[delvek]

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

That is so true. The level of discipline and loyalty to the system is astonishing, even to a dutchman (and close neighbor).

In the case of my encounter with the stalled car in the left lane, the driver had run several hundred meters "upstream" of the Autobahn to warn onrushing traffic with hand signals.

Respect.

The other thing that makes it work is the design of the german Autobahn. The requirements (lane width, camber, curvature etc.) specifically accommodate high speed runs.
By the way, at the BMW M driver training at the Ring I did last year, the instructor reminded everyone that in wet conditions, left hand turns at high speed, in the left lane are notoriously dangerous for aquaplaning. But not right hand turns (while running in the left lane). That's because of the camber, water is running to the inner curve.

How did you like that training? I was thinking about taking a class.

[Gran Turismo]

I might report back in a few months, after my ordered Alpina B5 has arrived and the engine has been broken in.

(hit the speed limiter several times with the 650i across the Rhine river, HUD displayed 260kph)

[EdM5]

Originally Posted by delvek

How did you like that training? I was thinking about taking a class.

It was an awesome experience. In the morning you're in class (in the M Division test center next to the ring) discussing all sorts of technical concepts. Next you get an introduction to basic driving skills like cornering, braking, oversteer/understeer, seating position etc.
My group had a lot of experienced drivers, all BMW enthusiasts with some serious machines (M3's, M5's, X6M, even a vintage E39 540i, and my rather modest e92 335d).
Finally it was of to the Ring where we got the chance to do 4 laps (all in M3 e92's) behind the instructor in his pace car e90 M3.
Conditions were very wet and the track was tricky. I really think that if you don't know the Ring by heart, the pace car idea is a must. The track is that challenging.

All the hard work is recorded by 2 onboard camera's and you get the USB stick with the video to take home with you.

As a "Zugabe" you can board the M5 E60 Ringtaxi as a passenger to enjoy the skills from the instructor / test engineer himself. Very humbling experience

The training was a gift from my wife so I'm not sure but I think it costs about 600-700 EUR.

[delvek]

I have heard similar stories, very enjoyably by anyone who has spoken about it.

[amateurish]

Are any of these speeds GPS verified? Does anyone know how accurate the speedometer is?

[delvek]

I found GPS to be unreliable. I dont use GPS in my BMW of course, I have navigation, but, I have in other cars and at high speeds they are inconsistent.

Put a whole lot more faith in BMW speedo then a tom tom, what say you?

[amateurish]

I'm not sure I would put more faith in the speedo - manufacturers are entitled by EU law to have speedos that overread by up to 10% I believe. Most cars I've been in overread by a substantial amount.

I would hope that BMW was more accurate, but have not compared to a GPS myself.

[delvek]

10% is substantial are you sure about that? Mine is a US spec 550i I would have a hard time believing the same allowance is permitted in the States.

[amateurish]

I'm not sure of the US rules. The EU rule is as follows:

The difference between the indicated speed (V1) and true speed (V2) must not be greater tha V2/10 + 4 kmh. V2 must never be greater than V1.

So an indicated 160kmh could legitimately be 142kmh true.

[delvek]

Originally Posted by Vinfast

Just curious, what RPM is the engine running at 160mph?

When you asked I was curious, was running about 160mph today and eyeballed the rpm at about 4800rpm in sport+ mode.

[Vinfast]

Yes, and you aren't even in 8th gear. It would probably drop to 3500-3800 if you were in 8th gear. I usually stay in sport mode with only the suspension activated for better gas mileage, and use the sport+ for spirited driving.

[delvek]

I think your right on the 8th gear rpm's, I am going to try it and see. Its incredible how drastic the disposition of 550 changes between sport+ and sport (suspension only).

[RCUK]

Mine sort of topped out at 143mph ... GPS verified.

Not bad for a 2.0d ...

(and before the Health and Safety brigade come out - it was done on a german autobahn and not in the UK!!)

Felt pretty stable though... was impressed by that.

[imposss]

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by gunship guy

Sorry to get off topic, I live in the US and abide by all posted traffic laws...

But, I am a pilot and have to slow down to 190mph (165KTS) in order to lower my gear for landing...

When you fly for a living thrills on the ground just don't do it for me anymore...but I have tasted the sweet thrill of the autobon and can say that it is better to have loved and lost then to never have loved at all...

When you fly for fun you dream of flying an aircraft with more than about two-thirds the power of your BMW

[gunship guy]

Originally Posted by kaishang

When you fly for fun you dream of flying an aircraft with more than about two-thirds the power of your BMW

Even though I get paid to fly I still wish I could afford to fly privately and make it worthwile. But I have alot of fun flying for a living anyway. BTW, I fly the C-130 which has 4 turbo props rated at 19,600 lbs Tq and 5,000 Hp each, but the thing is a pig weighing up to 155K Lbs full of gas and ammo. Speed wise I am lucky to break 250 knots sometimes, but it is still alot of fun and the only way to travel (except the 5 of course ).

Off topic again...what are you flying around in?

[dhirm5]

Originally Posted by EdwinF10

...In the case of my encounter with the stalled car in the left lane, the driver had run several hundred meters "upstream" of the Autobahn to warn onrushing traffic with hand signals...

It's difficult to imagine that this fellow couldn't have pulled off onto the shoulder or at least to the right lane when he felt his car failing. Having trouble garnering respect or sympathy for him.

When I come across this level of incompetency - the level which threatens my and other's lives due to the random misfortune to share the road w him/her that day - it just pisses me off. F him and his old busted pos which stalled in the left lane.

[m3prep101]

165....but it was on my e46 m3 and it was in the middle of the night going south on I95

I would have gone faster but hit the limit on my car and it pinned the needle twice then I let my foot off the gas. Felt amazing. Took my seatbelt off at 120+mph figured if I crashed at that speed the seatbelt wasnt going to make a difference anyways

[kaishang]

Originally Posted by gunship guy

Even though I get paid to fly I still wish I could afford to fly privately and make it worthwile. But I have alot of fun flying for a living anyway. BTW, I fly the C-130 which has 4 turbo props rated at 19,600 lbs Tq and 5,000 Hp each, but the thing is a pig weighing up to 155K Lbs full of gas and ammo. Speed wise I am lucky to break 250 knots sometimes, but it is still alot of fun and the only way to travel (except the 5 of course ).

Off topic again...what are you flying around in?

Piper Warrior. 160hp, pistons and not even fuel-injection!

[wardawg26]

155 on Autobahn A6 the car felt smooth and comfortable, just got back to the states and the fastest I have driven is 120 mph; the roads here in the states are not on PAR with the Autobahn; and the curves here on US expressways is not design in my opinion for high speed.

[EBRSKIH]

160-165..was surprised it could go beyond the claimed 155mph limit, they probably meant 155mph GPS verified and not 155mph on odometer. And 175 in my brothers M5. Will try again once I get it tuned

[kenhamm]

142 MPH on the AutoBahn, was past the break-in period, during my ED vacation last summer. Lots of power left, solid and way fun.