550i "Floaty" At High Speeds?
01-15-2007, 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='378498' date='Jan 15 2007, 08:03 AM
There's a sticky on the E60 forum over at Bimmerfest about this specific issue - there have been a lot of complaints. For some the replacement of the rear shocks under the recent recall and/or resetting the SZL module (including those already replaced under another recall program) seems to have made the difference. Sport equipped 550's and 545's are relatively softly sprung (ARS of course only kicks in under cornering) and that can contribute to the issue (the M-Sport suspension available on the facelift 08 550 should improve matters).
I've had some warning displays as mentioned in that thread, but "luckily" they've gone away.
I feel stable at high speed, 120+, but at that speed, I'm most likely going in a straight line with maybe a lane change or a slight curve.
There have been a lot of complaints about the e60 being soft, and while I do think it handles quite well in stock form, I notice the car being somewhat soft if I don't drive it for a little awhile. Perhaps I just get use to it when I drive it all the time.
01-15-2007, 01:13 PM
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My Ride: 2008 535i: June 6th start build, complete June 17th, at NY Port July 5th, at dealer July 10th, took delivery Friday July 13- Plantimum Bronze/Natural Brown Leather/Light Poplar, Sport Package, Sport Auto, Active Steering, Premium Package, CWP & PDC. Dinan Performance Software 384hp & 421 ft/lbs.
I have had my car up to a speedometer indicated 160 mph and other than the car being a little twitchy, it was extremely stable. Amazing in fact.
01-16-2007, 07:46 AM
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My Ride: 07' 550i sport; Sapphire Black/Auburn; sport package; steptronic; navigation with R.T.T.I.; heads up; cold weather package; Logic-7; BMW MOST ipod kit; Motorola V3 snap-in adapter; rear heated seats and rear shades; anthracite headliner; sirrius sat. radio; M-aero kit; OEM style 166 Wheels with 245/35-19 front and 285/30-19 rear Michelin PS2s.
Originally Posted by swajames' post='378498' date='Jan 15 2007, 11:03 AM
There's a sticky on the E60 forum over at Bimmerfest about this specific issue - there have been a lot of complaints. For some the replacement of the rear shocks under the recent recall and/or resetting the SZL module (including those already replaced under another recall program) seems to have made the difference. Sport equipped 550's and 545's are relatively softly sprung (ARS of course only kicks in under cornering) and that can contribute to the issue (the M-Sport suspension available on the facelift 08 550 should improve matters).
But one question keeps popping up in my mind. The ARS hydraulic anti-roll bar is certainly controlled by a computer, which uses software. So why can't a tuner offer new software for the anti-roll bars? From what I have read, they are almost disconnected (useless) when the car is travelling in a straight line - this has the benefit of nearly eliminating the head jerking that occurs with standard sport suspensions as left and right sided forces generated by road imperfections are transmitted across the car via a standard anti-roll bar(s). Perhaps this is why imperfections in the pavement when travelling straight as well as ordinarly lane changes on the highway (essentially a straight line manouver) upset the sport suspension so easily. I'm a lawyer not an engineer. But since I sold my 740i sport a few months ago, I'm feeling like a junkie without a fix. The 550 is a great car, but it is missing one or two of the things I loved most about my last BMW. I'm just not a big fan of the ARS system on a car like any 5 sport, 6 sport, 3 sport, Z sport etc. There is a reason that the M division with free reign and a sizeable budget chose not to use ARS on any of their cars...
DRP
01-16-2007, 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by 550isport' post='378996' date='Jan 16 2007, 04:46 PM
[snip] So why can't a tuner offer new software for the anti-roll bars? [snip]
Just my partially informed $0.02
01-16-2007, 10:28 AM
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I notice that most of you who commented on how the car handles at speeds in excess of 100mph (in one case 160mph) live in countries with reasonably low-speed limits.
Do you not have traffic cameras and traffic police where you live or are do you just like living on the edge...
Or perhaps you ran these little experiments on on unrestricted sections of the German autobahn ...
Doing speeds like that here would almost certainly mean losing your license... so who cares how the car handles at 160mph really...
Do you not have traffic cameras and traffic police where you live or are do you just like living on the edge...
Or perhaps you ran these little experiments on on unrestricted sections of the German autobahn ...
Doing speeds like that here would almost certainly mean losing your license... so who cares how the car handles at 160mph really...
01-16-2007, 10:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Raighne' post='379078' date='Jan 16 2007, 07:28 PM
I notice that most of you who commented on how the car handles at speeds in excess of 100mph (in one case 160mph) live in countries with reasonably low-speed limits.
Do you not have traffic cameras and traffic police where you live or are do you just like living on the edge...
Or perhaps you ran these little experiments on on unrestricted sections of the German autobahn ...
Doing speeds like that here would almost certainly mean losing your license... so who cares how the car handles at 160mph really...
Do you not have traffic cameras and traffic police where you live or are do you just like living on the edge...
Or perhaps you ran these little experiments on on unrestricted sections of the German autobahn ...
Doing speeds like that here would almost certainly mean losing your license... so who cares how the car handles at 160mph really...
On the other hand, how is one to evaluate "floatiness at high speed"? At 70 mph? Or should we restrict the thread to people that live in Germany and/or have the opportunity to drive on racing circuits?
01-16-2007, 11:19 AM
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My Ride: My ex-ride: EU '08 LCI 520dA. Space Grey, Sport Seats in Black Leather/Fabric Anthracite, Sport Steering Wheel, A/C with Extended Features, Hi-Fi Speakers, Cup Holders, Cruise with Braking function, Folding Rear Seats, Xenons, Park Distance Control.
Kind of funny!
High speed? Like cruising at 120 mph aka 190 km/h!
Did anyone think that 19 - 21" bling-bling wheels and tyres would be good for that?
100 mph cruising aka 160 km/h is very normal in EU - when to wheather is nice
and the traffic low.
In day-to-day conditions, a speed of 90 mph is OK and almost leagal.
With cruising I mean that you put the cruise control on and let it be, see picture,
and this with very soft winter tyres!
Even the facelift 550i and the 535i is coming with standard 225/50 17" tyres and rims.
High speed? Like cruising at 120 mph aka 190 km/h!
Did anyone think that 19 - 21" bling-bling wheels and tyres would be good for that?
100 mph cruising aka 160 km/h is very normal in EU - when to wheather is nice
and the traffic low.
In day-to-day conditions, a speed of 90 mph is OK and almost leagal.
With cruising I mean that you put the cruise control on and let it be, see picture,
and this with very soft winter tyres!
Even the facelift 550i and the 535i is coming with standard 225/50 17" tyres and rims.
01-16-2007, 11:50 AM
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The road surface plays a part the feel of the car. However. The fastest i have had so far with my 530d was 140mph. And the road surface was good but it still felt floaty.
01-16-2007, 12:17 PM
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Originally Posted by dlevi67' post='379087' date='Jan 16 2007, 07:51 PM
Well, may I suggest that even in Ireland, at 3.30 am on a good dual carriageway you may not risk as much as it seems?
Yes, the risk of being caught might be very, very low but if, perchance, you are caught you are off the road.
Over here the middle of the night is no longer a time to take your car for a test drive.
We have had an epidemic of boy-racers in the last few years and they usually race in the early hours. Unfortunately, that's been getting a lot of press lately as they have been many high-speed fatal accidents all at around that time. So, the police have decided to camp out at night to try to put an end to it.
The 520d is fast becoming the bestseller over here as people are thinking 'well, if I can't go fast anymore, I don't really need a fast car' (and it's cheaper and a reasonable performer to boot)
Anyway, I digress...
01-16-2007, 01:25 PM
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My Ride: '05 545i - scheduled for ED pickup in Munich on 7/22!
depends on what you compare it to, but personally i think my e60 is indeed too floaty for my tastes.
because ars/dd minimizes roll, bmw let the car be softly sprung, in order to be comfortable when cruising. basically this car's suspension is a compromise, it corners very flatly, but it also *floats* over bumps. it tries to be both sporty in corners and luxurious in a straight line. while many ppl prefer this setup, for the sportiest drivers it just doesn't satisfy.
although side to side roll is taken car of ars/dd, the car pitches and rolls a lot vertically when going over bumps and fore/aft when accelerating/braking. these properties let the car cruise comfortably, but also make it floaty. compare with an e39, the e60 doesn't feel as solid, as hunkered down, or as glued to the road, at high speeds.
because ars/dd minimizes roll, bmw let the car be softly sprung, in order to be comfortable when cruising. basically this car's suspension is a compromise, it corners very flatly, but it also *floats* over bumps. it tries to be both sporty in corners and luxurious in a straight line. while many ppl prefer this setup, for the sportiest drivers it just doesn't satisfy.
although side to side roll is taken car of ars/dd, the car pitches and rolls a lot vertically when going over bumps and fore/aft when accelerating/braking. these properties let the car cruise comfortably, but also make it floaty. compare with an e39, the e60 doesn't feel as solid, as hunkered down, or as glued to the road, at high speeds.