[Aronis]

I have read a few places that state the top speed limit is either 155 or 190? BMW's page. Other sources say the top speed limit is increased if you buy the M-Drivers Package - i.e. have a one day driving course with BMW. This seams a bit odd, as one day driving in a course like that is not going to make an average driver into some super driver! Nor will it be equivalent to 38 plus years of real driving experience?

Mike

[SpeedyDad]

It’s 155 (technically 163 according to Car&Driver’s test). If you add the M Drivers Package as an option for $2500 I believe, they remove the electronic limiter to allow the car to reach 189mph (according to BMW) and you get a 1 day M school pass which gets you about 7 hours of group instruction in M2, M3 and M4’s.

[walile]

Originally Posted by Aronis

I have read a few places that state the top speed limit is either 155 or 190? BMW's page. Other sources say the top speed limit is increased if you buy the M-Drivers Package - i.e. have a one day driving course with BMW. This seams a bit odd, as one day driving in a course like that is not going to make an average driver into some super driver! Nor will it be equivalent to 38 plus years of real driving experience?

Mike

Without the M-Driver's Package or the Competition Package, it is supposed to be at 155mph (249km/h). However, Car and Driver managed to hit 163mph (262km/h)

With the M-Driver's Package, it is supposed to be increased to 189.5mph (305km/h). Which happens to be 7200rpm in 6th gear at 304.8km/h.

The rather low speed limiter really bugs me, but I am unlikely to hit these speed even at the track anyways.

[SpeedyDad]

I’ve hit 160mph in a Z06 and it was plenty fast. I don’t think average people without significant track experience (more than simply a dozen track track days) should push a car beyond 150-160mph. 190mph would scare the s#it out of me and I’ve been tracking cars for 10 years.

[avi8tir]

Those living in Europe near the autobahn would likely disagree that 155 is fast enough!

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by SpeedyDad

I’ve hit 160mph in a Z06 and it was plenty fast. I don’t think average people without significant track experience (more than simply a dozen track track days) should push a car beyond 150-160mph. 190mph would scare the s#it out of me and I’ve been tracking cars for 10 years.

I’ll be by your house with your speeding ticket!

My RS6 did not have a limiter. Won’t admit to my top speed here but was being chased by a likely cat jacker back in 2005 with friend in passenger seat. The next day on our way home I stopped for oil filters and oil at an Audi dealer and my friend leased an A8 on the spot. He was calling out the speedo readings and was amazed.

No Jersey State Troopers to be found to save our asses but high speed got us back to the GW bridge safely.

So some one course wonders get a higher to speed but not a driver with 38 years experience????

That’s bullshit.

Mike

[DingolfingLove]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Those living in Europe near the autobahn would likely disagree that 155 is fast enough!

But even on an autobahn 155 is plenty fast enough as suddenly a beaten up Golf can stray into the fast lane without any warning & the derestricted sections, such as between Munich & the Nurburgring are busy and at best only allow very short blasts

[SpeedyDad]

Originally Posted by Aronis

I’ll be by your house with your speeding ticket!

Mike

race tracks do not have speed limits, Mike

[Fegelein]

I hit the limiter once in my then new '99 M3 in Montreal, was stuck @ 135

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by Fegelein

I hit the limiter once in my then new '99 M3 in Montreal, was stuck @ 135

Funny you should mention hitting the limiter. I had a 1994 325is with a Dinan chip, 25 hp not to much more power but NO top speed limiter. I was on the highway in CT next to a guy in the then new M3 (1995 it think) and he was waving at me as we approached 128 (top limit of the 325is), but alas I kept going and waved at him when he hit his limiter. LMAO. Early day's Dinan chips and mods, so he said ,"What the Hell" when he caught up with me at the toll booth.

Mike

[Fegelein]

Originally Posted by Aronis

Funny you should mention hitting the limiter. I had a 1994 325is with a Dinan chip, 25 hp not to much more power but NO top speed limiter. I was on the highway in CT next to a guy in the then new M3 (1995 it think) and he was waving at me as we approached 128 (top limit of the 325is), but alas I kept going and waved at him when he hit his limiter. LMAO. Early day's Dinan chips and mods, so he said ,"What the Hell" when he caught up with me at the toll booth.

Mike

Ha! What a throwback! My first BMW was a '96 318is! Since then, I had the '99 M3, '02 X5, '04 325is, went Benz ('08 CLK 550 AMG, '10 E550 AMG and '12 CLS 550 AMG). Then Benz got weak and eliminated the 550 V8 from the line up, so I said FU and went back to BMW, who was offering what I currently have. So glad it happened! Now I'm back in the family BIG TIME!

[jensputzier]

In Germany the speed on the car is limited to 250 km/h and if you buy the M drivers package the limit is 305 km/h. Note that this means the car is still limited to 305 km/h and not completely unlocked.

Practically the max speed is not 250 but you can reach 262 on the speedometer readout (which will be 250 in reality). But this speed can be reached with any diesel as well, so the slightly higher speed of 262 is not M5 specific.

And yes, in Germany 250 can be easily reached in places with low traffic and if you are super cautious. This is rare but e.g. I have a small connecting autobahn between two parallel autobahn. It is appr. 8 km long and you can easily reach 280 km/h or more. If you run into the limiter at 250 that would really suck. So the M drivers package is a no brainer in Germany.

For other countries I am not quite sure whether that makes sense.

[Fegelein]

Originally Posted by jensputzier

In Germany the speed on the car is limited to 250 km/h and if you buy the M drivers package the limit is 305 km/h. Note that this means the car is still limited to 305 km/h and not completely unlocked.

Practically the max speed is not 250 but you can reach 262 on the speedometer readout (which will be 250 in reality). But this speed can be reached with any diesel as well, so the slightly higher speed of 262 is not M5 specific.

And yes, in Germany 250 can be easily reached in places with low traffic and if you are super cautious. This is rare but e.g. I have a small connecting autobahn between two parallel autobahn. It is appr. 8 km long and you can easily reach 280 km/h or more. If you run into the limiter at 250 that would really suck. So the M drivers package is a no brainer in Germany.

For other countries I am not quite sure whether that makes sense.

Same in Italy (Autostrada), especially the south. I'm there almost annually to vacation and visit family, and you can really rip it in certain stretches.

[SpeedyDad]

If I lived in the EU, the Drivers Package to increase the limiter makes complete sense. In the US, 160mph is jail time on a public road and we don’t have many race tracks that have the room to go beyond 160mph.

[skyjunky]

Originally Posted by DingolfingLove

But even on an autobahn 155 is plenty fast enough as suddenly a beaten up Golf can stray into the fast lane without any warning & the derestricted sections, such as between Munich & the Nurburgring are busy and at best only allow very short blasts

That almost killed me back in the 90s.
Emergency stop in a 3 series from 130mph to 60mph, the golf’s speed, by the time I slowed down to match the speed I was less than a car length from hitting him.
Scared the shit out of me, I’m convinced the ABS saved me that day.

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by SpeedyDad

If I lived in the EU, the Drivers Package to increase the limiter makes complete sense. In the US, 160mph is jail time on a public road and we don’t have many race tracks that have the room to go beyond 160mph.

You're NO FUN!

Mike

[bryantmeyers]

I was racing an AMG merc and hit 163 mph in the U.S.
So that Car and Driver test was correct at 163 (at least 163 I should say).

[bryantmeyers]

Originally Posted by Aronis

You're NO FUN!

Mike

+1

[Aronis]

Originally Posted by bryantmeyers

I was racing an AMG merc and hit 163 mph in the U.S.
So that Car and Driver test was correct at 163 (at least 163 I should say).

Speedydad is going to yell at you!

Mike

[Wolfman64]

Originally Posted by avi8tir

Those living in Europe near the autobahn would likely disagree that 155 is fast enough!

No kidding. 130mph was our cruise control speed
When you have a small stretch of open highway you will go as fast as the car can go.
Sometimes when the traffic is right you can do this for hours. Good for the engine to run hot. Now after living in the US it’s a weird feeling passing a police car 60 mph faster than they go.

[GAM5OVR]

It’s 163mph from experience.. in Mexico.

[Aronis]

Thanks for updates. So I take it that 163 is a speedo over read and it's really 155. No big deal, just thought it odd that a one day driving course lets them open the top speed to higher levels. As though that course makes you a super driver. Does the Two Day course come with a light speed option?

Mike