When do you actually use 6th gear?

[robertdelrusso]

I ve noticed that unless i'm doing 80 + mph I not only lose power using 6th gear but the gas mileage drops. Wondering if anyone knows when BMW suggests 6th gear. Almost a waste of time so far. rare occasions that I can actually drive anywhere faster than 80.



.........curious

[bman6074]

mmmmm interesting, i use it on back roads (40+ speeds) and have noticed i get better gas mileage. Def loss of power but im not looking for power, as much as gas savings.

[robertdelrusso]

Less power and using more gas in 6th gear below 80 mph

[Artmasterx]

I typically use 6th when cruising on the highway (which I don't do all that often). You definitely lose power, and I can't comment on gas mileage. I would assume that you would get better mpg unless you going up hills or something that would be better suited for using lower gears. But our 128i sees mostly city driving.

Maybe I will do a little test when we drive to NC around Christmas. That should give some extended highway time. I figure to use the electronic mpg and do about 30 min in 5th and 30 min in 6th and see which is better... hopefully with similar flatness of the terrain...

[bman6074]

Yea I understood what you stated. I seem to find the opposite when it comes to the more gas use.
Being on back roads i dont see more than 50 maybe 55 MPH.

[Rachel]

I drive on the highway 80 miles a day 5 days a week and always use 6th.. my current gas mileage is 24.2.... Not all that bad? oh, I also have a JB3...

[Dr_Jones]

Anytime you are thinking about going to 5th...just go to sixth (unless you are in third and thinking about skip shifting to 5th)

torque...it does a body good

[Artmasterx]

You may have missed the fact that he is a 128i owner. So 6th gear is rather weak compared to the 135i. 5th gear is still reasonably peppy on the 128i at highway speeds.

[arrutled]

I never use 5th, to each his own though!

[penny]

^^ I'm with Arrutled. Usually skip 5th myself.

[and 1]

Originally Posted by penny

^^ I'm with Arrutled. Usually skip 5th myself.

5th gear...so last season

[pit1]

I too often skip 5th and jump into 6th as soon as I hit the highway. Still enough power to overtake, only gear down for quick maneuvers...say, around a rock-throwing semi.

[robertdelrusso]

What is a JB 3?

[arrutled]

JuiceBox 3, it is a tune, make car go fast

[amybang]

When _don't_ you use 6th gear.

amy!

[mikeo]

Originally Posted by robertdelrusso

Less power and using more gas in 6th gear below 80 mph

Interesting, less power understood. Do you have any sources to validate less milage claim for the 128i, robert?

[gio]

I don't see why you would use more gas in 6th. I use 6th all the time even when I'm not the highway. Anytime I don't need the power and I'm going fast enough that the engine will bog down, I'll shift to 6th to save gas.

[robertdelrusso]

No the only specifics I have is momentary mpg readout on the dash. I've just noticed that unless I'm doing over 80 the momentary mpg are higher in 5th when the rpms are closer to 3000. it seems like i'm getting better milege and more power, both of which I;m completely happy with. I don't often get to go above 80. haven't really had it out yet , only 2 months old.
My real question is has anyone else noticed this. If not give a shot when you can (if you like) It seems like the car runs more efficiently at a higher rpm. next time your in traffic at say 65-70 mph in 6th downshift to 5th and see where those momentary numbers fall. i don't even have a clue how accurate those number are, but i can read them. I was surprised, pleasantly i might add
.... still curious