Speedo reading high

383vett · 05-07-2018, 10:53 AM

Has anyone noticed the speedometers in these X3's are very optimistic? My M40i is 2-3 mph over at 40mph. My 2012 X3 is slightly optimistic but not this much. Can or will the dealer correct this?

u6006 · 05-07-2018, 11:36 AM

That's BMW thing. BMW models have the speed reading higher than the real. Not sure if G-gen has this corrected or not. Auto journalists found this secret long long time ago.

mjdth · 05-07-2018, 11:48 AM

IIRC it can be turned off via coding. I don't mind the way it is since it leads to fewer tickets for me and my wife...

Sea-Tac · 05-07-2018, 11:55 AM

On Both my BMW its 2mph off at slow speeds. Ive checked with GPS on my cell phone and against those roadway e-signboards that local police departments move around town that are radar based to remind people how fast they are going and flashes when they are going over set speed. My Porsche is about 3MPH above up to about 90mph.

KestasLT · 05-07-2018, 02:27 PM

I heard from one of the German engineers that speedometers are usually set up to show about approx. till 10% over the actual speed. Therefore, the faster you go, the more speedometer is lying

The current UK law is based on the EU standard with some minor changes…
A speedometer must never read less than the actual speed or show more than 110% of actual speed + 6.25mph. So, if your true speed is 40mph, your speedometer can legally read up to 50.25mph, but never less than 40mph. In other words, if it reads 50mph, you won’t be doing more than 50mph but it’s possible you might actually only be traveling at 40mph.
Car manufacturers will normally calibrate their speedometers to read ‘high’ by a certain amount in order to adhere to this law and ensure they never show less than true speed.

Slalom · 05-08-2018, 10:52 AM

It is normal - In Switzerland people rely on an external GPS to determine their actual speed. In the US the manufacturers set the reading "optimistically" to avoid liability. The only way to get around it is coding or to buy a police version with a "Calibrated" speedometer. The F25 was popular with some police departments in Switzerland.

BMWGuySweden · 05-08-2018, 11:44 AM

This is great, now I can drive faster without risking ticket

05-07-2018, 10:53 AM	#1
383vett Major 626 Rep 1,044 Posts Drives: 2018 X3 M40i, 2012 X3 Xdrive35 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Moraga, California iTrader: (0)	Speedo reading high Has anyone noticed the speedometers in these X3's are very optimistic? My M40i is 2-3 mph over at 40mph. My 2012 X3 is slightly optimistic but not this much. Can or will the dealer correct this?
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05-07-2018, 11:36 AM	#2
u6006 New Member 10 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2014 x3 x28i Join Date: Jun 2017 Location: Seattle iTrader: (0)	That's BMW thing. BMW models have the speed reading higher than the real. Not sure if G-gen has this corrected or not. Auto journalists found this secret long long time ago.
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05-07-2018, 11:48 AM	#3
mjdth Private First Class 82 Rep 152 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 X3 M40i [0.00] 2015 435xi (Sold) [0.00] 2007 335i (Sold) [0.00] 2004 325i (Sold) [0.00]	IIRC it can be turned off via coding. I don't mind the way it is since it leads to fewer tickets for me and my wife...
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05-07-2018, 11:55 AM	#4
Sea-Tac Major 1455 Rep 1,487 Posts Drives: 2108 X3 xDrive30i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Bellevue, Wa iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 X3 xDrive30i [0.00] 2016 328i xDrive [0.00]	On Both my BMW its 2mph off at slow speeds. Ive checked with GPS on my cell phone and against those roadway e-signboards that local police departments move around town that are radar based to remind people how fast they are going and flashes when they are going over set speed. My Porsche is about 3MPH above up to about 90mph.
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05-07-2018, 02:27 PM	#5
KestasLT New Member 2 Rep 15 Posts Drives: X3 30d M Sport Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: LUX iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 E90 [0.00]	I heard from one of the German engineers that speedometers are usually set up to show about approx. till 10% over the actual speed. Therefore, the faster you go, the more speedometer is lying The current UK law is based on the EU standard with some minor changes… A speedometer must never read less than the actual speed or show more than 110% of actual speed + 6.25mph. So, if your true speed is 40mph, your speedometer can legally read up to 50.25mph, but never less than 40mph. In other words, if it reads 50mph, you won’t be doing more than 50mph but it’s possible you might actually only be traveling at 40mph. Car manufacturers will normally calibrate their speedometers to read ‘high’ by a certain amount in order to adhere to this law and ensure they never show less than true speed.
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05-08-2018, 10:52 AM	#6
Slalom Major 509 Rep 1,345 Posts Drives: 04 Z4, 18 X3 M40i Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Ottawa and Collelongo (AQ) Italy iTrader: (0) Garage List 2004 Z4 [0.00] 2018 BMW X3 M40i [10.00]	It is normal - In Switzerland people rely on an external GPS to determine their actual speed. In the US the manufacturers set the reading "optimistically" to avoid liability. The only way to get around it is coding or to buy a police version with a "Calibrated" speedometer. The F25 was popular with some police departments in Switzerland.
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05-08-2018, 11:44 AM	#7
BMWGuySweden First Lieutenant 192 Rep 325 Posts Drives: X3 M40i Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	This is great, now I can drive faster without risking ticket
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