im just wondering if anyone one has ever run 17 in the front and 18 in the rear im just debating on running them this way i used to have this setup on my rx7 and liked it alot, any help and pics would be nice thanks

 

I think, staggered wheels setup has something to do with the width of the wheels rather than its diameter. Unless, the car is intended for drag or funny car race.

 

it goes both ways i had 17 in the front on my rx7 and 18 in the rear i really liked the way it looked and the way it handled just wondered if any one has done it in the w124 or will i be the first lol

 

No real reason to run different diameter rims...
Has no beneficial effect..

Regardless of rim diameter you still need to maintain about a 25" overall tire diameter to keep everything to spec.
Larger the rim, the less aspect ratio you'll require in the tire.

No standard 124 ever was delivered with a staggered, be it width or diameter rim setup...

 

Well, it depends on your goal Ed. I agree that for the most part, there is no benefit, that is not true for drifting. A lot of drifters will put larger diameter rims in the back than in the front. This is due to the different handling characteristics of tires with larger and smaller sidewall profiles. Typically, a tire with a smaller profile lends itself to having a higher speed rating. Inherently, these tires will be easier to break loose going around a corner. The sidewalls are stiffer and will not flex as easily in a turn.

Conversely, a tire with a larger sidewall (to a point) will provide better turn-in grip in front, because it will stretch to a small amount, while holding the road. Drifters will run this setup to more easily break the rear tires loose, and still have adequate grip up front to keep the car pointed in the right direction.

Plus, it does look cool on some cars. Not sure how it would look on a w124, but hey, try it man! Make sure and throw up some pics.

 

I admit I know nothing about drifting....

A true sign of old age....

 

HA HA yea i will be starting a drift build log with in the next couple of months, you know how it is low cars, lots of power and crazy one of parts look for my build thread here pretty soon

 

LOL, Ed, drifting is the figure skating of the car world, that's why you don't know anything about it. Your cars play hockey....like they should.

 

 

Well, as much as everyone likes the visceral thrill of hockey, every once in a while surfing channels alone, we all secretly stop and check out figure skating.

Don't act like you don't appreciate the grace and skill Mark!

 

While I feel you're correct in that drifting is more a form of entertainment or maybe even art (depending who you're asking), you can't deny the skill of the drivers and the crews who modify those cars for what they do.

Basically, I wouldn't trivialize drift as a form of driving/racing. It is legitimate IMO, just different. That being said, the w124 makes a amazing drift candidate. If you checked my latest SCCA runs the car was pretty much in full drift the entire lap. Had I some more power and more appropriate setup, I would have had some insane drifts going on. As it was, I had the announcers up in arms about how "I had no idea this was a drift event. And our drift car is a Mercedes... with a vortex generator?"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBtU4jxpPxo