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In Reply to: Re: I Disagree completely...My '86 is solid past 1 posted by Bob on January 28, 2002 at 00:13:24:
If you're still running on TRXs...God help you. They were ok back in the 80s, but nowadays with who knows how many miles and what age people have on them, and with the better technology out there, it's best to get new tires.
Second, TIRE PRESSURE. This has a GREAT effect on stability. 2 psi can be the difference between feeling the rear end coming loose on the front straight kink at VIR at 100mph, and it staying planted at 105. Yes, it's that large a difference. Check your manufacturer's suggested tire pressure, and your owner's manuals (even though that's for TRXs) and see what they say for high speed driving.
Third, alignment. I run 225s in front and 245s in the rear, and it does not tramline period. Only unless I'm on one section of my local 2 lane strip mall lined highway that's been mashed with 2-3" deep trails, only there does it tramline. However, when I had it aligned once, the car came out like crap. The front tires practically had no toe-in. It was wandering all over the place. Went back to my local shop that I trust, had them do it right, and it runs beautifully. The front has as much toe-in as the factory specs allow, and it rides perfectly. True, it wears just a bit more than right in the middle of the spec, but it's stable at over 120mph.
And I've had the car at 120mph with stock suspension, and after some modifications. Again, with the correct tires, inflation, and most importantly, alignment, it is more than save at 120, and that's stock. That's what these cars were designed to do! They were designed to go 120+ on the autobahns all day long! You don't need super-mods, just the right specs, and un-worn suspension components. And all bets are off if you have a worn component in the suspension. And it is well known that with worn suspension bushings these cars feel even more unstable at high speeds.
Hope this helps.
Chris Graff.
P.S. Aerodynamically, I found that the M-tech makes a discernable difference in stability at triple digit speeds, compared to stock 535i without spoilers. How much? Couldn't tell you. Give me a wind tunnel, though, and I'd go nuts. :-)
Mark,
Sounds like we need to get together and swap cars for a couple of hours down here in the south County of Thuston (with a picnic somewhere along the route) on a nice summer's day. Lots of nice roads toward Rainier and St. Helens. No crazy driving, just a comparison and learning experience. Maybe I can "go to school" on your suspension and like my car even more! Imitation is the kindest form of flattery, after all.
Stable is a subjective quality, of course.
I am not saying the e28 is UNstable, just that it (mine at least) is LESS stable than some other cars I've driven (some from Japan and Germany that would suprise many folks and probably get me flamed).
What is interesting is that stability and tossability are opposite ends of the spectrum. A perfect gymkhana car can feel darty, tail happy, and a handful at speed, and a land speed record car would be awful on a slalom.
I guess that's why I love the e28 for twisties at moderate speed-because its tossable (NOT tail happy, however). Yet, it is stable even at extra legal speeds (mine up to 120 at least).
I hope we DO have a W. WA. e28 get-together somewhere when the weather improves to where I take mine out. It's become something of a garage queen in nasty weather.
Bob
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