freeway driving

[n2motorsports]

finally took my car for a long trip and to be honest, it was stressful.  mechanically, the car is fine but once i hit 80mph, the engine sounds like it needs a 6th gear.  im constantly looking at my gears to see if i've accidently shifted to 4th...

im a newbie to e30's, is it normal for my tach to be at 4500 at 80mph?  i have stock sized wheels and no engine mods beside a mystery chip installed by the PO.

[sheepdog]

finally took my car for a long trip and to be honest, it was stressful.  mechanically, the car is fine but once i hit 80mph, the engine sounds like it needs a 6th gear.  im constantly looking at my gears to see if i've accidently shifted to 4th...

im a newbie to e30's, is it normal for my tach to be at 4500 at 80mph?  i have stock sized wheels and no engine mods beside a mystery chip installed by the PO.

4500 is high for 80.
Mine is around 4000.

Yes, they sort of sound like they are are running hard, but it is ok. Gotta keep in mind the 4.11 rear diff. I was sort of worried about it when I got mine, now, I don't worry about it. These were built with the Autobahn in mind. I run mine for hours at 80+. Never ticked or anything on cooldown, in fact the only time it ever showed it was warm was when I was running, well well just say a bit faster than 80.

[EN318isPDX]

I think they want you above 3 grand on the highway. On our wimpy 55 speed limit highways im doing 60 in 4th, incase i have to pass at ~70 i can pull very easily in the 3k+ rpms. 5th gear at 80 mph sounds about right at 4grand

[ducatipaso]

I cruise the highway at lower speeds. No reason to keep that thing wound out it will shorten the lifespan of the engine over time if you do this frequently.

[EN318isPDX]

I cruise the highway at lower speeds. No reason to keep that thing wound out it will shorten the lifespan of the engine over time if you do this frequently.

Stay in the right lane granny! hehe jk

[Grimm862]

I cruise the highway at lower speeds. No reason to keep that thing wound out it will shorten the lifespan of the engine over time if you do this frequently.

Yeah, but isn't that the point of a highway?

[n2motorsports]

between san diego and la, 80 is in the right lane...haha.

my tach and speedometer may need recalibrating, so the numbers may be off. either way, i feel a lot better now knowing my m42 will not blow up! im upgrading to 16's next week, maybe i'll just get larger profile wheels to give me the illusion that im going much fast

[ducatipaso]

well, im not sayin i roll on the fwy at 35 mph foos...
i'm sayin i roll ~ limit +5; keeps me out of tickets and lets the engine just run.

and this is why I can insure 3 cars and 2 bikes for $110/month

[EN318isPDX]

well, im not sayin i roll on the fwy at 35 mph foos...
i'm sayin i roll ~ limit +5; keeps me out of tickets and lets the engine just run.

and this is why I can insure 3 cars and 2 bikes for $110/month

Ya... because your old. im 21 and i pay out the ass for insurence.. no wrecks or tickets.

[ducatipaso]

even if I AM old, insurance would still be expensive if I had crashes or tickets on my record.

[EN318isPDX]

even if I AM old, insurance would still be expensive if I had crashes or tickets on my record.

haha i know im just messing with ya.. im ordering my brakes through Omar and ill get that decklid from him this week.. sorry i keep forgeting about it.

[tjts1]

This is why i put in the 3.64. 80mph at 3300 rpm is much easier on the ear drums and the car is quicker to 60. I wouldn't even think of doing a road trip in this car with the 4.1. By the way do you have a convertible? 4.27 gears.

[sheepdog]

I think they want you above 3 grand on the highway. On our wimpy 55 speed limit highways im doing 60 in 4th, incase i have to pass at ~70 i can pull very easily in the 3k+ rpms. 5th gear at 80 mph sounds about right at 4grand

Correct.

There is a ratio of street/low rpm driving vs. high rpm driving in the book that came with the car.

I cruise the highway at lower speeds. No reason to keep that thing wound out it will shorten the lifespan of the engine over time if you do this frequently.

That is not entirely correct.
In most of the engine there is little metal to metal contact and the cylinders have been known to exceed 500k. I don't think we have to worry.

Besides, these are BMW's, granny drive it? What the hell is the point?

I get annoyed seeing someone driving one slow as it hurts the engine more than driving it hard.


There are more than a few of us who will attest that these engines NEED to be wrung out regularly. Many of us purposely redline our engines almost every time we drive them.

[ducatipaso]

By the way do you have a convertible? 4.27 gears.

really? I should check the PN on my diff because going from 4.27 to 4.10 would be a nice mod, esp if it's an LSD.

[christophbmw]

3600RPM at 80mph (4.10 diff, 205/55-15's). (the metric mechanic short ratio 4 speed W/ 5th overdrive will be on order soon for me .

Ya... because your old. im 21 and i pay out the ass for insurence.. no wrecks or tickets.

how much do you pay? i just turned 22 and i can insure me, my girlfreind (20 with an accident.....getting removed of her record next month), my E30, and a '98 forester for $198 a month.....i dont know about you but that is cheap! when it was just me and my E30 it was like $550 a year, and that was when i was 20. what insurance carrier are you using?

There are more than a few of us who will attest that these engines NEED to be wrung out regularly. Many of us purposely redline our engines almost every time we drive them.

+1, redline everyday baby with 200K on the motor! thats what it was made for.