W124 coupe aerodynamics?

[andyR]

Hi all,
I really like my E320 sportline coupe; except for the annoying habit it has of throwing everything out of the car at speeds over 55 mph!!
I enjoy driving with all the windows fully down - what's the point of having a coupe if you don't ... but I'm getting a bit fed up with either having to put everything in the boot or leave a trail of paperwork/coats/bags etc. behind me on the road.
It's also amazing how much muck and dead flies ends up wedged inside the rear parcel shelf - and isn't that a contortionists dream trying to clear out!
How could Mercedes design such a good car and seemingly forget the basics of aerodynamics.

Has anybody investigated any sort of side-window wind deflector that helps with this problem?
How do the E36-coupe's manage, surely they don't keep below 55 with the windows down?

cheers,
Andy

 

[crammy69]

Aerodynamics? W124? didnt you see there first design study for it....

 

[Howard]

On the Brabus w124's with the Brabus kit on , i beleive they got it down to 0.32 CD , which at the time was the most aerodynamic saloon in the world.

Not bad considering it's shaped like a filing cabinet.

 

[The G.F.P]

talking of our cars and speed ...

tonight i and a few friends were on the A1/M and got to a speed of around 135 (in not saying mph or kmh) and with the sunroof all the way open and all the windows shut

then when we stopped the wind deflector had come undone due to all the wind force on it and then it came off in my friends hand!

are they easy to put back on?

was damn noisey though and i make sure nothing paper wise is in the car if the windows are open

 

[bolide]

At launch the W124 had an unprecedented Cd of 0.29-0.30 (depending on model) compared to 0.30 claimed for the 1983 Audi 100

The Cd translates to a CdA of about 6.5 CdA ft sq or slightly more than a Lotus Esprit. Compared to the W123 the CdA of the W124 is 30% lower - quite an achievement

Contrary to popular belief the W124 is both light and aerodynamic

Nick Froome
www.w124.co.uk

 

[Uberwagon]

Rumour has it that on a late night thrash from Heysham to Peterborough, with the sunroof 2/3 rds open you get a pulsing sound, at 140mph this is enough to lift the cd from your passenger seat, let it float in midair and then fly out of the sunroof most gracefully.

Aerodynamicly they are fantastic, you can have a normal conversation while cruising at 260kmh in France and it tracks straight and well planted.

As for the coupe, i'm not sure, i've seen the rain deflectors people put on the door surrounds but think they look awful, they could fix your problem though. At higher speeds with my side windows down it's just too noisy and they never stay down for long.

Does your car have a sunroof?

Dave!

 

[imadoofus]

I'm getting a bit fed up with either having to put everything in the boot or leave a trail of paperwork/coats/bags etc. behind me on the road.

You could try slowing down.

Or closing the windows when on the motorway.

 

[grober]

Attention to detail.

The front windscreen pillars are specially designed to funnel the airflow away from the side windows over the roof in order to keep them relatively clear of rain and road dirt. Unfortunately this results in low pressure on the side windows ( take a look at the water patterns on the side windows the next time it rains ) -which is fine if the windows are shut but if left open means the air "falls into the car" to form vortices and the resulting chaos. The attention to aerodynamic detail on the w124 was considerable although brand styling demanded a less than ideal shape.
Ironically it was the detailing under the car (which you don't see) which probably improved its drag coefficient more then anything. A simple composite engine undertray, covers for the rear suspension arms and fuel pump assembly allied to a relatively smooth underbody led to a very low drag factor (for its time) for the w124.

 

[Frank O' Phile]

You could try slowing down.

LOL


All these rumours and allegations of speeding Mercs, all foundless surely. Never been guilty of it myself.

 

[kth286]

The front windscreen pillars are specially designed to funnel the airflow away from the side windows over the roof in order to keep them relatively clear of rain and road dirt. Unfortunately this results in low pressure on the side windows ( take a look at the water patterns on the side windows the next time it rains ) -which is fine if the windows are shut but if left open means the air "falls into the car" to form vortices and the resulting chaos. The attention to aerodynamic detail on the w124 was considerable although brand styling demanded a less than ideal shape.
Ironically it was the detailing under the car (which you don't see) which probably improved its drag coefficient more then anything. A simple composite engine undertray, covers for the rear suspension arms and fuel pump assembly allied to a relatively smooth underbody led to a very low drag factor (for its time) for the w124.

And the exhaust system was also styled to be an aerodynamic fit with the above.

 

[Ade B]

Surely the correct speed for fully open (pimpin') driving is about 4mph with arm out the window and booming backing track.

Personally I prefer air conditioned quiet although the dog likes it when we drop the windows..

Ade

 

[ADY1983]

I don't really find it a problem, yes a little windy, I don't hang about either and I have all the windows down at every opportunity.

I just stuff everything in the foot well or behind the seats, I don’t think I’ve ever lost anything.

 

[Dieselman]

I just stuff everything in the foot well or behind the seats, I don’t think I’ve ever lost anything.

But has anyone seen......

 

[andyR]

Ahh yes; perhaps 'aerodynamics' was the wrong choice for a title.

I must admit I was aware of the care the designers had taken with the undertray to reduce drag, but hadn't realised that they'd purposefully created negative pressure zones alongside the side windows.

The Merc is my sensible car for when I have to arrive at meetings looking vaguely presentable or have to carry larger loads - my main transport is an older Daimler SP that I drive top down, windows down and chewing on flies, bugs and diesel fumes as I boom past (V8-engine ) with a big grin.

I have lost a coat from the rear footwell that blew straight out of the window in the Merc - I'm just surpised that the Merc is so much windier and noisier (except the exhaust note anyway) than the open Daimler at comparable speeds.

Andy

 

[aka$h]

The CLK w208 isnt a whole lot better, when I bought my first one I was driving over Blackfriars bridge when I saw 3 £20 notes go flying out of the window. Id left them in the door pocket.

I tend only to drive around town with the windows open on my CE's, the rest of the time the AirCon is running.

 

[st4]

talking of our cars and speed ...

tonight i and a few friends were on the A1/M and got to a speed of around 135 (in not saying mph or kmh) and with the sunroof all the way open and all the windows shut

then when we stopped the wind deflector had come undone due to all the wind force on it and then it came off in my friends hand!

are they easy to put back on?

was damn noisey though and i make sure nothing paper wise is in the car if the windows are open

Both 135kpm and 135mph are above the speedlimit. 135kph is 84.375mph and 135mph is seriously fast. Both speeds would get you a ticket and one would get you banned.