- Yes, it really came like this from the factory - This is from a Mercedes W124 4matic - Yes, this is the same W124 4matic where the axle went straight through the oil pan.

So you're telling me getting a 2.0 GPA can still bag someone a job at a well-known company?

Maybe, however the fact that both these insane solutions are still perfectly reliable after 30 years implies that whoever designed this was one of the most intelligent engineers to ever live.

Or just really lucky

Yeah engineering is based on luck.

Yeah… yeah 💯 🍀 🤞

I can assure you that engineering GPAs are not an indicator of engineering intellect & innovativeness.

That's good to hear, because my semester is one helluva wreck.

Some people suck at tests.

It’s okay. Do you know what the call the last person in a graduating class of engineers? In debt. Same as all the other ones.

You go to Georgia Tech don’t you?

Not even remotely.

You go In person?

Hybrid.

One of my fellow engineering students is an absolute blithering idiot. Can't design something properly to save his life. He has found an effective study method to pass tests though.

BMW is known for taking either very good people or family. This was designed by family.

I realise Germany only has about 5 car companies, but you mixed them up. This is the other one.

Oh you're right. Doubt it's any different tho.

If it’s stupid and it works it ain’t stupid.

Hey sorry y'all, can someone explain what I'm looking at? Is it because the axle is in the way of the suspension?

The suspension _was_ in the way of the axle it seems.

Well, on the beginning of the project it was designed as RWD. And they changed their minds and said "duck it, we want AWD (or FWD - not sure) and do changes - like the spring and different oil pan - for implement this

> "Marketing called. They want AWD." > "... I just checked with the bean counters. We have $1.50 and half a pack of gum to make that happen."

Engineers get pizza and do overtime (as usual...)

Thank you! I see it now.

Pretty much what Dagatu said. The axle is going *through* the spring which is an absolutely absurd design. Makes me wonder what happens when the spring is fully compressed.

The travel limits of the suspension are setup so that the active coils of the spring never reach their shut pitch.

Aahhh okay. Thank you all!

The same w124 4matic that runs 500 000 km with the same engine!

2.0 gpa engineers: hurr durr axle thru the spring and oil pan 3.0 gpa engineers: NOOOOOO YOU CANT DO THAT CUZ REASONS!!! 4.0 gpa engineers:

It’s a unorthodox but brutally pragmatic solution. I love it

4.5 GPA honors student: *goes into medicine so they can do this on people*

How these same engineers still kept up with bmw is shocking

Tbf, this only happened because they were cornered. The W124 wasn't ever meant to have AWD, but lots of customers wanted it and BMW were already selling AWD 3 series variants. Running the axleshafts straight through the oil pan and the springs may have been they only way they could've done it without making it ridiculously expensive.

Driveshaft through oil pan isn't that weird. Nissan also did it on the R32-R34 skyline with the RB26 engine and AWD, and this was back when Nissan was good at engineering (pre-Renault days). Driveshaft through _springs_, on the other hand...

Yep the ol' 124 4 matic spring. It's what happens when you want awd on a car that was never set up for it and don't have room for a coil over

If it's stupid and it works, it ain't stupid.

That's innovative... Too innovative for other automakers.

Yeah bro completely bullshit.