Crazy BMW speedo error

[AzNMpower32]

It's been discussed over on BF. Some people have mentioned safety regulations in Germany, others have mentioned the effect of larger wheels (like on sport pack or accessory) on the speedo. Get used to it. Analog gauges all end up grossly inaccurate the faster you go.

The error on my X3 is about 3%, and it's even more off on my '96 ES. The only dead accurate one is the digital one in my mom's Civic. But you get very funky numbers on the digital speedo when you wheelspin (once it went from 15 to 61mph in a split second).

[Bigfoot]

The speedo error on my 2001 X5 3.0 non-sport was a 5% exaggeration.

The speedo error on my 2005 X5 4.4 non-sport is less than 1%.

It is a good idea to know what your X5 is really doing.

[cmyX6go]

Originally Posted by rayxi

BMW just wants to make sure they are in no way liable for your speeding tickets.

Ultimately, they are responsible. I can't drive her and not kick it!


Can you make this thing go faster.....

Thanks Jon

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

Can you make this thing go faster.....

+1. Look at my custom user title!

[rayxi]

Originally Posted by cmyX5go

Ultimately, they are responsible. I can't drive her and not kick it!

The right foot's connected to the leg bone, the leg bone's connected to the ... ultimately you are responsible!

[X5Sport]

In the UK, all car speedos have to be tested at 30mph and must fall within a margin of +10% +/-2mph and must not under read.

It's the main reason why our speed traps are set at 10% +2mph, so on the freeway you should not get caught unless the speed exceeds 79mph - unless a traffic officer determines that you were driving too fast for the conditions in the area at that time.

When I worked for a Police Force, all of our traffic cars had speedos calibrated to +/-2% at all speeds so that they could be used to give supporting evidence in court.

On a previous car I had a speedo change and had to get the dealer to recalibrate the speedo to get it much more accurate.

The other thing of course is that the odometer may also be out - so you may have driven 000's of miles (or km) less than the instruments actually indicate - strange no one ever comments on that little gem.

[buschy]

Originally Posted by X5Sport

The other thing of course is that the odometer may also be out - so you may have driven 000's of miles (or km) less than the instruments actually indicate - strange no one ever comments on that little gem.

The paper stated that within this 10% + 2.4mph, the odometer will reamain effected since its digital and not in reference to the speedometer, therefore the milage will be accurate, and that is my main concern with the speedo being out of wack.
STill does not make any sense to me, my other vehicles, toyota, honda, nissan, etc have been to the T on acuracy, asside form on truck with different size tires.

as for police "traps" here in US there is no 10% stuff, if your noticed going fast, then the radar is used to confirm(does not matter how fast, can be 1 mph over) then you can get pulled and cited. also our police cars here were calibrated dead on, and also used in court if you paced someone. Here is you used a calibrated speedo and it was calibrated +- 2mph it would not be admissable in court to my knowledge.

[Bill K]

All speedometers have an error rate. At certain speeds the error is higher than at others. By law they must calibrate speedometer error rates to err on the side of being slower than what's being displayed.

[buschy]

HAving an error rating is not a super big deal, but 10% plus 2.4mph, is crazy, have I said that before?

[X5Flyboy]

tire wear also affects the resulting speed error - my '06 was originally just about dead on - now at almost 22,000 miles, I'm showing that typical -5% error?!?