What is the governed top speed?

[Tourbillon]

I thought it was 155 mph, but I hit 162mph and let off. Wonder if it would have gone higher?

[RPiM5]

It is 155mph. I also hit 162mph.

In the E60 M5 it was also 155mph, yet I was able to hit 171 in that one, but we all know that the speedo is off in that car.

I am interested in seeing what it will be once the limited is removed on a stock F10 M5.

I hope to be the first to find out.

[emmfive]

Thats interesting, the limiter on mine was set at 270kmph. Digital speedo on the instrument cluster showed 270kmph, heads up display showed 167mph.

[AGS]

Originally Posted by Tourbillon

I thought it was 155 mph, but I hit 162mph and let off. Wonder if it would have gone higher?

Originally Posted by RPiM5

It is 155mph. I also hit 162mph.

In the E60 M5 it was also 155mph, yet I was able to hit 171 in that one, but we all know that the speedo is off in that car.

There are 2 issues at play here. First, all of the German manufacturers (at least BMW, Merc, Audi) have an agreement to electronically limit top speed of their cars across comprable models. You are correct, for the M5 its 155. The speedo will always read higher than your actual speed because BMW has designed it that way. It is my understanding this is because there are stiff fines in Germany if an automaker's speedos consistently read below the actual speed. The formula is something like 5% + 3 mph. So at the electronicly limited actual speed of 155, your speedo could read 166 +/-.

This applies at lower speeds as well. So if you're on a road with a 40 mph speed limit and the guy behind you is tailgating, it's because he pissed you're only going 36 mph.

[emmfive]

Originally Posted by AGS

There are 2 issues at play here. First, all of the German manufacturers (at least BMW, Merc, Audi) have an agreement to electronically limit top speed of their cars across comprable models. You are correct, for the M5 its 155. The speedo will always read higher than your actual speed because BMW has designed it that way. It is my understanding this is because there are stiff fines in Germany if an automaker's speedos consistently read below the actual speed. The formula is something like 5% + 3 mph. So at the electronicly limited actual speed of 155, your speedo could read 166 +/-.

This applies at lower speeds as well. So if you're on a road with a 40 mph speed limit and the guy behind you is tailgating, it's because he pissed you're only going 36 mph.

Argh. How incredibly stupid. Now I remember my 545i had the same issue.

[puffysheep]

I also had similar experience on Autobahn when I was there for the ED.

Governed speed is supposed to be 155mph but I was able to go up to 164mph!

It kept on gaining more speed until I let go because I thought something was wrong and didn't want to push my car too much during break-in period.

Did anyone have similar experience?

I hope BMW doesn't fix this bug with an update when I bring my car in for a service.

[Virr]

My BMW dealer told me that this is due to the fact that if you encounter an Audi or a Merc of rang on the Autobahn, you will be able to hit 270 km/h (169 mph) for a few seconds and then it will reduce the speed back to 250 (155), just to be able to get ahead.

Sounds a bit childish imho, but then again, knowing how we men work - it all makes good sence..

[M-bitious]

No it goes to an indicated 168 mph and stays there in 5th, 6th and 7th gear. But it is not a real 155 mph limit. In my previous E60 M5 it hit an indicated 168mph and gps speed was 162 mph. You will find that cars like a 330i will actually be limited to 155mph. For some reason the M6 and M5 are allowed to go a bit faster. Although the M3 E92 that I had was limited at an indicated 178 mph. That was weird.

[johntomferg]

So when we are doing break-in and they want us to keep the car below 105 mph is those standard MPHs or BMW MPHs?

[Rotorocious]

FYI
This correction can be turned off via coding to show true speed on both instruments.
Then it's just about gps accurate

[Tourbillon]

The highest I was able to go was 164mph. Need speed governor removed!

[auaq]

Originally Posted by AGS

There are 2 issues at play here. First, all of the German manufacturers (at least BMW, Merc, Audi) have an agreement to electronically limit top speed of their cars across comprable models. You are correct, for the M5 its 155. The speedo will always read higher than your actual speed because BMW has designed it that way. It is my understanding this is because there are stiff fines in Germany if an automaker's speedos consistently read below the actual speed. The formula is something like 5% + 3 mph. So at the electronicly limited actual speed of 155, your speedo could read 166 +/-.

This applies at lower speeds as well. So if you're on a road with a 40 mph speed limit and the guy behind you is tailgating, it's because he pissed you're only going 36 mph.

No wonder I don't get any sort of attention from the cops when I am doing something like 75 in a 65, whereas soccer moms are .... I'm afraid unfortunate .... as I have seen them getting tickets in their odyssey.