3.8 euro 5 spd/6 spd vs. E39 6 spd 4.4L

YaoNYC · 20th January 2006, 22:08

hi all...
as anyone raced an E39 4.4L 6 spd?

any compare the power/speed/handling?

im just curious...im getting hammered by a friend with an E39 4.4L 6spd

thanks!

GDA · 20th January 2006, 23:38

I've run my 95 3.8 at the track and I easily walk E36 M3s and run dead even with E39 M5s for the first few laps then start reeling them in as their brakes cook. Although I never had a direct run with E39 540/6 your 3.8 should walk one if you run long enough.

The main advantage the 540 has is low end torque so if you are not above 4k and at speeds below 80mph the 540 is going to get a big edge on you till you have time to run him out of breath.

that's my .01

YaoNYC · 21st January 2006, 00:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by GDA

I've run my 95 3.8 at the track and I easily walk E36 M3s and run dead even with E39 M5s for the first few laps then start reeling them in as their brakes cook. Although I never had a direct run with E39 540/6 your 3.8 should walk one if you run long enough.

The main advantage the 540 has is low end torque so if you are not above 4k and at speeds below 80mph the 540 is going to get a big edge on you till you have time to run him out of breath.

that's my .01

Thanks for the reply. Sadly, im not an owner yet. but hopefully soon. If you car can keep up with e39 M5's (WOW!) it can certainly burn the e39 540i's

what kind of brakes you have?

mblaster · 21st January 2006, 03:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by YaoNYC

hi all...
as anyone raced an E39 4.4L 6 spd?

any compare the power/speed/handling?

im just curious...im getting hammered by a friend with an E39 4.4L 6spd

thanks!

The TQ of the V8 will kill the 6 banger from a dig.

redl1nerpm · 21st January 2006, 07:36

Ive owned both now, the 540 had exhaust and an intake. In a straight line the 540 would take the M5 (3.6, chip, intake, exhaust). The 540 just has so much torque, and on the highway getting to 160 was a walk in the park for that car. Just take him around some corners and show him whos boss.

vadas1 · 21st January 2006, 10:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by mblaster

The TQ of the V8 will kill the 6 banger from a dig.

True for a 3.6 much less true for a 3.8. And once the revs start to clock it's good night irene.

ralph (vadas1)

yewcorner · 21st January 2006, 19:41

I had a number of 540i 4.4 autos, a superb car but no way in the same performance league as the 3.8 M5. They just couldn't compete, although they are so smooth and quiet that you maybe tricked into thinking they are faster.

Quote:

Originally Posted by YaoNYC

hi all...
as anyone raced an E39 4.4L 6 spd?

any compare the power/speed/handling?

im just curious...im getting hammered by a friend with an E39 4.4L 6spd

thanks!

AndyE · 22nd January 2006, 00:10

I've had a couple of road races with an E39 540 (steptronic) and the 3.8 was faster in every circumstance, except one - where the roads were very bumpy (this was over Porlock Hill) the e39 could corner faster.

Ignoring suspension on super bumpy roads, the 3.8 was faster all of the time, just extracting a little gap more with the revs in every gear.

redl1nerpm · 22nd January 2006, 02:18

i had a 97 540/6 and a friend with an 00 steptronic. We raced from a stop and I probably had 1.5-2 car lengths on him by 70. Raced from 60 and I probably put the same amount of space on him by 100. I only had the intake at the time (which probably added next to nothing). The 6 speed cars are definetly much quicker than the autos and triptronics, just a thought..

yewcorner · 22nd January 2006, 09:59

There may also be an element of the AGS to consider in this scenario, this adapts to the driving style of the current driver. So if you have been doing motorway driving all week and then try a sprint at the weekend, the gearbox will not be working to its optimum. Having said that, even if you are in the sports mode and changing manually (Steptronic, should be similar to the manual 6 speed), I still don't think this would help in keeping up with the M5.

Quote:

Originally Posted by redl1nerpm

i had a 97 540/6 and a friend with an 00 steptronic. We raced from a stop and I probably had 1.5-2 car lengths on him by 70. Raced from 60 and I probably put the same amount of space on him by 100. I only had the intake at the time (which probably added next to nothing). The 6 speed cars are definetly much quicker than the autos and triptronics, just a thought..