6MT owners- when do you shift?

[infinitekidM2C]

Keep driving it like u stole it DBL!...only way to live

[JN2009]

Normal shift 3000 /Rpm is the way to go and I shift the 6 at 3400 /RPM
Hard shift 4500 /Rpm to pass a car.
60mph in 5 gear
75mph in 6 gear

[diamondsbylauren]

Why else have a car like this?
I love to drive fast- but only when it's safe to do so.

I do agree that we need to drive safely- and not in a such a way we re-enforce the bad rep BMW drivers already enjoy

[freshwhite335]

Originally Posted by psalm40

That is so true...it is all about your mindset. When I drive my winter car (2010 Outback 4liter) I tend to keep the revs higher and go faster, and get the jump on the other guys at the light.
When I am driving the GT-R, I AM FASTER than any other car on the road (maybe minus a modded Z06/ZR1/911TT) and I tend to actually drive SLOWER through town, off the lights, etc...and I would never street race anyone at a light...you already know the outcome.

I did the same thing in my SLK55. I felt like I drove faster in my Hemi Grand Cherokee than in my SLK55. The 1 is fast, but when you have TONS of torque I think you tend to drive a little easier.

[richsnuc]

The great thing about a manual transmission is that you can downshift anytime you want. Driving around at 4000 RPM is asinine. You are unnecessarily causing wear, wasting gas, etc. This car has so much more torque than most cars out there that you can easily cruise in 6th at 35 mph and STILL accelerate at a pretty decent rate. If it isn't good enough, downshift to 4th or 3rd when you need it...save the car the rest of the time.
When driving a constant speed, I typically choose:
1st for <10 mph
2nd for <15 mph (yep even for rolling stops)
3rd for 15-20 mph
4th for 20-25 mph
5th for 30-35 mph
6th for any steady speed over 35 mph

If I'm feeling froggy, obviously, this changes. When hitting the curves, for instance, 3rd is very versatile!

[ennislaw]

For stealth driving, 2k rpm is your friend. I don't even bother with the speedometer since it's not only one of the most unreadable ones I've seen but also inaccurate. I just shift around 2.5-3.0k rpm to the next gear, but spend a lot of time around 2k rpm, even in 6th gear. Feel like excitement, then move up beyond 3K into the upper ranges. The 135i has a lot of torque down low, so driving in the city with a MT is a breeze, well other than stop and go traffic.

A MT allows you to enjoy a special relationship with your car, just listen and "feel" what the tranny and engine are telling you.

pge

[gordongekko]

Driving around 36 MPH in 6th gear. Interesting I guess.

[mtla4]

Shifting at 2K what are you guys truck drivers?

[Ash83]

if you are cruising do not stay at hi rpm just put in 6.. it will save you MPGs/Wear and tear..

If you wanna pass some1 or exit on a ramp just shift down (heel and toe for smother shift).

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by mtla4

Shifting at 2K what are you guys truck drivers?

No, just in the middle of town with a red stoplight at each block, hardly the time for WOT shifts, hun.

pge

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by SlicktopTTZ

I also do not block the left lane, ultimate pet peeve.

I got in a huge argument with a good friend about this, who said he 'loves to do this to "assholes" in BMWs'. I should of kicked his ass out of my car as we were riding in my car when it happened.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by richsnuc

The great thing about a manual transmission is that you can downshift anytime you want. Driving around at 4000 RPM is asinine. You are unnecessarily causing wear, wasting gas, etc. This car has so much more torque than most cars out there that you can easily cruise in 6th at 35 mph and STILL accelerate at a pretty decent rate. If it isn't good enough, downshift to 4th or 3rd when you need it...save the car the rest of the time.
When driving a constant speed, I typically choose:
1st for <10 mph
2nd for <15 mph (yep even for rolling stops)
3rd for 15-20 mph
4th for 20-25 mph
5th for 30-35 mph
6th for any steady speed over 35 mph

If I'm feeling froggy, obviously, this changes. When hitting the curves, for instance, 3rd is very versatile!

How are you not bogging your engine?

[3onDubs]

60 in 6th gear, the car sits at 2K rpm. I can't imagine cruising at 35 in 6th.


I typically shift between 2-3K when the car is cold (accelerating slower), between 3-4K when it's warm.

[escobar929]

Originally Posted by 3onDubs

60 in 6th gear, the car sits at 2K rpm. I can't imagine cruising at 35 in 6th.


I typically shift between 2-3K when the car is cold (accelerating slower), between 3-4K when it's warm.

but when I get on a clear road, I tend to shift around 5.5k-6k

[richsnuc]

Give it a try...35mph in 6th is about 1100 RPM, far from bogging. Idle is about 650-700 RPM.

Gearing on this car is nearly identical to the Cooper S that I had. It would do 35 in 6th comfortably, as well.

You must be used to driving a Honda or some other relatively small-engined car. My wife's 2002 Trans Am does 60 at about 1200 RPM, and it will run 35 mph in 4th (that's all it's got) gear as well.

Moral is that torque is your friend. You don't have to waste gas by rollling around in 5th gear in town.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by richsnuc

Give it a try...35mph in 6th is about 1100 RPM, far from bogging. Idle is about 650-700 RPM.

Gearing on this car is nearly identical to the Cooper S that I had. It would do 35 in 6th comfortably, as well.

You must be used to driving a Honda or some other relatively small-engined car. My wife's 2002 Trans Am does 60 at about 1200 RPM, and it will run 35 mph in 4th (that's all it's got) gear as well.

Moral is that torque is your friend. You don't have to waste gas by rollling around in 5th gear in town.

I will try this when I get my car back from dealer. I'm all about saving gas!

Yes, this car has far more torque than any car I've owned previously.

[gordongekko]

Originally Posted by Augenbrauezug

I will try this when I get my car back from dealer. I'm all about saving gas!

Yes, this car has far more torque than any car I've owned previously.

I tried running in 6th at about 40 MPH. The engine did not get bogged down. I don't think I'll drive this way though.

[_dopehead_]

Originally Posted by richsnuc

Give it a try...35mph in 6th is about 1100 RPM, far from bogging. Idle is about 650-700 RPM.

Gearing on this car is nearly identical to the Cooper S that I had. It would do 35 in 6th comfortably, as well.

You must be used to driving a Honda or some other relatively small-engined car. My wife's 2002 Trans Am does 60 at about 1200 RPM, and it will run 35 mph in 4th (that's all it's got) gear as well.

Moral is that torque is your friend. You don't have to waste gas by rollling around in 5th gear in town.

Gas is never wasted if youre having fun using it :-)

[Einser BMW]

Originally Posted by ennislaw

No, just in the middle of town with a red stoplight at each block, hardly the time for WOT shifts, hun.

pge

Nope, that still works if you are the first at the light and know your town.

[imported_mega]

5500rpm, but only once the engine oil is almost full operating temp, I like to hit 60 before I shift to 3rd

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by diamondsbylauren

I hear you about the gas mileage- I'm lucky to get 16 mpg.
but I only drive 12 or so miles a day- so i can live with that aspect.

In terms of wear and tear- that's one great aspect of leasing a car.
I have tried driving in 6th many times.
It sucks when some shitty Camry gets the jump on you cause you're cruising at 200 rpm.....

12 miles a day?
You need to drive more to get the oil up to temp and burn off the moisture you are building up in there, especially during cold winter conditions.
You should also consider earlier oil changes due to how little you drive.

Cruising at 200rpm? You mean lugging at 200rpm.
I've NEVER had a Camry or something like it get a jump on me, even while in 6th. But then, if a Camry wanted to race, I wouldn't waste the fuel or my time.

For daily driving I shift according to conditions, even automatics do that.
For best MPG I "skip shift" going from 1 to 3 to 5th or 6th depending on speed. Or, I go 1 to 2 to 4 to 6.
I skip shift quite often, and I vary the gears to keep wear even, but I'm not too worried about that.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by RPM90

12 miles a day? You need to drive more to get the oil up to temp and burn off the moisture you are building up in there, especially during cold winter conditions. You should also consider earlier oil changes due to how little you drive. ...

I definitely agree with this. It takes about 20 miles of highway driving to bring mine to normal temperature. I try to avoid cold starts/cold stops like the plague.

Originally Posted by RPM90

For best MPG I "skip shift" going from 1 to 3 to 5th or 6th depending on speed. Or, I go 1 to 2 to 4 to 6. I skip shift quite often, and I vary the gears to keep wear even, but I'm not too worried about that.

One of the nice features of the MT is the ability to skip shifts. I routinely skip shifts in town. I do 2 to 4 occasionally and 3 to 5 frequently, usually around 2k+ rpm while in town. If your temp is normal there should be no problem, and there's plenty of torque around 2K rpm.

pge