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      09-21-2005, 11:34 AM   #1
Nikki
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Speedometer Variation

Is it true that manufacturers set the speedometer higher than your actual speed, and if so by how much does BMW do this?

I've heard this many times but haven't seen any convincing evidence.
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      09-21-2005, 11:37 AM   #2
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mine's averaging 3mph over....

makes me feel like I'm going faster... (wow, this car is quick.)
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      09-21-2005, 11:38 AM   #3
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also, when you see those things that say "your speed __", do those exaggerate your speed?
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      09-21-2005, 11:49 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikki
also, when you see those things that say "your speed __", do those exaggerate your speed?
The ones here are completely out of the ball park - I was once doing 80 and the thing said I was doing 120Km/H!!! Hardly useful.

The best one I saw once is on the highway to Sydney - they have 10km marked out with markers 1km apart, you zero your trip at the start and look at it at the last marker to see how accurate your speedo is that way.
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      09-21-2005, 12:03 PM   #5
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My comparison are those "YOUR SPEED IS" and others, but ultimately my GPS.

The GPS calculates by the distance you travel.
So I set it on cruise for a couple of minutes and see.

All the cars I had the thing is right on... except for my E90!
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      09-21-2005, 12:09 PM   #6
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GPS is the best, and some display your actual speed based on GPS calcs. I am sure the navigation equiped cars could do this. The old-skool method of speed determination depends on tyre wear etc.

There seems to be a school of thought to over state the indicated speed to allow for margins to help avoid getting speeding fines. In two states of Australia the tollerance before a fine is issued is 1Km/H and 3Km/H respectively. I am happy that where I live it is 10Km/H.
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      09-22-2005, 03:20 PM   #7
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The issue with "Your Speed is" radars is that you don't necessarily know whom it is actually tracking. Those have a pretty broad pattern and can detect you, orthe person going to other way, or in the lane next to you but behind/in front of you.
I did some testing with a stopwatch and the Odometer marked signs along many roads. Those are supposed to be accurately measured mile markers. 1 mile at 60 seconds = 60 MPH. When I did mine, with cruise set at 60, it took 66 seconds, so I was 10% slower than my spedometer indicates. While the speedometer was slow, the odometer measured the exact 1 mile distance.
So while driving around I have to do quick 90% calculations if I want to know my "real" speed.
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