Is it bad to "ride" the speed governor?

[M52 POWER!]

Ok so earlier tonight there was a NICE open road and me and a few other bimmers really got to open it up. I ofcourse being the only one on stock software am limited to what the speedometer showed as 135-145 (but I've read it's supposed to be 128?). We were at this (130+) for about 4-5 minutes and I just had it floored the hole time and it would go up and down 10mph every so often and cut it around 145 mph. I definitely had more power to climb higher so it's not like it was drag/power limited.

Now since the throttle body is mechanically operated by my foot and cannot be cutout by the computer what else is it cutting to produce less power to slow the car down? Does it just lessen the fuel in the cylinders and run it lean as crap? Couldn't this be bad for the engine? After the "run" it still felt and drove strong.

[bademj00n]

the ecu maintains the speed by not letting the rpm climb any higher

i can take my car up 2 135 consistantly doesnt move much up there.

Shouldnt do any dammage to the car in any way, its just the ecu controlling your top speed.

[M52 POWER!]

the ecu maintains the speed by not letting the rpm climb any higher
i can take my car up 2 135 consistantly doesnt move much up there.
Shouldnt do any dammage to the car in any way, its just the ecu controlling your top speed.

Okay I understand all that but what is cutting the power if the TB is wide open? The ECU doesn't have a magic hand that just slows the car down...

[Icarus94]

Actually, The ecu does indeed have a magic hand that just slows the car down.

[M52 POWER!]

Actually, The ecu does indeed have a magic hand that just slows the car down.

Oh. Ok. I guess that settles it then.

[peaches]

i know on new dodges it will cut out fuel injectors, not sure how it works on the bmw yet...dont start bmw step program for another year or so haha but ill get back to you march 2007

[johnf]

The E36 stops opening the fuel injectors when you reach the top speed; it reopens them again after your speed has dropped a few mph. I measured 4-5 km/h hysteresis on my M44:

[Daved]

The E36 stops opening the fuel injectors when you reach the top speed; it reopens them again after your speed has dropped a few mph. I measured 4-5 km/h hysteresis on my M44:
Why do you have a speed governor? Isn't yours an euro specs? My euro 325i doesn't have a speed governor (from the factory).

[sirtiger]

if any, I would think it would save the car :az

[leedawg]

Yup I cant imagine it hurts it at all its just like the acs kickin in the ecu simpily just governes the engine regardless of what the throttle is at. I think it just cuts the injectors which starvs you for go jucie and as a result you slow down:) Its saving you gas bud LOL I have the stock computer in mine as well and every now and then open it all the way up on the freeway been meaning to get the shark injector one of these days to take care of this little problem but how often do you need to exceed this limit its probably helpin keep us alive LOL

[johnf]

Why do you have a speed governor? Isn't yours an euro specs? My euro 325i doesn't have a speed governor (from the factory).It's a U.S. model with a 3.45:1 limited slip which is a better match for the engine than the 3.38:1 differential Europe got. I had a blonde in an E36 320i cabrio chasing me the other day and she couldn't catch me. That may be why M44-engined models got a 3.38. It might have been hard explaining that the next model with more cylinders and displacement could be slower.

[themadhatter]

it retards spark and fuel delivery to the motor.

this isn't a horrible thing but it CAN become a bad thing if you keep at it for awhile. the reason being that your motor is constantly being jolted and having fuel cut out at high rpm can actually cause your internal temps to increase. if you had an egt gauge wired up in there, you'd see this problem. this is due to the lean condition in the combustion chamber.

I would not ride the govenor but rather set the speed just short of where it kicks in, 137 mph on the M3 and 128 mph on the rest. the fact that your speedo reads higher just shows you how far off the speedo is.

[E3625i]

Engine can be running lean (lack of fuel) when riding the speed governor...not good.

[BimmerChuck]

I was riding the limiter when my top neck of the radiator decided to go. I hit my limiter I would estimate about 4 or 5 times a week. I live near a proper road. I have no headliner as well. I can attest things like to wear out and/or break at high speed.