Shift RPMs

[jmo69]

I've had enough issues with my ZF trans that I bought a used one to replace it with. Now I'm wondering if I'm just not shifting at a high enough rpm. If I shift at 3k it slides in better, but the lag in the rpm drop is more noticeable and sounds like a rookie at the wheel. Lower rpm shift points also save more $4.06 a gal. gas and although my car is not loud, 3k shift are more noticeable by the local militia. I'm still going to change the trans to try and eliminate the mystery shift pattern and hopefully the lack of smoothness. Am I imagining all this or what??

[Arctikz]

i shift at what ever.. sometimes i shift and 6k and sometimes 5k and sometimes 4k. but usually around 3-4k. I wouldnt even want to shift at 2k.. too low i would think.
Also my nieghtbor who owns his own shop made a good point the other day... he asked me if it runs bad when i drive it slow and granny drive it and shift at like 2-3k.. and i said ya, and he told me its cuz these engines are meant to be driven and they will be able to take the 3-5k shifts and thats what they are meant to be driven at. Because the car does drive really smooth when i let it rev to 5k, minus the shift jerk but its smoother when i drive faster lol... dunno if thats just me though..

[pussiwillow]

i agree, my car when i shift it at anything under 3k rarely is it ever smooth... i shift at 3500 - 4000k every time and its real smooth

[CrazyCoder]

I don't buy into the "lower RPM shifts save gas" theory. Mainly because I'm pretty sure that running the engine outside of it's power band, and lugging the motor, is less efficent.

That said, 3500-6000RPM, depending on how fast I want to go. :D

[bmwjuggalo]

Yeah dude!

If you pay attention to the MPG gage under the tach, you'll notice it moves to better mpg's when you get higher into the rpms (at least in the lower gears).
The m52 shifts nicely around 5K rpms with a heavy foot from my experience.

[AzanLovesBMW]

It doesnt matter how high you rev when shifting as long as your not below around 1700 rpms after the shift into the 4th and 5th gear. I find that above 4000 rpms you feel more vibrations through the clutch and from what i've heard its apparently a sign of clutch wear.

[ptldM3]

Anything uner 2600 bogs the car down anything over 3200 is not nessissary for daily driving. I shift at 2600-2700 rpm

[gripracer]

i shift at 2700-3500 for daily driving. closer to 4000, i get a little more lag than i like in the rpm drop. then again, i think i have a small vac leak somewhere.

[CrazyCoder]

anything over 3200 is not nessissary for daily driving

Lies! :evil2

[jmo69]

I wish I had known this before I bought the extra trans, but I think I'll still change it to see if it's easier to find third gear. Thanks for the replies.

[Blanco]

You guys must need some maintenance or something, my car runs fine at 2000rpm where I regularly drive and shift during heavy city traffic. The higher your RPMs, the more fuel you're using. You'll always use less fuel at a lower RPM in a higher gear than you will at a higher RPM in a lower gear. Here's the trick, learning how to drive your car effectively. You quite obviously don't want to mash the accelerator if you're at 2000rpm, you'll want to downshift. If you're in heavy traffic, you don't want to be at 5000rpm so you'll want to upshift. Then there's also the old adage of "RPM = Ruins People's Motors". Yes, the short stroke implies that these engines were engineered for high RPM operation, but living in the high RPMs will stress out any engine. That's why purpose built race engines get rebuilt on a regular basis.

[Arctikz]

+1. everytime i get my engine to the higher rpms, i feel bad cuz it makes my engine hurt and when my car hurts, i hurt.

[bimmerrder]

my bimmer shifts nicely at 6500k rpms with the pedal to the floormat:buttrock

otherwise it shifts decently at around 3500, i shift at 4000 if accerating onto a highway or something i fid if you shilf lower it tends to bog a bit till it gets to 3000 again where as if you shift at 4000 it just keeps pulling smoothly through the next gear:stickoutt

[jmo69]

:smash:smashHad it out B4 and shifted at 3k when I could, sometimes it was OK and sometimes not. This thing is so inconsistant it's driving me nucking futs! My new Fork Lever for Clutch Release Bearing, Pivot Pin for Clutch Fork Lever and Spring clip for clutch assembly should be here tommorrow so when time permits the new(to me) trans goes in.

[Antonmn]

This seems like a classic BF.C misinformation thread.

I'm pretty sure these engines are versatile enough to accommodate various rpm ranges; I'm even pretty sure that VANOS was invented so that a driver could make use of a flatter torque curve.