5 series vs. X6 x50i - Cornering Stability
#1
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 523iA, 2006, Silver Grey, Black Leatherette Interior, Fine-Wood Trim Poplar Grain Brown High-Gloss, 6 Speed Automatic Transmission with Steptronic, Automatic Air Conditioning with Extended Content, Interior and Exterior Mirrors with Automatic Anti-Dazzle Function (Incl. Folding Function for Exterior Mirror), Electric Front Seats with Memory for Driver, Multi-Function Steering Wheel with Cruise Control, Adjustable Steering Column, BMW Radio with 8 Speakers and CD Drive, Park Distance Control, Universal Bluetooth Cell Phone, Electric Rear Sunblind
![Thumbs up](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon14.gif)
Hi to all of the forum members, it has been a long time since I posted on this respectable forum.
I was in Lebanon in the last weekend for celebrating the new year and I had a close friend with me there where we rented together a BMW X5 x30i. A decent car, but not as decent as my humble 523i in cornering and handling fields. I could always feel its heigher weight especially when corenering and braking.
This same friend owns a BMW X6 x50i, and he thinks that it is the best car in the world and that it can corner better than the 5 series.
He commented that I should sell my car and buy an X5 or X6 because they are better cars
. I was so annoyed so I gave him the simple answer that SUVs (or SAVs as BMW calls them) can never outhandle a sedan, especially if it was a well balanced car like the E60
.
However, we ended up arguing and me being a mechanical engineer with a masters degree
, I kept making fun of him in front of all our friends for the whole trip. I was basing my argument on the fact that physics are physics and that a high center of gravity SUV with 2.265 tons of weight can never out handle and out corner a low center of gravity sedan with 1.575 tons of weight.
He ended up suggesting that we try it practically on a foresaken corner on a bridge in new Cairo. It is a long curve (around 500 m) with a large radius of curvature, and my maximum speed in this curve with the tyres whistling is around 105 km (65 miles). The deal is that I would be in front, and that I should start gaining clearance from his car until through the corner until it is finished (of course when we hit the straight afterwards I will be history, he has 230 hp more than me
.
I did some research today on the net and I was suprised that the the X6 x50i is quite a fast car on track. In fact, it is only 2 seconds slower than the 550i on Autozeitung (from fastestlaps.com, 1:47 to 1:45).
Frankly I am starting to feel worried. His car has much wider tyres, xDrive, Dynamic Performance Control, and Adaptive Drive, while my car has no systems except for the standard DSC
.
What do you guys think? Am I going to get my ass kicked or are physics still physics? Did BMW succeed in defying pysiscs lately with its X6? Your feedback is highly aprreciated.
I was in Lebanon in the last weekend for celebrating the new year and I had a close friend with me there where we rented together a BMW X5 x30i. A decent car, but not as decent as my humble 523i in cornering and handling fields. I could always feel its heigher weight especially when corenering and braking.
This same friend owns a BMW X6 x50i, and he thinks that it is the best car in the world and that it can corner better than the 5 series.
He commented that I should sell my car and buy an X5 or X6 because they are better cars
![Mad](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Mad](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Mad](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/mad.gif)
![Big Grin](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/biggrin.gif)
However, we ended up arguing and me being a mechanical engineer with a masters degree
![Online2long](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/online2long.gif)
He ended up suggesting that we try it practically on a foresaken corner on a bridge in new Cairo. It is a long curve (around 500 m) with a large radius of curvature, and my maximum speed in this curve with the tyres whistling is around 105 km (65 miles). The deal is that I would be in front, and that I should start gaining clearance from his car until through the corner until it is finished (of course when we hit the straight afterwards I will be history, he has 230 hp more than me
![Smile](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/imported/smile.gif)
I did some research today on the net and I was suprised that the the X6 x50i is quite a fast car on track. In fact, it is only 2 seconds slower than the 550i on Autozeitung (from fastestlaps.com, 1:47 to 1:45).
Frankly I am starting to feel worried. His car has much wider tyres, xDrive, Dynamic Performance Control, and Adaptive Drive, while my car has no systems except for the standard DSC
![Confused](https://5series.net/forums/images/smilies/confused.gif)
What do you guys think? Am I going to get my ass kicked or are physics still physics? Did BMW succeed in defying pysiscs lately with its X6? Your feedback is highly aprreciated.
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
The 5 series will outpace an X6 any day of the week. It has a near perfect weight distribution AND it has a much lower center of gravity. For cornering, the X6 will not win vs a 5.
#3
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
It's technology and not the ability to defy the laws of physics that gives the X6 its capabilities. From your signature, it appears you have what would be the equivalent of a non-sport E60 in the US - and unless you have the same technology aids as your friend (which in the case of the E60 would effectively be ARS/Dynamic Drive) it is quite possible (in fact probable) that the X6 will indeed be quicker... All things being equal, a sport/ARS equipped E60 will corner incredibly well, but an X6 50i is absolutely loaded with technology that partially rewrites (if not quite defies) the laws of physics...
In summary - yes, I think will get a bit of a kicking on this one...
In summary - yes, I think will get a bit of a kicking on this one...
#4
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Howitzer' post='1084406' date='Jan 5 2010, 06:25 AM
The 5 series will outpace an X6 any day of the week. It has a near perfect weight distribution AND it has a much lower center of gravity. For cornering, the X6 will not win vs a 5.
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: New York, New York
Posts: 10,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: See my signature
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by swajames' post='1084407' date='Jan 5 2010, 09:31 AM
It's technology and not the ability to defy the laws of physics that gives the X6 its capabilities. From your signature, it appears you have what would be the equivalent of a non-sport E60 in the US - and unless you have the same technology aids as your friend (which in the case of the E60 would effectively be ARS/Dynamic Drive) it is quite possible (in fact probable) that the X6 will indeed be quicker... All things being equal, a sport/ARS equipped E60 will corner incredibly well - but an X6 50i is absolutely loaded with technology that partially rewrites (if not quite defies) the laws of physics... In summary - yes, I think will get a bit of a kicking on this one...
#6
Super Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Pittsburgh, PA USA
Posts: 17,310
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I think your theory about sedans vs. SAVs is a sound one but your methodology in proving it, as others have pointed out, seems to be significantly flawed.
#7
Senior Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Cairo, Egypt
Posts: 347
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 523iA, 2006, Silver Grey, Black Leatherette Interior, Fine-Wood Trim Poplar Grain Brown High-Gloss, 6 Speed Automatic Transmission with Steptronic, Automatic Air Conditioning with Extended Content, Interior and Exterior Mirrors with Automatic Anti-Dazzle Function (Incl. Folding Function for Exterior Mirror), Electric Front Seats with Memory for Driver, Multi-Function Steering Wheel with Cruise Control, Adjustable Steering Column, BMW Radio with 8 Speakers and CD Drive, Park Distance Control, Universal Bluetooth Cell Phone, Electric Rear Sunblind
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Rudy' post='1084413' date='Jan 5 2010, 04:42 PM
I think your theory about sedans vs. SAVs is a sound one but your methodology in proving it, as others have pointed out, seems to be significantly flawed.
#8
Contributors
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: San Jose, California, USA
Posts: 4,119
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Porsche 911 Carrera S Convertible. Midnight Blue, 6 Speed.Retired - 2007 997 Carrera S, Midnight Blue, Grey leather, premium audioRetired - 2007 550i, Monaco Blue over Beige, Navigation, Logic 7, Cold Weather Pack, Comfort Access, Sport Package
Model Year: 2008
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Originally Posted by Shebs' post='1084415' date='Jan 5 2010, 06:50 AM
No body has pointed out that my methdology is flawed. Can you explain to me how is it flawed?
Either way - be safe. It sounds like you're planning on giving it the hammer on a very fast and very long sweeper, it can be much easier said than done to reign the car back in if you start to lose grip.
#9
Contributors
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: NY
Posts: 14,646
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2008 Silverstone II E60 M5 2012 E70 AW X5 50i Sport w/ LCI Aero Kit and Rocker Panels
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I say just go for it. You only live once, so don't hold anything back. Let your 5er rip around the corner at lightning speeds. It will hold.
#10
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://5series.net/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have to admit that my 5 will take sharp turns at 70+ MPH with ease. However, that is mostly because I upgraded the shocks and struts to sport versions lowering the car and stiffening the suspension a great deal. If I had non-sport .... I would have probably flipped the car by now.