|
|
|
|
|
|
BMW Garage | BMW Meets | Register | Search | Today's Posts | Mark Forums Read |
|
BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum
>
Non-autobahn drivers: Skip 5th gear?
|
|
12-28-2005, 10:46 AM | #1 |
Lieutenant
34
Rep 519
Posts |
Non-autobahn drivers: Skip 5th gear?
I find that when I'm driving (US highways) I skip 5th gear and go right to 6th as my cruising gear.
4th is the optimal gear at normal US highway speeds (60-80mph), so I accelerate to the speed I want to in 4th and shift directly to 6th to start cruising (maximize mpg). When I need to pass, I double clutch down to 4th, pass, and shift back to 6th. So, if i want power I like to be in 4th and if I want to cruise i like to be in 6th. Don't need anything in between. Does anyone else find 5th gear unnecessary? btw - at 1900 miles, tons of fun, and 0 problems so far (knock on wood ).
__________________
'14 535i (ED)
Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i |
12-28-2005, 10:50 AM | #2 |
Vroom Vrrooooom
297
Rep 3,146
Posts
Drives: 330i
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Bay Area, CA
|
I never shift out of 6th on a 350 mile drive at an average 80-90 mph, unless I really need to pass someone quick, then I usually slip it into 3rd, maybe 4th...
__________________
-Dmitriy
06' BMW 330i & 03' Suzuki GSX-R600 SG | Beige Dakota | Poplar || iDrive w/MP3 | PP | SP | CWP | PDC | Comfort | Shades || 40% Tint | Black Line Tail Lights | Hardwired V1 |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 10:54 AM | #3 |
Major General
82
Rep 5,732
Posts |
I find 6th is optional, even though I would not call it unecessary as it is usefull for lowering engine speed while cruising on highways.
I would never skip as gear while shifting, if anyone needs to do that you were probably in the wrong gear to beginn with. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 10:55 AM | #4 | |
Lieutenant
58
Rep 515
Posts |
is skipping gears bad?
__________________
Quote:
15% tint all round |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 11:00 AM | #5 | |
Lieutenant
34
Rep 519
Posts |
Quote:
__________________
'14 535i (ED)
Retired: '08 M5, '08 550i (ED), '06 330i |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 11:00 AM | #6 |
Major General
151
Rep 6,158
Posts |
there's nothing wrong with skipping gears, and skipping gears is WAY more usefull in a 6 spd than a 5 speed (i never used to skip, now I do quite often)
the only danger would be missing a shift, but other than that it doesn't hurt anything and you don't need to double clutch or do anything out of the oridinary |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 11:08 AM | #7 |
Major General
82
Rep 5,732
Posts |
Skipping gears is (i) dangerous as it incresaes the likelyhood of missing the intended gear; and (ii) I do not find 5th useless, rather 6th, as I am intimating that in fact you should stick to 5th rather than skip it for 6th. Your slight increase in fuel economy by skipping 5th is blown away upon your double gear down to 4th to pass, whereupon thy shall guzzle your gas in a most uneconomical manner .
I still maintain that skipping gears makes no sense. If you're in the right gear for your driving style + traffic combo, there is absolutely no need for it. The car has such good torque over 2500rpm (where you basically should be at all times except first), that if you need to shift down more than one gear you are probably undertaking too risky a passing manouvre anyways. IMHO |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 11:09 AM | #8 |
Digital Ruler
2
Rep 166
Posts |
on freeway on-ramps and other roads where I'm going from a stop to 60+ mph I usually do 1st-2nd-4th(accelerate to desired speed)-then 6th
this seems to get me to speed easily and without too much shifting... (I'm Lazy ) |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 11:11 AM | #9 |
Colonel
235
Rep 2,059
Posts |
That’s why are cars don't have sequential gear boxes. So we can switch it up or down when it deem necessary.
__________________
330i 6MT l 255 HP @ 5900 rpm 214 lb-ft Torque @ 3500 rpm l Alpine White l Beige l Aluminum l ZSP l 494 l PDC
"Freude am Fahren" = "Joy to Drive" |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 02:38 PM | #10 |
Addict
203
Rep 2,074
Posts |
I like 5th gear...it's a nice gear for 100km/h cruising, or if I'm not on a highway...but on a big double carriage way - and don't feel like being in 4th.
I use 6th gear for "long distance". When I'm on a highway and travelling at 120kph and don't plan on slowing down. One other plus of my 320d - if I want to overtake in 6th - I just put my foot down, and the car pulls with amazing ability!!! |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2005, 03:12 PM | #11 |
Lieutenant
16
Rep 523
Posts
Drives: 2010 E90 330i 6MT
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pretoria, South Africa
|
- I don't skip 5th gear.... in fact I use 5th more than 6th.
- I use 6th mostly to calm down the engine when I'm cruising.
__________________
E90 330i 6MT|Space Grey|Red Brown|Alumin|Sunroof|Voice Control|Logic 7|Xenon|Prof-Navigation|Storage Pack|Luggage Pack|Extended Lights|Anti-dazzle Folding Mirrors|Climate Comf. w/screen|M-Sport Pack|Exclusive Pack|Innovations Pack|Alumin Pedals|CF Splitters|Delivered:19 March 2010
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 09:17 AM | #13 | |
Captain Caveman
148
Rep 1,715
Posts |
Quote:
I believe marketing has a lot to do with our cars having 6 forward gears. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 09:36 AM | #15 |
Lieutenant Colonel
28
Rep 1,832
Posts
Drives: bmw e90 320d
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: gibraltar(europe)
|
i never skip a gear
i also find that when i really want to push hard in 6th gear the car goes wonderfullly in 6th gear without having to change to 5th or 4th
__________________
e90 320d,arktis,lumber support, hifi speaker, alarm, dakota beige, 162 18", xenon with washer spray,window chrome trimmings, professional radio, 6 cd changer wood trimmings
6 speed manual. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 09:41 AM | #16 |
Second Lieutenant
6
Rep 235
Posts
Drives: 320d SE;Mazda MX-5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
In my old cars I found that I could be lazy and use just 1st, 3rd and 6th when going up the box - there was enough torque in each higher gear at low revs that skipping a gear even when changing up at a fairly low engine speed gave the transmission no causes for complaint.
In the 320d I can't go from 3rd to 6th as easily as 6th is so high geared (35mph/1000rpm) and the turbo diesel engine is such that it doesn't accelerate well from 1000rpm. Unlike my previous petrol engines with 6 speed manual gearboxes: 1) 22mph/1000rpm for the Peugeot, so that would accelerate from 30mph in 6th happily. 2) 35mph/1000rpm again but from a 4 litre V8, so that did much better at low revs than the E90 320d does. Jon |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 10:14 AM | #18 |
Second Lieutenant
6
Rep 235
Posts
Drives: 320d SE;Mazda MX-5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Hampshire, UK
|
ok, a quick experiment (two mile drive in town) has shown I do any or all of the following, depending on speed limits, traffic conditions, inclines, ....
going up: 1-2-3-4-5-6 1-2-3-6 or 1-2-3-4-6 when accelerating to 50mph or more (or 40mph or an urban downhill) 1-2-3-5 when accelerating to 40mph or more 1-2-4 when accelerating to 30mph or more coming down: 6-5-4-3-2-1 6-4-2-1 6-3-2-1 5-3-2-1 For me, 6th is definitely not for highway only (and nor is cruise control for that matter) |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 12:00 PM | #19 | |
King!
6
Rep 43
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 12:02 PM | #20 |
Private First Class
16
Rep 107
Posts |
I also skip some gears sometimes depending on acceleration.
The most notable combo is 1st, 2nd, 4th then into 6th, usually when accelerating onto the highway. When accelerating briskly, I find it unnecessary going through all the gears and I don't thing I'm lagging the engine. |
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 12:09 PM | #21 | |
Brigadier General
441
Rep 4,838
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-29-2005, 12:11 PM | #22 | |
Private First Class
3
Rep 135
Posts |
Quote:
I sometimes skip 5th as well, but not always.. depending on traffic of course. What kinda gets tricky sometimes is downshifting into the right gear. Sometimes i shift too low, like into 3rd when 4th would be a better choice. At times like that I wish there was a gear indicator to show you which gear you're in. Oh and a nice HUD as well.
__________________
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|