new ride not really more efficient

[Philip1]

I have replaced everything with an older BMW because I wanted one lol



these are not the most fuel efficient cars but man alive are they comfy and smooth. Power is more than enough for my needs but its nice to have reserves if I ever need them.

Aero is well awful (.40Cd) but oh well the looks are great. and with the suspension it may have improved a touch.



well thats my intro of the new car

[Project84]

So you sold your race car and your wagon?

What engine is in the BMW? Trans? Model?

Older BMW's are classy! A guy in my old neighborhood had one of those 850i's... super cool!

PS: Just noticed the chalk on your Saturn Wagon's tires... please tell me you SCCA'd that thing. lol that's awesome!

[Philip1]

The BMW is a 535i 5-speed it does have ok gears 3.25:1 so 60 comes in at about 2000rpm

I did race the wagon

[Philip1]

so far only 25 mpg on this tank. aero really hurts this car..

[Project84]

Obviously you're driving this because you prefer it though... in those situations I just sort of say "Drive WHAT you want, and "try" to keep FE in mind."

My Z28 for example only gets 15-17mpg city, I typically goose that car a lot, but I do "try" to remember the fuel consumption consequence of doing so, and restrain myself from time to time.

At the end of the day, if you're driving something because you like it better than a car/truck that got better mileage, just enjoy the ride, man!

[Philip1]

It seems these monsters benefit from an air dam it will reduce cdA by .02 and a rear spoiler will further reduce it by .015. Lowering the car knocks another .02 off so it's starting to look almost ok aero wise.


Well compared to the stock .4 cdA .345 isn't terrible when you look where it started.

[benfrogg]

Don't forget losing the mudflaps and putting those lower fog lights into your new air dam (or deleting them if you don't need em'). That's gotta be good for a little more aero.
How does a rear spoiler reduce drag? Is that part of the Kam idea? My understanding is that rear spoilers increase drag by providing down force. Am I wrong there?
B

[Philip1]

On this car the spoiler doesn't rise off the decklid it just extends it out. I'm not sure how it improves aero (I guess it extends the bubble formed by the rear window turbulence). The info I have is from the BMW parts catalog vintage 1988 so who knows if any of it is true.

[Philip1]

Ok I got the skinny on the BMW rear spoilers. They do not perduce any down force at all they do however kill lift. It makes sense now that a slight improvement in aero can be had with one.