PDA

View Full Version : Proper driving techniques for 6-speed...



dy540i
04-02-2005, 09:22 PM
(reposted here)

I've got 540 6-speed, with no professional sport driving experience. I've got two questions:

1) REDLINE -- A couple of times, I've accidently rev'd the engine into the redline area and noticed a sudden loss of power, until it dropped back down out of the red. I suspected this was the engine's "self-defense" mechanism kicking in to prevent it from exploding. Can this sort of "red lining" damage the engine?

2) BRAKING (BRAKES ONLY, OR BRAKES/ENGINE BRAKING) -- Consider a scenario where you're driving 80mph and want to casully slow down to about 35mph to make a sharp turn. Is it normal practice to use, say equal amounts of braking and downshifting (is this called engine braking?), or is it better to use more foot braking?

B.Watts
04-02-2005, 09:36 PM
1) That's called the rev limiter. It's not going to ruin your motor, but you should learn to time your shifts so that they happen before you hit it.

2) Use the brakes, that's what they are there for. It's a lot cheaper to replace the pads and rotors than it is to replace a transmission. The brakes are a lot more efficient as well. Now, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't use proper heel-toe downshifting in order to have the car in the appropriate gear in case sudden throttle application is needed to avoid an accident, etc.

shaikdaddy
04-02-2005, 10:26 PM
1) That's called the rev limiter. It's not going to ruin your motor, but you should learn to time your shifts so that they happen before you hit it.

2) Use the brakes, that's what they are there for. It's a lot cheaper to replace the pads and rotors than it is to replace a transmission. The brakes are a lot more efficient as well. Now, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't use proper heel-toe downshifting in order to have the car in the appropriate gear in case sudden throttle application is needed to avoid an accident, etc.

what is proper heel toe downshifting?

B.Watts
04-02-2005, 10:43 PM
what is proper heel toe downshifting?

Search...it's been covered many times. ;)

Max M3
04-03-2005, 09:52 AM
what is proper heel toe downshifting?

With the toe applying pressure to the brake and your heel on the accelerator:

Push in the clutch
Shift to neutral
Let out the clutch
"blip" the throttle
Push in the clutch
Shift to next lower gear
Let out the clutch

Now let your foot move off the brake and onto the accelerator....

And the thing is, you have to do all that within a fraction of a second!!!
:D

Jason540i6
04-03-2005, 01:14 PM
With the toe applying pressure to the brake and your heel on the accelerator:

Push in the clutch
Shift to neutral
Let out the clutch
"blip" the throttle
Push in the clutch
Shift to next lower gear
Let out the clutch

Now let your foot move off the brake and onto the accelerator....

And the thing is, you have to do all that within a fraction of a second!!!
:D

You can also (and more easily so) do this with the left and right sides of your foot, provided you have the right shoes on for the car you are driving. The term "heel-toe" actually came from long ago in old cars when the gas and brake were above and below each other. Some cars that aren't really a fast car - like a honda or a truck - you will literally use your heel and toe because they are too far apart. In any other car with the gas and brake properly placed close together, like the 540i, you will be using the sides of your foot.

You can drive much faster, and much cleaner if you can brake and properly match revs at the same time. Synchromesh is great and all, but you can't shift fast and still wait for the cones to do their work.... Once you get the habit when driving fast, you will just do it second nature.

Jason540i6
04-03-2005, 01:24 PM
By the way, in a modern car it really isn't necessary to double-clutch like Max M3 states. That is more for race cars, cars that don't have synchromesh. It allows you to spin up/down the transmission's input shaft to match the engine speed so everything is lined up. It does reduce wear in the transmission, but unless you track your car all the time it isn't something to worry about.

So the drill really goes:
Start braking into the turn, using the left side of your foot.
Push in the clutch
"blip" the throttle to as close to where it needs to be as you can and Shift to next lower gear at the same time.
Let out the clutch
Roll off the brake, and on the gas.

This is all very fast of course, and it will take time for you to figure out where the revs need to be. The "blip" is literally just that - you don't need much gas at all, just a TINY bit.

J

jimmyz2
04-03-2005, 02:10 PM
(reposted here)

I've got 540 6-speed, with no professional sport driving experience. I've got two questions:

1) REDLINE -- A couple of times, I've accidently rev'd the engine into the redline area and noticed a sudden loss of power, until it dropped back down out of the red. I suspected this was the engine's "self-defense" mechanism kicking in to prevent it from exploding. Can this sort of "red lining" damage the engine?

2) BRAKING (BRAKES ONLY, OR BRAKES/ENGINE BRAKING) -- Consider a scenario where you're driving 80mph and want to casully slow down to about 35mph to make a sharp turn. Is it normal practice to use, say equal amounts of braking and downshifting (is this called engine braking?), or is it better to use more foot braking?

I'm sorry,but bimmerforums has suspened your license.

dy540i
04-04-2005, 10:06 PM
I'm sorry,but bimmerforums has suspened your license.

I find myself going up progressively through the gears (say, 1,2,3,4, 5) when taking off. And then going down progressively (say, 5,4,3,2 -- not skipping any) when slowing to make a turn. All the while when slowing down, it seems very natural to me to let the clutch out on the lower gear (creating a little drag) while applying light brake pressure, until the engine comfortably adjusts to the lower gear.

bähnstormer
04-04-2005, 10:25 PM
have any of u kids been to a driving school?
lol