What is it people are doing to get these cars into the low 14's with some even hitting mid 13's while stock?

 

you bought the wrong car if you want to take it to the strip, or care about 1/4 mile so much. sorry for sounding harsh.

 

Might I ask why that would be? Are these cars just such fine luxury cars that they are not designed to have any straight line performance? Are they frail and prone to breaking? Is this again the spirit of owning a car with a V8 in it? Am I expecting too much with wanting to hid a mid14 to low 14 with it? Or is it that it's kind of disappointing that it is only a Honda Civic SI is just as fast as this fine v8 car?


Let me ask why did you buy the 550i rather then a 525 or 530?


I went to the track not because I'm a huge 1/4 mile. I went there to set a benchmark for where the car sits, to find out how it is comparing to other 545i's and other cars in the world. If I was series about racing the 1/4 time after time then no I would not own a BMW as their aftermarket even more so for the v8's kind of sucks. Not saying it doesn't exist but compared to many other cars out there it's not that great. Though I will say for a bracket racer this car is fairly nice as most all my times right on top of each other including the runs I had today.
I still do not see though what is wrong with taking it to the track though. There is a reason we all bought a V8 I'm sure and mine was I would rather have some performance under my bum just like I'm sure is the same reason you bought the 550i.


My issue though with taking it to the track isn't that I can't run high 10's with it. I don't expect that. My concern though is I'm not getting it to the realm that other people are getting their same car. Most every car I buy goes to the strip at least once to see where it sits in relation to other cars of it's kind as well of to see how it's running.

 

well first off, your car is pushing ten years old. how many miles? good compression? injectors ever cleaned? original cats, o2, plugs, etc? parts get worn overtime, and may not perfrom like they did when new. you running premium fuel? tires inflated right? there are just too many variables.

 

A couple of my buddies have taken their commuter/daily driver cars to the 1/4 mile before. Sounds like it's basically a ~$40 entrance fee + inspection, then an evening of racing your car and hanging out with others at the track. My guess is that they try and beat their last 'best' time- basically racing against themselves..thats what I would do anyways. Sounds like fun to me. It usually doesn't matter what car your driving, because when it comes down to it, there is just about always a faster car out there. Have fun and enjoy your car the way you want...and don't be surprised if you see me at the 1/4 with my 6.7 liter turbo-diesel crew cab.

Sort of off-topic, but if you haven't seen the sleeper truck check it out:
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