Fiori

So here's a question for M-experts.

Is it safe to run the car ~ 2000rpms on highway? I heard about possible problems with manual gearbox in M-series when driving at lower rpms
This way I average over 24mpg/hwy


Thank you,
Gene

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'04 M3 Black/Black 6sp

wilsodh

Myth.

Happy cruising

D

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retardude48

Yea, I would say myth too. M cars are pretty damn well built. If driving at 2000rpm is bad for the gearbox.....I wonder how bad dropping the clutch to show off would be .

Need4Spd

I don't know how running at relatively low RPM could be bad for the gearbox. I can see it being bad for the engine IF at that RPM it was lugging, but the M5 engine is relatively tractable and can usually pull without protest from around 2000 RPM. So long as the engine isn't lugging or knocking at the RPM you are running it at, it shouldn't hurt anything.

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Need4Spd
'01 M5/UUC SSK + Rogue WSR/RE Tranny Mounts+Royal Purple Synchromax/Centric Posi-Quiet Pads/StopTech SS Lines/TC Design from BeastPower Anti-roll Bar Brackets/Dinan LtWtFlywheel and Stage 3 suspension/Goodyear F1 GSD3s/Vines thrust arms/IATS relocation/10w-60 oil/hardwired Escort 9500i/Euro Armrest/TEC Cupholder/IceLink/PowerChip 91 Gold/TUBIs!/Strong Strut/BSW Stage 1/BT/Angel iBrights 3.0
'05 M3 Imola Cabrio 6MT, Nav, HK

"Is it the sounds that make a BMW a BMW? A BMW is designed to be heard, felt, experienced. So our engines sing. Our steering talks back. And we insist on offering manual transmissions in nearly all our models for drivers who crave them. The result is an almost telepathic oneness with the car. Just as surely as you can hear a BMW, a BMW hears you."

Dysfnctnl85

70mph in 6th seems to be the sweet spot for cruising with maximum MPG for me. It's very responsive to pushing the pedal down at that speed, too, so I can't imaging it being hard on the drivetrain.

Not that I bought the car because it gets good gas mileage, but every little bit helps when driving to work .

Cantresjr

Cruising at 2000 RPM i would fall asleep. hahaha!

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razahyde

if staying around 2k is bad then im screwed. around town i can keep my car under 2k rpm through all 6 gears...basically keeping the car at high idle everytime i shift lol

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Mike S.

You could sacrifice maybe 1 or 1.5 mpg and run between 80-90 mph all day long on the highway.

The way she was meant to be run!

I did this all the way to Alexandria, VA and back.

Read about it here: Gas mileage on our vacation

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DouglasABaker

The bottom line in all of this is that without having an efficiency vs. rpm curve for the engine, we're all sort of guessing.

Without the charts from BMW (or someone developing them independently) there really are too many variables to talk about what speed is most efficient.

We do know, however, that there is no issue with running the engine at any rpm in any gear, so long as the vehicle is making sufficient torque for the situation. 30 mph in 6th gear, for example, is fine on a flat or down a hill, but may not be ok going up a hill (depending on steepness). 2000rpm is fine pretty much regardless of situation or gear given the hp available.

d-

everycredit

Myth.

If you're getting good MPG results, then great. The other part of going along with low rpm is high speed. Obviously, the following is true:

Idling gives you the worst MPG as you're burning gas and not moving.

Coasting gives you the best MPG as you're not burning gas and moving.

Other conditions, such as weather, tire pressure, road condition, are factors as well. Also running accessories, such as the heater, fan, AC, cruise control, radio, and lights decrease fuel economy.

But again, emphasising to the OP, this will not hurt your car.

Neil.D