big_ipaq

Thanks to all of you for your answers. From what I see right now, looks like a part of the difference in engine weight, can easily sneak into the difference in front/rear percentage distribution - 49.8% - 52.5% can account for a lot of weight. And probably what's left 30-40 kg can be easily managed by slightly shifting some parts more to the back.

BetterMakeWay

Yeah but we still haven't found out exactly what parts.

dlevi67

If you think someone is going to start going around BMW dealers and asking them for a diff box for a 535d and one for a 525i, and weigh them, you should think again

As far as I'm concerned, the answer of diff/transmission, uprated suspension and brakes (for performance and weight reasons) and relocation of some componentry suffices. If I really want a perfect 50/50 balance, I can always drive with a 50kg bag of cement in the boot

BetterMakeWay

aybeesea

As i said before... think about your OWN weight, the weight of any passengers and the weight of the fuel.

And you're worried about the weight of the engine and diff?

Eat another burger.

ABC

dlevi67

Well, my weight (more than enough, to be sure) is roughly central with respect to the car, so it will end up distributed roughly equally front/rear.

I'd rather not carry passengers when I do the type of manoeuvres that all this talk of testing the weight distribution and reducing polar moment would imply. A puke shampoo is not amongst my favourite beauty treatments

And I don't like burgers!

(If I was REALLY worried about weight, I'd have bought an Ariel Atom, or even better a superbike. More seriously, you are absolutely right re: the real world. With 60kgs of fuel sloshing about, there's more than enough to shift balances by a comparable amount to the existing differences)

aybeesea

Unless you're driving something like a McLaren F1 then the driver's lateral position in the vehicle WILL influence any "puke-inducing" manoeuvres.

Perhaps you DO need a passenger (AND a bag of cement) to improve the balance.

Or, starting a whole new set of discussions is does the EMPTY car not have a 50-50 weight distribution SIDE-TO-SIDE which is immediately imbalanced by the presence of the driver?

ABC

pinguhk

ya your right or put a person in the boot!!!

VTbound

The empty car is slightly higher on the driver's side to compensate for the driver's weight.

aybeesea

Of course this "feature" has been discussed in a recent thread but it then beggars the question, "who needs 50-50 weight distribution if it can "all be compensated for by springs"".

Do we assume a passenger (shock, horror) would just totally throw all consideration of balance out of the window.

And... unless the fuel tank is mounted centrally left-to-right, some territories will have the fuel tank on the same side as the driver...

ABC