Rudy

Exactly. Taking away the obvious differences between the two vehicles, you're still sort of comparing apples to oranges with respect to the technology that's available on the two cars. I suppose if both cars were equally equipped technologically, then the test would be more accurate. Even then, to make it fair, you'd have to do more than test things one one bridge with one corner. A true test would be to include different turns -- some that are of a smaller radius, some larger, etc. Even then, you're probably never going to end the argument since BMW worked hard to make the SAVs handle well, etc.

Bottom line...you like your car and your friend likes his. It'll be hard to change anyone's mind about who's car is "better" since it's all relative and opinion based...

sdg1871

Yes, if I had taken some of the curves I've been on in a non-sport E60 without summer performance tires (such as my runs on Pennslyvania State Road 125), at the speed that I took them at in my 550i Sport, I probably would have gone off the road and into the trees. The cornerning limits with the sports suspension, ARS and max summer performance tires are just so much higher than those in a non-sport suspension/non ARS E60.

To the OP, it's fine to tear around the sweeper so long as you know and have a strong feel for your car's cornerning limits.

Shebs

F centrifugal = 1/2 * m*v^2. His mass is 2.265 tons. My mass is 1.575 tons. His mass is 44% higher than my mass so he has 44% centrifugal force acting on his car. Can the technology offset the 44%? I don't think so.

Rudy

Have you driven a car with active roll stabilization and/or a sports package? You'd be surprised what it feels like...

C's Bimmer

Active Steering is pretty sweet too.

Shebs

I agree with you that the ARS (Dynamic Drive where I live) will make the car "feel" much more stable. But will it be much more stable in cornering limits? Actually the complain against the DD was that it never makes you feel where the cornering limits are. The car will have very low roll, then suddenly you will lose grip, while in a normal car the roll will be progressive and you will be able to better judge the cornering limits.

I remember when I first started reading about the DD in 2004 that the actual difference in cornering speeds was around 2% (which is a lot considering that the centrifugal force is directly proporational to the square of the velocity, so it will result in 0.98*0.98=0.9604, i.e. 4% difference).

I currently have 245/40 R18 Michelin Pilot Sport 2 installed. Should I change the shocks and springs too? They are due anyways (my car has 136,000 km on the dial).

billhk

the E60 corners better, but won't be as fast coming out of the bends.

now we need to compare a 550i v X6 x50i, the same result and the E60 corners better and is faster,
even a 530i will kill it.

sdg1871

Sounds like you've got great summer performance tires on your ride. Why not put into stiffer shocks and springs and lower the car? If you are into cornering, why not do it?

Rudy

Don't forget, and I'm no scientist, that if the car rolls less (due to the technology), then the geometry of the "roll equation" is different. In other words, there is an outside force (dynamic drive) that is "correcting" the car's tendency to roll. That correction helps to maintain the car's weight distribution over all four wheels, etc.

I have no idea how to describe what I'm saying scientifically, I'm just stating that it's not just about how a dynamic drive car "feels" in a corner, there really is some physical "cheating" going on to help correct the car's tendency to obey the laws of physics. In other words, the car is throwing a curve at any forumula based on some linear force by changing it's own dynamics...

Does any of that make sense?

Shebs

Of course you do make a lot of sense. What you are talking about is basically the CG (center of Gravity) transfer due to the body roll of the car causing the outer wheels to be higher loaded than the inner ones. Follow this link http://www.autozine.org/technical_school/h...eight-Body-roll. It will help you understand the theoritical aspect of your feeling.