Speed Limiter
Rookie
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Oklahoma
To be wanting to remove the speed limiter off a 2 ton 4 door luxury sedan so you can see what the top speed will be is a little on the nutty and or childish side in my opinion. 131 is plenty fast for this car, If you need more you have purchased the wrong vehicle.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Plus mark
+1 ... for same price (sticker) get a GSR and have at it. The LS is made for luxury cruising, not racetrack certification. 
Or, get a minivan, I've seen some doing easily close to 140..
Rookie
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 70
Likes: 1
From: MI
The tires are usually the reason for a speed-limiter, but sometimes the driveshaft can have a top speed, as well.
At some natural frequency point, the driveshaft could start bending/whipping, leading to a failure (breaks apart like a pencil)
At some natural frequency point, the driveshaft could start bending/whipping, leading to a failure (breaks apart like a pencil)
Last edited by MDEC; Jan 24, 2011 at 10:59 AM.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,512
Likes: 4
From: MI
The tires are usually the reason for a speed-limiter, but sometimes the driveshaft can have a top speed, as well.
At some natural frequency point, the driveshaft could start bending/whipping and crack.
But really, what's the point in wanting to see the ultimate top speed of your vehicle? (On a public road, no less )...It's just not cool.
At some natural frequency point, the driveshaft could start bending/whipping and crack.
But really, what's the point in wanting to see the ultimate top speed of your vehicle? (On a public road, no less )...It's just not cool.
Driver
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 163
Likes: 0
From: Netherlands
I fully agree with that.
The reserve this car has is enormous.
Even at our national speed limit the engine has about 2000 rev/min, so just cruising.
That certainly must also account for the longevity and quietness.
In this country the mounted tires have to be able to withstand the max speed the vehicle can reach. Since over here it is "limited" at 250 km/h, the tires have to be accordingly (and accordingly expensive, since the speed limit is much lower...).
Jac
The reserve this car has is enormous.
Even at our national speed limit the engine has about 2000 rev/min, so just cruising.
That certainly must also account for the longevity and quietness.
In this country the mounted tires have to be able to withstand the max speed the vehicle can reach. Since over here it is "limited" at 250 km/h, the tires have to be accordingly (and accordingly expensive, since the speed limit is much lower...).
Jac
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 282
Likes: 0
From: Germany
I fully agree with that.
The reserve this car has is enormous.
Even at our national speed limit the engine has about 2000 rev/min, so just cruising.
That certainly must also account for the longevity and quietness.
In this country the mounted tires have to be able to withstand the max speed the vehicle can reach. Since over here it is "limited" at 250 km/h, the tires have to be accordingly (and accordingly expensive, since the speed limit is much lower...).
Jac
The reserve this car has is enormous.
Even at our national speed limit the engine has about 2000 rev/min, so just cruising.
That certainly must also account for the longevity and quietness.
In this country the mounted tires have to be able to withstand the max speed the vehicle can reach. Since over here it is "limited" at 250 km/h, the tires have to be accordingly (and accordingly expensive, since the speed limit is much lower...).
Jac
Precisely at 259 km/h the speed is limited in the European versions. This is 5000 rpm on 18 '' wheels and consumption is 35 litre / 100 km. Normal tires such as Pirelli P-Zero can be used without any risk up to 300 km/h.
On 22's max speed is real 266 km/h limited by the small LS engine. B.t.w. wind noise above 240 is huge. Sounds like an open passenger door.
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: NJ
I did experience the wind noise phenomenon. I was sure the door would swing open. I am glad it was not my car alone. With the drag coefficient I was expecting better aerodynamics at speed.
It is nice to know the car can go very fast.
It is nice to know the car can go very fast.
The LS430 has no reserve. It is slower as the VW Phaeton 5l Diesel and much slower as a lot of BMW and Daimler.
Precisely at 259 km/h the speed is limited in the European versions. This is 5000 rpm on 18 '' wheels and consumption is 35 litre / 100 km. Normal tires such as Pirelli P-Zero can be used without any risk up to 300 km/h.
On 22's max speed is real 266 km/h limited by the small LS engine. B.t.w. wind noise above 240 is huge. Sounds like an open passenger door.
Precisely at 259 km/h the speed is limited in the European versions. This is 5000 rpm on 18 '' wheels and consumption is 35 litre / 100 km. Normal tires such as Pirelli P-Zero can be used without any risk up to 300 km/h.
On 22's max speed is real 266 km/h limited by the small LS engine. B.t.w. wind noise above 240 is huge. Sounds like an open passenger door.
Rookie
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 68
Likes: 0
From: MD
I've been 153mph in my auto 02 maxima with more to go as an auto... now going that fast is fun everytime i do it, but unless im on the highway at midnight or later where im by myself i wouldnt do it.... not to be terribly off topic but what do these cars dyno stock and with mods??? seems like its only right to speak performance if we're talking speed right... ive never really seen a US spec LS dynoed
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Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,875
Likes: 31
From: wi
My high speed driving, and I bet most others, is usually on the multilane divided freeway where I can see the very limited number of cars ahead and have paved shoulders to veer off onto IF I need it. Bump er up feel the power and slow er down. i drive the same road every day and know where cops are and it is safe. 100 is easy 125 or so she starts to sound a bit breezy.
Really does not seem that dangerous to me.
Really does not seem that dangerous to me.
Our highest speed limit here is 60mph so to me even driving above that is "dangerous" but yet everyone in this thread already does over our highest speed limit as cruising speed.
As for the OP the speed limiter is there to prevent the car from going above the speed rating of the tires. It is a safety feature to prevent tire damage at speed and possible accidents.
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Here's something to look at..the guy was drunk, but I don't think it would have mattered much had he been sober...
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480106
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480106
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 143
Likes: 1
From: NJ
I know this is totally unrelated. On the same day on my drive back the drivers side headlight washer cap/cover disappeared. The morning we left home it was -10 degrees F. It flew off some where on the NY State thruway. Has anyone replaced it before? It squirts windshield wiper fluid straight up and misses the headlight.
Here's something to look at..the guy was drunk, but I don't think it would have mattered much had he been sober...
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480106
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=480106
Lead Lap
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,189
Likes: 16
From: NY/NJ
Can't touch this...
Practically all BMW owners think they're king of the road. These cars do hold the road well and this is what causes the illusion of invincibility and being able to go through a turn at ANY speed. So many people (BMW owners) I spoke to said the same thing about road holding. Thank god it was just him and nobody else got hurt. R.I.P.
