Does anyone else rarely uses 5th gear?

onebadmofo · 01-06-2011, 10:33 AM

I find myself almost never using 5th gear. I usually switch from 4th straight to 6th. And with the torque that the n54 has I can use 6th as low as 32-35mph.

Why oh why the final gears are so short? My GF's RAV4 is almost idling at 2.5k rpm at 80mph.

Tom K. · 01-06-2011, 10:55 AM

Both my Bimmers are non-turbo 3 liters and I generally use 5th when cruising at 45~55 mph. But I also have occaisionally skip shifted from 3rd to 6th when passing multiple vehicles on a two lane road.

Having a 6 speed box with loads of torque, you have lots of options. If you don't like 5th, don't use it. But 6th at 32 mph would be only about 1,200 rpm - doesn't your motor lug at those speeds?

Tom

dre_2ooo · 01-06-2011, 02:19 PM

Is there a recommended shift speed from BMW for our cars?

ie. 1st is good 0-15mph, 2nd thru 30, etc... ???

Deltari09 · 01-06-2011, 02:22 PM

i use fifth gear while on uphill highways. (hawaii has that kind of road) and then downhill i'm either in neutral or 6th gear cruising. i also use fifth gear at about 34 mph, but then again, i do use the n52.

slavke · 01-06-2011, 02:27 PM

lots of 4 lane big streets here in canada are 70-80 km/h limit so 5th is perfect for that so to answer your question is no. I used it quite a lot.

GFX MIK3 · 01-06-2011, 02:30 PM

im almost always in 5th seems to be the perfect gear to ride around the back roads here

328skidpad · 01-06-2011, 02:32 PM

yes 5th gear was always the best but after the tune I never use 5th

only 4th and 6th...

MusclezMarinara · 01-06-2011, 02:41 PM

5th gear most my rds are 40 - 55 DD

TheStigsTwin · 01-06-2011, 03:04 PM

6th gear at 35mph?

coh4777 · 01-06-2011, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deltari09

downhill i'm either in neutral or 6th gear cruising.

Not exactly a good idea to ever be in neutral on a highway...

maswastage · 01-06-2011, 03:40 PM

5th is for passing people on the highway. If I'm cruising along and I come up to some slowpoke hogging the fast lane, a quick downshift to 5th puts me in the ideal rev range to take care of business. Alternatively, 6th is sometimes all it takes depending in how quickly I'm going. 80mph in 6th has me sitting at 2000 rpm, which is in the middle of my torque band.

AndreyATC · 01-06-2011, 03:47 PM

I'm with OP
I almost never have chance to use 5th
I either between 1 and 4 in city or 6th on highway
When i pass someone on freeway i use either 4th or 3rd depending on how quickly i need to pass
Hills on freeway in 6th is not a problem for this car

rambalu80 · 01-06-2011, 03:51 PM

I use 5th gear but almost always skip it going from 4th to 6th when I am shifting.

On my old Acura TSX, I always skipped 4th, going from 3rd to 5th and then 6th.

jonerik26 · 01-06-2011, 03:53 PM

only to slow down a bit, other than that not too much...

XJS · 01-06-2011, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deltari09

i use fifth gear while on uphill highways. (hawaii has that kind of road) and then downhill i'm either in neutral or 6th gear cruising. i also use fifth gear at about 34 mph, but then again, i do use the n52.

Why neutral when downhill? If you have a gear engaged (and clutch is depressed) and you are not on the throttle you will burn zero fuel.

Funk365 · 01-06-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJS

If you have a gear engaged (and clutch is depressed) and you are not on the throttle you will burn zero fuel.

This situation should NEVER arise. There is no point at which the clutch should be depressed if you aren't starting the car, changing gears or coming to a stop (in which case you'd be in neutral and there's no need to have the clutch depressed).

Sorry but this is a huge pet peeve of mine, it's called riding the clutch and it has to stop!

Kikken · 01-06-2011, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XJS

Why neutral when downhill? If you have a gear engaged (and clutch is depressed) and you are not on the throttle you will burn zero fuel.

I think you mean when the clutch is released.

When it is depressed, the engine is idling and most definitely burning fuel.

To address the OP, I use fifth on back roads when speeds are <= 55 because sixth is just too sluggish at those speeds. But that's surely not a problem with an N54/55.

BayMoWe335 · 01-06-2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Funk365

This situation should NEVER arise. There is no point at which the clutch should be depressed if you aren't starting the car, changing gears or coming to a stop (in which case you'd be in neutral and there's no need to have the clutch depressed).

Sorry but this is a huge pet peeve of mine, it's called riding the clutch and it has to stop!

Word. One of the reasons the clutch in my 2000 Trans Am was original with 100,000+ miles is because I never abused it, but I never rode the clutch either. I never used that pedal unless changing gears or starting the car. Period.

Soooo much better for the car.

I drive all my cars pretty easy, so I'm cruising in 6th a lot. I frequently go 4th to 6th.

frahuang · 01-06-2011, 06:45 PM

4th straight to 6th...

WWONG · 01-06-2011, 06:50 PM

I use that gear that's marked "D"

John 070 · 01-06-2011, 06:52 PM

I do use 5th all the time, when I'm about 50-55 mph and on an incline....

Tortfeasor 335xi · 01-06-2011, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John 070

I do use 5th all the time, when I'm about 50-55 mph and on an incline....

Exactly. Also, in slow moving highway traffic, when I am cruising around 50 mph.

01-06-2011, 10:33 AM	#1
onebadmofo Colonel 346 Rep 2,396 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Central NJ iTrader: (14)	Does anyone else rarely uses 5th gear? I find myself almost never using 5th gear. I usually switch from 4th straight to 6th. And with the torque that the n54 has I can use 6th as low as 32-35mph. Why oh why the final gears are so short? My GF's RAV4 is almost idling at 2.5k rpm at 80mph.
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01-06-2011, 10:55 AM	#2
Tom K. Major General 124 Rep 5,627 Posts Drives: '07 328iT, '13 Boxster Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	Both my Bimmers are non-turbo 3 liters and I generally use 5th when cruising at 45~55 mph. But I also have occaisionally skip shifted from 3rd to 6th when passing multiple vehicles on a two lane road. Having a 6 speed box with loads of torque, you have lots of options. If you don't like 5th, don't use it. But 6th at 32 mph would be only about 1,200 rpm - doesn't your motor lug at those speeds? Tom
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01-06-2011, 02:19 PM	#3
dre_2ooo ... 30 Rep 373 Posts Drives: '14 435i Join Date: May 2010 Location: Minneapolis iTrader: (1)	Is there a recommended shift speed from BMW for our cars? ie. 1st is good 0-15mph, 2nd thru 30, etc... ???
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01-06-2011, 02:22 PM	#4
Deltari09 Second Lieutenant 8 Rep 291 Posts Drives: 2011 3-Series Coupe Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Hawaii, USA iTrader: (0)	i use fifth gear while on uphill highways. (hawaii has that kind of road) and then downhill i'm either in neutral or 6th gear cruising. i also use fifth gear at about 34 mph, but then again, i do use the n52.
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01-06-2011, 02:27 PM	#5
slavke Private First Class 8 Rep 164 Posts Drives: E90 330i sport & prem Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Ottawa iTrader: (0)	lots of 4 lane big streets here in canada are 70-80 km/h limit so 5th is perfect for that so to answer your question is no. I used it quite a lot.
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01-06-2011, 02:30 PM	#6
GFX MIK3 Second Lieutenant 36 Rep 283 Posts Drives: e92 2008 335xi Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Bedford, Ny iTrader: (1)	im almost always in 5th seems to be the perfect gear to ride around the back roads here __________________ 2008 e92 335xi 6mt monaco blue with saddle brown interior. List of Mods: BBS lm reps, CSL Trunk, M-Tech rear bumper,Muffler delete with DiMisa 4" Tips, 10% Tint, Black grills,Jb4, DCI, KW V1
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01-06-2011, 02:32 PM	#7
328skidpad Lieutenant 49 Rep 494 Posts Drives: 328xi e350 Z4M X3 M40 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Princeton NJ iTrader: (0)	before after yes 5th gear was always the best but after the tune I never use 5th only 4th and 6th...
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01-06-2011, 02:41 PM	#8
MusclezMarinara Banned 262 Rep 5,018 Posts Drives: VALNCYA Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Jersey iTrader: (23) Garage List 2011 BMW 1M [9.22] 2009 335i Sedan xdrive [9.34]	5th gear most my rds are 40 - 55 DD
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01-06-2011, 03:04 PM	#9
TheStigsTwin Captain 11 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 2011 335xi Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Arizona iTrader: (0)	6th gear at 35mph?
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01-06-2011, 03:40 PM	#11
maswastage Resident Diesel Junkie 56 Rep 1,070 Posts Drives: 2010 AW 335d Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0)	5th is for passing people on the highway. If I'm cruising along and I come up to some slowpoke hogging the fast lane, a quick downshift to 5th puts me in the ideal rev range to take care of business. Alternatively, 6th is sometimes all it takes depending in how quickly I'm going. 80mph in 6th has me sitting at 2000 rpm, which is in the middle of my torque band.
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01-06-2011, 03:47 PM	#12
AndreyATC Banned 99 Rep 1,828 Posts Drives: 2016 Tesla Model X P90DL Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Near NYC iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 Tesla Model X [0.00] 2015 Tesla Model S ... [9.00]	I'm with OP I almost never have chance to use 5th I either between 1 and 4 in city or 6th on highway When i pass someone on freeway i use either 4th or 3rd depending on how quickly i need to pass Hills on freeway in 6th is not a problem for this car
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01-06-2011, 03:51 PM	#13
rambalu80 Major 78 Rep 1,240 Posts Drives: 2016 BMW 340i Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Katy TX iTrader: (2) Garage List 2016 BMW 340i [0.00]	I use 5th gear but almost always skip it going from 4th to 6th when I am shifting. On my old Acura TSX, I always skipped 4th, going from 3rd to 5th and then 6th. __________________ 2016 BMW 340i 688 \| LCL5 \| 4FT \| ZMT \| ZTP \| ZDA \| ZLP \| 494 Formula One Pinnacle 30 Tint \| Brushed Aluminum Pedals
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01-06-2011, 03:53 PM	#14
jonerik26 Lieutenant Colonel 58 Rep 1,906 Posts Drives: black 335i e90 PRE-LCI Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: somewhere iTrader: (23) Garage List 2007 335i [8.00] 1998 Acura Integra [8.50] 2006 325i [8.00]	only to slow down a bit, other than that not too much... __________________
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01-06-2011, 06:45 PM	#19
frahuang First Lieutenant 7 Rep 362 Posts Drives: 08 328i e90 Blk/Blk 6MT Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Irvine, CA, USA iTrader: (14)	4th straight to 6th... __________________ 08 328i e90 Black/Black 6MT, BMS POWER BOX, Eibach Pro System, Blacklines, M3 Spoiler, 197 BBS Wheels, Xenon and Homelink
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01-06-2011, 06:50 PM	#20
WWONG Banned 109 Rep 1,830 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW X5 xDrive35d Join Date: May 2010 Location: Houston, TX iTrader: (14)	I use that gear that's marked "D"
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01-06-2011, 06:52 PM	#21
John 070 Lieutenant General 1705 Rep 14,829 Posts Drives: 335i cpe Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: ZSP/ZPP/ZCW iTrader: (0)	I do use 5th all the time, when I'm about 50-55 mph and on an incline....
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