Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Duratec Performance BMW 540i?

What do these things have under the hood? I had a running race with one today (as soon as the cop in front of us pulled off, we both nailed it). Went from 70mph to 112mph (my limiter shut me down) but I pulled away from him all the way up to the top. I thought a 540 would have eaten me...?

Was he just playing?

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Cheers,

Ghosst
98 V6 MTX
"Some" Acoustic Improvements / 17" Mille Miglia Spiders / BFG Comp TAs / SVT Brakes / Racing Red Calipers / KKM True Rev Intake / Cold Air Induction / Audi A6 Sidemarkers / Lighted Door Handles / Lighted Moonroof Switch / Custom Dash Bracket for DSP / ST200 Gearshift / ST200 Mesh Grille / 24v Badge in Grille / Custom Mesh Lower Grille / Cosworth Engine Badging

99 ZX2 "Hot" Sport
35% Tint / Custom Mesh Grilles / PIAA Superblues / Borla Exhaust

If it was the newer bodystyle then the following are the facts:

1995 had the 4.0 V8 with 282 hp and 295 tq. 0-60 is 6.2 seconds, quarter mile is 14.8 (manual transmission)

1997 had a 4.4 V8 with 282 hp, but with 310 tq. 0-60 is 6.2, quarter mile is 14.6 (automatic transmission)

1997 Sport had same engine, but in stickshift form does 0-60 in 5.6, and quarter mile in 14.0.

He was playing with you.

My dad let me drive his 740 by myself only once, and that was a lot of fun! First gear sucks, but once it shifts you are pulled back into your seat! 740 is a 0-60 of 6.9, but feels a lot faster than my svt!

I'm sure bottom-end he would have killed me, but what about the top-end? The contour seems to sing up high in the RPMs better than most.

Part of it is weight. BMW's are somewhat heavy vehicles. But they still have a lot of power under them. Remmeber it's not just horsepower. It's how much weight that horsepower has to move. Just a couple cents in the bucket.

The Ghosst,


Time for BMW class to begin.

As you may have noticed, all BMW models are three digit #'s

The first number designates the series. In our example of 540, it means that this is a 5 series. A 3 would mean 3 series and a 7 or an 8 would be a 7 or 8 series.

The last two numbers are the engine size, in liters.
In our example of 540, it means it is a 4.0 liter. Or in a 318, it would have a 1.8 liter engine.



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Scotty Luther
rscottyl@onebox.com
AOL IM: RScottyL
2000 Ford Contour SVT
Built 12/9/1999
Toreador Red/Prairie Tan
#832 of 2150

[This message has been edited by RScottyL (edited April 23, 2001).]

[This message has been edited by RScottyL (edited April 23, 2001).]

Not always true, but mostly true.

the 99 323 had a 2.5 L I6 in it. They did that so it didn't look like it was too close to the 328 that DID have a 2.8L I6 in it.

I think that in 2001 the 325 replaced the 323 and does indeed have teh 2.5 while the 328 is gone and replaced with the 330.

Generally in BMW Speak the last 2 digits are the engine size, but not always.

And the 540i moved to 4.4L in 97, I think, but kept it's 540 designation.

I've driven a 528 manual and a 540i wagon auto. That auto wasn't the quickest car, but still a lot of fun! And the best auto trans I've driven.

True....I stand corrected. I guess I should have stated that this pertains to most BMWs, and not all! Thanks for the assist!

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Scotty Luther
rscottyl@onebox.com
AOL IM: RScottyL
2000 Ford Contour SVT
Built 12/9/1999
Toreador Red/Prairie Tan
#832 of 2150