Motor Car History
 Veteran - Vintage - Classic - Modern
Motor car history
Understanding the Automobile
Toggle Navigation
  • Home
  • Makes and models
  • Motor car History
  • Motor Car Guide
    • Induction & Exhaust
    • Tyres wheels Brakes
    • Vehicle Body types
    • Electrical & electronic
    • Gearbox & Drivetrain
    • Engine Components
    • Suspension Types
    • Engines
  • Trivia
    • Advertising
    • Race events
    • Film & TV
    • Museums
  • links
    • Advertise your business
    • About us
    • Help with a donation
  • Log in
  • Register
  • Advertise
  • You are here:  
  • Motor Car
  • Motor Car Guide
  • Engines Makes
  • Cosworth Engines
  • Cosworth WAA 190E Engine (1984-1989)
  • Motor Car
  • Motor Car Guide
  • Engines Makes
  • Cosworth Engines
Categories
Cosworth Engines | Mercedes engines
Engines
1980s
Britain

History

The Cosworth WAA 190E 2.3-litre Engine

The Mercedes-190e Cosworth Engine

Cosworth’s involvement with Mercedes-Benz came with moves in the mid-1980s from the German manufacturer to re-enter motorsport the new W201 Chassis (190E Model) and turned to the expertise of Cosworth to shorten the development time for this project.

The request was a huge surprise for Cosworth, and the original brief for a 320 bhp engine based on the 136 bhp Mercedes M102 2.3-litre SOHC 4-cylinder engine was duly passed to Mike Hall, who “drew the famed DFV and BDA engine”. Designed around the existing M102 head bolt pattern, the new twin cam, 16-valve, pentroof head, had its valves set at 45° included angle, rather than the 40° angle of the BDA. The valves were the biggest that could be fitted into the combustion chamber. Flat top pistons delivered the 10.5:1 compression ratio. The new Cosworth WAA engine also was Cosworth’s first one-piece head, i.e. the camshaft carrier was cast integral with the head itself. Again the constraints of the existing head-bolt pattern meant that Hall had to shift the camshaft bearings from outside each pair of camlobes as in the BDA to in between each cylinder's pair of cam lobes. The upside being that this configuration made for less flex at high rpm.

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.3 16 Valve Cosworth

The advent of the AWD turbo Audi Quattro gave the rear-wheel-drive, normally aspirated 190E rally car no chance of being successful and the competition car was stillborn. Instead Mercedes-Benz decided to recoup its development cost by selling the car as a road going sports-sedan. Hall detuned the WAA race engine to 185 bhp by reducing the port diameters and a more restrictive fuel injection and induction was substituted for the race items to complete the detune. All WAA 2.3-16 engines were built in the Cosworth factory with the heads being produced by the Coscast method.

Cosworth assisted with the later 2.5-16 engine (WAB), and the short-stroke 2.5-16 Evo engines (WAC) although these were all manufactured in house by Mercedes-Benz.The 190E 2.3-16 became the basis for privateer Mercedes entries into the DTM from 1988. The short-stroke 2.5-16 190E EVO II was race-developed to 375+ bhp, gaining the 1992 DTM crown with Klaus Ludwig at the wheel.

A 4,300 cc (262.4 cu in) V10 designated WDA was also built and tested in a Volvo S80 in 1997, but this did not see production.

Mercedes Benz 190E 2.5 16 Valve Cosworth

Technical

  • Cosworth WAA Engine Technical details and specifications (1984-1989)

    Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3L

    No. of cylinders 4
    Capacity 2298cc
    Firing order 1-3-4-2
    Compression ratio 1.5:1
    Suitable for unleaded petrol Yes
    Fuel system Make Bosch Type KE-Jetronic 2/2.3
    Diagnostic socket Yes
    Ignition coil Make Bosch Type 0 221 501 007
    Distributor Make Bosch
    Fuel system pressure 5.3-5.5 bar
    Oil pressure 3.0 bar @ 3000 rpm
    Thermostat opens 87±2°C
    Alternator Make Bosch type 0 120 489 232
    Voltage regulator Type 1 197 311 003
    Starter motor Make Bosch Type 0 001 108 003
    Maximum cranking amps 167-205A
    Regulated voltage 13.0-14.5V

    © Motor car History

     

Registered: Advanced information, Maintenance and Service Guides to download and save.

Members Only !  >>  Register here. <<

Advanced Maintenance and Service Guides to download and save

Service

  • Cosworth WAA Engine Service Guide (1984-1989)
     

    Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3L
     
    Spark plugs Electrode gap 0.8mm
    Spark plugs Tighten 10-20 Nm
    Spark plugs Original equipment Bosch H5DCO
    Spark plugs Make Autolite 103
    Spark plugs Make Champion S6YCC
    Spark plugs Make NGK BP7EFS
    Valve clearance -INLET 0.10-0.20 mm check cold
    Valve clearance -EXHAUST 0.25-0.35 mm check cold
    Drive belt size - alternator 1885mm
    Drive belt size - PAS/AC 1090mm
    Engine oil grade - normal/ moderate climate 10W/40 SAE or 10W/50 SAE Semi-synthetic
    Engine oil grade - cold climate 5W/30 SAE
    Engine oil grade - hot climate 20W/40 SAE
    Engine oil change 5.0 litres
    Manual gearbox oil grade ATF-A SAE
    Manual gearbox oil 1.6 litres
    Differential oil grade rear 90W SAE
    Differential oil rear 1.1 litres
    Cooling system 8.0 litres

    © Motor car History

Related

motor car on you tube

Also read (Members)
  • Cosworth YB Engine (1986-)
  • Cosworth WAA 190E Engine (1984-1989)
  • Cosworth GBA V6 Engine (1986-1987)
  • Cosworth DFV Engine (1960s)
Mercedes W 201 | Petrol Engines | Straight-4 Engines | Cosworth

Can’t see this article ?  >>  Register here. <<

Read more in this section (Registered)

Cosworth DFV Engine (1960s)
Cosworth DFV Engine (1960s)
Read more...
Cosworth BDA engine (1969-)
Cosworth BDA engine (1969-)
Read more...
Cosworth WAA 190E Engine (1984-1989)
Cosworth WAA 190E Engine (1984-1989)
Read more...

Engines types

  • Petrol Engines
  • Diesel Engines
  • Straight 6 Engines
  • V6 engines
  • V8 Engines
  • Straight-4 Engines
  • Straight-5 Engines

Back to Top

© 2023 Motor Car History