CRD SD6 Top speed

[Bill300C]

During a recent German autobahn drive (Cannonball8000 2007), I got the car to absolute max speed, (recorded on a Garmin), which I think is very accurate.
My car, with 30,000 miles on clock, SD6 chip, and 22" x 9.5" wheels, achieved an absolute max of 140mph.
It went up to 135 quite easily, after that is was a struggle.
Incidentally, with the 22" wheels up the gearing a bit, and I do think it may go faster on standard 18" wheels & tyres.
Overall fuel consumption over 4000 brisk miles was 31.5mpg.

[300C-CRD]

140mph-that's over 230km/hr...How's the car behaved at such high speed? I have a tunning box fitted, the shop technician adviced me to have a temp guage fitted to check the Turbo temperature as more fuel is pumped through, more heat is generated. Did you notice any engine temperature increases? (Guess the engine temperature guage doesn't monitor any temperature difference in the turbo unit.) Over 30 mpg which not bad at all, especially at such high speed. I am green with envy, no chance for me to have the experience travelling over 230 km/hr without loosing my license. Have to put it down in my list of things to do in a life time but for now please tell us all about it.

[Bill300C]

Engine temp is totally unaffected, gauge always sits a tad below half way mark.
Car handles and drives very well at this speed, capable of a lot more.
I used to have a XJS 3.6, and at 130mph it was a bit strained. The CRD is much better compared to this, it can sit at 130mph comfortably and quietly all day.
I am quite impressed with it's high speed ability.
Also very happy with 22" wheels, rides and handles very well, as if it were designed for them.

[devilmaycare]

Impressive performance, Bill. I take it that reliability was also OK. I don't know what diesel fuel quality is like on the Continent - is there a choice, like in the UK? I believe that in France, all diesel is a biodiesel mix. Is that correct? I'm still looking for any evidence supporting the use of premium fuels, eg BP Ultimate. In last week's Sunday Times In Gear supplement (Car Clinic), it was stated that: "the BMW 330 handbook quotes 221bhp when running on 95 octane petrol but 231bhp on 98 octane fuel, thanks to complex engine management electronics that adjust automatically to the fuel being used". I can see how this might be achieved in a petrol engine, by advancing the ignition until just before "knocking", but I thought this was common practice anyway. I wonder if your SD6 chip (or even the stock chip) is capable of exploiting fuel quality in a similar way?

[acesrt]

Is premium over there 95oct?
and Ultimate 98 oct?

In New Jersey Premium is usually 93 and Ultra(ultimate) is 94

The BMW maual requires 95 in Europe?

Is this due to different elevation/atmospheric pressure (than the US)?

Or does the EU spec car have a higher compression ratio (than US spec)?

Originally Posted by devilmaycare

Impressive performance, Bill. I take it that reliability was also OK. I don't know what diesel fuel quality is like on the Continent - is there a choice, like in the UK? I believe that in France, all diesel is a biodiesel mix. Is that correct? I'm still looking for any evidence supporting the use of premium fuels, eg BP Ultimate. In last week's Sunday Times In Gear supplement (Car Clinic), it was stated that: "the BMW 330 handbook quotes 221bhp when running on 95 octane petrol but 231bhp on 98 octane fuel, thanks to complex engine management electronics that adjust automatically to the fuel being used". I can see how this might be achieved in a petrol engine, by advancing the ignition until just before "knocking", but I thought this was common practice anyway. I wonder if your SD6 chip (or even the stock chip) is capable of exploiting fuel quality in a similar way?

[Bill300C]

Diesel quality on the Continent is superior to UK. There is always a choice of "Super" diesel, such as Shell V Power, BP Ultimate etc. On filling up abroad, I immediately noticed a 2mpg improvement, and better performance.
I also regularly use Millers Diesel sport additive, which increases the Cetane no. of the fuel and makes a noticeable improvement.

[devilmaycare]

From what you're saying Bill, it looks as if there are benefits to be obtained in using premium fuel. Perhaps the SD6 chip has something to do with your experience. As premium diesel already has enhanced Cetane rating, I wonder whether further additives can make much difference. I was using BP Ultimate exclusively for about 10 months and was pleased with mpg and performance, but lately I haven't been fussy about fuel type; mpg doesn't seem to have changed significantly, but I think performance has suffered slightly - or it could just be my imagination. A bit like a clean car driving better than a dirty one!

[Just]

Originally Posted by acesrt

Is premium over there 95oct?
and Ultimate 98 oct?

In New Jersey Premium is usually 93 and Ultra(ultimate) is 94

The BMW maual requires 95 in Europe?

Is this due to different elevation/atmospheric pressure (than the US)?

Or does the EU spec car have a higher compression ratio (than US spec)?

Don't forget that the measurement of octane is different in the US from Europe:

Octane rating - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Bill300C]

Also take into account that any car does benefit from a good, long fast run. My garage also swears by the fact that all diesels run better if they are worked hard all the time, stating that any engines who spend their time being ***** footed around town, never perform as well as the hammered counterpart.

[300C-CRD]

An "Italian tune-up" on German autobahn, very nice indeed, good for the soul and the car.