BMW exaggerates speed

Rox335i · 06-17-2018, 12:05 PM

I heard back then that BMW and other German brands exaggerates their speeds. If the speedometer says i'm going 75 miles/120km, how fast am I really going?

Blubaron79 · 06-17-2018, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rox335i

I heard back then that BMW and other German brands exaggerates their speeds. If the speedometer says i'm going 75 miles/120km, how fast am I really going?

72

MrcsYcnth · 06-17-2018, 12:22 PM

Ive been using Waze for the past few days and the built in speedometer will say my speed is 72mph while my speedometer reads 75mph having cruise control set to 75mph

Billfitz · 06-17-2018, 12:39 PM

It's not limited to German cars. Most do the same.

anotheran · 06-17-2018, 12:48 PM

You can code it to give you an accurate speed

Elvisfan · 06-17-2018, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's not limited to German cars. Most do the same.

I think one of the reasons is to take them off the hook for liability in cases of speeding. I don’t think anyone purposely reads slower.

TK335iMSPT · 06-17-2018, 12:58 PM

I coded Mine to give an accurate speed but now my HUD displays the fake speed and the Tac displays the real speed.

HighlandPete · 06-17-2018, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billfitz

It's not limited to German cars. Most do the same.

Type approval in Europe is always going to mean speedo readings are higher than actual speed. Regulations translate into over reading of up to +110% of the actual speed + 6.25mph. Under reading -0 at any speed.

Manufacturers appear to err on the side of caution, something like a mid "+" tolerance, allowing for full tread depth.

HighlandPete · 06-17-2018, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

I think one of the reasons is to take them off the hook for liability in cases of speeding. I don’t think anyone purposely reads slower.

'Type Approval' regulations, it's as simple as that.

435MSport6Speed · 06-17-2018, 02:51 PM

Honda does it, too.

vooonoo · 06-17-2018, 03:16 PM

You gotta find a radar sign and try to get the high score

BEAR-AvHistory · 06-17-2018, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rox335i

I heard back then that BMW and other German brands exaggerates their speeds. If the speedometer says i'm going 75 miles/120km, how fast am I really going?

Agree knock about 3MPH off & you are good. If you want 1 for 1 code the car.

COKen · 06-17-2018, 05:24 PM

It will also depend on your tires. My summer tires are only about 1 mph off, but my winter tires are 3 mph off. Both sets are the same size but different brands.

ilivas · 06-17-2018, 05:44 PM

Different brand tires are different sizes. Some brands run taller than others.

eluded · 06-17-2018, 06:37 PM

Use a GPS tracking device on your phone to determine the differential.

I had a range rover who speedometer showed 8 km over actual speed.

COKen · 06-17-2018, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilivas

Different brand tires are different sizes. Some brands run taller than others.

Exactly my point.

Fuller · 06-17-2018, 09:55 PM

It's accurate give or take a couple mph/kph. It's close enough and not worth thinking about.

Somebloke · 06-18-2018, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuller

It's accurate give or take a couple mph/kph. It's close enough and not worth thinking about.

It is if you are subject to variable average speed cameras like here in the UK. I would set 52 mph on the cruise control, to stay within 50 mph limit.

Vulpe · 06-18-2018, 09:35 AM

I did noticed it is ~2 mph under what we are really doing.. Or at least measured in other places. I know I cruise control at certain speeds but when I watch my dashcam footage it tells my gps speed and in reality I am going slower.

Also a radar sign was put up near my work recently and versus my HUD it is still ~2 mph under what the radar says.

kern417 · 06-18-2018, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elvisfan

I think one of the reasons is to take them off the hook for liability in cases of speeding. I don’t think anyone purposely reads slower.

I think it's supposed to be like that, but my volkswagen jetta was the opposite. Got pulled over for it, and their radar read 2mph faster than I my speedo. Happened twice. Granted the difference was 17 over vs 15 over so no real saving grace on my end, but still. Also happened to a friend of mine with a GTI.

After I got a radar detector, I set it to display my gps speed whenever it got a warning so I could use that for reference on how much I needed to slow down, if any.

Quote:

Originally Posted by COKen

It will also depend on your tires. My summer tires are only about 1 mph off, but my winter tires are 3 mph off. Both sets are the same size but different brands.

despite my comment above, the one thing my vw did do right is have a "snow tire mode." again, not an exact science, but it adjusted the speedometer reading under the assumption that your snow tires are smaller. probably based on the OEM snow tire package that they offered.

kern417 · 06-18-2018, 10:02 AM

What's really funny is how much road rage is caused by this. Because one person is at the front of the line thinking they're going the speed limit, while the person behind them is pissed because their speedo shows 2-3mph below the limit. And both are probably going slower than the speed they think they're going.

tex2670 · 06-18-2018, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rox335i

I heard back then that BMW and other German brands exaggerates their speeds. If the speedometer says i'm going 75 miles/120km, how fast am I really going?

What does Waze tell you your speed is?

06-17-2018, 12:05 PM	#1
Rox335i First Lieutenant 142 Rep 379 Posts Drives: 14' 335i, 17' X6 35i Join Date: May 2017 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	BMW exaggerates speed I heard back then that BMW and other German brands exaggerates their speeds. If the speedometer says i'm going 75 miles/120km, how fast am I really going?
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06-17-2018, 12:22 PM	#3
MrcsYcnth Private 17 Rep 50 Posts Drives: 2015 328i xDrive Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: NYC \| Philadelphia iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 328i xDrive [0.00]	Ive been using Waze for the past few days and the built in speedometer will say my speed is 72mph while my speedometer reads 75mph having cruise control set to 75mph __________________ 2015 BMW 328i xDrive (f30) - Black Sapphire Metallic Luxury Line
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06-17-2018, 12:39 PM	#4
Billfitz Lieutenant General 8243 Rep 16,079 Posts Drives: '15 328iX GT Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: New Hampshire iTrader: (0)	It's not limited to German cars. Most do the same.
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06-17-2018, 12:48 PM	#5
anotheran Sedan Driver 389 Rep 1,018 Posts Drives: A nice car Join Date: May 2016 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	You can code it to give you an accurate speed __________________ Slapping on M Performance parts, ZHP, badges, and stickers does not ///M car make ZCP \| ZHP \| ZTR \| ZE0 \| MSport \| ZMP \| DHP \| MStickerPack \| THP \| MPPSK \| MPPK BMW MSP Lightweight Jacket \| DTM Motorsport Team Cap\| BMW M Drift Cat 5 \| BMW M Thermo Mug
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06-17-2018, 12:58 PM	#7
TK335iMSPT Lieutenant 299 Rep 479 Posts Drives: F30 335ixdrive M Sport Join Date: Jul 2017 Location: North Jersey iTrader: (3)	I coded Mine to give an accurate speed but now my HUD displays the fake speed and the Tac displays the real speed.
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06-17-2018, 02:51 PM	#10
435MSport6Speed Captain 432 Rep 814 Posts Drives: 435i M Sport 6 Speed Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	Honda does it, too.
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06-17-2018, 03:16 PM	#11
vooonoo ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 537 Rep 1,000 Posts Drives: f30 328 Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: nj iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 f30 328i [0.00]	You gotta find a radar sign and try to get the high score
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06-17-2018, 05:24 PM	#13
COKen Lieutenant Colonel 981 Rep 1,560 Posts Drives: M Rster / Z4 M40i / X5 M50i Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	It will also depend on your tires. My summer tires are only about 1 mph off, but my winter tires are 3 mph off. Both sets are the same size but different brands. __________________ 2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, HT, TC Kline DA Shocks & Camber Plates, w/H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C. Looking for new home. 2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Driver Asst Pkg, Prem Pkg 2023 X5 M50i, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.
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06-17-2018, 05:44 PM	#14
ilivas First Lieutenant 80 Rep 307 Posts Drives: 428 Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Different brand tires are different sizes. Some brands run taller than others.
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06-17-2018, 06:37 PM	#15
eluded 2JZ-GTE 3032 Rep 3,992 Posts Drives: 340 6MT, 50e, others Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Sofia iTrader: (0)	Use a GPS tracking device on your phone to determine the differential. I had a range rover who speedometer showed 8 km over actual speed. __________________ A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.
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06-17-2018, 09:55 PM	#17
Fuller Major 1217 Rep 1,290 Posts Drives: F36 435i Join Date: May 2017 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	It's accurate give or take a couple mph/kph. It's close enough and not worth thinking about.
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06-18-2018, 09:35 AM	#19
Vulpe First Lieutenant 280 Rep 391 Posts Drives: F87 M2C Join Date: Aug 2017 Location: Hawaii iTrader: (0) Garage List 2020 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00]	I did noticed it is ~2 mph under what we are really doing.. Or at least measured in other places. I know I cruise control at certain speeds but when I watch my dashcam footage it tells my gps speed and in reality I am going slower. Also a radar sign was put up near my work recently and versus my HUD it is still ~2 mph under what the radar says. __________________ Past: 2011 Acqua Minerale Blue Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Past: 2017 Alpine White 440i F32 Current: 2020 Long Beach Blue M2 Competition PC Build: 5950x/6900xt
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