Continuing our previous article dedicated to a small privately owned European car collection from Bangkok, Thailand, we’re taking an in-depth look at the 1986 Mercedes 190E owned and modified by Chet Sriprawatkun.
“Being a long-term fan of European sports cars of the 80s and 90s, he’s always had a soft spot for the Mercedes W201 body style, and formed his own vision of a perfect 190 build. As soon as he managed to find a proper example for his project, the modification process began.”
Being a long-term fan of European sports cars of the 80s and 90s, he’s always had a soft spot for the Mercedes W201 body style, and formed his own vision of a perfect 190 build.
Like a sophisticated car guy and a creative mind, Chet has been always looking for something different without backing down from truly challenging projects. No compromises on parts selection were made while modifying this old Benz. Like many of us, the main things that he was focused on were the clean period-correct looks and a low stance.
To restore the reliability of his 190E and make it more agile on the road it was decided to swap a Mercedes M111 engine in place of an old beater motor. Factory paint that started to show signs of age was coated with the fresh layer of dark tan color which looks to be the Factory option on W124 E-class models.
Continuing the exterior theme you can notice a sporty BBS front bumper, along with the side skirts and the rear bumper. The EVO1 spoiler sits on top of the trunk as a homage to the famous Mercedes 190E Evolution.
As you may have guessed from the extremely low clearance, this Mercedes 190E sits on air suspension. The owner’s choice fell on the FeelAir air bag kit which allowed to tailor the fitment and install a set of staggered custom spec AMG Hammer wheels sized 17×8.5 up front and 17×9 on the back.
Inside you’ll notice the stylish Nardi Gara4 steering wheel, classy AMG shift knob and a pair of sporty Recaro DS bucket seats.
List of Modifications
Performance
M111 Engine Swap
Suspension
Air suspension FeelAir
Silver project front camber plate
Wheels
AMG Hammer 17″ custom spec wheels
Front 17×8.5 et+22
Rear 17×9 et+11
Exterior modifications
BBS front bumper
BBS side skirt
BBS rear bumper
Evo1 rear spoiler
Interior modifications
Nardi Gara4 steering wheel
AMG shift knob
Recaro DS
Conclusion
This custom 1986 Mercedes 190E seamlessly blends period-correct modifications with modern performance upgrades, creating a unique interpretation of the classic W201 platform. From its M111 engine swap to the expertly fitted AMG Hammer wheels and air suspension setup, every detail of Chet’s build shows thoughtful execution and attention to detail.
The W201’s transformation leans heavily into aesthetics, with its full BBS body kit arsenal earning 5 points and setting the car’s street presence. Scoring a commanding 8 points, the FeelAir suspension setup steals the spotlight as the build’s technical centerpiece. The M111 heart transplant and period-correct Recaro interior upgrades round out this European classic with respectable scores of 4 and 3 points respectively.
Watch the progress and find out more about this Mercedes 190E project by visiting the Instagram profile of the owner: @coronamafia!
Stay tuned for more project reviews on Specs&Mods.com – Follow us on social media, and share this write-up if you enjoyed reading it!
With more than 10 years of experience as a mechanic and aftermarket performance parts specialist, Matt is specialized in vehicle modifications of any sort. He appreciates the motorsports heritage and keeps his hand on the pulse of modern trends. His life goals are documenting the diversity of the modern automotive culture and inspiring others to build the cars of their dreams!
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