View Poll Results: s your E60's handling completely satisfactory to you?
Voters: 101. You may not vote on this poll
Who agrees with the following from Car & Driver:
#21
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I have non-run flats and noticed high speed instability from the first day, especially in the wind. My E39 was better. Now, however, I've replaced the dreadful Continental tires with Goodyears and its much improved. Wish I had had these tires from the start.
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Originally Posted by Wilchwitz' post='508824' date='Dec 20 2007, 11:25 AM
I have non-run flats and noticed high speed instability from the first day, especially in the wind. My E39 was better. Now, however, I've replaced the dreadful Continental tires with Goodyears and its much improved. Wish I had had these tires from the start.
#23
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Originally Posted by F_Porsche' post='508851' date='Dec 20 2007, 02:07 PM
So all you had to do is change the tires?
This is a purely subjective conclusion. My car is un-modified with standard suspension but I think the tire change improved the high speed handling.
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Originally Posted by 550isport' post='502656' date='Dec 4 2007, 05:37 PM
On the subject of active roll suspension, Car and Driver wrote:
"Once the car is bent into a turn, confidence builds, but when traveling in a straight line, the 535i nervously feints after every irregularity in the road. Placing the car near the outside stripe on the pavement takes more faith than it should. This, of course, is a problem present in all 5-series models, regardless of engine choice."
I for one think E60s, particularly those with ARS, are not up to BMW sport package standards. My old non-sport 3.0 X5 offered a tighter ride with more precise handling.
What do you say?
"Once the car is bent into a turn, confidence builds, but when traveling in a straight line, the 535i nervously feints after every irregularity in the road. Placing the car near the outside stripe on the pavement takes more faith than it should. This, of course, is a problem present in all 5-series models, regardless of engine choice."
I for one think E60s, particularly those with ARS, are not up to BMW sport package standards. My old non-sport 3.0 X5 offered a tighter ride with more precise handling.
What do you say?
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Originally Posted by 550isport' post='502656' date='Dec 4 2007, 05:37 PM
On the subject of active roll suspension, Car and Driver wrote:
"Once the car is bent into a turn, confidence builds, but when traveling in a straight line, the 535i nervously feints after every irregularity in the road. Placing the car near the outside stripe on the pavement takes more faith than it should. This, of course, is a problem present in all 5-series models, regardless of engine choice."
I for one think E60s, particularly those with ARS, are not up to BMW sport package standards. My old non-sport 3.0 X5 offered a tighter ride with more precise handling.
What do you say?
"Once the car is bent into a turn, confidence builds, but when traveling in a straight line, the 535i nervously feints after every irregularity in the road. Placing the car near the outside stripe on the pavement takes more faith than it should. This, of course, is a problem present in all 5-series models, regardless of engine choice."
I for one think E60s, particularly those with ARS, are not up to BMW sport package standards. My old non-sport 3.0 X5 offered a tighter ride with more precise handling.
What do you say?
#27
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Compared to the E39, the 550i seems less stable at speed, particularly in cross winds. I wonder if its an aerodynamics thing instead of tires. I think the Conti (non-RFTs) tramline less than the Michelin PS2s. The Goodyear F1s also were less (better) if I recall.
Overall, I am very pleased with the ride/handling of the 550i but the high speed stability could be better.
Overall, I am very pleased with the ride/handling of the 550i but the high speed stability could be better.
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The problem with Car and Driver is that they always want to project an American car as the overall winner. From the past decades their own tests proved 5 was the overall best sedan in its category.
Since the design is changed and not so traditional anymore, C&D took out its revenge.
This perticular article is talking about Active Steering. The author himself isnt educated on all packages the 5 comes with. AS is since I beleive 05 a non standard on Sport Packages.
And for you guys, calling a 535 "unstable" is totall non-sense. You think BMW would put a non-stable car on the market? lol
Since the design is changed and not so traditional anymore, C&D took out its revenge.
This perticular article is talking about Active Steering. The author himself isnt educated on all packages the 5 comes with. AS is since I beleive 05 a non standard on Sport Packages.
And for you guys, calling a 535 "unstable" is totall non-sense. You think BMW would put a non-stable car on the market? lol
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Originally Posted by jet190rs' post='502669' date='Dec 4 2007, 07:09 PM
at high speed in a straight line, it'd be nice if the E60 were as stable as the old E39.
#30
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A couple more comments:
1. The most stable car at speed I've owned (BY FAR) was a '91 3000GT VR-4. With active aero, AWD, rear wheel steering, etc, the car was incredible at high speeds (as solid at 140mph as at 70). It was also rock solid in any cross winds, thunder storms, etc. Even bad roads didn't disturb it. It felt literally glued to the road. Tram lining wasn't even an issue, although it only had 245 width tires. The '95 3000GT wasn't quite as good as the '91. A '99 540i wasn't as good as the '95. The '02 M5 wasn't as good as the '99. The '06 650i wasn't as good as the '02 M5. Finally the '08 550i seems better than the 650i but still is unsettled in cross winds.
I wonder as they try to make cars more aerodynamic, are they making them more succeptable to cross winds, etc.
The wider, lower profile tires certainly transfer more road irregularities into the body as well.
1. The most stable car at speed I've owned (BY FAR) was a '91 3000GT VR-4. With active aero, AWD, rear wheel steering, etc, the car was incredible at high speeds (as solid at 140mph as at 70). It was also rock solid in any cross winds, thunder storms, etc. Even bad roads didn't disturb it. It felt literally glued to the road. Tram lining wasn't even an issue, although it only had 245 width tires. The '95 3000GT wasn't quite as good as the '91. A '99 540i wasn't as good as the '95. The '02 M5 wasn't as good as the '99. The '06 650i wasn't as good as the '02 M5. Finally the '08 550i seems better than the 650i but still is unsettled in cross winds.
I wonder as they try to make cars more aerodynamic, are they making them more succeptable to cross winds, etc.
The wider, lower profile tires certainly transfer more road irregularities into the body as well.