top speed queries.

[E36 weeks]

i have recently bought a 1993 320i.
and was wondering if anyone knows wot they do flat out. theyre supposed to do a genuine 133 mph, ive had 133 at the limiter,...... in a legal place obviously.
if any one knows wot theirs will do, the information will b appreciated. its on standard wheels 15 inch.

 

[mclarensmps]

my 318 tops out at 195-197 km/h. The engine is from a '97 and has 160kms on it so im sure im being robbed of alot of its original power.

 

[Big Daddy]

The E36 318i had a top speed of 198 km/h.

 

[sinisterE36]

i did 140-145mph until i ran out of room and im almost positive that it could have gone more.i dont know where or when the speed limiter kicks in can anyone tell me?

 

[Big Daddy]

Keep in mind that your speedometer is very inaccurate at those speeds. I have had the opportunity to clock various BMW's at a chaper event on radar (at a track) and most speedometers at top speeds were reading faster than actual speed. The top speed I quoted in my other post is taken from "The Complete Book of BMW", by Tony Lewin and refers to the 318i. The book lists the top speed for the 325i at 233 km/h or 144.8 mph.

 

[mclarensmps]

I wouldnt be surprised if my speedo is giving me a higher reading than the actual speed, i was also on a road that went up and down a lot so that probably contributed to the inaccuracy of the speedo.

 

[E36 weeks]

I have had 130 on the clock out of my old 316i. that was at the redline.at 6000rpm it didnt have the power to go anymore.,but my 320i goes to the limiter (6500) and only does 133. i was wonderin if i had a dodgy gearbox or is the speedo accurate? my old 1.6 done a genuine 120.

 

[partyman121266]

Well when I got my picture taken last month on the autobahn doing 163kmh in a 130 zone, my speedo was within one kmh. I think thats pretty accurate unless the radar is that in accurate too. Damn the Polizi!!

 

[johnf]

i have recently bought a 1993 320i.
and was wondering if anyone knows wot they do flat out

According to the German 1993 E36 sales brochure, Vmax should be 214 km/h. BMW NA started limiting the top speed of their cars about the time yours came out to deal with customer complaints about uneven tire wire. Did BMW Canada follow their lead?

The attached plot shows the speed limiter BMW NA added to the 318is. Note the hysteresis. I guess it keeps the owner from chasing the odd Porsche.

 

[johnf]

Well when I got my picture taken last month on the autobahn doing 163kmh in a 130 zone, my speedo was within one kmh. I think thats pretty accurate unless the radar is that in accurate too. Damn the Polizi!!

Was that before or after deducting the radar's measurement tolerance? I am glad you were not 40 km/h over!

 

[m5runner]

Not sure how fast I was rolling but I got pulled over by a vette a few years ago. When I hit the brake and looked down, clock said 130mph. This was before I put a mod chip in it.

 

[E36 weeks]

Well has any one got a 320i 24v . that on the clock does over 135?

 

[adrean8j]

Well when I got my picture taken last month on the autobahn doing 163kmh in a 130 zone, my speedo was within one kmh. I think thats pretty accurate unless the radar is that in accurate too. Damn the Polizi!!

Well my speedo is at least 5-7km generous....so when I am going 55km/hr I am really going 50km/hr.....I tested that with GPS and with the various radar sites in our area that "show" you your speed as you drive by......in Germany.....

 

[johnf]

That's pretty high but still allowed by the regulations (true + 10% + 4km/h). My speedometer only overreads 4 km/h at 160 according to GPS.

 

[adrean8j]

That's pretty high but still allowed by the regulations (true + 10% + 4km/h). My speedometer only overreads 4 km/h at 160 according to GPS.

Yeah it is but I think it has something to do with my offset tires sizes(235front/255back) and the sport spring drop......Hey check us out at www.bmw-syndikat.de under the "international" section since you are here in Germany. (Are you german or just another transplanted "Ami" like me?)

 

[johnf]

Yeah it is but I think it has something to do with my offset tires sizes(235front/255back) and the sport spring drop......Hey check us out at www.bmw-syndikat.de under the "international" section since you are here in Germany.

I did. It is pretty quiet compared to the other sections.

(Are you german or just another transplanted "Ami" like me?)

At the moment, I might describe myself better as "lost" than "transplanted".

 

[adrean8j]

LOL...cool...yeah it IS quiet because we lost a couple to PCS and all of us still here can speak German....anyway not meaning to hijack this thread....I have had my car at 135mph(gps speed) speedo said 238-240km/h

 

[partyman121266]

Hey some of us are proud to be transplanted Armi!!! Been here over 20 years now. [headbang]

 

[johnf]

Was that supposed to be "Armi" or "Ami"?

You know, someone could also be proud to be lost.

 

[johnf]

I have had my car at 135mph(gps speed) speedo said 238-240km/h

That is a pretty consistent 10% and suggests, as you remarked, the tires.