-sz3qv]

The aftermarket support for those Mercedes engines are almost non existent and the ls engine series or other Japanese engines are the better options

[@papa_pt]

@@carholic-sz3qv true the UFZ or whatever the Lexus one is called would be closer to the dohc design and I've seen a bunch of tt setups

[@MrDrakePrice]

​@@carholic-sz3qv not true, there are MANY aftermarket parts and tuners for m119 and m113, ask me how i know

[@CoolCarlos310]

190E FOREVER!!!!!! AN LEGENDARY TRACK CAR 🚘

[@seraphiel9829]

this is how you inspire a new generation to work hard and think different.

[@YouWillBe322]

They should test it in a wind tunnel to see where to adjust wings and spoliers I think.

[@trapxicanoofficial9918]

I have a 1990 2.6 190e And this just motivated me to keep it and work on it!

[@sime8774]

Ouf tj hunt ex gt3 ferrari in the back👌

[@twowheelsnobrain]

Ls, nrg wheel , big wing, looks like a typical KZbin build. Someone get him some white claw because this is too much for just a street sema car imo.

[@bulldog1008]

Thank you bro frfr

[@robertrishel3685]

Absolute MADNESS 😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@AutobahnVault]

Wish you would have gone the extra mile and fit a Mercedes Bi-turbo instead. That would have been HUGE but also a huge expense in addition to everything else, so very understandable. Very cool project overall. @ 8:30, are you guys painting the rims with the tires on them?Love the fit and finish of the body kit. Stance is perfect. Interior is gorgeous. And sound is insane. Fantastic build.

[@ThorOdinson-zc2kq]

The ls is 1000% more reliable

[@AutobahnVault]

@@ThorOdinson-zc2kq And less powerful.

[@BraveNewwor1d]

Good build until I heard ls, -_- wow there is a few good bullet proof Mercedes v8 engine.

[@ze_german2921]

So where do you buy Cylinder Heads and Camshafts for Mercedes Engines? Let me know so I can empty my Swiss bank account.

[@panel11111111]

B.C. Representing!!!!!!

[@stratazero1470]

This car is what all the wack youtube builders need to learn from. Love this build.

[@flisflip9738]

engine loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooks mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn

[@boyertb]

Beautiful car, but I’m disappointed in the engine choice.

[@olik136]

same- a high reving inline 4 cylinder is part of what made the car that this car refers to special. I still like the car but putting a V8 in everything seems a bit uninspired- especially for a German homage- there are not many V8 in Germany...

[@boyertb]

I think that a Merc V8 would have been a better choice, or diesel maybe.

[@jakefabian]

Gitsum Exactly, Everything doesn’t have to be a flipping LS swap. They could have dropped the M113 or something in there smh. I’m glad people were giving him flack for this

[@Ghousempc]

Jake Fabian m113k or m119 tt, they can only do with what they’re familiar with because they’re American. you can retro fit tip tronic to either merc engines aswell.

[@kingofohio5689]

M104 would be even better, cos its bestest i6 made by mercedes and its stronger than any M50 engines

[@lemurlemurzy1980]

A piece of art! Congrats guys! Could Toyo make well working tyres for F1, please?

[@ivanadjorovic2627]

Ouch... well its a mind blowing W201.. congrats ;D

[@joshgray2024]

I love it all except for that damn forsaken wing. Sorry its gotta go. Even the evo ll wing with some modification would have dialed that rear end together so well. Its just...idk how else say it,not going with the flow of the car.

[@prescottmajette5290]

Love all your content, but seriously, please get like a minute more of engine running audio for every car you shoot. Please.

[@gasratzcustoms]

Now thats sick!!!!!!!

[@starman7945]

Taxi!!!!

[@Soli_r]

Amazing build! Loved the car and kudos to your editing team to show snippets of 80's DTM racing everytime he said DTM!!

[@joshgray2024]

Ls3 engine.. thats perfect but for real at first because of manifold i was thinking it was m119 engine

[@MrJtee666]

This 190E is perfect to top it off why not put a TT v8 in it👏👏👏

[@dsiner1obslifedziner157]

Sick

[@garyparker2969]

I Wanna 1/24th Scale MODEL Kit of It !!! Freakin AWESOME Build Brother. God Bless All

[@junk3996]

@14:05 those wheels are perfect. they just hug the rotors and its profile ends up being perfect

[@carlosv393]

Amazing car. Ashame it got the LS treatment and didnt try to be a little more true to the DMT cars. However the build quality is top notch! And done in 7 weeks!?! Wow!

[@kingofohio5689]

If i were the owner of the 190e, i'll swap M104 3.6. Its one of the bestest i6's of mercedes.

[@martinpik1]

bob 69 hands down m104 3.2 or 3.6 if you can get one

[@kingofohio5689]

@@martinpik1 luckily i live in europe

[@RST-R-MODS]

@Frank White none of thoses engines sounds better then the NA 2.5 16v from DTM,fact,and is reliable.

[@RST-R-MODS]

@Frank White Cosworth doenst make the engine,only the head,go research mupet,and again,none of thoses sounds better,same for the E30 M3 Evo,and for a V8...Judd,Mercedes,BMW etc are better than LS crap..

[@Drankandrivin]

Of course its ls swapped

[@drcoolio93]

I've wanted to do this exact build since I discovered the Evo ii in forza motorsprt 4

[@zeronorhero9800]

#808allday shoootz brah!

[@mikkasamuels4551]

190 e my fvrte alwayz

[@elijahherman]

Autofocus is so meta... Who takes pics of Larry taking pics 🤔

[@ironicdon]

Lol promotion reasons for larry

[@rhabeldibabeldi6812]

WTF is that? like seriously, that is a fucking awesome build! So much love went into this car. Didn´t know I was into old mercedes but apparently I am

[@elementjjg]

Hes a vampire

[@cedriccox1001]

thanks for showing this car close up, pics from SEMA did not do it justice. Wish there could have been more period correct wheels, but still looks pretty damn good, the size is 100% correct

[@angelodiavolitsis2665]

Dream car forever...2665...Cosworth.Lambo mourcielago,skyline R34..Panzer Grey color, thanks Man.

[@Alecks1990]

4:52 funny, thats the diebels mercedes, it was at our smal town for years, becaus the brewery diebels in our town sponsored it but it had to be sold due to the owners fighting over money ...

[@arnold92morales10]

This needs to be in the track!

[@David-xl8zf]

Hot dayum.

[@e36blur]

eWW air suspension? WTF

[@Cloudy5.0]

Take a shot every time he says DTM.

[@nav56ful]

This is literally my dream car

[@koro7135]

memories, dreams, passion = masterpiece

[@j.martinez6077]

It really is a cool homage to DTM MB.

[@v1c1ous0ne]

Hmm.......a Cosworth transplant is needed! I would appreciate this car a lot more.........it’s like a monster MIATA ......nice hp but definitely not my cup of tea......it’s definitely worth even using an almost stock Cosworth transplant than using a Chevy block

[@thomasrose6962]

i loved the 3 sec old man slamming through the gears in what looked like an old malibu w BB

[@peterportelance9804]

CDN..DUDE .😎.👍! German Car...😉👍💙 AWSOME Project..☺👍 But NO GERMAN ENGEIN..👎😡

[@samsungssamsungs4418]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍❤

[@ze_german2921]

This is how you future proof a Mercedes, no nonsense +$50K engines, just Bald Eagles.

[@cr0wnnoize808]

In the process of building a 190e, you guys do know the Evolution kit is 4k right?! Stunning!

[@Brandon-fn6id]

I loved using this car in Gran Turismo lol

[@runeandrebergtun8892]

Used to see alot of the stock 190E usually only with a NA engine. But this is still cool though. There was a few drawbacks with that one, rust especially, but we use salt on our roads as a de-icer in the winter. But another thing to remember is that it has a cast-iron oil-pan as the lowest point of the car....

[@HEKTIC458]

I was hoping he used the 5.5L AMG motor