CSF 84-88 Mercedes-Benz W201 190E 2.3L - 16 w/ A/C High Performance Aluminum Radiator

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Classic cars have been incredibly important to the enthusiast community for half a century. There are plenty of younger enthusiasts who appreciate the beauty and visceral feeling of older vehicles. However, it is most often older gearheads looking to hold onto a part of their youth. That nostalgic feeling we get from owning or seeing something from our youth is a huge serotonin spike. Those warm fuzzy feelings just don’t stir within us when we see newer cars. There is probably no 80’s or 90’s Mercedes more iconic than the 190E Cosworth. Now that more people are starting to restore and update these often overlooked classics, CSF is here to help.

The Mercedes 190E 2.5-16 Evolution II brought Mercedes-Benz its first DTM title in 1992. This win cemented the 190E’s place in automotive history and further fueled the Mercedes BMW rivalry. It is hard to say if the 190E is better than the E30 M3, but these days it is just as desirable. With more people seeking to restore these German classics, the major roadblock can be the radiator which Mercedes no longer makes. CSF was able to procure one of the original radiators and design a new All-Aluminum OEM+ version. This new radiator from CSF is made with the exacting standards of purists seeking to restore their 190E. In addition, the High-Performance core gives the cooling performance needed for enthusiasts who plan to use their 190E in motorsports or simply enjoy a lot of spirted driving.

Design & Engineering

The Mercedes 190E 2.3-16 / 2.5-16 (with factory equipped A/C) Radiator development began when a Mercedes specialty shop reached out to CSF. FlieBen had been looking for a quality radiator option since Mercedes discontinued the originals and naturally turned to “The Cooling Experts”. CSF is also working with FlieBen on development of a radiator for the 190E 2.3-16 / 2.5-16 without factory equipped A/C.

CSF vs OEM

The original OE radiator from Mercedes was a plastic tank with a single row aluminum core design. While this is generally accepted as good quality and durable, heat exchanger technology has progressed significantly over the decades since these cars were released. Older high-performance vehicles require the best possible cooling systems and can greatly benefit from improved cooling efficiency. Anyone who has restored/updated a classic car knows the value of having updated parts that are as efficient as possible.

The CSF radiator features a 2-Row 42mm aluminum core that not only increases the fluid capacity of the radiator, but also improves the cores ability to dissipate heat. CSF’s Exclusive B-Tube Technology increases the heat transfer by approximately 15% over regular oval welded tubes. With nearly double the number of cooling fins and tubes the CSF Radiator will outperform the OEM unit by a significant margin. In addition, the super-efficient multi-louvered fins maximize airflow through the core for the best possible performance. The radiator mounts in the factory location and requires no modifications or cutting.

The TIG-Welded 100% All Aluminum construction increases the overall strength of the radiator. This improves durability and longevity so you can be confident it will hold up to hard driving conditions.

Big Fan of the 190E

The 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 both originally came equipped with a clutch style mechanical fan. While these old school fans function just fine, many owners like to upgrade to modern electrical fans. To make this conversion easier, CSF includes mounting brackets that work with 16 inch SPAL fans. Both the low profile SPAL #30100400 and medium profile SPAL #30101516 will bolt onto the brackets. Please note you will need a fan controller (not included) to use an electric fan on the 190E.

Oil Cooler Option

For those interested in removing their factory AC condenser in favor of an oil cooler, CSF added threaded bolt inserts (M8 x 1.25) for mounting an oil cooler. You’ll need to fabricate your own brackets, but we recommend using the CSF #8110 (Dual-Pass) or 8111 (Single-Pass) Universal Oil Cooler. This is mainly targeted towards track/race applications. However, anyone who has already removed or plans to remove the factory AC system can benefit from a larger oil cooler.

Installed on Stan Chen’s 190E “2.6-16”

If you’re not familiar with Stan Chen, he is a Senior Manager at Toyo Tires and a bit of an enthusiast. You have probably seen his immaculate BMW E30 M3 in a publication or on social media. After owning the M3 for years, Stan decided that he wanted to build a 190E to create a paired set of iconic DTM legends. The car debuted at SEMA 2023 and was a huge hit. In addition to the overall pristine restoration, the 190E featured CSF’s new High-Performance Radiator front and center.

Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 & 2.5-16 High-Performance All-Aluminum Radiator Features (CSF #7220)

• 2-Row, 42mm Ultra-High-Performance Dual Pass Core
• Cooling Tubes with CSF’s Exclusive B-Tube Technology
• 6.5mm Tall Ultra Efficient Fins with a Multi-Louvered Design for Maximum Surface Area Contact
• CNC Machined Mounting Brackets and OEM Style Inlet/Outlet
• 100% All Aluminum TIG-Welded Construction
• Satin Finish
• True Plug-and-Play “Drop-in Fit” Installation Requires Absolutely No Modifications
• Individually Leak and Pressure Tested
• Modular design for use with or without Auxiliary Radiator
• Includes CNC Cut Fan Mounting Brackets for a 16 inch SPAL Fan
  • Low Profile SPAL Fan PN: 30100400
  • Medium Profile SPAL Fan PN: 30101516
• 2-Year Limited Warranty

• Applications:
  • 1984-1988 Mercedes-Benz W201 190E 2.3-16 – with A/C
  • 1989-1993 Mercedes-Benz W201 190E 2.5-16 (incl. Evolution I and II) – with A/C

• OEM Part Numbers:
  • Mercedes-Benz: A2015005303