M5 M6 De-Limit

[HoHoHo]

I drive to Berlin a couple of times a year (and o various parts of Germany more frequently) and would love to have the limiter removed on my F10 M5 - unfortunately it would make little difference as I tend to be in a 3.5T van......... to be able to stretch the M5's legs would be bloody brilliant and I'm very jealous

As a matter of interest, what tyre pressures/temps do you start with and have you looked to see if ether increase significantly at those speeds?

Edited by HoHoHo on Tuesday 22 April 07:51

[Palmball]

ab80 - PM sent

HoHoHo said:

I drive to Berlin a couple of times a year (in fact to various parts of Germany frequently) and would love to have the limiter removed on my F10 M5 - unfortunately it would make little difference as I tend to be in a 3.5T van......... to be able to stretch the M5's legs would be bloody brilliant and I'm very jealous

As a matter of interest, what tyre pressures/temps do you start with and have you looked to see if ether increase significantly at those speeds?

How frustrating that drive must be as the A2 seems made for the purpose of driving fast

Anyway, tyre pressures - yes, I had the tyre pressure screen showing a few times as I was also intrigued. Firstly, as part of the M Drivers pack you get a new tyre pressure sticker for the B Pillar (I know, it's nothing but excitement here ) as the tyres need to run with 2.9 bar/42psi (nearly 35% higher than normal) - I guess there's a lot of additional weight from the downforce. I think I'll revert to the normal 2.2 bar for the UK or I'll probably wear the middle of the tyres out too quickly,

At speed, the pressures reached about 3.1 bar and the temps reach around 35 degrees which was about 5 degrees higher than under normal driving on the day.

I've also now read about the track day that's included and I'm impressed - it's the 'M Intensive Training' package (they offer various, this is one of the better ones) which is over one and a half days with overnight stay provided. It's not in an M6 but I'll take the M4 that they provide There's a few tracks in Europe including the Nurburgring GP but I think I'll be doing the Sachsenring as the dates suit better and it's a bit different.

[Kawasicki]

Palmball said:

How frustrating that drive must be as the A2 seems made for the purpose of driving fast

Anyway, tyre pressures - yes, I had the tyre pressure screen showing a few times as I was also intrigued. Firstly, as part of the M Drivers pack you get a new tyre pressure sticker for the B Pillar (I know, it's nothing but excitement here ) as the tyres need to run with 2.9 bar/42psi (nearly 35% higher than normal) - I guess there's a lot of additional weight from the downforce. I think I'll revert to the normal 2.2 bar for the UK or I'll probably wear the middle of the tyres out too quickly,

At speed, the pressures reached about 3.1 bar and the temps reach around 35 degrees which was about 5 degrees higher than under normal driving on the day.

I've also now read about the track day that's included and I'm impressed - it's the 'M Intensive Training' package (they offer various, this is one of the better ones) which is over one and a half days with overnight stay provided. It's not in an M6 but I'll take the M4 that they provide There's a few tracks in Europe including the Nurburgring GP but I think I'll be doing the Sachsenring as the dates suit better and it's a bit different.

Tyre pressures are usually increased for continuous high speed running to keep the tyre cool by reducing flex. Most road cars will have lift rather than downforce. It is also likely that the 2.2 bar tyre pressure is a comfort setting and that running the 2.9 bar all the time will not really cause wear problems, though it might save a few pence on fuel.

[Palmball]

Kawasicki said:

Tyre pressures are usually increased for continuous high speed running to keep the tyre cool by reducing flex. Most road cars will have lift rather than downforce. It is also likely that the 2.2 bar tyre pressure is a comfort setting and that running the 2.9 bar all the time will not really cause wear problems, though it might save a few pence on fuel.

Thanks I also forgot about the economy angle Unlike other cars which can feel vastly different with such a large variance in tyre pressure, I can't actually feel much difference in ride quality with the M6 - probably because it's so damn heavy!

Fair point re downforce and in reality, I too would expect any road car to create lift - after all, it's not an F1 car or Ferrari/McLaren etc. However, almost without exception in any other car I've had, at high speed you can always feel the car marginally lose stability - the XKR-S was particularly bad for this above 160 (despite all the controversial aero that Jag added!) and my C63's the same above 170. The M6 felt nothing like that (at a much higher speed) so whilst it probably doesn't generate downforce, it certainly produces less lift than I'd have expected for what is, when all's said and done, a relatively 'normal' car.

Edited by Palmball on Tuesday 22 April 12:34

[Kawasicki]

Palmball said:

Kawasicki said:

Tyre pressures are usually increased for continuous high speed running to keep the tyre cool by reducing flex. Most road cars will have lift rather than downforce. It is also likely that the 2.2 bar tyre pressure is a comfort setting and that running the 2.9 bar all the time will not really cause wear problems, though it might save a few pence on fuel.

Thanks I also forgot about the economy angle Unlike other cars which can feel vastly different with such a large variance in tyre pressure, I can't actually feel much difference in ride quality with the M6 - probably because it's so damn heavy!

Fair point re downforce and in reality, I too would expect any road car to create lift - after all, it's not an F1 car or Ferrari/McLaren etc. However, almost without exception in any other car I've had, at high speed you can always feel the car marginally lose stability - the XKR-S was particularly bad for this above 160 (despite all the controversial area that Jag added!) and my C63's the same above 170. The M6 felt nothing like that (at a much higher speed) so whilst it probably doesn't generate downforce, it certainly produces less lift than I'd have expected for what is, when all's said and done, a relatively 'normal' car.

You're welcome!

I really enjoyed reading about your high speed exploits! I've done a fair bit of high speed driving in the past, I really enjoyed it too.

[ab80]

Thanks very much!

[rhysmoreton]

Well well,

Who thought the big bus would be so damn good at high speed, I'm ever so more impressed that it feels so much better at those sort of speeds over the C63 and SLS. Also the charts with the sprint speeds between 120-180.. Beautiful. I knew I liked BMW!

[manand38]

I've driven the autobahns many times, but find it difficult to get passed ~140mph before running into traffic.
Are you guys getting higher speeds driving in quiet periods?

[Palmball]

manand38 said:

I've driven the autobahns many times, but find it difficult to get passed ~140mph before running into traffic.
Are you guys getting higher speeds driving in quiet periods?

It was reasonably quite - around 9-11am on a saturday morning so nothing like rush hour. It would be pretty suicidal if there was a lot of traffic.

But the car didn't need a lot of space to get up to that speed, although it didn't half take up space when travelling at that speed. 140-150 was (relatively) a gentle cruise

[e46man]

Every time i go true germany we manage 150, even for long periods of time, long enough to burn lambda sensors. Saying this its usually after rush hour or just after 5pm, all germans are eager to get home and go as fast as cars can.
Think that everyone should experience Autohban, specially people who want lower speed limit here in UK.

[Palmball]

Agreed, it's liberating! Not sure those that want a lower speed limit would quite enjoy it like us though

Traffic in rush hour or road works means the autobahns barely flow any differently to the UK, but outside of these times (middle of the day and evenings work well for me) it's no problem getting a consistent 150+ for reasonably long periods of time.

[HoHoHo]

You should try driving back from Berlin (or wherever) in a 3.5T van on the Autobahn late at night.........

Lights approach from behind and it's not always easy to judge speed......

We've had one or two moments over the years when we've pulled out to overtake something going slower (we're always flat out at 95mph all the way home ) only to have the lights right on our tail having been a spec in the distance a minute or so ago :yikes

[Palmball]

HoHoHo said:

You should try driving back from Berlin (or wherever) in a 3.5T van on the Autobahn late at night.........

Lights approach from behind and it's not always easy to judge speed......

We've had one or two moments over the years when we've pulled out to overtake something going slower (we're always flat out at 95mph all the way home ) only to have the lights right on our tail having been a spec in the distance a minute or so ago :yikes

So it was YOU!!!

[HoHoHo]

Palmball said:

HoHoHo said:

You should try driving back from Berlin (or wherever) in a 3.5T van on the Autobahn late at night.........

Lights approach from behind and it's not always easy to judge speed......

We've had one or two moments over the years when we've pulled out to overtake something going slower (we're always flat out at 95mph all the way home ) only to have the lights right on our tail having been a spec in the distance a minute or so ago :yikes

So it was YOU!!!

Yep

[tdm34]

JMBMWM5 said:

Palmball said:

That'll be 202mph!

Thats quick, are the rear seats actually usable?, I ask as I may just go M6 next after this LCI M5 is a year or so old. Thanks and looking forward to your findings.

Just go for an Alpina B6 BiTurbo no limiter at all.....

Buchloe give it top end of 199mph, but they're famous for being quite conservative when it comes to the stats

http://www.thealpinaregister.com/cardetails.php?ca...

334kmph indicated!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceJIOitQ3Qc

[dreamerm6]

So any1 know of someone who has cracked the speed limiter yet?

[W8PMC]

dreamerm6 said:

So any1 know of someone who has cracked the speed limiter yet?

Yes.

http://www.dmsautomotive.com/performance-upgrades-...

Mention Paul Clarkson & they'll do you a deal

[papa j]

Hi,just purchased six month old m6 convertible with competition pack ,is that same as M pack ? Would like to remove limiter, could you please pass on details of dealer you used. Thanks.

[BRUNBERG]

Here you go

I ordered a UK spec E46 M3 from them in 2001 when there were big savings to be had in Europe.

http://www.kohl.de/pkw/filialen-betriebe/aachen/

[RichardM5]

papa j said:

Hi,just purchased six month old m6 convertible with competition pack ,is that same as M pack ? Would like to remove limiter, could you please pass on details of dealer you used. Thanks.

No.

Competition Pack gives slightly more HP at the top end, quicker rack, adjusted suspension etc.

M Drivers Pack raises the speed limiter to 310kph (192.5mph) and includes a track day, that's about it. M Drivers Pack is not available in the UK, but European dealers can retrofit it to a UK spec car.