znod

Hi Friends:

?The Official G-Meter Testing Thread? is getting long and contains many results from many different tests, related data, and so on. Thus, it is hard to know, without spending a great deal of time, what the results, accomplishments, conclusions, implications, and so on of this thread are. So, I am starting this new thread to highlight some of these things including especially the accomplishments and methods used to date. I sincerely hope that you enjoy this thread and discussing what is in it. I, of course, also will post any actual drag-strip results.

Please feel free to discuss anything related to 5-Series straight-line performance here?except hopefully not kill or killed stories. Discussing these stories probably would result in this thread being excessively long.

I am hoping that all test results will be posted initially on the other thread. I will transfer any ?best? results anyone would like to see here to this post. If this post gets too long, then I will start a continuation post.

I have posted the following magazine information before, but I am doing so again to facilitate as correct as possible comparison of our results with those of the big-three US auto magazines. CD adjusts only for weather and goes from a 5 MPH roll. RT uses aggressive (probably more aggressive than one normally would use on the street), yet not abusive, test procedures, a 1' rollout, and makes no altitude/weather adjustments. MT adjusts only for weather and uses a 1' roll out. Here are their basic test results.

BMW 545i--Manual CD 5/04..........5.5...14.1...102.8 (adjusted for weather; 5 MPH roll)
BMW 545i--Steptronic RT 6/05......5.2...13.7...104.0 (aggressive, but not abusive)
BMW 545i--Steptronic MT 8/04......5.4...13.7...102.1 (adjusted for weather; 1' rollout)
BMW 545i--Steptronic MT 11/05.....5.5...13.8...102.8 (adjusted for weather; 1' rollout)
BMW 545i--Steptronic ModCar.org...2-way 1/4 average 13.54 @105.15; 0 to 60 5.32, and 0 to 100 12.43**
BMW 550i--Steptronic AZ* (25/05)...5.5 (100 kph)...12.4 (160 kph)...15.5 (180 kph)
*AZ = Auto Zeitung
**These are theoretically calculated data located by needforspeed

Data for BMW 535d: All Steptronics:
..........................{...........535d........ ....}
............................GM1.....GM1.....GM2
0-40 km/h..............2.0.......2.0.......1.7
0-60 km/h..............3.5.......3.5.......3.1
0-80 km/h..............5.0.......4.9.......4.5
0-100 km/h.............7.1......6.8.......6.5
0-120 km/h.............9.5......9.0.......9.0
0-140 km/h...........12.4.....11.7.....11.5
0-160 km/h...........16.4.....15.3.....15.1
0-180 km/h...........21.0.....19.5
0-200 km/h...........27.4.....25.4
GM = German Magazine (GM1 = Auto Zeitung; GM2 = Unknown--reported to me with out magazine name on another thread)

On another thread, Merv the Derv referenced an unknown-to-me English-speaking magazine mentioning that its test yielded a 5.8 0 to 60 MPH figure for the 535d.

BMW 535d--Steptronic (in MPH) ModCar.org--2-way 1/4 average: 14.82 @ 94.48; 0 to 60 6.5; 0 to 100 16.85 (see ** above)

There also are some 535d data at fastsaloons.com. Given their unknown credibility, you decide on their value. Generally, I take what individuals report at face value, but I don't even know how the fastsaloon data are determine. Fastsaloon reports the following in MPH: 0 to 30 2.4; 0 to 40 3.4; 0 to 50 4; 0 to 60 6.0; 0 to 70 7.8; 0 to 80 9.7; 0 to 90 12.0 and 0 to 100 15.0.

And, here are our results and related information.

545i:

Realtyman (SMG):

Unadjusted for Altitude and Weather:

0 to 60?5.35

(B&B exhaust; K&N filter; not using AA; GT2 meter; Rollout--Probably 1';; Altitude--350'; Temp--probably about 70F; See post #29 for SMG straight-line launch difficulties).


grogan545i (Steptronic) (Unadjusted Data Not Being Updated For Now):

Unadjusted for Altitude and Weather--Best Five Overall Tests:

.........................3/15/06.....3/20/06....3/27/06...4/2/06.....6/22/06...Average

0-60..................... 4.90.........5.00.........4.97.......4.96......... ................4.96
0-100.................11.630......12.090.....12.050. ...11.550.....................11.830
1/8 Time................8.65.........8.72.........8.69 .......8.75...........8.69.......8.70
1/8 speed............82.40.......82.60........82.70... ..83.70........ 82.80.....82.84
Time 1/4..............13.35.......13.39.......13.41...... 13.38.........13.35.....13.38
Speed 1/4.........104.65......105.50.....105.50....106.30. ......106.00....105.49

(GT2 meter; 1? rollout; D mode; DSC/DTC on; Tries for Minimal Wheelspin)

Adjusted for Weather and Altitude to 500'--Best Five Overall Tests:

........................10/16/06...8/13/06.....9/18/06.......4/2/06.....6/22/06.....Average

0-60.................. 4.975.......5.036........5.064.........5.044...... ...................5.03*
Time 1/4...........13.496......13.436......13.474........ 13.444.....13.248......13.420
Speed 1/4........104.46...105.566....104.879......105.791. ...106.827....105.523
*For explanation of estimation method for grogan545's adjusted 0 to 60 results, please post a request on this thread.

(Altitude--400?; GT2 meter; 1? rollout; D mode; DSC/DTC on or off; Tries for Minimal Wheelspin)


Znod (Steptronic) (Unadjusted Data Not Being Updated For Now) (Best Unadjusted Tests Usually Not the Same as the Best Adjusted Tests):

Unadjusted for Altitude and Weather--Best Five Overall Tests:

..........................#1.............#2....... .......#3.............#4...........#5........Avera ge
1/4 Speed......103.573.....104.030.....103.685....104. 159...104.587....104.007
1/4 Time..........13.658.......13.592......13.659..... .13.632.....13.619......13.632
1/8 Speed........81.970.......82.400......82.010...... 82.390.....82.460......82.246
1/8 Time............8.881.........8.838........8.886.. ......8.882.......8.881........8.874
0 to 100...........12.563.......12.392.......12.548.... ..12.413......12.323.....12.448
0 to 60..............5.179.........5.108........5.191.. ......5.164.......5.161........5.161


Adjusted for Weather and Altitude to 500'--Best Five Overall Tests:

..............................#1................#2 .............#3.............#4............#5...... ...Average
1/4 Speed...........104.646......105.098.....106.396.. ...106.518....106.110....105.747
1/4 Time...............13.483........13.497......13.37 0.......13.415......13.423.......13.438
1/8 Speed............82.785........83.057......83.838. ......83.912......83.828.......83.484
1/8 Time................8.766..........8.776........8. 687.........8.719........8.726.........8.735
0 to 100...............12.077........12.115......11.788 .......11.903......11.927.......11.962
0 to 60...................4.988..........5.004........4 .867........4.915........4.929.........4.941

(Altitude?1,600?; DS-mode; DSC/DTC off; Pro RR meter; 1? rollout; 91 octane; Tries for Minimal Wheel Spin using Minimal Brake Torquing)

Bokke (Manual)

Unadjusted for Altitude and Weather--Best Five Overall Tests:

..............#1.......#2........#3........#4..... ..#5......Avg
0-80......9.90.....8.92.....9.60
0-70......7.82.....7.53.....7.20.....7.50.....7.55.. ..7.52
0-60......5.70.....5.55.....5.55.....5.52.....5.58.. ...5.58
0-50......4.37.....4.30.....4.35.....4.25.....4.27.. ...4.31
0-40......3.30.....3.32.....3.38.....3.20.....3.27.. ...3.29
0-30......1.97.....2.00.....2.10.....1.93.....2.00.. ...2.00
0-20......1.20.....1.20.....1.33.....1.15.....1.20.. ...1.22
0-10......0.37.....0.35......0.50.....0.35.....0.35. ....0.38

1/8........9.30.....9.20.....9.17.....9.15.....9.20. ....9.20
...........75.90.....76.2.....79.9.....77.2.....76 .8.....77.2

(Temp-- 40F; Humidity--27%; GT2 Meter; 1? rollout; DSC/DTC off; Launch--1k to 1.5k RPM)


Wannabe 545i--645ci:

cobradav (Steptronic) (Updated 4/10/06)

Unadjusted for Altitude and Weather--Best Two-Way Pass:

...............East to West ......West to East.....Average
1/4 Time........13.114.............13.442...........13 .278
1/4 Speed....111.880............106.330.........109.10 5
0-60...............4.895...............5.050........ .....4.973
0-100...........10.674..............11.692.......... .11.183

Adjusted for Weather and Altitude to 500'--Best Two-Way Pass:

...............East to West ......West to East.....Average
1/4 Time........13.064.............13.360...........13 .210
1/4 Speed....112.574............106.990.........109.78 2

(Altitude?20?; DSC off; Pro RR meter; 1? rollout; 93 octane; Brake Torguing)


535d:

clived (Steptronic)

Results from Santa Pod Raceway, UK:

14.174 (1/4 time)
98.060 (1.4 speed)
9.146 (1/8 time)
77.840 (1/8 speed)
2.126 (60' time)

13.8 (1/4 time) after DMS remap

As, indicated, clived's results were obtained at Santa Pod Raceway in the UK (Wellingborough, Northhamptonshire). Making an educated quess, using web data, I think that Santa Pod is likely to be about 250' above sea level. If so, then Clived's 1/4 time and speed adjusted to 500' become 14.212 and 97.798, respectively. clived indicates that his pass was made in June of 2005 immediately before his remap. So, the weather probably was pretty warm--indicating that weather adjustment might make improve his altitude adjusted data.

550rider

Hi Znod!

I have two questions which I hope will relate to this topic.
I upgraded my stock Sport Package 124 Style rims with Bridgestone Runflats to following: Maya DLS 20x9 245/35/20 F, 20x10 285/30/20 R with Toyo Proxes T1R's. Stock wheels weighed roughly between 80-85 pounds, this ones weight about 65 pounds. How this upgrade will affect my acceleration, traction, and speedometer readout?
Also, I have 6sp MT and with the new setup I seem to get virtually no wheel spin with all controls off. I'm not sure what CIP I have, but I picked up the car on Dec. 1. Is this normal, or something I should be concerned with?
Last, what is the best way for me to launch my car, what RPM's, slip or drop clutch, controls on/off, etc...
Any comments are welcome.
Thanx.

znod

If you had wheel spin before your new package, then I would presume the reason you now don't have wheel spin is related to the new package--i.e., higher numerical rear end, etc. I doubt seriously that lack of wheel spin could be traced to the CIP of a car acquired by Dec. 1. For that matter, I am not sure if any, but me, found it difficult to get wheel spin after updating to 20.01.00. grogan545i certainly didn't have this problem. I now get wheel ship again, but not quite as much as before 20.01.00--which at this point actually is good.

I have never attempted to launch my Z06 on a dragstrip. Nor, have I ever attempted to do a high RPM launch on the street. The Z06 has drag radials (thus relatively incredible traction), and to launch it, I go for a passive-agressive minimal wheel-spin launch (which has led, for example, to an unadjusted for weather/altitude 3.77 sec. 0 to 60). This is the way I would begin in trying to launch any manual on the street, but that may just be me. Note that grogan545i, who in a past life was a real dragracer, has recommended that Bokke try launching this way. Bokke has been having wheel spin problems even when lauching at 1k to 1.5k RPMs with controls off. g-man also believes that the modern tendency in drag racing, at least street cars, is to shoot for the kinds of starts I use (or at least for little to no wheel spin). I trust what he says, but I have no other information on the use of this sort of technique on the dragstrip. I would try both controls on and off, but if you note that you obviously are losing power with controls on, then your runs will suffer tremendously.

0700700

znod, do you not think the results are slightly strange.. looking at the smg and manual submissions, they appear to be almost 0.6seconds slower from 0-60? I think this is due to driver fault not the actual transmissions. The smg should be quicker than the auto

znod

I am not sure if the results are strange or not. Everyone, including BMW, thinks that the SMG/manual should be faster than the Step. This "theory" did not apply in CD 5/04--one of the mags that adjusts for weather. Also, I can't be sure how many runs Realtyman made, but I assume that he made a fair number and was satisfied enough with 5.35 to 60. But, he may not have been persistent enough or cared enough to test long enough to get the most out of his car. Also, his best run did not utilize AA; thus, someone using AA might be able to do better. Finally, his results do not allow for weather factors. Allowing for them can go either way. But, allowing for weather would not be likely to get him more than .1 to .15 in zero to 60.

With respect to manuals, I have heard that there is some sort of valve that affects their performance negatively. This valve may be affecting Bokke negatively. Also, he is a big guy and is just learning to launch his car.

Basically, my answer is ????? As you mention, the "strangeness" could be solely driver attributable. I certainly wish some more with manuals and SMG's would do some testing with us so we would have a better idea about what is going on. If we don't gather this info, then I don't know who will. Also, we sure could use some 550i testers. EuroCarFan has a meter and is supposed to get to some testing done soon. His car is a 545i with Dinan mods. I can't recall if he has an SMG. Also, CrobraDav has a meter and will be posting results for his 645i on the testing thread soon.

Member545

I have the original G-tech pro, and sadly I have never used it in the 545, would the values from this be useful to the thread? I would need to go out to a less crowded area to try it.

znod

Definitely so. It would be great if you and your 6 speed joined us in testing. Please post your results on the g-meter testing thread. If you want them added to post #1 on this thread, then I'd be happy to do so. Of course, there is no law against posting them on this thread. So, definitely go that route if you want.

TV550

Znod so did the CIP 20.xx decrease your times or did your car finally adjust itself and now you are running fast again? These charts are over my head. I stopped my dealership from upgrading my CIP 20 until I got feed back from you guys on whether to do it or not.

EBMCS03

Nice thread! Znod... also mentioned in another thread was that the gearing for the Auto was better for acceleration from a dead stop... are we going to discuss that here too?

P.S. I dont have a way to measure my 0 to 60... I dont have a meter so thats why i'm not contributing... UNLESS Znod would be willing to ship his G-Meter to me in the Z06 packaging... for protection of course... we dont want any damages to the meter now do we?

grogan545

Great idea with the new thread Znod.I have found a new test site which allows for full 1/4 run.I made 1 run yesterday with a below average start(some intrusion by controls)but is a new starting point.
1/4 speed 105.50
1/4 time 13.50
1/8 speed 82.7
1/8 time 8.80
0-60 5.10
60' 2.05
new altitude 400',temp 38 F,barometer 29.98,dew point 19 F
Zman could you do the corrections for me?You can just give me the equivilent altitude,I have the NHRA altitude chart.

I agree in theory 700700 but so far it has not been proven.Having grown up with drag racing in my blood It was always a fact that a standard shift vs automatic with the same car & motor would always favor the standard shift(all other factors being equal).But to now all magazines and all testers in this forum have shown otherwise.There could be some factors that contribute to this.
1-The gear ratios in the step may be better suited to acceleration.
2-No one is willing to "speed shift" the standard shift(shift without lifting the gas peddle).This method was generally worth about .15 sec in a 1/4.
3-I am not familiar with the smg but possibly the engine/clutch controls are more intrusive than with the step to prevent driveline shock.