6MT owners- when do you shift?

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by gordongekko

A definitive answer to whether driving in high gears (6th gear going 50 MPH??) will "carb up" your car and is bad for your engine.

Please explain what your understanding of "carb up" is.

If you're doing a steady 50mph due to traffic flow, the you can easily stay in 6th with NO engine damage what so ever.
If you're driving 50mph and you're on a very hilly road, then it would be wise to use gearing that does not allow the engine to drop it's speed too low under high load. That would be "lugging" the engine, and that can cause excessive wear and damage.

Basically, if you drive a manual trans car, then learn how to drive it, well before you get a new BMW.

[diamondsbylauren]

That's it!
From now on I'l be driving around in neutral.....

[gordongekko]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Please explain what your understanding of "carb up" is.

If you're doing a steady 50mph due to traffic flow, the you can easily stay in 6th with NO engine damage what so ever.
If you're driving 50mph and you're on a very hilly road, then it would be wise to use gearing that does not allow the engine to drop it's speed too low under high load. That would be "lugging" the engine, and that can cause excessive wear and damage.

Basically, if you drive a manual trans car, then learn how to drive it, well before you get a new BMW.

I know how to drive it, no need to be condescending (although I've noticed that's common here).

I know what lugging an engine is. Someone on here talked about "carbing up" an engine, saying it was not good for the engine. It's not my term or contention, I was just seeking clarity. I couldn't find the thread where it was discussed. I think it was in a M3 forum here.

[3onDubs]

Originally Posted by gordongekko

I know how to drive it, no need to be condescending (although I've noticed that's common here).

I know what lugging an engine is. Someone on here talked about "carbing up" an engine, saying it was not good for the engine. It's not my term or contention, I was just seeking clarity. I couldn't find the thread where it was discussed. I think it was in a M3 forum here.

An important issue regarding the carb-up is the type of exercise that precedes the carb-up. Typical carb-ups have been studied in endurance athletes, not weight trainers so extrapolations must be made with care. It has been long known that only the muscles worked immediately prior to the carb-up are supercompensated.

[imported_mega]

carbon build up, it's pretty common

[bmwmike335]

yea..i used to shift at 2-2500 rpm when going to run errands or just chillen..


3 months later when i fell in love with the tranny its mainly 3k rpm lol

ok ok sometimes ill shit earlier..

[cadeucsb]

Originally Posted by bmwmike335

yea..i used to shift at 2-2500 rpm when going to run errands or just chillen..


3 months later when i fell in love with the tranny its mainly 3k rpm lol

ok ok sometimes ill shit earlier..

I will not be riding with you.

[dtwyim]

Originally Posted by cadeucsb

I will not be riding with you.

Diapers and air freshener helps

[gordongekko]

Originally Posted by imported_mega

carbon build up, it's pretty common

And not an issue for the engine I assume?

[imported_mega]

Originally Posted by gordongekko

And not an issue for the engine I assume?

no, it's a very real issue on the n54, there's a few threads with pictures, I'm not sure if high rpm will help, the buildup is mostly on the valve stems

[Jeef Beef]

Originally Posted by gordongekko

And not an issue for the engine I assume?

Originally Posted by imported_mega

no, it's a very real issue on the n54, there's a few threads with pictures, I'm not sure if high rpm will help, the buildup is mostly on the valve stems

It's an affliction that most DI engines have to live with. There is no fuel going past the intake valves so no fuel-based 'cleaner' will do any good.

Rev out the engine a bit more and avoid driving on low-rpms all the time, but there's no definitive evidence that it helps in the long run. I do it regardless

However, I do find that the car is able to use 6th gear once past 60kph, there's more than enough power to keep the car going without lugging the engine.

[gordongekko]

Thanks for the clarification.

[andnkuhn]

Originally Posted by 3onDubs

An important issue regarding the carb-up is the type of exercise that precedes the carb-up. Typical carb-ups have been studied in endurance athletes, not weight trainers so extrapolations must be made with care. It has been long known that only the muscles worked immediately prior to the carb-up are supercompensated.

hahaha

[08LMB135i]

I rarely even shift under 3000-3500rpm when my oil temp is above 75 degrees Celcius, below that is 2500rpm until warm and minimal throttle.

[ROKO-3]

I definitely keep it in 6th gear when going 60mph. If need be I just blip the throttle snd downshift for maximum efficiency and sensibility.

[awns729]

For 35mph E-ZPass I can keep it in 6th and accelerate just fine.

How quick does everyone shift 1-2? and 2-3? I usually do 3k for 1st gear because it doesn't shift into second too quickly, so the higher RPM lets me push it at the gate a little bit longer while the revs come down.

[JimD]

I avoid giving the car more gas in 6th than it can pull. Even when the engine does not buck and shake, I think it's hard on the engine. If I'm doing 35mph in 6th, for instance, gradual acceleration is fine without downshifting but if I really need to accelerate quickly, I downshift to at least 4th. At 60mph, it is more likely I stay in 6th but again, if I really need to go, I go down to 4th. At 60mph, I am not so worried about lugging the engine but it doesn't want to accerate as fast at 2000-2500 as it does at 3500.

Jim

[awns729]

Originally Posted by JimD

I avoid giving the car more gas in 6th than it can pull. Even when the engine does not buck and shake, I think it's hard on the engine. If I'm doing 35mph in 6th, for instance, gradual acceleration is fine without downshifting but if I really need to accelerate quickly, I downshift to at least 4th. At 60mph, it is more likely I stay in 6th but again, if I really need to go, I go down to 4th. At 60mph, I am not so worried about lugging the engine but it doesn't want to accerate as fast at 2000-2500 as it does at 3500.

Jim

Agreed, in 6th gear at 35mph, no more than 25% throttle. Extra throttle barely makes a difference anyway. Definitely just for slow acceleration. Sometimes I even do 6 down to 3 to REALLY go lol

[dorkdog]

Originally Posted by richsnuc

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

How and when I shift is dependent on the environment in which I am shifting. If I am first on the line my shifting will be different than if I am behind a MILF and 8 kids in a 4 cylinder Caravan.

If I have passengers my driving 'persona' changes from that of enthusiast to that of chauffeur. Depends on who the passenger(s) are.

Generally if I am first off the line I am out there in front, shifting at 5K or 6K. Once I get to just over PSL I back off and settle in, ten car lengths ahead of the pack.

I find that I rarely use 5th gear in upshifting. I tend to go from 4 to 6 because that's usually when I roll off acceleration and settle in to a cruise configuration. If I were accelerating through 60 to say, 80 then I would use 5th.

Manual transmissions (and the newer Sport transmissions? I hesitate to call them 'automatics'...) do allow for greater control and 'feel' but also allow for operation outside of the manufacturer's 'normal' operation leaving power management up to the driver.

I wouldn't trade it for the world. If the 'increased wear and tear' means my engine requires a rebuild at 250K miles rather than 300K miles I'm OK with that.

[angler]

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!

You must be kidding me, are you driving a Prius? Who would drive a BMW at 35 miles in 6th gear?

[flinchy]

Originally Posted by angler

You must be kidding me, are you driving a Prius? Who would drive a BMW at 35 miles in 6th gear?

my 6th (130i) regularly sees action from 30 no worries. more power at low rpm though.

doesn't neccessarily save fuel (the counter still hits 39.5/100 lol)

cruising in traffic 4k is about where i land, high 3's low 4's

anywhere else pretty much is 7000-7100 lol.

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Ever? When I'm driving to work in the morning (cold engine) I'm pretty much always shifting under 2K. I love to hear my engine rev, too, but I find that a lot of the time it's just not appropriate for the type of driving I'm doing.

no idea how you manage <2k, no idea. so slow -_-

[mrow]

When cruising around town I generally try to use whatever gear will keep me at about 1500 to 2000 rpm. When I'm on the highway and I'm at cruising speeds I always keep it in 6th. All the torque plus overboost on the 1M when you floor it typically means I don't even have to change out of 6th to pass or overtake someone on the highway.