Shifting gears at Low RPM??

[tom d]

Hey Guys,

I drive a 91 318i and usually shift at 1800-2200.......and not too hard considering how slow the car is.

yes this will lower the life expectancy of the engine and of course you think it's slow, try shifting at 4-6K and then tell us you think the car is slow!

[enigmaticdream]

I shift all my cars at around 3-3.5 when cold (m20, m50, s14). After that it is anything goes. The M50 is the bitch of the crew though trying to lug around a 3700lbs mass. The M20 is driven hard everyday as is the S14 when used.

[AndrewBird]

4500-5000ish. Also, what idiot told you that?

The M50 VANOS never fails, anyway. All it ever needs is new seals, and if you can't cope with doing a Beisan seal kit, you should sell the car now and buy a Hyundai.

Vanos actually engages a bit above idle and turns off at around 5k. So basically, it's almost always on.

Redline is just the safe mechanical operating limit of the engine. I figure why not use that range? Putting around I shift at 3k, but the car sees redline several times a day. Merging on the freeway? Redline 1st and 2nd, then shift into 5th.

[MR E30 325is]

My E30 gets babied. Always fired up in the garage or parking lot for at least 3 minutes before I even move it.

When she is fully warmed up, there is nothing quite like the sound my car makes, so peak RPM's it is.

If I am feeling lame and boring, 3500 is still a common rpm to shift at.

Side Note: to my knowledge, unlike vtec, etc. which are rpm based systems, VANOS is supposedly load based, meaning it will activate at a multitude of different rpm's as the load is increased to a certain value.

[MattAvino]

Depending on what sort of load is being put on it (lugging to be specific), shifting at such low rpms all the time will accelerate wear on the main bearings.

[Vtec?lol]

M10 = 4000rpm
m42 = 4200rpm
m20 = 5000rpm (they sing!)
b27 = NA (goes straight to the junker
m60 = 3000rpm
m62 = 3500rpm (love listening to the vanos change the exhaust note)
s5x = 6000+

[brbahner]

So why is it no one really knows how Vanos works? i think its a combo of having it kick in a 2.5 and out at 5 and load bearing activation.

[lukeADE335i]

]
Got a question for you about shifting gears. I drive a 91 318i and usually shift at 1800-2200, so just around 2k RPM. It's pretty much just habit at this point, and not too hard considering how slow the car is (I still love it!)

I'd give it some spirited driving at some point to remove carbon deposits as someone pointed out early in the thread.

My old e21 owners manual pointed out that if EVER stuck in traffic, the owner should enjoy some spirited driving as soon as the traffic was cleared, and run the engine to redline in a couple of gears! Even BMW condones this as good for your car.

[nyChris]

My E30 gets babied. Always fired up in the garage or parking lot for at least 3 minutes before I even move it.

Contrary to popular belief, that is actually hurting your engine more than driving it immediately after starting.

If you have the Owners handbook, refer to page 48. It states "It is not recommended to allow the engine to warm up at idling speed. Drive away at moderate engine speeds immediately after starting".

[brbahner]

Contrary to popular belief, that is actually hurting your engine more than driving it immediately after starting.

If you have the Owners handbook, refer to page 48. It states "It is not recommended to allow the engine to warm up at idling speed. Drive away at moderate engine speeds immediately after starting".

WOAH you sir just changed my mornings

[Conki]

Yes, it is better to drive the car at moderate RPMs under moderate load after starting it.
Letting it idle in the morning will take the engine longer to warm up, so it spends more time at below-operating temperatures.

Best solution is to not put load on it (keeping it in neutral), but holding a moderate RPM until warm. It will warm up quicker with the least amount of internal wear.

[jlevie]

Except when coasting to a stop I never want to see the engine speed on an M20B25 go below 2500rpm. The same is true for a 318. Normal up-shift point should at 4000rpm or somewhat higher.

[DER E30]

When cold I shift at 2500. When warm usually aroun 4-4500. Unless I'm making her scream

This describes me, for the first 10-15 mins I'm gentle on it, then if I'm on a curvy road its on!
Cold engine and oil is not happy when redlined