[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by BackOnBlack

I really enjoyed the story and pictures, thank you very much.

Gee, thanks. That's nice.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by Bankerbry

Such an amazing commentary and truly beautiful pictures! Talk about living the life, this makes me want to hit the open road.
I love the passion you have for your 8 series and the enjoyment you get every time you drive it! These vehicles are truly amazing and imo are superior in almost every category when compared to the competitors.
Thank you for posting!

Thanks for the nice words. And you should know - you have an M8. An exceptionally fine looking M8 at that. (Your Skyscraper with black wheels is a lot like my Donington F90 with black wheels. A winning combination IMO.)

Hit the road, Jack. You won't be sorry. You're not that far from the Rockies - a good day's drive.

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by mckman

Nice pics and writeup! Your 8 series looks great out in the wilds of the western USA. The perfect blend of comfort, power, and wide open roads with beautiful scenery.

BMWs and the roads of the Western US are a fabulous combination. Thanks for your comments.

[vcx]

Fabulous pictures, a delight to see!

It made me really want to discover the USA.

Thank you!

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Neusser

BMW's best brawny cruiser, IMO.

I also like the looks quite a bit--particularly the rear.

Not the best in terms of the drive, though. Quite a few above it, I'd say. The '50 cars all have the problem of being hefty in the nose like an Audi, but they don't get the same attention the M versions get in order to help dial that out, and I am not sure straight line power could offset the sum total of deficiencies vs. another series BMW that is lighter but tunable--or just going straight M car.

I have an interesting observation. I owned both a M340i and a M550i with DHP for a few years.

I found that the M340i has a very direct steering, does not feel nose heavy, goes round corners like on rails.

I found the M550i has delayed steering, you have to turn the steering more to rotate the car, feels nose heavy, suspension is bouncy with a bit more corner lean, HOWEVER it can go around corners with less effort than the M340i to the point where I am scared to go round a tight bend at say X speed in the M340i but i can go around the same tight bend at 5mph more in the M550i without hesistation and the car leans a bit but it doesn't feel it's anywhere near the limit of adhesion.

There's something about the RWS/DHP.

If there's one thing i want to change (that is easy to do) about the M550i is stiffer front springs. I think that would really transform it.

[JF01]

Thanks for sharing, man! Absolutely beautiful. All those autumn landscapes, mountains and lakes... I'm in love!
You are really a talented photographer, please keep going.
As I remember, this is not the first time I see a post from you here (I am not a frequent visitor here), and it always grabs my attention a lot.
Lovely!

[Colinv6]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

Wow. Thanks for the nice words. Lake District, hell, all of Scotland on my bucket list.

And, Wow! What a nice M4. From your threads and other pictures, it seems to be meticulously maintained and cared for. Very nice build. Very nice.

The half-year in mothballs would kill me, tho.

As an aside, with apologies to John Casey, you might check this out, since you like Utah so much.
https://f90.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1784425
(It's not Utah's fault. Utah can't help itself)

It was my first travel thread and we hit most of the major sites as we went through Utah. I hadn't even thought of doing a thread at the time, so the landscape to car picture ratio is high.. But, that's OK - it's UTAH!

Hey thanks man! Too kind. One love, BMW’s

I’ll check out that thread and the pictures. Might spur me on to arrange something. Only 6k miles on my M4 so I’d maybe have to just get a rental for the trip though but nothing would beat the memories of doing it with your own car.

[spuntyb]

Have enjoyed all your travel threads in this car. Thanks for sharing!

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by vcx

Fabulous pictures, a delight to see!

It made me really want to discover the USA.

Thank you!

Appreciate it. Thx.

There's certainly a lot to see here. Although, Europe doesn't exactly suck.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by G30M

I have an interesting observation. I owned both a M340i and a M550i with DHP for a few years.

I found that the M340i has a very direct steering, does not feel nose heavy, goes round corners like on rails.

I found the M550i has delayed steering, you have to turn the steering more to rotate the car, feels nose heavy, suspension is bouncy with a bit more corner lean, HOWEVER it can go around corners with less effort than the M340i to the point where I am scared to go round a tight bend at say X speed in the M340i but i can go around the same tight bend at 5mph more in the M550i without hesistation and the car leans a bit but it doesn't feel it's anywhere near the limit of adhesion.

There's something about the RWS/DHP.

If there's one thing i want to change (that is easy to do) about the M550i is stiffer front springs. I think that would really transform it.

Not sure. I agree with you and disagree on a few items.

To me, on stock tires and running stock pressures, the 5 feels like it will lose grip earlier than the M340 (which I test drove). This feeling is exacerbated in the front-heavy M550.

I run lower pressures now, based strictly on weight (2.0R, 2.2F), and my 5er sticks really well and I have a lot of confidence to push.

I think if you were to make one change to the M550, aside from something simple like tires or pressures, then you should look at dampers. BMW dampers are too soft on rebound which is exacerbated with higher tire pressure. The car gets bouncy (as you mentioned) and skatey.

I think the M340 probably has a better setup from the factory, as the 3er is just a tick more oriented toward sporty driving. If anything you should play with tire pressure on the M340, as you could probably push it even more. At about 1800kg curb weight with tires with 95/99 load ratings, you could also try 2.2F and 2.0R

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by JF01

Thanks for sharing, man! Absolutely beautiful. All those autumn landscapes, mountains and lakes... I'm in love!
You are really a talented photographer, please keep going.
As I remember, this is not the first time I see a post from you here (I am not a frequent visitor here), and it always grabs my attention a lot.
Lovely!

Whoa. High praise indeed. Thanks.

If you really like all the fall colors, you would like this thread. It's Colorado in the fall of 2022. It's long, but I think it's my best thread for content - the back half especially. Colorado in September is unreal - I didn't have to try very hard.

https://f92.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1966646

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Neusser

Not sure. I agree with you and disagree on a few items.

To me, on stock tires and running stock pressures, the 5 feels like it will lose grip earlier than the M340 (which I test drove). This feeling is exacerbated in the front-heavy M550.

I run lower pressures now, based strictly on weight (2.0R, 2.2F), and my 5er sticks really well and I have a lot of confidence to push.

I think if you were to make one change to the M550, aside from something simple like tires or pressures, then you should look at dampers. BMW dampers are too soft on rebound which is exacerbated with higher tire pressure. The car gets bouncy (as you mentioned) and skatey.

I think the M340 probably has a better setup from the factory, as the 3er is just a tick more oriented toward sporty driving. If anything you should play with tire pressure on the M340, as you could probably push it even more. At about 1800kg curb weight with tires with 95/99 load ratings, you could also try 2.2F and 2.0R

i'm just describing that i'm feeling the DHP is reducing the cornering G Forces in tight bends. up to a point, when the weight of the car can no longer be masked by the DHP (higher speed corners).

the 3 series is a beast on handling with the right tires (factory tires are 225 front with 190mm tread, i swapped to Michelin 245 front with 225 tread and that thing would have been a track monster). still not at peace with selling the 3 but i don't have a track to play at and i hated the "HiFi" sound system and the seats gave me a sore back.

but the 5 ... ahh .. feel like a boss in it.

[G30M]

Originally Posted by Neusser

you should look at dampers. BMW dampers are too soft on rebound which is exacerbated with higher tire pressure. The car gets bouncy (as you mentioned) and skatey.

i'm not sure, it doesn't bounce in Sport damper setting, only lean, so i'm picking on springs first. I was told DHP package comes with softer spring. also i don't want to lose DHP if i replace dampers.

either way, i'm not after the perfect car (there is not such thing), it's all about compromises. also i have trust issues, i can't just buy a set of springs because i don't know what effect it will have, 3rd party springs are made for G30 and they list all the models, hardly specific to a heavy V8. now M5 springs tho ....

ok better not hijack the thread too much ....

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by spuntyb

Have enjoyed all your travel threads in this car. Thanks for sharing!

Hey, man. Good to see an old F90 bro over here. Thanks for following along.

See that you got a San Remo. How do you like it? Dump a pic in here. We won't mind.

[Neusser]

Originally Posted by G30M

i'm not sure, it doesn't bounce in Sport damper setting, only lean, so i'm picking on springs first. I was told DHP package comes with softer spring. also i don't want to lose DHP if i replace dampers.

either way, i'm not after the perfect car (there is not such thing), it's all about compromises. also i have trust issues, i can't just buy a set of springs because i don't know what effect it will have, 3rd party springs are made for G30 and they list all the models, hardly specific to a heavy V8. now M5 springs tho ....

ok better not hijack the thread too much ....

Hm. I saw something about bounce earlier. If just lean, yes, springs could help. The only issue is matching them correctly with your dampers, particularly as you have both comfort and sport settings.

In the 704 setup, the damper is definitely the weak point. Your situation is more complex and could require tossing it all. Hard to say.

[adhrp]

You live in such a wonderful part of the country. Reminds me of my trips when I lived in the southwest years ago. Did lots of road trips in my 3 series wth breathtaking views. Colorado, AZ, NM, and the Yellowstone area are all phenomenal!

[G30M]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

i've just realised this must be the only BMW that has rear wheel arches with a bigger gap than front wheel arches (unless the right rear/front tire is in a ditch)

maybe that's why it is perceived as looking good

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by adhrp

You live in such a wonderful part of the country. Reminds me of my trips when I lived in the southwest years ago. Did lots of road trips in my 3 series with breathtaking views. Colorado, AZ, NM, and the Yellowstone area are all phenomenal!

I keep trying to tell the wife that I need to be somewhere in the vicinity of the Colorado Plateau every September.


Unbelievable amount of National Parks and Monuments


Mercy Sakes! To wit:

Canyonlands NP


Zion NP

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by G30M

i've just realised this must be the only BMW that has rear wheel arches with a bigger gap than front wheel arches (unless the right rear/front tire is in a ditch)

maybe that's why it is perceived as looking good

I think you might be seeing an optical illusion due due the way the outer 1" on the rim of the fender is bent slightly inward. The two gaps (front & rear) are fairly equal. The shadow in the picture you referenced hides part of the fender.

[Mandingo9]

How does this this car compare to m550?

[G30M]

Originally Posted by snowbimmer

I think you might be seeing an optical illusion due due the way the outer 1" on the rim of the fender is bent slightly inward. The two gaps are fairly equal. The shadow in the picture you referenced hides part of the fender.

Attachment 3445103

let me show you the M3

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1805720

[snowbimmer]

Originally Posted by G30M

let me show you the M3

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1805720

Does seem a tad much up front. Probably still has shipping blocks in the front springs.


I think the M850 gaps are too big. This car needs tires the size of the M8 - one profile higher. (Which is what they did for the Alpina - which is basically an M850)