BMW M Power

MoBo

MoBo

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Just a quick question......

Why does BMW M Power devision limit there cars to 155mph?

Whats the point of a car - take the new M3, that is seriously quick (Chris Harris Autocar) but you can reach the limiter on the 5th and 6th gear [and probably 3rd and 4th]

yes I know its a pointless comment given that the speed limit is 70mph :rolleyes:
 
Isnt it something to do with the Autobahn or something? .... Or some kind of government guidelines that makes german manufacturers do that.

Most ECU remaps get rid of the limiter anyways, so i doubt its a problem for the minute fraction of people who have the balls to take their cars up to that speed.
 
If the manufacturers don't put speed limiters on, governments would eventually do it and they would probably set the limits lower.

Also new high performance vehicles are getting cheaper and that means more and more people without common sense are able to purchase them.
 
its a gentlemans agreement, just like the 280PS rule from Japan.

although porsche doesnt keep to it, just the larger manufacturers.

as said a remap gets rid of it normally, and certain cars get a higher limiter on special request etc. M3 CSL, AMG black series.

you wont be hitting the 155 limiter in 3rd or 4th in any M power car though!

even the Corvette Z06 i test drove, with its long gearing, would have difficulty doing 155 in 4th!
:)
 
Well what about the chassis, suspension, brakes, tyres etc? are they capable of withstanding speeds of up to 200mph? (what the m3 can apparently do unlimited).

Also, wouldn't they be way out of the price range that they're at now if they were unlimited, as everything would have to be upgraded? (maybe not the chassis but certainly tyres and suspension.)
 
Originally it was set because cars were getting the power to go well over 155mph but while it's quite easy to power a car up to go faster than that, getting it to handle stop safely and in control from that sort of speed is quite difficult. By limiting the car to 155 you can use a 150mph chassis rather than a 200mph chassis, conventional brake components and tyres that don't have to be able to take 200mph.

justinwilkin said:
Also, wouldn't they be way out of the price range that they're at now if they were unlimited, as everything would have to be upgraded? (maybe not the chassis but certainly tyres and suspension.)
Click to expand...
Yes, everything gets seriously more expensive :D
 
justinwilkin said:
Well what about the chassis, suspension, brakes, tyres etc? are they capable of withstanding speeds of up to 200mph? (what the m3 can apparently do unlimited).

Also, wouldn't they be way out of the price range that they're at now if they were unlimited, as everything would have to be upgraded? (maybe not the chassis but certainly tyres and suspension.)
Click to expand...

the M3 will not do 200mph delimited.

not even the new one. it needs another 100bhp still really.
 
I really don't think the 155mph limit is much of a problem, you're unlikely to see more than that sort of speed on most racetracks, about the only place it matters is the autobahn, but everything moves very quickly as you start to get up to silly speeds, I wouldn't want to cruise at 160-170mph because it would take a serious level of concentration to do it safely, even on the autobahn.

Plus as speeds rise, as Johnny has said, costs increase massively.
 
The E46 M3 has a hidden menu which seems to allow you to take the restrictor and set it yourself IE the highest it goes is 185mph.

There was a recent top gear were clarkson said they had to restrict a certain car because if they let it do the top speed (some 200mph) the price would double as they would need better brakes better tyres and better design lol..
 
Dolph said:
I really don't think the 155mph limit is much of a problem, you're unlikely to see more than that sort of speed on most racetracks, about the only place it matters is the autobahn, but everything moves very quickly as you start to get up to silly speeds, I wouldn't want to cruise at 160-170mph because it would take a serious level of concentration to do it safely, even on the autobahn.

Plus as speeds rise, as Johnny has said, costs increase massively.
Click to expand...

Yup. I agree heavily. I have driven at pretty high speeds, not quite 155 though. The concentration required for distances covering miles is draining, and it may have just been me but having to be on edge constantly started to un-nerve me a bit.
 
I like the limiter as it means I can accurately say that the top speed of an M6 is infact the same as the top speed of my car :D
 
[TW]Fox;11014896 said:
I like the limiter as it means I can accurately say that the top speed of an M6 is infact the same as the top speed of my car :D
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erm nope :) if the M6 drops it one gear it goes past the 155 limit :) it's only when it's in top gear that the limit is in effect...
 
Tomsk said:
If the manufacturers don't put speed limiters on, governments would eventually do it and they would probably set the limits lower.

Also new high performance vehicles are getting cheaper and that means more and more people without common sense are able to purchase them.
Click to expand...
Rich people are automatically granted common sense now?

Not the case unfortunatley.
 
Dolph said:
I really don't think the 155mph limit is much of a problem, you're unlikely to see more than that sort of speed on most racetracks, about the only place it matters is the autobahn, but everything moves very quickly as you start to get up to silly speeds, I wouldn't want to cruise at 160-170mph because it would take a serious level of concentration to do it safely, even on the autobahn.

Plus as speeds rise, as Johnny has said, costs increase massively.
Click to expand...
And tiring, although to be fair you get used to it and it becomes second nature, remember driving for the first time?
 
[TW]Fox;11014896 said:
I like the limiter as it means I can accurately say that the top speed of an M6 is infact the same as the top speed of my car :D
Click to expand...
your delimited speed is 155.0000000000001mph though :p
 
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