Billy's W124 Coupe Project

[RBYCC]

Hi

we did a couple of corner weight checks with driver and passenger to see how the static weights are spread across the chassis and wheel load.

just to help out with the suspension maths

mazza

Great job...you're doing for Billy what is necessary to get the most out of an upgraded suspension performance mod.

Too many just bolt on without thought what the forums say should be done.
The suspension performance can be proven on a road course but easily on the street.
I did both with mine and will again post pix showing the results.

This is what I refer to as weight transfer under straight line acceleration. Slight overall lift under torque with a squat to the rear:



Grip with an open 3.07 diff and not so sticky Falken FK-452 rubber shows how a balanced suspension with weight transfer keeps both rear wheels even to the tarmac.

 

[gurpz]

Cars looking fabulous Billy, all that hard work deffo paid off, cant wait to see it in the flesh sometime soon

 

[adile220]

Spot on Billy - love it!

If you want to sell your old suspension bits and thinner wheels may well be interested

Drop me a PM or email if so.

Best,

Adil

 

[BillyW124]

Billy, the clever dicky bird last night!!

Must remind self not to show off to me mates, doing doughnuts and wheels spins in a Sainsbury's underground carpark!!

Not very Billy like all this!! I got's a little too excited with the camera rolling etc. Didn't realise there was a problem untill i shot off and there was a lot of knocking/thudding comming from under the rear tranny tunnel at low revs whilst moving. When in motion after momentum nothing.

.. any way, this is what happened


This is the centre propshaft mount. New MB item on the right and the remainder of the old one on the left... You can see the rubber has been torn apart!

At the same time ripping the centre prop mount apart, you can see the damage i caused to the rear propshaft mount. Again, MB item on right damaged goods on the left. I should mention at this point that the propshaft coupling was an aftermarket one, I could almost bend the coupling with my hands, The MB item was solid as a rock. If there ever was a reason to go genuine this would be it..on any parts.

New centre propshaft bearing put on here (might as well have changed this at the same time) the old one was actually making a slight grinding noise whan spinning it freely.

While the shafts were out, sprayed them black.

Car is all fixed up nicely and running all good again!

Also while i was at it today, managed to rectify a slight idling issue the car developed which consited of the cycling of revs intermitantly in N or P. Somtimes in D when about to drive off she was a little erratic at times. Swapped out the MAF with a new Bosch unit and whatd'ya know, runs perfect. No fluttering of the rev counter.

 

[rickz]

Your car looks great Billy...

Looking to do something similar with the w124 saloon that we have...

Would you defo recommend 18s?..still debating over 17s or 18s!!

 

[BillyW124]

Fitted amber rear Hella clusters that came of the donor vehicle. They work well imo. The car is amber all over now.

 

[BillyW124]

Your car looks great Billy...

Looking to do something similar with the w124 saloon that we have...

Would you defo recommend 18s?..still debating over 17s or 18s!!

Hi mate, thanks!

Its a choice thing to be honest, It had to be 18's for me. 17's with the correct rubber will give you a better smoother ride than the 18's but in actual fact these 18's aren't riding at all badly now, the benefit of a proper combo of shocks and and springs as i've grown to learn is the all important factor.

 

[rickz]

Billy sorry to go go a bit off topic with your car but what would you recommend in terms of springs and shocks to go with 18s?

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/gene...4-saloon-300e-zender-bodykit-help-advice.html


I'm assuming a bit of stretch with the tyres??

Also, think I prefer the ambers at the front of your car!...best w124 I've seen so far!!!

 

[BillyW124]

Billy sorry to go go a bit off topic with your car but what would you recommend in terms of springs and shocks to go with 18s?

http://www.mbclub.co.uk/forums/gene...4-saloon-300e-zender-bodykit-help-advice.html


I'm assuming a bit of stretch with the tyres??

Also, think I prefer the ambers at the front of your car!...best w124 I've seen so far!!!

Bilstein shocks is probably the choice for most including myself if you're going to lower your car especialy on 18's. B6's if you are going less than 40mm anything more it would be a safer bet to use their B8 range. If you are not going low and just putting 18's on than your standard set up will be ok. I'd just reccomend you buy a set of sprtline springs from MB which dont cost all that much. They will give you circa 20mm lowering.

Only stretch tyres if you have to. I'm not a fan of it myself and tbh looks $hite on cars i see it on, the car will ride badly as well. For me i had no chioice as i needed clearance however mines are hardly stretched only just a few mm's. I dont even come close to the 'rubber band brigade' If i had the option i'd have a straight side wall, with 100% rubber contact on tarmac. The bonus with a very slight stretch which has worked in my favour actually gives my monoblocks a nicer look.

 

[BillyW124]

Needed some fresh air, so gave it some!

...still need to give the engine a proper detail, haven't got around to doing it just yet, but love looking at the lump!

 

[millo777]

I'd be chuffed if my engine bay looked that clean after I'd detailed it...

You seem to be missing the plastic clips that secure the inboard end of the headlight units to the slam panel. Part number A1248210520 fwiw.

I wonder how many polished spark plug covers this pic will inspire?
http://www.neoriginal.ru/search/num/A1248210520/

 

[BillyW124]

I'd be chuffed if my engine bay looked that clean after I'd detailed it...

You seem to be missing the plastic clips that secure the inboard end of the headlight units to the slam panel. Part number A1248210520 fwiw.

I wonder how many polished spark plug covers this pic will inspire?

It's going to be even cleaner once i've dealt with it! i have those two round clips, need to put them back on.

i've also got new engine decals to add once its all tarted up. I'm finding it a bit hard to find the m104 engine label that goes on the slam panel on the right. Part number??? I have a brand new m111 one but that's no good anymore!!!

What would top it off in there after all in done is a nice original merc battery.

 

[millo777]

The engine designation plate for the slam panel should be on this page someweher, but it's hard to decipher. One for the dealer to work out.

TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES TOOLS AND ACCESSORIES íà Mercedes 320 TE / E 320 / E36 AMG (124.092) | Êàòàëîã çàï÷àñòåé Mercedes, ïîäáîð àâòîçàï÷àñòåé äëÿ ëåãêîâûõ àâòîìîáèëåé Ìåðñåäåñ (ðåãèîí Åâðîïà) ïî àâòîêàòàëîãó.

The slam panel stickers for the AMG versions of the m104 are still available as well

AMG ENGINE PARTS M104 ENGINE HOUSING íà Mercedes M 104 (104.992) | Êàòàëîã çàï÷àñòåé Mercedes, ïîäáîð àâòîçàï÷àñòåé äëÿ ëåãêîâûõ àâòîìîáèëåé Ìåðñåäåñ (ðåãèîí Åâðîïà) ïî àâòîêàòàëîãó.

 

[BillyW124]

Thanks for the link Millo,

You reckon I should go the AMG m104 stickers as well?

..cheeky , after all it is running with a 3.6 Head!

 

[BillyW124]

Update

Just thought i'd add a little update,

Had a nice 300 mile drive to Cardiff and back to watch the cricket yesterday.
On-board were 3 other passenger's. The car performed brilliantly - very pleased. Its the first time I've taken it on a long journey and was a good little test for it. Markedly on the M-way is the noticeable difference in engine smoothness + pulling power with the extra on board weight together with the difference in the suspension doing its job.

Prior to this journey the night before, I carried out an oil and filter change. Up until this change I covered near 700 miles since the engine rebuild. Thought it would be a good idea to do so and put in 7 litres of Castrol Magnatec 10w40. The 7 liters was based on the recommended fill which is bang on in the middle of min and max.

Since driving the car around after getting it back, I notice a change in engine sound. Its a lot more quieter and has a much more refined ring to it. As mentioned it pulls away smoother as well.

Just one thing however - not a big issue, but she's developed a slight oil weep (alternator side) of the upper timing chain cover. The U shaped gasket will have be re done.

Its a dribble if that, but its enough to get my under tray wet over on one side over a period of time.....its gotta be bone dry! Luckily its not making a mess on the alternator or its mountings up top but my nice and clean side of the block and alternator bracket is getting a little taster of oil from below! The pic below shows the dribble taken from the underside of the car. Its all clean again and will maintain until i get the weep sorted. (Never knew using brake cleaner in a pump action spray bottle can be so effective). 'Spray and the dirt is gone' !

A quick check after yesterday's journey proves it to be the timing cover and the tray is wet again (after a cleaning it upon oil change) the timing front cover has a nice golden lace of 10w40 on the corner of it!

 

[cooks]

sunday final my man...

 

[WDB124066]

Just think of it as a Baptism Billy, it's God's way of blessing the build....

 

[adile220]

Hi Billy,

Any new snaps of your car?

Am guessing you are enjoying the great weather with it - no doubt leading to some excellent opportunities for photos.

Best,

adil

 

[BillyW124]

No new recent snaps, enjoying the car and can report its running like a beaut.

Will attending to the slight leaky timing cover U gasket hopefully this weekend as mentioned above.

Stay tuned, some mods comming up very soon

 

[Deleted member 26392]

What are you doing about fitting the amg body kit Billy? Would be great to see it in all its glory!