top speed problem
 

hello guys, i am new to x cars, I've just bought my first e53 2003 x5 3.0i 5-speed automatic European . and i am surprised that it couldn't go more than 200 kph, i don't know, maybe there is a speed limiter or governor that has to be removed, or some sort of tuning is required, i know that 200 is good enough but there are really long roads in my country and really annoying drivers also.
i will appreciate any help, thanks.

Annoying drivers and long roads is not a good enough reason to drive to the point u r risking your life and the life of others. Be responsible and enjoy ur ride.

Don't know if it is governed or not... This seems to indicate 202 KPH is all you will get...

BMW X5 3.0i, 2001 E53 technical specifications & information 86262

??? Just how fast do you think a vehicle with large frontal area (2.7 M Sq) and average co-efficent of drag (.35) can go when it only has 228 HP and 221 ft lbs of torque to push all that air out of the way? The top speed is around 120 mph on the 3 L X5 and you got there.

Jeez let him do whatever he wants.

But anyways my 4.4i Tops out at 210kmh but thats because its LIMITED because its the NON-SPORT model. The 4.4i Sport doesnt have a limiter on it, or well at least its not at 210kmh. Ive even done that going downhill and it didnt go more than 210.

The standard OE tires on all 4.4 Sport Pkg X5s thru the '02 model year required a speed limiter set to 127 mph. For the '03 model year, BMW fitted V Speed rated tires to the base Sport Pkg wheels, this allowed them to remove the limiter and allows for a top speed around 145 mph (I've seen 147 mph on GPS, speedo was around 153 mph).

Shoulda Brought a V8.

+1

In normal everyday driving of a 5000 lb vehicle, you are driving with torque, not hp. The 4.4L V8 has OVER 50% more torque then the 3.L I6.

Yeah i learned that on here a while back. i was wondering if there was any way to code it out or remove it or code the car to think its the sport version.

The e53's hefty curb weight and the meager power in the 3.0 model would make it about my last choice for doing 200+, much less expecting any more from it. :dunno:

I would post this in the tech section of the forum to see if anyone has done it. I would think it's been done.

Just be sure you roll at least V rated rubber, catastrophic tire failure at over 100 mph is no fun!

I find this really funny that 125 mph is not fast enough for a v6.

I6, not V6.

6 cylinder...

In a single row;)

still a 6 cylinder :)

Dinancars offers software to allow the engine to rev 240 more rpms and removes the governor. They also offer a high flow throttle body and a K&N air filter to get the most out of the add-ons. Be prepared, it is costly. There may be other sources closer to home that offer those products that I don't know about that would save you some $$$. I don't know if Dinan exports.
In U.S Dinan products are installed by the dealer or by approved independent shops.

Get a Shark Injector (remove the limiter). I've had my '89 325i and '92 325i up to 140mph (speedo reading)... The E46 and X5 both felt like they had more room to go around 125mph.

Keep it stock, drive it for what it is...or sell it and get a v8 if you focus on power and top speed.......my 2cents!

Edit: oh! and btw , slower drivers ( normal ones) should be annoyed with you for speeding and making it a goal to do so...no offense.

???:confused: I think you may be watching your "Fast 'N Furious" DVDs too often.

I've seen over 140 mph in the X, over 180 mph in the ZR1 and over 190 mph in the Viper on numerous outings and not even once blown by another car. The "speed kills" catchphrase that's accepted as fact in this country is total BS. Radically different vehicle speed on public roads kills (like the crap hollywood spews out ad-nausium, cars driving thru traffic at double and triple the average vehicle speed).

The Bayside bridge in Clearwater FL is a favorite of mine, arrow straight and 2.2 miles to the crest (top) from the airport side (clear view and long enough to the crest to get the Viper from 0 to 180 mph TWICE!!!). At 3am with no cars out, a top speed run is drama free, with a 70 mph approach I can see over 190 in the Viper and get it slowed down to 60 before cresting it.

With logic like that, I sure am glad you live as far away from me as you do.

Really couldn't care less about what someone thinks when they have "Swingin' Dix" in their avatar so I'm ok with that.

about 10-15 years ago, i drove a Renault Laguna, much lighter car, 4 cyl, i maxed out at 210 kmh, speedo reading, in Italy...

around same time frame, going from LA to Las Vegas in a big Caddy DeVille, big V-8, on those long dessert stretches, the car's power actually was cut at 105 MPH, as if i press the gas, and somebody threw the gear in neutral... time after time... governor...

i took 4.6iS to 140 MPH, once, the car had enough power to keep on going (i think 4.6 and 4.8 along the 4.4 sports are limited around 155+, right?)... i backed down, because...

because to keep the right speed, regardless, if you are going 60 kmh, 100 kmh or 250 kmh, the road must be designed for the speed, the tires must be of correct rating, blah, blah, blah...

the roads in the US are designed around 90 MPH on the major highways, going faster, you will start to notice that those light up-down waves on the road become like rumble strips, the slight curvature to the left and to the right, becomes a slalom course and those stupid cars that are parked in the middle of the road, going measly 70 MPH... hahaha

So true, the bridge segments of the bayside bridge are crowned and cause a nasty up/down oscillation in the 120 to 140 mph range (would not do it without the 5 point harnesses in the Viper), over 140 the oscillation goes away, you need to accelerate thru it.

Hey guys,

I did not read all your comments. Sorry :-)
From my own expirience, since I have the opportunity to live near Germany where we have motorway parts without any speedlimit I can tell you that it is not really funny to run into the built in speedlimiter of your X5 (I have the 3.0d). That is really an annoying thing when you go 210 km/h and the speedlimiter cuts you off. That is done in a hard way. First time that happened I was thinking something is broken.

Have fun,

Helmuth

Yeah, +2 on the Shark Injector! Removes the top speed limit, allows rev limit @ 7k and takes out the lag in the fly-by-wire throttle, and frees up a few ponys when you need them. Best 300 bucks you can spend on your X in my opinion for a few reasons.

On the Bonneville Salt Flats, just goofing off, hit 140 before I lifted (Speedo indicted). The X5 did very well on the salt being X-drive and all. The I6 really comes alive in those upper RPM's and while wind resistance works against you, it still had more left in her, just not willing to push much more as the tires at a v-rating were approaching their limit. You can feel their true German heritage at Autobaun speeds.

To each their own I guess.

Read the crest closer cool guy. I clean up idiots like you off the road at least every other month. 190 (or so you claim) on highways is just plain idiotic. How does one avoid debris in the road at that speed at 3am with anemic halogen headlights? Hopefully it's just yourself that you destroy.

Here in Canada, at that speed, you lose your licence for a year, they take the car, and you pay $1k+....and i'm good with that, the road are just not designed for this... there is no autoban in America so flying at 100mph + with a SAV like an X5 "mini thank" is to me close to criminal. My 2 cents.

BOOM

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The OP lives in Libya (Muammar Gaddafi's old place)- From what I see on the news I would think that there would be numerous instances per week when he would want a vehicle that does warp speed.......

I've been on the autobarn numerous times and flogging along at close to the limit of the vehicle is not fun as shit happens really fast however I also haven't been to Libya.........

that is another good point to stick to the speed of the flow (+-10MPH) - most crashes in europe on their highways are fatal, the services scrape the whatever is left over off the pavement...

and, in addition to the road designs, the drivers in the US are not trained well enough to drive at fast rate of speed - have you seen somebody change the lane in front of coming vehicle in a weak attempt to overtake the car in front, just to create a rolling roadblock? turn signals are optional... left lane is for the speed limit cruisers - i have passed a great deal of traffic driving on the right while majority of traffic was stuck on the left... oh, yeah... there is a left exit... in about 35 miles... they need to be ready... lol...

driving super crazy fast somewhere in the dessert, where there is one car for miles and miles to see, might be a different experience, so maybe, somewhere in the middle east that limiter is an overkill... but... if you want to drive fast... and live in the country where the gas is cheaper than Coca-Cola - than you should have bought 4.8iS or an X5M...

I can read just fine, you're the idiot if you think an explanation of your occupation is necessary ("swingin' dix" still makes you the "cool guy" too:rofl:, sub-sophomoric avatar)

Even though the bridge is lit up like daylight I pre-run the bridge and double back for the high speed run. I also run tires 1 or 2 speed ratings over the top speeds of my vehicles (the X has W speed rated Hankook Ventus, 168 mph). If I pick up a nail in a tire it's replaced with a new tire also.

As for the "claimed" 190 mph, the Viper runs 186 mph right off the showroom floor, both the ZR1 and Viper have been to Henessey Motorsport and the Viper is currently at almost 700 hp (with the 120 shot). With a 50% increase in hp, speeds over 190 are effortless (thats in 5th gear too).

As stated in my prior post, I will, in fact, ONLY be taking myself out. The areas where I do high speed runs have a clear view and NO access ramps.