Going 80, drop to 3rd to take off

Mighty M · 06-15-2009, 10:19 PM

Usually when on the highway going 80 in 5th or 6th and wanted to take off I would drop to 4th and start from about 5000 rpm. WRONG. Drop to 3rd, youre at about 6000 rpm, and then yes you take off.

Its a huge difference in how the car feels highway driving.

rzm3 · 06-15-2009, 10:29 PM

3rd gear is about 33% shorter than 4th, and that's how much more torque you get at the wheels.

sard · 06-15-2009, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty M

Usually when on the highway going 80 in 5th or 6th and wanted to take off I would drop to 4th and start from about 5000 rpm. WRONG. Drop to 3rd, youre at about 6000 rpm, and then yes you take off.

Its a huge difference in how the car feels highway driving.

Is this your first manual car?

Green///Hell · 06-15-2009, 11:12 PM

Same with the E46 the 3rd gear is the sweat spot, but true for most MT's

MrHarris · 06-16-2009, 02:11 AM

Nothing new that 3rd tops out at 108mph

. If I'm at 95 or under I'd drop it in 3rd to do some serious passing.

endofanera7 · 06-16-2009, 02:16 AM

I dropped to 3rd and still got pwnt by a 600RWHP HPF E46 M3. Who's passing now?

shagkie · 06-16-2009, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISFail

You drive an M3..........do you really need to downshift to pass

more fun that way.

URBAN LEGEND · 06-16-2009, 09:11 AM

Been doing it that since mile 1201...

niqui · 06-16-2009, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ISFail

You drive an M3..........do you really need to downshift to pass

definitely do

MrAdams · 06-16-2009, 10:56 AM

50 mph launch in 2nd gear!!!! FTW

mPlasticDesign · 06-16-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mighty M

Usually when on the highway going 80 in 5th or 6th and wanted to take off I would drop to 4th and start from about 5000 rpm. WRONG. Drop to 3rd, youre at about 6000 rpm, and then yes you take off.

Its a huge difference in how the car feels highway driving.

Just don't go from 5th to 2nd, you'll go nowhere fast.

BMWDEMON · 06-16-2009, 12:37 PM

3 or 4th is good but I did discover it is much nicer with an exhaust to drop in 3rd and whale on it...I scared the piss out of a driver this morning in the tunnel! She recovered well which was good as it was not my intention...I just wanted to hear my exhaust!

LOL!!!

M

10M3MAN · 06-16-2009, 01:33 PM

I hang out here and I dont own....YET that is.... waiting on 2010 orders...Alpine White FTW... Seriously though Im here doing my homework on my soon to be new set of wheels....

SlammedR8 · 06-16-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 10M3MAN

I hang out here and I dont own....YET that is.... waiting on 2010 orders...Alpine White FTW... Seriously though Im here doing my homework on my soon to be new set of wheels....

ya, but thats cool man! coz your an enthusiast and you are waiting for the right time to buy. ISF/C63 owners that are on this site.....? doesnt make much sense to me either. Never understood it!

Mighty M · 06-16-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sard

Is this your first manual car?

I appreciate the smiley, no its not my first manual car. Ive been driving manual since I learned on a motorbike at 17. 34 now. Owned the e46m3, manual, as well. Other manuals before that, all I'll drive.

I suppose with the e46 I figured my own "safe" downshift points, so as not to money shift. Anyway, for the e92m3, I figure downshifting according to the following schedule:

< 60 go to second
< 80 go to third
< 100 go to fourth

Just sharing is all. Sometimes it takes some trial and error. With the e46m3, if you were at 5000 rpm and above good to go. This car, 6000 rpm and above to go. Coming from the previous car, I was mistaken to think they were about the same, but way different. Torque vs. weight vs. gearing vs. hp, e46 different than e92.

They're actually very different cars imho.

10M3MAN · 06-17-2009, 03:39 AM

Dude, I think that is badass, I love dropping down a gear or two and feeling that power you get. I drive a Nissan SER and it has tons of torque 260@5800, Torque Of 250@4400 and it is very fun to drive just sucks cause its FWD...

M3twins · 06-17-2009, 05:16 AM

I haven't tried going down to third on the freeway, just fourth.. Definitely will try it before long.

I used to drive an ISF too.. A decent everyday driver and great in a straight line and on smooth roads, but definitely not a track car.. Then again neither is my E93, but it still handles way better than the Lexus.

valeram · 06-17-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWDEMON

3 or 4th is good but I did discover it is much nicer with an exhaust to drop in 3rd and whale on it...I scared the piss out of a driver this morning in the tunnel! She recovered well which was good as it was not my intention...I just wanted to hear my exhaust!

LOL!!!

M

We don't have a tunnel here in Central OH and I'm sure the engine's howl is great.

10M3MAN · 06-17-2009, 10:14 AM

I was debating on the ISF and the M3 and but after reading all the reviews the M3 won... hands down...

sard · 06-17-2009, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endofanera7

I dropped to 3rd and still got pwnt by a 600RWHP HPF E46 M3. Who's passing now?

You referring to Justin?

ZorroSoBe · 06-17-2009, 11:30 AM

LMAO...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sard

Is this your first manual car?

Montoya · 06-17-2009, 09:57 PM

Just floor it and hold the downshift paddle- you are instantly in 3rd...

(Couldn't resist- MDCT FTW!)

06-15-2009, 10:19 PM	#1
Mighty M First Lieutenant 25 Rep 304 Posts Drives: 08 M3 Jerez/FR Manual Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Vienna, VA iTrader: (0)	Going 80, drop to 3rd to take off Usually when on the highway going 80 in 5th or 6th and wanted to take off I would drop to 4th and start from about 5000 rpm. WRONG. Drop to 3rd, youre at about 6000 rpm, and then yes you take off. Its a huge difference in how the car feels highway driving. __________________
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06-15-2009, 10:29 PM	#2
rzm3 Moderator 673 Rep 4,737 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA iTrader: (18)	3rd gear is about 33% shorter than 4th, and that's how much more torque you get at the wheels.
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06-15-2009, 11:12 PM	#4
Green///Hell Colonel 183 Rep 2,872 Posts Drives: 991 GT3, F15 X5, 1199S Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago iTrader: (5)	Same with the E46 the 3rd gear is the sweat spot, but true for most MT's
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06-16-2009, 02:11 AM	#5
MrHarris yodog 197 Rep 5,025 Posts Drives: '86 Corolla Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Diamond Bar, Ca iTrader: (5) Garage List 2009 BMW [10.00]	Nothing new that 3rd tops out at 108mph . If I'm at 95 or under I'd drop it in 3rd to do some serious passing. __________________ 2009 E92 M3 \| Alpine White \| Black Extended \| Advan RS \| Turner Test Pipes \| Dinan Axle-Back \| OETuning \| Eibach Springs \| UUC SSK \| VRS Front Lip \| VRS Type I Diffuser \| Matte Black \| RPi Scoops \| MS Filter \| Yokohama AD08 \| F1 Pinnacle Special Thanks: Gintani \| OETuning \| eAs
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06-16-2009, 02:16 AM	#6
endofanera7 Major General 517 Rep 5,392 Posts Drives: 08 JB E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 2018 Porsche GT3 [9.50]	I dropped to 3rd and still got pwnt by a 600RWHP HPF E46 M3. Who's passing now?
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06-16-2009, 09:11 AM	#8
URBAN LEGEND Rocky 412 Rep 3,085 Posts Drives: 16 M5, 18 ZL1 1LE, 18 M3 Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Brenham TX iTrader: (0)	Been doing it that since mile 1201... __________________ 22 Audi RS E-Tron GT 21 Model S Plaid
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06-16-2009, 10:56 AM	#10
MrAdams do a wheelie!!! 156 Rep 929 Posts Drives: E46 M3 - '72 2002 - '65 Impala Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 M3 Sedan e90 [0.00]	50 mph launch in 2nd gear!!!! FTW __________________ ~Adam
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06-16-2009, 12:37 PM	#12
BMWDEMON Super modder 104 Rep 1,973 Posts Drives: E90 M3 & E46 M3 Join Date: May 2008 Location: Annapolis, MD iTrader: (1)	3 or 4th is good but I did discover it is much nicer with an exhaust to drop in 3rd and whale on it...I scared the piss out of a driver this morning in the tunnel! She recovered well which was good as it was not my intention...I just wanted to hear my exhaust! LOL!!! M __________________ SOLD - 2005 E46 M3 ZCP - I/B on black CURRENT - 2011 E90 M3 - meticulously modified 2015 X1 Xdrive 28i
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06-16-2009, 01:33 PM	#13
10M3MAN Lieutenant Colonel 34 Rep 1,498 Posts Drives: 2006 Nissan Altima SER Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wharton, TX iTrader: (0)	I hang out here and I dont own....YET that is.... waiting on 2010 orders...Alpine White FTW... Seriously though Im here doing my homework on my soon to be new set of wheels....
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06-17-2009, 03:39 AM	#16
10M3MAN Lieutenant Colonel 34 Rep 1,498 Posts Drives: 2006 Nissan Altima SER Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wharton, TX iTrader: (0)	Dude, I think that is badass, I love dropping down a gear or two and feeling that power you get. I drive a Nissan SER and it has tons of torque 260@5800, Torque Of 250@4400 and it is very fun to drive just sucks cause its FWD...
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06-17-2009, 05:16 AM	#17
M3twins Second Lieutenant 5 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2009 Le Mans Blue E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0)	I haven't tried going down to third on the freeway, just fourth.. Definitely will try it before long. I used to drive an ISF too.. A decent everyday driver and great in a straight line and on smooth roads, but definitely not a track car.. Then again neither is my E93, but it still handles way better than the Lexus.
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06-17-2009, 10:14 AM	#19
10M3MAN Lieutenant Colonel 34 Rep 1,498 Posts Drives: 2006 Nissan Altima SER Join Date: May 2009 Location: Wharton, TX iTrader: (0)	I was debating on the ISF and the M3 and but after reading all the reviews the M3 won... hands down...
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06-17-2009, 09:57 PM	#22
Montoya Lieutenant 52 Rep 574 Posts Drives: 2015 GT3 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Portland iTrader: (0)	Just floor it and hold the downshift paddle- you are instantly in 3rd... (Couldn't resist- MDCT FTW!) __________________ '08 E92 IB, Gone '10 GT3 now in my garage! '10 X5 3.5D '12 E91 Xi Wagon MT sports package
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