  Using a refined setup process, we simulated the propagation of six observed
Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs) with the 2012
Block-Adaptive-Tree-Solarwind-Roe-Upwind-Scheme (BATS-R-US) code from the Sun
to the Earth or STEREO A and compared the outputs with observations. A linear
relation between the average CME speed below 6 solar radii and the flux rope
current is demonstrated and used to tune the simulations. The simulations
correctly predict if and when an observable CME shock reaches one astronomical
unit (AU). The arrival time predictions of the CME shocks at 1 AU have an
accuracy of 0.9 $\pm$ 1.9 hours. The simulated initial CME speeds and average
accelerations are close to the model and data of Gopalswamy et al., 2000. The
approach shows promise for predicting the sense of the predominant
shock-associated change in the magnetic field component $B_z$. However, the
magnetic fields and plasma conditions in the solar wind and CME are not
predicted well quantitatively.
