scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 22/2/05 at 09:43 PM |
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BMW handling ratio
I'm hoping someone can help me out here - about a year ago I went to a lecture by a guy from BMW and he was telling us that all BMWs are
designed to have a certain ratio/parameter that gave it good handling. It was something like the ratio of wheelbase to track width, or something like
that, does anyone know what I'm talking about?
I ask because we're designing the university race car at the moment and we were trying to remember what it was.
Hope someone remembers better than I do!
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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clbarclay
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| posted on 22/2/05 at 09:48 PM |
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Not sure what ratio BMW use (go and measure a 3 series), the desired ratio depends on the end aplication, 4x4's and drag cars use far different
ratios to normal road cars.
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flak monkey
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| posted on 22/2/05 at 09:52 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by scoobyis2cool
I ask because we're designing the university race car at the moment and we were trying to remember what it was.
Pete
If thats the formula student car...you are a bit behind on production arent you, if you are still at the design stage? 
Sorry cant help with the ratio thing. Tried the magical google? good for all last minute report writing (i mean research) that one...
David 
Sera
http://www.motosera.com
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andkilde
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| posted on 22/2/05 at 09:52 PM |
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There's a big chart in Stanniforth's Race and Rally Car Sourcebook.
As I recall Karts start around 1.1, the "ideal" or prettiest number is 1.6 and then is stretches on to the 2 plus range when you come to
roadgoing saloons and such.
The Terrapin and a number of contemporary formula cars were in the 1.5:1 range.
Cheers, Ted
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scoobyis2cool
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| posted on 22/2/05 at 11:29 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by flak monkey
If thats the formula student car...you are a bit behind on production arent you, if you are still at the design stage?
Sorry cant help with the ratio thing. Tried the magical google? good for all last minute report writing (i mean research) that one...
David
If the car was for this year then yeah, we would be miles behind! Luckily it's next year's car so we've only just started the
design, getting ideas together etc.
I tried google, but when you put in bmw, handling and ratio, you just get piles of pages about how good bmw handling is or power-to-weight ratios
Thanks for the other suggestions, I'll have to see if our uni library has a copy of the Stanniforth book. Otherwise, measuring a beemer would be
easy enough.
Pete
It's not that I'm lazy, it's that I just don't care...
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Metal Hippy
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| posted on 23/2/05 at 12:12 AM |
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http://www.m535i.org/e28info.html
It's got wheelbase and front and rear tracks on there.
Hope it helps.
I was told by somebody (so don't blame me if the info is crap) that they'd read an article about BMWs and the M535i (the car I linked and
coincidentally my donor) was the best handling in a test that was done involving loads of different BMW models.
Again I stress, that info might be shite.
But there you have the dimensions for your perusal.
Rich.
Cock off or cock on. You choose.
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Fred W B
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| posted on 23/2/05 at 05:55 AM |
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IMHO, beg borrow or steal a copy of Staniforths Race and Rally Car Source book and read and reread it. You will learn more compitition car common
sense than you can get in a weeks surfing
FRED WB
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britishtrident
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| posted on 23/2/05 at 09:05 AM |
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It goes back to work done by a guy called Maurice Olley (not sure of spelling) at Rolls-Royce and later GM in the 1920s/30s.
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liam.mccaffrey
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| posted on 23/2/05 at 09:22 AM |
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i was told it 1.6 to one and that is what i designed my middy chassis to i hope its right
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britishtrident
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| posted on 23/2/05 at 02:23 PM |
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LWB cars are generally less nervous and more predictable than SWB cars -- but LWB cars are less nimble.
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