Who uses 5th gear?

professor · 08-09-2008, 06:56 PM

i use it when i am playing around. like skipping from 1 to 3 to 5. which reminds me - i wanted to ask whether the practice of skipping gears bad for the 'box in any way even if gear changes are at a sensible RPM?

AussieRacer · 08-09-2008, 07:04 PM

prof, it puts a little bit of extra wear on the syncros, but if you are not doing out and out driving when skipping the gears, the wear is very minimal indeed.

professor · 08-09-2008, 07:08 PM

good to hear that. yes, i only do it when i am cruising at a leisurely pace.

TagMan · 08-09-2008, 07:58 PM

Guilty. I admit it.

I usually do prefer to row through all the gears, but I sometimes skip fifth. And sometimes I have a bad habit of driving 1 - 2 - 4 - 6.

Those times when conditions warrant the use of fifth, my other bad habit is sometimes 1 - 3 - 5.

Shortcut anyone???

TunedM2C · 08-09-2008, 08:04 PM

We have a fifth gear?

JD135i · 08-09-2008, 08:18 PM

I use 5th on my MT usually when cruising on country roads, 40 to 50 or 55. After that, usually 6th.

instantexpert · 08-10-2008, 09:50 AM

My '09 135 is on order but I've got an '05 ZHP with a 6MT and I've rarely ever used 5th gear. 1st -> 2nd -> sometimes 3rd -> usually 4th -> 6th. If I drop low enough that 6th isn't appropriate I just naturally drop into 4th. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds 6 gears more than needed for most cases.

larryn · 08-10-2008, 09:57 AM

With the low rpm torque in the 135i, 6th gear can be used at 35mph, and you're not bogging to get back up to speed.

I'll also admit that I've also purposefully not shifted form 2nd to first at lights, and have taken off from 2nd (very easily). I don't do that often, but I've done it.

ModlessG · 08-10-2008, 12:37 PM

6th gear should be higher. It seams to close to 5th. Sometimes I go from 2nd to 5th by accident.

arrutled · 08-10-2008, 12:55 PM

I've never had a sixth gear honestly, never had anything but 5 gears on a 4 cylinder engine. I am sure through habit I will not be skipping gears, PLUS shifting is FUN!

richsnuc · 08-10-2008, 03:40 PM

I drive in-town 25mi/day round trip. The speed limit is 45, so after stopping at a light, I usually use 1-2-4-6, crusing at 45-52 depending on traffic, in 6th. I do, routinely, use 5th gear when I need to drive 30 for any length of time.

I use 6th for anything over 40, 5th for 30, 4th for 25, 3rd for 20.

I find that this car is geared very much like my '06 Cooper S, as I drive the 135i very much like the Cooper S...this one is just way, way quicker getting there!

EINSER M · 08-10-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryn

With the low rpm torque in the 135i, 6th gear can be used at 35mph, and you're not bogging to get back up to speed.

I'll also admit that I've also purposefully not shifted form 2nd to first at lights, and have taken off from 2nd (very easily). I don't do that often, but I've done it.

same here, i like to take off from 2nd gear! and i just noticed i dont use 5th gear either LOL

MastaMind · 08-10-2008, 04:55 PM

I use 5th a lot when traveling country roads, and I've been known to use second from a very slow roll.

Slay0r · 08-10-2008, 07:23 PM

5th gear is THE MOST skipped gear for me, infact, any time im above 30mph it goes in 6th just for gas eff. for city driving.

30mph in 6th gear = ~1k rpm
and the pull away isnt bad, but if i need to get away fast i will down shift to get around 1500rpm...then im gone

professor · 08-10-2008, 08:57 PM

2nd gear take off on even the slightest of forward incline, otherwise i just feel like i'm being cruel...

60Driver · 08-11-2008, 01:00 AM

Glad to see I'm not the only deviant. I usually skip 5th on the way up and down.

lib · 08-11-2008, 01:03 AM

"Fifth gear is rubbish"

roldan · 08-11-2008, 08:24 AM

I almost always skip 5th when merging onto the highway, but I like that it gives me something to do for that extra little bit of oomph for passing maneuvers, or it's also good for cruising at legal speeds on 45-50mph non-highway roads.

08-09-2008, 06:56 PM	#23
professor Major 46 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	i use it when i am playing around. like skipping from 1 to 3 to 5. which reminds me - i wanted to ask whether the practice of skipping gears bad for the 'box in any way even if gear changes are at a sensible RPM?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2008, 07:04 PM	#24
AussieRacer Major 24 Rep 1,058 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Aust iTrader: (0)	prof, it puts a little bit of extra wear on the syncros, but if you are not doing out and out driving when skipping the gears, the wear is very minimal indeed. __________________ Current: 135i Auto, Le Mans Blue - w/ Bridgestone RE-11 rears, GP Thunder 7500k angels, & "golf tee" mod plus a few M3 suspension bits and pieces...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2008, 07:08 PM	#25
professor Major 46 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	good to hear that. yes, i only do it when i am cruising at a leisurely pace.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2008, 07:58 PM	#26
TagMan Car Addict!! 60 Rep 1,303 Posts Drives: '08 135i Convertible Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Malibu, California iTrader: (0)	Guilty. I admit it. I usually do prefer to row through all the gears, but I sometimes skip fifth. And sometimes I have a bad habit of driving 1 - 2 - 4 - 6. Those times when conditions warrant the use of fifth, my other bad habit is sometimes 1 - 3 - 5. Shortcut anyone??? __________________ 2008 /// Commemorative /// 6-Speed /// Titanium Silver /// Fully-Loaded /// 135i Convertible
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2008, 08:04 PM	#27
TunedM2C Brigadier General 829 Rep 4,190 Posts Drives: 2016 LBB M2 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Earth iTrader: (2)	We have a fifth gear?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-09-2008, 08:18 PM	#28
JD135i Enlisted Member 1 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2008 135i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Boston, MA iTrader: (0)	I use 5th on my MT usually when cruising on country roads, 40 to 50 or 55. After that, usually 6th.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 09:50 AM	#29
instantexpert Second Lieutenant 38 Rep 203 Posts Drives: 2017 X5 40e Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	My '09 135 is on order but I've got an '05 ZHP with a 6MT and I've rarely ever used 5th gear. 1st -> 2nd -> sometimes 3rd -> usually 4th -> 6th. If I drop low enough that 6th isn't appropriate I just naturally drop into 4th. I'm glad I'm not the only one that finds 6 gears more than needed for most cases.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 09:57 AM	#30
larryn Lieutenant General 2146 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	With the low rpm torque in the 135i, 6th gear can be used at 35mph, and you're not bogging to get back up to speed. I'll also admit that I've also purposefully not shifted form 2nd to first at lights, and have taken off from 2nd (very easily). I don't do that often, but I've done it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 12:37 PM	#31
ModlessG Private 5 Rep 83 Posts Drives: Join Date: Apr 2008 iTrader: (0)	6th gear should be higher. It seams to close to 5th. Sometimes I go from 2nd to 5th by accident.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 12:55 PM	#32
arrutled Colonel 104 Rep 2,474 Posts Drives: Olsa Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Western Mass iTrader: (0)	I've never had a sixth gear honestly, never had anything but 5 gears on a 4 cylinder engine. I am sure through habit I will not be skipping gears, PLUS shifting is FUN! __________________ AW 135i w/ blackette, performance short shift kit, BMW alarm, Performance rotors, APEX ARC-8 wheels, Direzza Star Spec 235/275, Dinan stage 3 suspension, M3 wishbones/tension rods/front sway/rear subframe bushings and thats all folks!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 03:40 PM	#33
richsnuc Retired USN LT 18 Rep 192 Posts Drives: 2024 X5M60i Avus Blue/Coffee Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	I drive in-town 25mi/day round trip. The speed limit is 45, so after stopping at a light, I usually use 1-2-4-6, crusing at 45-52 depending on traffic, in 6th. I do, routinely, use 5th gear when I need to drive 30 for any length of time. I use 6th for anything over 40, 5th for 30, 4th for 25, 3rd for 20. I find that this car is geared very much like my '06 Cooper S, as I drive the 135i very much like the Cooper S...this one is just way, way quicker getting there!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 04:55 PM	#35
MastaMind I like beer 32 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: AW 135 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Under Pressure iTrader: (0)	I use 5th a lot when traveling country roads, and I've been known to use second from a very slow roll.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 07:23 PM	#36
Slay0r First Lieutenant 19 Rep 337 Posts Drives: 08 135i, 08 E92 ///M,13 535i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Louisiana iTrader: (0)	5th gear is THE MOST skipped gear for me, infact, any time im above 30mph it goes in 6th just for gas eff. for city driving. 30mph in 6th gear = ~1k rpm and the pull away isnt bad, but if i need to get away fast i will down shift to get around 1500rpm...then im gone
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-10-2008, 08:57 PM	#37
professor Major 46 Rep 1,473 Posts Drives: Z4 M40i Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	2nd gear take off on even the slightest of forward incline, otherwise i just feel like i'm being cruel...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-11-2008, 01:00 AM	#38
60Driver Lieutenant 6 Rep 459 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	Glad to see I'm not the only deviant. I usually skip 5th on the way up and down. __________________ ~My other car is a Blackhawk~ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-11-2008, 01:03 AM	#39
lib Major 141 Rep 1,401 Posts Drives: <This space for rent> Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: ATX iTrader: (0)	"Fifth gear is rubbish"
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-11-2008, 08:24 AM	#40
roldan Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 238 Posts Drives: '08 135i Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Somerville, MA iTrader: (0)	I almost always skip 5th when merging onto the highway, but I like that it gives me something to do for that extra little bit of oomph for passing maneuvers, or it's also good for cruising at legal speeds on 45-50mph non-highway roads.
	Appreciate 0 Quote