How would my TL do against a 540i? I know that most people will say I'll lose, but by how much? If we run, I'll ask for 3 runs.

Dig: I predict he'll pull hard and fast right away due to Torque + RWD.

25mph Roll: I still think he'll pull, just not as much.

55mph Roll: Same as the 25 roll basically...

The 540i is stock I believe......the TL is pretty much stock too. I'll probably take some things out to lose a few pounds though before the race? What do you guys think?

How bad/well will the TL fare against the bavarian brute?

 

i'm sure some people will eventually comment with hard evidence ie 1/4 times, 0-60 specs, etc.. so take my thoughts with a grain of salt. i've messed around with ONE 540 before. standing against the auto 540, my 5AT TL had the following: comptech exhaust, fujita cai, 3.7 manifold spacer, j-pipe, pre-cats, test pipe, 60a imm, and ur pulley. when we came around a small 15 degree corner on an off ramp, i saw a cloud of smoke coming out of the 540's pipes, (so i'm assuming he was on it) and he pulled away...not with ease, but decently so. i was totally on the throttle, and we both had a single passenger. if we were side by side, i'd say a car's length. i know for a fact that we went wot at the same time, and as i mentioned...(he was a car in front of me), he put some space in between the two of us and changed lanes. ONE car length from about 40 to 85.
i'll leave you to assume the outcome vs a stock TL

 

Oh God. This will not end well.
LOL

 

I have personaly never raced a E39 540i. But from what I have seen from track experience and videos I think a stock 540i auto will take you from a dig no problem. From a roll it would be a better race but I think you would still get pulled on slowly. I raced my cousin in his E34 94 BMW 540i 5AT w/286hp and 300tq out of a 4.0L V8. Anyway those aren't to shabby either! I raced from a 2nd gear roll and from 0-60 and pulled but not by much! At the end at 60MPH he was at my rear 1/4 panel. From the 2nd gear roll and up to mid 3rd he was at my rear bumper. That was when I Just had intake. From a high roll that thing flew!

 

Damn and that wasn't even an E39. This car will destroy me..bavarian brute.

 

I actually raced an auto E39 540i when I owned my 2004 5AT TL.

My TL had:

CAI, J-pipe, ATLP Test Pipe, Comptech Exhaust, Pulley

We raced a from a 50mph roll and went to 100mph. We were dead even and shut down ...

I think it would be a waste of gas.

 

i beat a e39 540i i had I/H/E/P at that time though it was close race but yeah if your stock he will probably take you

 

BMW=Freight train on highway. I've driven a 6 speed 540i sport, I haven't seen redline hit so quick in any car I've ever driven.

 

Listen to erick3. He has an extensive experience losing to many cars! :-)
A 540 6MT is am easy high 13'sec car! An auto would be right round there w/ slower trap! You will lose w/ a good two CL's! Unless this guy's autotragic has some mechanical problems and shifts like every G37S driver :-) 540's are well known for having crappy auto's but renowned for their consistent throughout the power band torque! Hope this sheds some light!

 

Wow..lol. So much hate for Erick. I'm gonna' assume you guys know each other. hahaha

I'm sure he'll work me if we ever race, but I don't think he'll ever actually race me.

 

try racing him from a roll if you can

 

Oh for sure. Either 10mph/25mph/55mph/80mph.

 

maybe a 10mph roll in first gear and lighten your car a bit take out your back seats and spare tire and try to have less fuel in the tank like quarter tank (less weight) you might stand a better chance

 

Type-DM, your best bet would be from a low speed roll! The auto 540's have hella long gearing!
And yes, I know erick3 personally and love giving him crap

 

with a 6 speed do a roll around 30 to 80. you can be in 2nd till 60 and you will pull half a car.

 

Yeah, I think a 10mph roll is in order. I'll definitely do a little weight reduction too.

Low speed, I'm think 10mph...is that low enough?

I'm a 5AT man.

 

you do? lol if i THINK you're who you are, then f*$* you!

Don't forget that in first, your 5AT will shift automatically. @ 80, you're in a bad gear - 4th . I'd say about 50 roll in high 2nd. that way you have a chance to pull in high 2nd, and then some gearing to either keep up in 3rd.

 

Yeah fuck you 350Zimo...wait wut? lolz

It won't shift out of first if you keep it in "L". That's how I do all my low rolls. @80mph you're in 3rd gear right in the powerband. lol.

 

3rd at 80? really? hm...the memories are fading lol

 

What is the FD of an auto TL? The 540's FD is 3.23 which mesns extremely tall gearing resulting in a great top end but lousy 0-60 exacerbated by the weight of the full size sedan! Anyways, if you don't lose traction at 10 mph do it from that speed! Avoid higher speeds where weight would not play a significant role! 50mph, 60, 70 and so forth the 540 will walk you good!

 

Yeap, the FD of the TL is 4.10 meaning that the only chance you will have is from a low speed w/ all the traction you can get!

 

That's very depressing...it's ok Erick. I'll be the next you...fully bolted and all.
hahaha

Yeah, I'm thinking a 10-20 roll would be good.


Also, I'm gonna' assume FD stands for final drive. Can you explain the basics of gearing to me? I just wanna' know why the TL falls on it's face in 4th gear and if there's anyway we can change the gearing to fix that.

 

Yes, FD stands for a final drive! Shoreter the gears, easier a less torquey motor will overcome the weight of the vehicle! Usually, 1,2 and 3rd gear are geared in a close increment! Meaning that 1 may end in 35mph, 2 at 60 and 3rd at 80! However once you go onto 4th which is also an overdrive gear so is 5th, it is hard for your motor to get up to speed! It still accelerates but way slower!

 

Is there anyway to adjust the gearing?

 

^nope. just swap a 6 speed manual

 

Psh, I wish. lol. It's a lot more complicated with 3rd gens.

 

is it? with the 2g its pretty straight forward

 

It's really complicated with the 3G. IIRC, you need a 6MT motor, transmission, ECU and other little things here and there. All in all, it's smarter for someone to just trade-in or sell there 5AT and get a 6MT. At least that's as far as I know..

 

LOL!!!

I was laughing so hard when I read this.

 

You having a good time laughing by yourself?
Unfortunately though, he does share truth I suck at shifting

Getting better though

 

You will learn! They will create a special ed class for shifting pretty soon just for you

 

 

That is the drawback with FWD cars. On rwd cars you can pull the diff and swap the ring and the pinion. Your ony way is forced induction.

 

The 540i will blow the doors off your Auto TL at any speed, dig or roll no difference. The 540 will beat you even harder when you get to 4th gear.