Teen caught driving BMW at 200kmh

[sodge]

A 19-year-old on a restricted licence has been caught by police after he speed past a motorway patrol at 200 kilometres an hour.

Police say the BMW 850 IA with a V12 engine went past them near the Tristram Avenue exit in Auckland at 12.40 am today.

The male driver was "totally oblivious" to the police until stopped on the Auckland side of the harbour bridge.

...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3998314/Teen-caught-driving-BMW-at-200kmh

"totally oblivious" aye ... /rally

[djb160]

Two things:

1 - I thought Brad was older than that :D

2 - "...Just because you can't see a police officer, it doesn't mean you can get away with flouting the speed limit." Yes it does.

[bradc]

Lol, they missed saying that the 8 series is designed to cruise at that speed for hours. Well as long as the fuel lasts :)

[scott.mohekey]

So just a few minutes then?

[Ryan]

What's an 850iA???

[mattnz]

Lol, they missed saying that the 8 series is designed to cruise at that speed for hours. Well as long as the fuel lasts :)

I know right? They call that journalism?

They also missed saying that BMW 8 Series (chassis code: E31); is a V8 or V12-engined 2-door 2+2 coupe built by BMW from 1989 to 1999. While it did supplant the original E24 based 6 Series in 1991, a common misconception is that the 8 Series was developed as a successor. However, it was actually an entirely new class aimed at a different market, with a substantially higher price point and better performance than the 6 series.

The 8 Series was designed as a direct competitor to the upcoming Mercedes-Benz SL-Class and S-Class coupes (later renamed the CL-Class). While it has less rear passenger volume than the CL which is considered a two-door sedan, the 8 Series could accommodate two passengers in the rear, while the SL roadster is a two-seater.

The 8 Series was BMW's flagship car while in production and had an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h), although with the limiters removed, the top speed was estimated at 186 mph (299 km/h).Worldwide production ceased on May 12, 1999, with 30,621 built.

There is some confusion over why and when the 850i became the 850Ci. The change happened around the introduction of the 850CSi and it is believed that BMW decided to include the "C" in the model name that denotes 'Coupe' just as two-door 3 Series cars alongside the 8 Series read 323Ci, 328Ci and so on. The confusion starts when BMW installed the new M73B54 engine in the car. This was not an immediate changeover, and indeed both the M70 and M73-engined cars rolled off the production lines side-by-side for about nine months in 1994, both named 850Ci.

As the capacity of the M73 increased to 5.4 liters and the compression ratio went up, the power output rose to 326 PS (240 kW; 322 hp).

a top-of-the-range sports tourer, the 850CSi took over from the prototype M8. The 850CSi used the same engine as the 850i, which was tuned so significantly that BMW assigned it a new engine code: S70B56. The modifications included a capacity increase to 5.6 liters and power increase to 380 PS (279 kW; 375 hp).

The 850CSi's modified suspension included stiffer springs and dampers and reduced the car's ride height. The recirculating ball steering ratio was dropped 15% over the stock E31 setup. The model also sported wider wheels, with the option of forged alloys. The front and rear bumpers were reshaped for improved aerodynamic performance. Four round stainless steel exhaust tips replaced the square tips found on other models. The 6-speed manual gearbox was the only transmission option. In Europe all 850CSi's came with Rear Wheel Steering (AHK - Aktive Hinterachs-Kinematik).

Production ended in late 1996 because the S70 engine could not be modified to comply with new emission regulations without substantial re-engineering.

[fluffnik]

So just a few minutes then?

About 2.5hours at that modest cruising speed...

[bradc]

850iA is nz new speak for a 4 speed auto. I've cruised in one at 220kmh and the trip computer said it was using 25l/100km, so with the 90l tank you'd get 3.5 hours or so out of it.

[I-S]

850iA is nz new speak for a 4 speed auto. I've cruised in one at 220kmh and the trip computer said it was using 25l/100km, so with the 90l tank you'd get 3.5 hours or so out of it.

3.5 hours at 220km/h would be 770km which at 25l/100km would require 192.5 litres of fuel.

Check your numbers.

[chris g]

Bigger RR figures in NZ...

...so obviously fuel tanks are bigger to allow such cruising...

[fluffnik]

Check your numbers.

I was guessing 15mpg(~19l/100km) and a 20gallon(91l) tank, based on experience with assorted big BMWs, admittedly all V8s with 5-speed autos.

I once did Hamburg to Denmark at an average of 143mph(230km/h) in the old B10 at an estimated 17mpg, based on the dent made in the average mpg for the trip.

It's a real shame that the 850i missed out on the later 5-speed adaptive/tip 'box, that would have been a killer combo... /Steeringw

[bradc]

ohh whoops, I was thinking 90/25l hehe. silly me :)

The 850i was available with a 6 speed manual, the 850Ci had the 5 speed auto and the 850CSI had a 6 speed manual, there were at least 3 good models of E31 out there.

[stuartturbo]

What is a restricted licence? is that like our L plate system must have a full driver with you??

In my early 20's ( we dont start till 17 rather than 15??) As I got busted at just shy of that in the UK and kept my licence As the UK will tell you 100mph plus (161kph) normally means a instant ban, but I avoided it just /lol

[fluffnik]

The 850i was available with a 6 speed manual, the 850Ci had the 5 speed auto and the 850CSI had a 6 speed manual, there were at least 3 good models of E31 out there.

Ooooh, I thought only the 840 got the 5-speed auto.

<opens PH classifieds in new tab>

[bradc]

The 840i could be had with a 6 speed manual or 5 speed auto, but to me the only real 8's have a V12. If I wanted a V8 I would have bought a 540i. No offence to your car, I love Alpina's of course :)

[mattnz]

What is a restricted licence? is that like our L plate system must have a full driver with you??

In my early 20's ( we dont start till 17 rather than 15??) As I got busted at just shy of that in the UK and kept my licence As the UK will tell you 100mph plus (161kph) normally means a instant ban, but I avoided it just /lol

In NZ a learner's license is the L-plate thing. Restricted means that you can only drive yourself around, unless you have someone supervising, and you don't need the plates. Then you get a full license after that.