Advice needed, W124 or W201, next drift car

[Drift202]

Hi, probably will seem a strange question to most, but here goes. I have just sold my W202 drift car as i want something to build some more power into over the winter,and i prefer older Mercs. I have two possibility's available to buy at the moment in my price range. A w201 2.6 manual and a w124 300-24v sportline estate also manual. I am going to either turbo or maybe supercharge the car i buy ,which one will be dependent on funds available. I am torn between the two, the 190 obviously is the choice most would make, there are a lot more parts available for these cars and it has a good motorsport heritage. Although the main reason i drifted a merc in the first place was to not be the same as everyone else, otherwise of course i would just buy a bmw or a nissan and be done with it. its been quite a while since i last drove either cars and i cant really remember how good either in standard form are. I know the big wagon is heavy, but surely once i binned all of that electric leather etc it would be a fair bit lighter....
Any thoughts on this subject would be happily received.
Thanks

 

[carat 3.6]

Buy the 190, the estates are hard work to control. If you just want to drift it, fit the 300-24v engine into the 190.

 

[Drift202]

Buy the 190, the estates are hard work to control. If you just want to drift it, fit the 300-24v engine into the 190.

i was thinking this, i know it goes on the gearbox, is there anything overly complicated about this swap?

 

[carat 3.6]

i was thinking this, i know it goes on the gearbox, is there anything overly complicated about this swap?

It's not hard to do, but make sure you buy a complete car and not just an engine. Or I might know of one for sale with that engine already in, if your interested?

 

[RKC-benz]

The self levelling suspension on the W124 estate may not help your aim with drifting... It rolls a bit too much. Go W124 saloon for drift comfort ..,

 

[Drift202]

The self levelling suspension on the W124 estate may not help your aim with drifting... It rolls a bit too much. Go W124 saloon for drift comfort ..,

i get what your saying, its just this wagon in manual, with the dog leg 5 speed. cant find any other 124s with a clutch pedal

 

[Drift202]

It's not hard to do, but make sure you buy a complete car and not just an engine. Or I might know of one for sale with that engine already in, if your interested?

ok good to know, still undecided but that could help alot

 

[Drift202]

I bought the 124 wagon, had to be done

 

[Drift202]

 

[John Jones Jr]

Is that a 300-24 manual Sportline? Looks good in the photo.

 

[bolide]

I think that'll drift just fine. Looks a bit too nice for the job though!

There are lots of opportunities to lose weight from an estate. Replacing all the rear glass with perspex would be a good start

Then cut down the springs & weld the diff and it certainly will drift!

Selling the wheels and interior will probably get most of the purchase cost back

Nick Froome

 

[RKC-benz]

What colour and condition is the interior? I'm after a couple of bits that might help fund your project...

 

[Drift202]

Is that a 300-24 manual Sportline? Looks good in the photo.

Yes its a sportline manual 300-24

I think that'll drift just fine. Looks a bit too nice for the job though!

There are lots of opportunities to lose weight from an estate. Replacing all the rear glass with perspex would be a good start

Then cut down the springs & weld the diff and it certainly will drift!

Selling the wheels and interior will probably get most of the purchase cost back

Nick Froome

Diff is already welded, cutting springs tomorrow, not sure what to do about the weight at the moment, i am on track for a drift day at lydden hill saturday so i will see how it does full weight to start. i am intending on getting a lot more power so may not have to be that harsh on stripping it. I also will be using this as my road car so might be nice having just spent the last year in my c-class, fully stripped and bucket seats on the floor

theres no money in the wheels or trim is there?

What colour and condition is the interior? I'm after a couple of bits that might help fund your project...

its a creamy grey? closer to creme than mushroom....

 

[bolide]

If you want to strip the interior, and the carpet is Mushroom and in good condition, I'd buy the floor panels from the load area

I think you'll kill the diff bushes, prop doughnut and engine mounts in pretty short order. I'd replace them asap

Not sure what the front brakes are on a 300-24 but there are four-pot ones available. I think the 320 Estate had the biggest brakes. You'll find bigger on the E500 but AFAIK they need 16" wheels

How are you planning to get more power? One turbo or two?

Nick Froome

 

[RKC-benz]

If you want to strip the interior, and the carpet is Mushroom and in good condition, I'd buy the floor panels from the load area I think you'll kill the diff bushes, prop doughnut and engine mounts in pretty short order. I'd replace them asap Not sure what the front brakes are on a 300-24 but there are four-pot ones available. I think the 320 Estate had the biggest brakes. You'll find bigger on the E500 but AFAIK they need 16" wheels How are you planning to get more power? One turbo or two? Nick Froome

I'm following this with interest but I think you're really getting into this. Why not set about one yourself?!

 

[Drift202]

 

[Drift202]

Diff is welded and re-fitted, and nipped a bit of the standard suspension for the minute,over the winter i will deleting the sls and rebuilding rear subframe as it is not the best. I am going to use ford ranger shocks with shortened springs on the rear, swapping the rear arms as well for 300e ones, to take the standard shock. and bmw e36 coilovers on the front with e36 top mounts and original shortened spring.

I wasnt aware the engine mounts could be an issue? being the car has done so many miles i will change them but i hope they hold out on saturday.

I have two options for more power and my budget will determine which way i go. If funds allow i will be going single turbo using a turbobandit manifold and turbo,megasquirt etc, if they dont i will go for an eaton m62 with a piggy back ecu. Either way i am sure will be enough to make a decent amount of smoke

4 pot calipers already in place it would seem, ABS no longer active. Most high speed braking will be done with the hydro i will be fitting.

 

[Drift202]

i would probably sell the panels from the load area, they are mushroom and i am going to be carrying lots of wheels and destroyed tyres so i will mess it up anyway

 

[Bellow]

With the diff now locked - how does it steer at low speeds? And, are there any signs or sounds of protest from the rear axle when turning tight, eg inner,outer or both tyres scrubbing, drive shaft joints creaking, wheel studs trying to snap? - those sort of things!

 

[Drift202]

welded diff is fine, spent the last year with one in my w202, I run high pressures in the rear and you only really notice when manoeuvring. It doesn't brake wheel studs. The inside wheel always has to skip round when turning at slow speeds.i will break driveshafts but I think that's more to do with the spinning wheels at high speed. My last car I only broke two in a year