540 1/4 mile times

[Mike]

What's a 540 good for in 1/4 mile times? Trap speed? Does chip make any difference? I'm planning to do a motor swap to a m60b40, just saving up right now, and want to encourage myself by looking at 540 performance times :)

[tim]

I have the eat chip and it dropped about a sec from 13.5 to about 12.5.
It goes 0-60 in about 5.8.

[stan]

Sorry to pry, but are you saying that all you have is the chip with everything else stock?? I've never heard of a 540 turning that kind of 1/4 mile "stock" so I had to ask.

[Craig]

I gotta agree, a stock auto 540i is not going to run a 13.5 quarter mile time. Maybe low 15s, and I seriously doubt a chip will knock a full second off the time.

I assume you are just estimating, and have never been to a drag strip.

[bahnstormer]

lets see slips tim
i smell something funny in the air

[G Feller]

When I did research before I bought my car, I noted the fact that the straight-line performance of the 540 was nearly identical to that of any recent stock Mustang GT. I asume the 1/4 mile times for that car are more readily available than they are for the 540, but I think it's about 14.5 - 15 in stock form.

And yes, you will want Mark's chip, which may not make a 540 an M5, but it does bring out the predator in the car and is the biggest bang for the buck you can get. The chip rocks, but even so I doubt it will get the 1/4 mile much below 14 even.

Would be happy to see actual results if anyone has them.

Hell, even a little of Duey's "fun with numbers" might be worthwhile here. . . .



What's a 540 good for in 1/4 mile times? Trap speed? Does chip make any difference? I'm planning to do a motor swap to a m60b40, just saving up right now, and want to encourage myself by looking at 540 performance times :)

[scott540]

The times were listed in Car and Driver. I have the issue at home. If I remeber I look at it when I get home today.

[Craig]

When I did research before I bought my car, I noted the fact that the straight-line performance of the 540 was nearly identical to that of any recent stock Mustang GT. I asume the 1/4 mile times for that car are more readily available than they are for the 540, but I think it's about 14.5 - 15 in stock form.


Coming from the world of Mustangs (just sold my track-whore '96 Cobra) that's about where most of them run. The 1999+ cars got a bit more power and they will just kiss high 13's with the right driver. I'd be more curious to see what trap speeds are on the 540i, as this can tell you a bit more about the potential of the car and is less affected by driver skill (or lack of).

I'd also like to see some dyno numbers for the chips, both before and after. One thing I've noticed is that most of my Mustang friends run to the dyno after just about every mod they make, that doesn't seem to be the case in the world of BMWs.

[DueyT]

I'm looking for the link I had to a very accurate 1/4mi calculator that I have used in the past. It included all sorts of input including gear ratios, roll out times, shift points, shift latency, frontal area/Cdrag/etc... and tourque figures for the engine throughout its power band. It worked out very accurate numbers (around +/- 0.05 sec), I'll pass the link when I find it.

My gut feel (without using the G-Tech right now, winters on steelies not great for hook-up) is that a 540 is going to pull mid-14's...chipped, maybe low 14's. I can't see it doing much better than that, since my 400+HP Charger was running 13.2's-13.3's in the mid to high 100's.

I think that with Jeff being the local 1/4mi guru, he may be able to provide more input.


Cheers,
Duey

[Craig]

Well, for reference my 283rwhp (approx 335 flywheel hp) 3400 pound Mustang was good for 13.6 at 104mph. That's with a 5 speed. A 540i is heavier, makes less power and with an auto is going to be even slower.

I can believe 14's, but not 12's.

[tim]

Hey,

Just got back to the computer and i see everyone calling ******** on me. It's been awhile since i've done it so I'll double check to see if my memory is wearing rose colored glasses.

It's been awhile, but my 1/4 mi spot is on the way home, so...

I have made other mods, but nothing that would get me over, say 350hp.

As to the slushbox- with mark's chip in s4 mode I doubt a non-professional driver could do much better 0-60 or 0-100. Go ahead and flame me!

T

[G Feller]

I can only remember seeing slips on this board a couple of times (at least one by Pat P.) - it's true that 1/4 mile times aren't too high on our list of concerns.

Duey estimates hp with the chip at about 305, and we are at about 3700lbs in a 540 manual (I think the auto is a bit heavier).

What other mods do you have that could get you close to 350hp? I want some of that action!

[tim]

Nothing big. Injectors. Exhaust. I think duey's est. of the increase from the chip is low, but I don't have a dyno or anything. I'm seeing a seat of the pants increase of about 10-15% That would get you to about 325 without anything else. Non scientifically, I'm guessing my car is doing about 330-340.

I don't really care about times that much, but I'll be honest and post my number tomorrow even if I have to eat crow.

[DrewZ]

What injectors & exhaust do you have? If a chip, injectors & exhaust can get me 50+ hp . . .

Drew Zacharda
6-speed Touring
http://members.aol.com/apzjd/newavatar.jpg (http://www.bmwe34.net/ASP/DURegistry/RegDetail.asp?id=100)



Nothing big. Injectors. Exhaust. I think duey's est. of the increase from the chip is low, but I don't have a dyno or anything. I'm seeing a seat of the pants increase of about 10-15% That would get you to about 325 without anything else. Non scientifically, I'm guessing my car is doing about 330-340.

I don't really care about times that much, but I'll be honest and post my number tomorrow even if I have to eat crow.

[DueyT]

Nothing big. Injectors. Exhaust. I think duey's est. of the increase from the chip is low, but I don't have a dyno or anything. I'm seeing a seat of the pants increase of about 10-15% That would get you to about 325 without anything else. Non scientifically, I'm guessing my car is doing about 330-340.

I don't really care about times that much, but I'll be honest and post my number tomorrow even if I have to eat crow.
Actually Tim, now that you mention it, I'm going to come clean... ;) I think Mark's M60B40 chip give more than 25hp but I didn't want any of the narrow-grill crowd giving me grief about over-inflating the HP until I had a chance to dyno the car and get a hard number. I only treated the G-Tech numbers I had as ball park figures. I also know that I've batted 100% against a friend's 340 HP supercharged Jag XJ-R; granted he has a slush-box and he's ~300 heavier, but we're not talking all that close either (at least 4 lengths at 60 on the track and still opening.) Oh yeah, and I consistently forget to turn of ASC+T when I'm doing it... :)

I hope Mark gets that dyno software and we can get some real figures some time!

I wonder what this thing would be like with a 3.46 in the rear?

Cheers,
Duey

[scott540]

Car and driver 4/95- 540 six speed 14.3 1/4 mile 5.7 0-60
Don't have the automatic numbers
I've got the original BMW brochure on it somewhre around here. Haven't seen it since we moved

Mustang GT SVO 14.2
Mustang GT 14.9

[Craig]

I think Mark's M60B40 chip give more than 25hp but I didn't want any of the narrow-grill crowd giving me grief about over-inflating the HP until I had a chance to dyno the car and get a hard number.


:D

Being new to the E34 world, that's the first I've heard of that term.

I'd be curious as well, I tend to fall on the skeptical side of things like chips and unfortunately dyno pulls tend to be few and far between with BMW folks. Mine had a Bav Auto chip when I bought it so I have no comparison to make with the stock setup, but more than 15hp out of changing some fuel and timing maps seems like a bit of a stretch to me. I'd like to be wrong about it of course...but I don't think I am. :)

[DrewZ]

Car and driver 4/95- 540 six speed 14.3 1/4 mile 5.7 0-60
Don't have the automatic numbers
I've got the original BMW brochure on it somewhre around here. Haven't seen it since we moved

Mustang GT SVO 14.2
Mustang GT 14.9

[Matt]

I think it would take a lot more than 340 hp to get to a 12.5 quarter. Are you sure your 1/4 mile stretch isn't downhill? My 6-speed Camaro (stock) is about 340 hp at the flywheel, 300 at the wheels, and I have run 13.6@105 in the 1/4 (at the same place C&D tests theres actually). It is about 5.2 0-60, and weighs maybe 3300-3400 lbs.

I remember seeing the 6-speed 540i was about 5.7 0-60, the auto was about a second slower. I don't think there is any way adding only 50 or so hp will make up 1.5 seconds 0-60. (I have a 540iA, so I can make a good comparison.)

-Matt

[MikeV]

Car magazine 1/4 mile tests... keep in mind that these guys don't have to drive the car home and commute in for the next 6 years.... my feet just won't obey when I want to push one of my cars that hard. :p

[DrewZ]

while supposedly putting out 650hp and weighing only 2800lbs.

C/D article on fast 540s (http://www.kindel.com/bmw/fast_fives.pdf)

The article also lists the 6-speed 540i Sport at 14.4 in the 1/4 & 0-60 in 5.8


I think it would take a lot more than 340 hp to get to a 12.5 quarter. Are you sure your 1/4 mile stretch isn't downhill? My 6-speed Camaro (stock) is about 340 hp at the flywheel, 300 at the wheels, and I have run 13.6@105 in the 1/4 (at the same place C&D tests theres actually). It is about 5.2 0-60, and weighs maybe 3300-3400 lbs.

I remember seeing the 6-speed 540i was about 5.7 0-60, the auto was about a second slower. I don't think there is any way adding only 50 or so hp will make up 1.5 seconds 0-60. (I have a 540iA, so I can make a good comparison.)

-Matt

[MikeV]

I think it would take a lot more than 340 hp to get to a 12.5 quarter.


Gotta agree with this one, although I find it hard to meaningfully compare peak HP from engine to engine. But the only people I know that run 12.5s or better have a power-to-weight ratio of substantially better than 1 crank HP per 10lbs -- more like 1.3-1.4

[Mitch90535im]

Not quiet as quick as this...


http://www.bimmer.info/bmw/mitch90535im/70%20::Cuda.jpg

[Mike]

Awesome! A 530 with a 4 liter should be pretty badass then!

[G Feller]

;)

This thread has been most amusing.


Awesome! A 530 with a 4 liter should be pretty badass then!

[scott540]

Thanks Drew. I was looking for that article al afternoon. I forgot it was on Kindell's site.

[632 Regal]

if you put a 4 litre in a 530 its still a 530, so all things being equal the 530 has a faster power to weight ratio than a 540.

Now if i find an old 530 donar car that is in need of a transplant and slight improvements to keep it from twisting into a barber pole I could insert 10.35 litres and have some impressive 0-60 times even though it would be slightly heavier than it's original 3 litre counterpart. Shoot it would probably even be able to hit 160 mph with the wind behind it and have some real passing power.

Doubt it would last the 300-400K that its original counterpart would.

:D

[tim]

1/4 mile update:

Wouldja believe 14.6? OK so I was off by a coupla measley seconds, sheesh.

6 on the 0-60.

One thing I thought about viz. the C&D times. You think they did their auto tests in sports mode? I have a hard time believing an extra second on a 0-60. I had to back off a tad to keep from redlining. Maybe they did it in "D".

Anyway, there's my crow breakfast.

[G Feller]

Of course we're all happy to know we're right and appreciate your honesty. I don't suspect those two seconds make your 540 any less worthwhile. You obviously enjoy it.

Cheers.


1/4 mile update:

Wouldja believe 14.6? OK so I was off by a coupla measley seconds, sheesh.

6 on the 0-60.

One thing I thought about viz. the C&D times. You think they did their auto tests in sports mode? I have a hard time believing an extra second on a 0-60. I had to back off a tad to keep from redlining. Maybe they did it in "D".

Anyway, there's my crow breakfast.

[tim]

Thanks G,

I'm an old timer anyway, so the whole exercise was a bit of a goof anyway, what with my wife in the passenger seat saying ready, set, go...

This is my 6th bmw, but by far the fastest, so I indulge a bit.

The best high speed sedan I ever had, blows the doors off my 2001 e320.

One thing that few people mention about this car: how good the mileage is at high speed.

Tim

[Craig]

Anyway, there's my crow breakfast.

It takes a big man to say something like that Tim. 14.6 is still damn fast for a big sedan, especially back in 1995.

Anyhow, your car is still faster than mine so feel free to make any "I'll see you in my mirror" comments you like. :D

[G Feller]

It takes a big man to say something like that Tim. 14.6 is still damn fast for a big sedan, especially back in 1995.

Anyhow, your car is still faster than mine so feel free to make any "I'll see you in my mirror" comments you like. :D

[Bill R.]

say that I am extremely skeptical about 14.6 also.... In the real world on a dragstrip not at sea level with ideal temps I would say that you would be luck to run a 15.50 with a 540 ia on street tires and someone who doesn't dragrace at a track frequently... I see so many overblown hyped out horsepower numbers, et numbers and top speed numbers on various sites.
Its like Pat P had said before, show me the et slip, thats the only real indicator. Its the same hype with dyno's, no 2 read the same numbers, calibrations vary considerably from unit to unit. Readings change from day to day , temp to temp. Its very hard to reproduce the same conditions on a dyno to see what changes a part makes unless you do them all right then , same day , same time, same engine temps, warmup period , fuels, barometer pressures. etc.










1/4 mile update:

Wouldja believe 14.6? OK so I was off by a coupla measley seconds, sheesh.

6 on the 0-60.

One thing I thought about viz. the C&D times. You think they did their auto tests in sports mode? I have a hard time believing an extra second on a 0-60. I had to back off a tad to keep from redlining. Maybe they did it in "D".

Anyway, there's my crow breakfast.

[DueyT]

Thanks G,

I'm an old timer anyway, so the whole exercise was a bit of a goof anyway, what with my wife in the passenger seat saying ready, set, go...

This is my 6th bmw, but by far the fastest, so I indulge a bit.

The best high speed sedan I ever had, blows the doors off my 2001 e320.

One thing that few people mention about this car: how good the mileage is at high speed.

Tim
Funny you mention that, Tim! I find that I get my best mileage at around 140-150 kmh (85-90mph), about 8.5 L/100km (28.2 US mpg) by tank-topping/distance method (OBC not too far off, either.) I think that 2.93 in back really helps....just a shade over 2000 at 60 mph, and a nice responsive 3000 at 90! :)

Cheers,
Duey