schwarzwagen

hey Improviz,

I just got home from watching the game, Lakers rule! AND, got a ride in my buddy's new SL55, hmm that's a pretty nice little ride.

So, I dug out some gearing stuff for you to look at:

740i/iL:

1st gear; 3.57:1
2nd gear; 2.20:1
3rd gear; 1.51:1
4th gear; 1.00:1
5th gear; 0.80:1
diff: 2.93 (or 3.15 w/sport pak all we know really is that the car soviet raced had the sport wheels)

S500:
1st gear; 3.68:1
2nd gear; 2.25:1
3rd gear; 1.44:1
4th gear; 1.00:1
diff: 2.65

Improviz

Yeah, gearing is a bit more agressive in the 7, which coupled with the 5-speed should give it a definite edge. The only way the 500 would be able to kill it (assuming there wasn't something wrong with the Bimmer, or he was running it on 87 octane) was with a big weight penalty.... So, I guess the main question is: were the 7-series' passengers skinny like your friends, or fat like mine?

schwarzwagen

Hey Improviz,

Your friends aren't fat they're just big boned! :p

Improviz

I'll get after them to get to a gym!

schwarzwagen

yeah, tell them that some random guy on the internet, that knows too much about cars, said they were "above average" in size... That'll go over real well...

Next thing I know, there is this knock on the door and...

gumsie

This is a really old thread but it's good man. This has to be one of the funniest threads I have ever come across. I mean seriously I must have laughed out loud at least 10 times.
Listen guys, what you need to do are real world tests, one thing I found out back in the day that Mercedes Benz used to do their road testing two up with half a tank of gas and at the level of spec that they expected to sell most of. Should that be true, then is it not conceivable that slightly quicker times than those posted by the manufacturer can be realised?
Maybe Soviets car is in a low spec and his gas tank is empty to boot, even the tyre can have a significant effect on performance.
And who knows how BMW came by their figures, they may even have used a computer simulation, I bet they didn't use the same tyres or test track as Mercedes did, I don't know-and neither do you.

Get the actual cars side by side otherwise it's all lip service.

Like BMs, love Mercs, ecstatic about driving.

559EVO

Dam brought back from 2004, its funny cause the same post ****** are in this back then I still recognize now.

Jessica90

Damn, pretty old thread. I wish I was around that time lol.

I actually just sold my E38 740iL. IMO I think the 740 can beat the w140 S class. I think he was exaggerating that he was ahead of the 740 by 3 car lengths. If he was in a W220 and beat an E38, it would make more sense.

MidniteBluBenz

An W140 S500 and a E38 would be a very close race. I'd say they would be even. The S-Class weighs more for sure, but it also has more HP and TQ. The most powerful 740's were '96 - '98 (assuming their engine evolution followed the 5-Series).