7k rpm vs 8k rpm

[dragon1761]

i just notice for 128i our rpm goes up to 7 vs for all 328i they all go up to 8. why is that when the engine is the same? What is the advantage of having a higher rpm gauge? Is our engine inferior to that of the 328i?

[Zeros and ones]

really.... I was just in a 328i last weak as a loaner from the dealer. Had it for 3 days. RPM's stopped at 7

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by dragon1761

i just notice for 128i our rpm goes up to 7 vs for all 328i they all go up to 8. why is that when the engine is the same? What is the advantage of having a higher rpm gauge? Is our engine inferior to that of the 328i?

What do you mean? Both the 328i and 128i have tachometers which are are redlined at 7,000 rpm.

It's the same motor, and the same redline.

Although you may be observing that the 328i gauge has an "8" on it and the 128i does not, all numbers on the gauge above the redline are completely irrelevant.

Tom

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by Tom K.

...all numbers on the gauge above the redline are completely irrelevant.

Tom

Not if you want to shift to first at about 70 and know for sure that you messed up.

[Impervious]

I don't understand car companies that put 5k extra rpms over the redline... Not really referring to BMW but I've seen various other car companies do this.

Also, I am surprised BMW would put a different tach in the 3er than the 1er. As much as they try to cut costs you would think they would be the same.

[Lucky1]

Isn't there a mod (maybe from Activ Autowerk?) that bumps up the redline from 7k to 8k? In that case it might be nice to have the extra number on the tach

Whether its a good idea to redline this engine at 8k regularly that's another story...it seems pretty angry at 7k already

[wolfe]

Originally Posted by Impervious

I don't understand car companies that put 5k extra rpms over the redline... Not really referring to BMW but I've seen various other car companies do this.

Also, I am surprised BMW would put a different tach in the 3er than the 1er. As much as they try to cut costs you would think they would be the same.

I think the gauge cluster is different. I had a 3 as a loaner, and it had this neat little white arrow that spins into place around the speedometer to show you where the cruise control is set at. I was hoping the 1 would have this too.

[Zeros and ones]

Originally Posted by wolfe

I think the gauge cluster is different. I had a 3 as a loaner, and it had this neat little white arrow that spins into place around the speedometer to show you where the cruise control is set at. I was hoping the 1 would have this too.

totally.... I thought that was pretty cool too. Wish the 1er has that as well. Sometime it is the little things that just make a car great!

[Tom K.]

Originally Posted by Impervious

I don't understand car companies that put 5k extra rpms over the redline... Not really referring to BMW but I've seen various other car companies do this.

It's called headroom. Just as an audio VU meter often reads to +6db, you don't want to use this range as terrible distortion will result. But I was assuming you meant 500 RPM, 5,000 is simply poor design.

Having driven many different vehicles in 5 decades, I've never seen a tachometer or speedometer (except for the ill-fated US 85 mph speedos in the 1980's) whose range did NOT exceed the actual capabilities of the car - usually by about 1,000 RPM for the tach.

While 100 mph speedos appeared in the US during the 1930s, very few cars could actually reach 100 until the late '50s - at which point the speedos began reading to 120 or 140. Of course, those magnetic instruments were also quite optimistic with my 1976 BMW R75/6 motorcycle reading 124 mph at it's true top speed of 102!

Tom

[dragon1761]

thanks for the input. Yea i usually change at 2k to save gas. Highest ive gone is liek 5-6k, and that was like a 1 time thing. So i did some research with carmax pics, yea just like what peep said the 328i sedan has a 7 on it, however the 328i convert /coupe has an 8 on their tach. I was just curious bc i have been watching a lot of initial D episodes and how this dude's car had a high rev engine that goes to 12k and now his car is all bada$$. Just wondering if it means that the 328i has a better engine than we do even though they claim it was totally the same.

[ItsHectic]

Originally Posted by Impervious

I don't understand car companies that put 5k extra rpms over the redline... Not really referring to BMW but I've seen various other car companies do this.

Perhaps its because with certain mods it can safely go to that number?

[cvandenhaute]

Originally Posted by dragon1761

thanks for the input. Yea i usually change at 2k to save gas. Highest ive gone is liek 5-6k, and that was like a 1 time thing. So i did some research with carmax pics, yea just like what peep said the 328i sedan has a 7 on it, however the 328i convert /coupe has an 8 on their tach. I was just curious bc i have been watching a lot of initial D episodes and how this dude's car had a high rev engine that goes to 12k and now his car is all bada$$. Just wondering if it means that the 328i has a better engine than we do even though they claim it was totally the same.

The 128i and the 328i have exactly the same engine, I believe, I think there are a few differences with the exhaust (not sure). You should try to exceed sometimes 6K, that engine has a nice voice around 7k (for short period of time of course), unfortunately I can only do that in second gear, in third you are already getting towards license removal territory at 7k