Why are Americans still using the old imperial unit system?
07-26-2008, 04:32 PM
#1
Members
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 2004 BMW 545i, M-Sport Bodykit, Sports Suspension, Sports Seats, Active Steering.
Since we always talk about power, speed, fuel consumption, weight, etc, why is the U.S. and to some extent, the U.K. still using the old imperial unit system when the rest of the world has advanced to the metric system? 
07-26-2008, 04:42 PM
#2
Contributors
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Chicago
Posts: 4,410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by stavros' post='633304' date='Jul 26 2008, 07:32 PM
Since we always talk about power, speed, fuel consumption, weight, etc, why is the U.S. and to some extent, the U.K. still using the old imperial unit system when the rest of the world has advanced to the metric system?
07-26-2008, 04:46 PM
#3
Contributors
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 2,596
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: '05 545 Titanium Silver, Black Leather - Nav, Logic 7, Cold weather.
Mods:
Carbon filter removed.
M5 iDrive knob.
Umnitza license plate LEDs.
MP3
40% 3M tint
ACS Anti-Roll(sway) bars
RPI Scoop
G-tech Pro RR
CF Roundels
CF Wheel caps
Us Brits are resistant to change...and in some things the yanks are even more so 
07-26-2008, 04:46 PM
#4
Contributors
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Encino, CA
Posts: 1,712
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 04 545i - Titanium Silver/Black, Sport pkg, Comfort Seats w/ Lumbar, Premium Sound, power rear sunshade, Adaptive Xenon Headlights, Steptronic, Park Distance Control, Fold down rear seats w/ski bag, Aux jack, 6-disk changer, puddle lamps...
Engine: Custom Remus cat-back exhaust w/chrome square tips, K&N Air Filter, Charcoal Filter Removed, Sprint Booster :-), 50/50 mix of 91+100 Octane, EuroRev ECU Remap (coming soon lol), Dinan High-Flow Throttle Body (coming soon...maybe lol)
Interior: Portable Sirius Stilletto 100 w/car kit, Garmin Nuvi 680 mounted below rear-view mirror, LCI-style I-drive knob, Dark Poplar Center Dashboard Trim.
Exterior: E60 forum clings, 5% rear tint, ACS roof spoiler (painted black for distinct look against limo tint), ACS trunk spoiler, ACS add-on front spoiler and rear apron (awaiting installation), "18 Black Staggered BeBeS Style OER (emergency replacement for cracked sport 124 rims), black kidney grill, white accessory lighting (including license and trunk lamps), Angel-eye upgrade, AIB xenon-matched fog lamps, AIB V3's on order, red rear reflectors
Originally Posted by stavros' post='633304' date='Jul 26 2008, 05:32 PM
Since we always talk about power, speed, fuel consumption, weight, etc, why is the U.S. and to some extent, the U.K. still using the old imperial unit system when the rest of the world has advanced to the metric system?
07-26-2008, 06:06 PM
#5
Contributors
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: St. Louis Burbs, USA
Posts: 8,998
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
I have no idea. It's much simpler IMHO. Having lived abroad in several "metric" countries and spending about four months a year mostly in Asia, Latin America, and Europe, I find myself converting to the US system in my mind after first thinking metric. A gallon, oh yeah, that's about four litres. People look at me strangely when I tell them Starbucks is 75 meters left at the next street corner. I still eyeball things and think in inches, however, don't just go to centimeters for some reason. I never lost that--I guess it would sound funny to say 3/4 of a centimeter, while 3/4 of an inch just rolls off the tongue. Millimeters are another story. From watchbands to lug nuts, most of us Yanks use millimeters for those. I guess if you own certain things made outside the US, you really have no choice anyway.
07-26-2008, 06:42 PM
#6
Contributors
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: So Cal, USA
Posts: 14,776
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: 545iSMGSilver GrayAuburn Dakota LeatherLogic 7 Premium SoundSports Package
Originally Posted by stavros' post='633304' date='Jul 26 2008, 05:32 PM
Since we always talk about power, speed, fuel consumption, weight, etc, why is the U.S. and to some extent, the U.K. still using the old imperial unit system when the rest of the world has advanced to the metric system?
How is it an "advancement?"
its just a different unit of measure.
07-26-2008, 09:24 PM
#7
Senior Members
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: oc, california
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Ride: stock non-sport alpine white '04 530i
i honestly think the us unit system is STUPID
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
07-26-2008, 10:51 PM
#8
Senior Members
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bucharest, Romania
Posts: 6,458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by i<3e60' post='633402' date='Jul 27 2008, 08:24 AM
i honestly think the us unit system is STUPID
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
07-26-2008, 11:18 PM
#9
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: So. Cal (SFV)
Posts: 17,508
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
on
3 Posts
My Ride: 2011.5 Alpine White E90 M3 | Black Novillo Leather | Carbon Fiber Leather Trim | ZCP | ZP2 | M-DCT | Navigation | Moonroof | 6FL Mods: TMS 12.5mm spacers all around l Hawk HPS Brake Pads l OEM M3 Edition Grills l Paint Matched Side Gills l Key Hole D
Originally Posted by i<3e60' post='633402' date='Jul 26 2008, 10:24 PM
i honestly think the us unit system is STUPID
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
liters and centimeters are much more accurate and temp in C is easier than F, the only reason i use it is because i live here
now is your disdain because you are still being tested on these differences and conversions in school??
07-27-2008, 12:00 AM
#10
Senior Members
Britons need to feel special: hey, they are english, they are 20 km far from the rest of Europe!
Try to figure out if German and French people wanted the same, what a confusion!
I drove in UK for about 2000km and one of the things I understand is that the mile is too big! 1.6 km, too much: when you have to exit from the motorway you see 3/4 mile, 1/4 mile etc.. Here instead you have : 1 km, 500m, 250m .
Only the yard is acceptable.. It is a little meter.. 0.91 meter.
Inches are too big too, 2.5 cm .
Try to figure out if German and French people wanted the same, what a confusion!
I drove in UK for about 2000km and one of the things I understand is that the mile is too big! 1.6 km, too much: when you have to exit from the motorway you see 3/4 mile, 1/4 mile etc.. Here instead you have : 1 km, 500m, 250m .
Only the yard is acceptable.. It is a little meter.. 0.91 meter.
Inches are too big too, 2.5 cm .