Ok, before anyone starts telling me how stupid I am for driving so fast, let me just say you're absolutely right. But sometimes, on an open stretch of road, when someone else throws down the gauntlet, it's hard to resist.

Anyway, driving on the interstate the other day, a guy in a previous generation 735i (I'm guessing early-mid 90s) kept passing me and slowing down, passing me and slowing down, passing me and slowing down...you get the picture. I had the cruise set on 80 and everytime he would slow down, I'd have to cancel and reset. That really annoys me. So, I finally decided I had had enough. Unfortunately, when I started to make my run, I was already going 85 and I couldn't shift down to 3rd (damn 4th fear thing!). Still, I was ever so slightly pulling away from the 735 but couldn't really shake him. I got up to about 135 and traffic was coming up so I shut it down. He got caught is behind some other cars so I reset my cruise and thought that was that. About 5 mins later, I see him coming up behind me again. This time I put it in 3rd and just waited for him. He came up slow at first but when he got about 2 car lengths behind me, I saw his car squat down indicating he had punched it. Trap set and sprung! I floored it and he never got any closer. I quickly left him in the dust. I'm sure he was thinking "WTF! But last time I... How'd he... But... Damn". I slowed way down after I dusted him to let him catch up so I could just give him a friendly wave. But he just stayed way back and would have nothing more to do with me.

I don't know if this kill was really any better than the guy in his 85 GTI (performance wise) since I don't know much about the older 735s but it sure felt better beating a much more expensive car. It was also nice surprising him like that the second round.

 

735i are inline 6 cylinder 3.5 liters.

208 bhp only.

They are not that fast.

It was an expensive car, but it is not anymore, since it is so old.
I mean, I don't see the 735i as high class car. The 740i is another story...

 

I agree completely -- not fast, not high class (any more) but it was expensive, that's what I meant. If you've seen any of my other posts, I've mentioned that I'm always getting challenges from old Hondas or VWs. It was nice to have a BMW, any BMW, step up to the plate.

 

Even if the 735 has only that much hp, it is rear wheel drive, and probably geared nicely. Plus, how much does the TLS have at the wheels? 200?
One question, though... you said: "Unfortunately, when I started to make my run, I was already going 85 and I couldn't shift down to 3rd (damn 4th fear thing!)." Do you mean you couldn't shift to 2nd? You should be able to shift to 3rd even at 100. You should of just had it in the brackets, D4-D3, VROOM.

 

Hmmmm......forgot about that. I always shifted using SS mode, but 3rd gear tops at 100 so I would be waaaay too chicken to manually pop it in D3 if I'm already going 110. I'm not sure, but in manual tranny's it physically wont let you, I wonder if shifting it through the brackets would act the same way.

 

Sometimes i shift D4.. worst cases were neutral and accelerate.. WTF

 

I already had it in SS. I don't know about anyone elses TLS, but if I'm already going 85 or more, it won't shift down into 3rd. "3" just blinks and it stays in 4th. Same thing if I'm in D5 -- over 85 it only shifts down to 4th. I would have shifted down to D3 but once "it's on" with another car, it's too late to shift from SS to D3. Below 85, it will shift into 3rd from SS or D5 and take off like a rocket on up to 100 or whatever. Next time I will prepare better but I always try SS first without looking at my speed.

 

Great story, but don't drive your Type-S with cruise on .

 

For some reason, bimmers never look as classic as benz's do when they get older... You see, the craftsmanship of a benz is far more superior than bmw... They just look out of style and act like it too after 5 years or so...Shyne

 

Redlined--Hey good going! Still practice makes perfect and every race improves your technique. QuickRick