Why don't I ever see W124's doing crazy stuff?

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Mar 15, 2011 | 09:42 AM

Shoomakan

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From: Beirut, Lebanon

2006 C55 AMG 6 speed

Why don't I ever see W124's doing crazy stuff?

Go to youtube, type in BMW E30 drifting, and bathe in the plethora of results you will get.

I searched W124 drifting, what do I get? A bunch of drunk Russians drifting 230D's and whatnot on icy roads. Or some guy whose definition of drifting is doing donuts in a parking lot.

Where are the track days? Where are the drifting competitions?

And the thing is, I can't understand why. The cars are now cheap, they're virtually bulletproof, they make good power stock, and they have good suspension. Not to mention compared to today's cars they're also quite light (except for the 500E).

It always amazed me how a nearly 20 year old M104 makes 220bhp out of 3 litres, considering it is NOT a sports car engine. 2002 BMWs had the exact same bhp and torque figures over 10 years later. So did Lexus. I had a gorgeous E30/M30, and I think the M30 is a gem of an engine, but the M104 is superior. More hp/liter, higher compression, MUCH quicker response, etc... Stock to stock, of course. Mine wasn't. :P

Anyways, back to the point. I WANT W124 ****!

Disclaimer: While drifting is an entertaining sport to me, hardcore track driving and rally are my true loves. Before any of you older people start throwing your IVs at me. :P

Mar 15, 2011 | 01:32 PM

spetz

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Joined: Mar 2010

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1994 E220 Coupe

In my opinion BMW's are much more sporty and hence attract more motorsport attention.

Contrary to what many people will say on these forums, a 124 does not handle well, and an E34 (equivalent 5 series) handles infinitely better.

How do I know? I own a C124 in pristine condition (my dad bought it new and has 62,000 miles on it) and I've driven a same aged 525i with close to 200,000 miles (though I suspect it had at some stage a suspension overhaul).
End result? The C124 handles really poorly while the 525i really impressed me in it's road holding. It felt like a much lighter, tighter more responsive car. With the 124 I am cautious with corners, with the BMW it gave me confidence.

I know I will get flamed for this, but at least as far as handling goes:
BMW > Mercedes

Mar 15, 2011 | 02:50 PM

trv06kviper

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Joined: Sep 2007

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From: NY

87' AMG Hammer 6.0, Audi Coupe Quattro [SOLD]

Depends on the model and package. Audi and BMW both focus more on the sport factor while Mercedes went for more luxury. However, certain models and years from Mercedes were the later as well. If your comparing E30's you should look at the W201 190E series as those were the same year and meant to compete against each other. In that aspect, My 87' Hammer has almost exactly the same specs as an E39 M5 and there's almost a 2 and a half decades apart age gap between the two of them. So again really depends on what you compare it to. Stock for stock sure Mercedes handling always seems a tad spongy because of the market they were going for.

Last edited by trv06kviper; Mar 15, 2011 at 02:56 PM.

Mar 15, 2011 | 03:19 PM

Saijin_Naib

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1990 300ce 24v I6

Shook, I wish you could see my PBX rally videos (this'll give a nice preview), but I didn't think to record it.
Long story short, I took Bucky on a 160mi off-road dirt rally through the Pine Barrens on sand access trails. I placed 9/53 overall with 10m10s off perfect, first non-SUV, first non-4WD/AWD. The closest STI was 14th (and way off time), and the closest Evo was I believe 17 or so.

Aside from that, I mess about with SCCA AutoX like a lot of other people do. Even with my myriad performance issues and everything bone stock/20 years old (except my new swaybars), I never come in last. No, I can typically pull some good numbers and have been 4s off a m5 (who was above Novice Class), and in my latest run, I was faster than my friend's heavily modified g35 coupe.

I will say this about the w124, it will buck you around, dip like mad, and feel like you're going to lose control, but it is so consistent and predictable that I've only ever lost it once beating the car around the track. Sure, it isn't planted or level feeling (like my dad's c280 Sport <3), but its pretty damned competent all around.

Help me fix Bucky, and you guys will get endless videos of me doing Rally, AutoX, and even some drifting. I got a ton of practice in at that last SCCA meet :P The announcers were making fun of me for it

Mar 15, 2011 | 03:44 PM

Chappy

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From: Hotlanta

AMG

Mar 15, 2011 | 03:59 PM

Saijin_Naib

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1990 300ce 24v I6

This guy is my hero (along with Uwe Nittel):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQaDrTs8QRo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLlnHSoGg9g
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3GSiK8OSUM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd2pzYgEQlM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WC6eGp8Ezys

Mar 15, 2011 | 05:50 PM

Chappy

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From: Hotlanta

AMG

^^ Thank you!!

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Mar 15, 2011 | 08:31 PM

sweet jones

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Posts: 678

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From: Seattle

W209, E46 M3 (dead), S54 swapped E46 Touring

Mar 16, 2011 | 06:30 AM

#10

Shoomakan

Thread Starter

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Joined: Oct 2009

Posts: 534

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From: Beirut, Lebanon

2006 C55 AMG 6 speed

I LOVE you guys. I'll be watching these as soon as I get home.

@Spetz: We owned a E34 535iS, along with a E28(?) M635CSi. The W124 doesn't handle as good as either, because like you said it is tuned soft. My point was, stiffen it up and its chassis won't disappoint. Wouldn't you agree?

One thing that annoyed me in my E30 was the understeer at the limit. I don't know whether to attribute it to the heavier engine in the front (M30 swap, had an M20) or something within the car itself. My W124 understeers significantly less at the same limits, with smaller tires. I don't know...

Mar 16, 2011 | 11:48 AM

#11

Dj Death42er

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From: Glendale, California U.S.A.

1994 E-42ER White

These are great!!! The sound I need to get mine to sound like that or atlead louder right now it sounds like a muscle car after the install of a second pipe!

Mar 16, 2011 | 01:04 PM

#12

Saijin_Naib

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1990 300ce 24v I6

DJ, when I had all my exhaust gaskets rotted out, I sounded almost exactly like that clip. It was awesome! But it was too loud, I had to wear ear plugs :P

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EboADb4MfPM

My camera didn't pick it up too great, but you can sort of hear it. It had the same burble/pop on revving down. It was so fun to drive around haha.

Other People:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UUXQUxfoD5c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exsgaClE_2E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtbwBpcA6JI

Mar 16, 2011 | 08:21 PM

#13

Dj Death42er

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From: Glendale, California U.S.A.

1994 E-42ER White

you video made me laugh good one nice sound to!

But I don't think my car will sound like that Naib If I'm not mistaken those are all 300 series right

Mar 17, 2011 | 04:43 AM

#14

BlackStar Stig

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Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 134

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From: Norway

W124 230E 1990

Quote:

Originally Posted by spetz

I support this.
I had a BMW E28 528i for 9 years before my Mercedes, and no matter how sideways I was in the BMW it was never scary. It handled better in greater speeds, more predictable, and when provoced alot easier to adjust and control on the limit of going around. The Mercedes is made for cruising, period.

I have been driving my Mercedes for about 2 years now, and started to like it alot. But here the other day I was a chauffeur with my friends BMW 520 E34 Touring on the icy winter roads from Norway and over the mountain pass into Sweden. And it handled so nicely I really started to wonder about converting back to BMW again myself..

And when we got back I took his other BMW for a spin, a chiptuned E34 M5..

Wow, I really love the M5!

But the Mercedes will let me keep my licence a bit longer, and that counts alot for me.

Last edited by BlackStar Stig; Mar 17, 2011 at 09:58 AM.

Mar 18, 2011 | 12:03 PM

#15

spetz

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Posts: 215

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1994 E220 Coupe

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shoomakan

I cannot tell you to be honest, but I think tuning for handling goes a little bit further than just stiffening things up.
For example, BMW aim to get 50:50 weight distribution, maybe Mercedes does not.
Then, maybe BMW sets the engines are far back as possible, and has less weight in front of the front wheels, and behind the rears (overhang etc).
Maybe it places heavier items lower in the engine bay. Our E39 5 series had the battery in the boot. We had a E240 W210 as well but cannot remember where the battery was.

What I am trying to say is that yes you can make a car handle better, but there are some things that may be overlooked at the Mercedes factory as opposed to the BMW factory.

@ someone who mention Audi being sporty.
I have a 2008 A4 and there is NOTHING sporty about it. It feels big, heavy, reacts slow, turns in slow etc. But it has an extremely plush ride.

I think to be honest Audi and Mercedes are more comparable to each other, and BMW is in a league of it's own. Audi with more power and AWD cannot keep up with an M car, and AMG Mercedes are really only fast in the straight line (comparatively speaking of course)

Mar 18, 2011 | 12:28 PM

#16

RHW

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From: North NJ

94 Wagon and 94 Cabriolet

"the Mercedes will let me keep my licence a bit longer"

Snicker.
I thought I was alone appreciating this factor. Not 1 ticket in 5+ years running 124 chassis cars. I've lost a few PBA cards, but, no tickee.

Mar 18, 2011 | 01:22 PM

#17

Dj Death42er

Member

Joined: Mar 2011

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From: Glendale, California U.S.A.

1994 E-42ER White

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweet jones

hey Jones Could you Upload pic of your side mirrors? on that e class (not the wagon

Mar 18, 2011 | 01:33 PM

#18

Dj Death42er

Member

Joined: Mar 2011

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From: Glendale, California U.S.A.

1994 E-42ER White

Check this out 190e Unicorn

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rU9mQ...eature=related

Mar 18, 2011 | 02:11 PM

#19

jadewombat

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Joined: Oct 2010

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'09 C300 Sport (Manual)

Great thread.

Not much has changed up and down the line, we were shopping a couple of years ago and did some similar car comparisons (price, power, etc.), the 2009 C300 and 328i (and IS250--waste of time, overpriced and underpowered but that's another story). The BMW definitely handled a bit better and had a hair more power than the C300 but it was really boring to look at. If it handled better than the C300 it only handled 'slightly' better and that wasn't enough for us. The BMW definitely felt like it wanted to be driven more, can't describe it better than that, and I think they purposely made the 328i look not so exciting to make the 335i look that much better, but still.

We're nothing but happy with our C300.

Mar 19, 2011 | 01:59 PM

#20

Shoomakan

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From: Beirut, Lebanon

2006 C55 AMG 6 speed

It's a manual C300. I'd be nothing but happy with it too.

Mar 25, 2011 | 03:02 PM

#21

rivcal4life

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From: So Cal

92 500e, 95 E34 525I Touring

You could always check out the link in my sig. Nothing sideways...yet

Mar 28, 2011 | 02:46 AM

#22

Federic0W124

Senior Member

Joined: Jul 2006

Posts: 350

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From: Seattle

1992 400E

Having owned 3 W124s (90 300e, 94 E420, 93 500e) I can say
they are very wonderful cars...but I couldn't really do anything
besides exhaust, lowering and wheels and tires. The 500e
is pretty much stock because I felt no need to improve
on what I think is pretty much perfect. I have since sold
the other two cars but kept the 500e, and I now also drive
a 2000 BMW 540i sport and a 1992 BMW 325i that I've
had since I got out of high school. I still have a soft spot
in my heart for the two W124s I no longer own.

Mar 28, 2011 | 01:37 PM

#23

justinwrock

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From: Sacramento, CA

Ducati

LoL, I do crazy stuff in my W124 all the time.... There are just never any cameras to catch it.

Theres this sweet roundabout that I incorporated into my commute... All the rubber on the ground there is from me.