6th gear over 40 miles?

N1 · 03-12-2006, 02:48 PM

or you use it under 40?

Chesmu · 03-12-2006, 03:22 PM

why would you use 6th gear under 40 mph? you would lug the engine like crazy!

CnoteMD · 03-12-2006, 03:26 PM

I generally don't use 6th gear unless I am going to spend a significant amount of time over 65-70mph. Using it at 40mph is going to really lug the engine.

Chesmu · 03-12-2006, 03:34 PM

i don't go to 6th until 75 mph. and like

Chesmu · 03-12-2006, 03:34 PM

i don't go to 6th until 75 mph. and like you , not unless i'm gonna be there for awhile.

N1 · 03-12-2006, 03:56 PM

40 miles = 64.37376 kilometers in petrol engine i thought it was the minimum for 6th.

Artz 330 · 03-12-2006, 04:14 PM

To not lug the engine, what would be safe to keep a crusing RPM, 2000 2500?

N1 · 03-12-2006, 04:28 PM

Yes i agree rpm 2000, but in diesel engines they made rpm 1500 in 5th by 40 miles. It depends on the gear box ratio but asking here is perhaps dull because some ppl answer with some incapacity of reasoning further.

Chesmu · 03-12-2006, 05:07 PM

Dear N1,
you seem to be taking things very personally. Sorry to be "dull". It seems silly to me to put the car in 6th gear and drive at 1500 -2000 rpm (atleast in "petrol" engines). There's just no power in it. Could I? Yes. Would I? no. And that seems to answer, in my opinion, your question.

N1 · 03-12-2006, 05:23 PM

Youre welcome. Put the car in the minimum its work of professional drivers, that way the car beats records of ... END

Robin_NL · 03-12-2006, 05:30 PM

6th is for speeds beyond 120mph.

j/k I use 6th gear beyond 75 mph too.

Chesmu · 03-12-2006, 05:31 PM

live till yer 95 and eat yogurt... live til yer 85 and eat steak....
i choose steak.

sdorn · 03-12-2006, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moocow

live till yer 95 and eat yogurt... live til yer 85 and eat steak....
i choose steak.

What if you eat steak and yogurt? Do you get to live to be 90 then? I would rather live until 90 if all I have to do is eat a little yogurt. Yogurt isn't really all that bad, especially the strawberry flavored yogurt with the strawberries in the bottom. I also like the apple pie flavored yogurt. It is kind of like eating dessert. In fact I sometimes eat it for dessert. I could even it as dessert after eating steak.

hotsand5 · 03-12-2006, 06:31 PM

just watch your mpg gauge and it will tell you what gear you should be in for normal driving. If you are going 40 mph, but keeping the speed steady and not accelerating then keep it in 5th (the best gas milage), but going 40 and slowing and accelerating, then I would keep it in 4th. 6th is when I am going 70mph +.

N1 · 03-13-2006, 02:22 AM

over 70 minimum ok.

SRT · 03-13-2006, 03:40 AM

If you're on a consistent road (no fluctuations in speed limit, sharp bends etc) and cruising (no steep inclines / declines) 6th gear is fine at 35-40mph but don't get lazy - be aware of what's occuring on the road and change up nice and early so you have grunt available when you need it

JonMad · 03-13-2006, 04:03 AM

In the diesel, 6th is at 1500rpm around 55mph, which has enough torque to not feel like it's putting excess strain on things. As for this, 'don't use 6th unless you're on a highway or doing xmph?' Why should it be different from any other gear? If the car will put from 2000rpm in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th then why not change up to 6th at the same revs? It's not an overdrive. IMO.

I often skip gears and tend to use 5th less than 6th (I did this more in my old car where 6th was good from 30mph up). 4th to 6th is a nice quick motion, then on slowing down, 6th to 4th or to 3rd with a blip.

Tierfreund · 03-13-2006, 09:38 AM

The N52 is happy to cruise along at 1000rpm. No harm to the engine at all. Just not too much toque at tap when you want it. So if you´re prepared to downshift once you need to accelerate, 6th is fine at 40. Actually best fuel efficiency for the speed.

vladinecko · 03-13-2006, 09:46 AM

wow, 40mph in 6th? never tried that before. i'm usually in 4th till i hit 55-60 so i don't hit 6th until like 70mph as well.

have to give it a try to see how mpg compares to lower gears at that speed...

tctic · 03-13-2006, 11:30 AM

Steptronic doesn't let you engage in 6th if you are going 55km/h or below. But to actually take advantage of the 6th gear economy, I find it to start at around 65-70km/h. Below that, 5th might even be more economical because of better torque when acceleration is needed. I use the 6th gear when I go at or above 65km/h for an extended period. In that case, I am not concerned without enough torque when I need it as all I need is a crusing speed of 65km/h.

London320d · 03-13-2006, 02:18 PM

vladinecko, bear in mind we're talking 320d's here (you know, one of those thing that doesn't need to visit a fuel station too frequently [just as well really, as I

every time I do, courtsey of the UK fuel prices]

).

I've not got a lot of experience of my car yet (950 miles now!) but I would be hesitant to use 6th that slow, unless I was on level gradient or going downhill and not accelerating.

OK, The torque of the diesel would cope with attempted acceleration better than the petrol engine, but my heart would sink as the economy gauge went right over and stayed there whilst my poor motor laboured me out of the situation. I'd be much much happier in 5th, and I don't think that the economy would be significanty worse (if at all), either.

vladinecko · 03-13-2006, 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by London320d

vladinecko, bear in mind we're talking 320d's here (you know, one of those thing that doesn't need to visit a fuel station too frequently [just as well really, as I

every time I do, courtsey of the UK fuel prices]

).

oh crap, that's right. i should have looked at his "Drive" first...

seriously, 320d must be getting like 50mpg...

03-12-2006, 02:48 PM	#1
N1 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 272 Posts Drives: BMW 320d M Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	6th gear over 40 miles? or you use it under 40?
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03-12-2006, 03:22 PM	#2
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	why would you use 6th gear under 40 mph? you would lug the engine like crazy! __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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03-12-2006, 03:26 PM	#3
CnoteMD Commander in Chief 37 Rep 1,034 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 535i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 M5 [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	I generally don't use 6th gear unless I am going to spend a significant amount of time over 65-70mph. Using it at 40mph is going to really lug the engine. __________________ 2008 BMW 535i Space Gray, Black Leather, Dark Bamboo Trim\| Sport Automatic with Paddles \| Sport Package 2008 BMW M5 (gone, but not forgotten) Space Gray, Silverstone Merino Leather, Madeira Walnut Wood Trim \| 7speed SMG \| All options Mods: Corsa Exhaust \| RPI Ram Air Intake \| H&R Sport Springs \| Rogue Engineering 12mm spacers
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03-12-2006, 03:34 PM	#4
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	i don't go to 6th until 75 mph. and like __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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03-12-2006, 03:34 PM	#5
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	i don't go to 6th until 75 mph. and like you , not unless i'm gonna be there for awhile. __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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03-12-2006, 03:56 PM	#6
N1 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 272 Posts Drives: BMW 320d M Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	40 miles = 64.37376 kilometers in petrol engine i thought it was the minimum for 6th.
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03-12-2006, 04:14 PM	#7
Artz 330 Colonel 196 Rep 2,486 Posts Drives: Z4M, 335i, 135i Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	To not lug the engine, what would be safe to keep a crusing RPM, 2000 2500? __________________
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03-12-2006, 04:28 PM	#8
N1 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 272 Posts Drives: BMW 320d M Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	Yes i agree rpm 2000, but in diesel engines they made rpm 1500 in 5th by 40 miles. It depends on the gear box ratio but asking here is perhaps dull because some ppl answer with some incapacity of reasoning further.
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03-12-2006, 05:07 PM	#9
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	Dear N1, you seem to be taking things very personally. Sorry to be "dull". It seems silly to me to put the car in 6th gear and drive at 1500 -2000 rpm (atleast in "petrol" engines). There's just no power in it. Could I? Yes. Would I? no. And that seems to answer, in my opinion, your question. __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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03-12-2006, 05:23 PM	#10
N1 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 272 Posts Drives: BMW 320d M Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	Youre welcome. Put the car in the minimum its work of professional drivers, that way the car beats records of ... END
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03-12-2006, 05:30 PM	#11
Robin_NL S0THPAW 8710 Rep 7,846 Posts Drives: HS M2 Competition Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: The Netherlands iTrader: (0)	6th is for speeds beyond 120mph. j/k I use 6th gear beyond 75 mph too.
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03-12-2006, 05:31 PM	#12
Chesmu Brigadier General 89 Rep 3,011 Posts Drives: 2013 X6 Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Phoenix,AZ iTrader: (2) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2006 330i [0.00]	live till yer 95 and eat yogurt... live til yer 85 and eat steak.... i choose steak. __________________ "Teach the ignorant. Ignore the stupid."
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03-12-2006, 06:31 PM	#14
hotsand5 hotsand5 49 Rep 806 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW 330i 6spd Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: chicago iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	just watch your mpg gauge and it will tell you what gear you should be in for normal driving. If you are going 40 mph, but keeping the speed steady and not accelerating then keep it in 5th (the best gas milage), but going 40 and slowing and accelerating, then I would keep it in 4th. 6th is when I am going 70mph +. __________________ -2006 BMW 330i-Sapphire Black- Tera Leather-Aluminum trim- 6spd manual- Sport- Premium- Cold- Navigation- Euro. delivery -2005 Yamaha Warrior 1700 102cu"
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03-13-2006, 02:22 AM	#15
N1 Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 272 Posts Drives: BMW 320d M Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	over 70 minimum ok.
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03-13-2006, 03:40 AM	#16
SRT Second Lieutenant 7 Rep 297 Posts Drives: BMW 5 Series Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: London, UK iTrader: (0)	If you're on a consistent road (no fluctuations in speed limit, sharp bends etc) and cruising (no steep inclines / declines) 6th gear is fine at 35-40mph but don't get lazy - be aware of what's occuring on the road and change up nice and early so you have grunt available when you need it
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03-13-2006, 04:03 AM	#17
JonMad Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 235 Posts Drives: 320d SE;Mazda MX-5 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hampshire, UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 1990 Mazda MX-5 [0.00] 2005 BMW 320d [0.00]	In the diesel, 6th is at 1500rpm around 55mph, which has enough torque to not feel like it's putting excess strain on things. As for this, 'don't use 6th unless you're on a highway or doing xmph?' Why should it be different from any other gear? If the car will put from 2000rpm in 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th then why not change up to 6th at the same revs? It's not an overdrive. IMO. I often skip gears and tend to use 5th less than 6th (I did this more in my old car where 6th was good from 30mph up). 4th to 6th is a nice quick motion, then on slowing down, 6th to 4th or to 3rd with a blip.
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03-13-2006, 09:38 AM	#18
Tierfreund Major 21 Rep 1,002 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	The N52 is happy to cruise along at 1000rpm. No harm to the engine at all. Just not too much toque at tap when you want it. So if you´re prepared to downshift once you need to accelerate, 6th is fine at 40. Actually best fuel efficiency for the speed. __________________ No, not THAT kind of tierfreund!
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03-13-2006, 09:46 AM	#19
vladinecko Brigadier General 277 Rep 3,924 Posts Drives: '11 E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW M3 [9.00] 2008 BMW 335i [0.00] 2006 BMW 330i [0.00] 1994 BMW 325i [0.00]	wow, 40mph in 6th? never tried that before. i'm usually in 4th till i hit 55-60 so i don't hit 6th until like 70mph as well. have to give it a try to see how mpg compares to lower gears at that speed... __________________ 2011 E92 M3 - IB/Beige/Sycamore Wood/6MT/EDC/ZPP2/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/iPod-USB/Enh. Audio 2008 E92 335i - Montego Blue/Black/Gray Poplar/6MT/ZPP/ZSP/Nav/PDC/Heated Seats/HDRadio/iPod-USB - *Sold* 2006 E90 330i - Mystic Blue/Black/Aluminum/6MT/ZPP/iDrive/PDC/Heated Seats/Sat. Prep - *Sold* 1994 E36 325i - Boston Green/Beige/Automatic/ZPP/Heated Seats/Premium Sound - *Sold*
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03-13-2006, 11:30 AM	#20
tctic Major 38 Rep 1,238 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Steptronic doesn't let you engage in 6th if you are going 55km/h or below. But to actually take advantage of the 6th gear economy, I find it to start at around 65-70km/h. Below that, 5th might even be more economical because of better torque when acceleration is needed. I use the 6th gear when I go at or above 65km/h for an extended period. In that case, I am not concerned without enough torque when I need it as all I need is a crusing speed of 65km/h.
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03-13-2006, 02:18 PM	#21
London320d Second Lieutenant 6 Rep 275 Posts Drives: '06 E90 320dSE Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: London, England iTrader: (0)	vladinecko, bear in mind we're talking 320d's here (you know, one of those thing that doesn't need to visit a fuel station too frequently [just as well really, as I every time I do, courtsey of the UK fuel prices] ). I've not got a lot of experience of my car yet (950 miles now!) but I would be hesitant to use 6th that slow, unless I was on level gradient or going downhill and not accelerating. OK, The torque of the diesel would cope with attempted acceleration better than the petrol engine, but my heart would sink as the economy gauge went right over and stayed there whilst my poor motor laboured me out of the situation. I'd be much much happier in 5th, and I don't think that the economy would be significanty worse (if at all), either.
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