[F30inthe6ix]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

BMW does that for 328i 6MT, namely, the direct of 328i is 4th, leaving 5th and 6th as overdrive. The 335i 6MT direct is 5th, hence there is only one overdrive(6th).

Totally agree with this. I've noticed in my car over the past 10 months of ownership that first and second are virtually useless. The most useful gear is 4th. 5th gear is only an option for me when I'm driving between 50-65km/h....once I'm over the 65km/h mark on a consistent basis I'll stick it into 6th for fuel economy purposes. The car pulls really well in the higher gears, but the lower gears don't offer much in the way of power without an aftermarket tune. I'd assume that it's programmed this way specifically for day-to-day drivability.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by paul e

I think the point here is that with all the HP and especially the super wide torque band the need for a close ratio manual is not really there, especially in the top gears.

This is especially noted in the highway RPM as stated above. The 4th gear could be 1:1 with the first three gears spaced close and the top 2 gears more highway oriented.

Short/close ratio for performance versus tall/wide ratio for fuel efficiency are mutually exclusive, so it cannot be both performance + fuel efficient without going to 8 gear, e.g. ZF 8AT.

Also, even N20/N26 has flat power band, it drops off around 5000-5500rpm, so the close(r) gears should help to stay in the middle of the flat band.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by F30inthe6ix

Totally agree with this. I've noticed in my car over the past 10 months of ownership that first and second are virtually useless. The most useful gear is 4th. 5th gear is only an option for me when I'm driving between 50-65km/h....once I'm over the 65km/h mark on a consistent basis I'll stick it into 6th for fuel economy purposes. The car pulls really well in the higher gears, but the lower gears don't offer much in the way of power without an aftermarket tune. I'd assume that it's programmed this way specifically for day-to-day drivability.

The drop off above 5000rpm does not help 1st and 2nd on N20/N26.

That is very different from the old I6 NA, e.g. M54 on E39 5MT. That car only needs one shift to 2nd, and can stay in 2nd to pull to 6500rpm and hit 60mph. Now that is a wide(and linear too) power band. Those are the good old days.

[F30inthe6ix]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

The drop off above 5000rpm does not help 1st and 2nd on N20/N26.

That is very different from the old I6 NA, e.g. M54 on E39 5MT. That car only needs one shift to 2nd, and can stay in 2nd to pull to 6500rpm and hit 60mph. Now that is a wide(and linear too) power band. Those are the good old days.

Yeah, this is very true. There is no reason to rev the engine beyond 3-4k RPM in those gears. The power band in 4th however is something to behold. Even 6th gear on the highway...there's absolutely no reason for me to ever downshift to pass anyone as long as I'm already travelling at a reasonable highway speed.

My buddy's E90 (albeit with AT) really highlights the difference in the gear ratios between the two engines and transmissions.

I often find myself getting up to 70-80km/h in 3rd or 4th and going straight to 6th. I'm not complaining however, I absolutely love the way the car drives. Do I wish I had the more refined motor instead of the base N20? Yes. Can I live without it for another 3-3.5 years? Definitely. Coming from a 2.3L NA Mazda3 to my N20 really makes it all the more special for me. I have significantly more power (in the right gears and RPMs, of course), AND I get significantly better fuel economy as well.

[goj]

I use 5th cruising on expressways or other streets 40-50mph

[Prossx]

Originally Posted by goj

I use 5th cruising on expressways or other streets 40-50mph

Same here. And with a brisk run from a traffic light I find myself going from 3rd to 5th directly.

[sinner-]

I am interested in changing the 6th gear 'sprocket' only and i am curious if this is possible.
I saw this mod on a VW Golf with the 1.9 Tdi, the guy onlu changed the 6th gear with a longer one, this allowed him to run 130 kmh with 300rpm less.

I am dead curious if for the BMW is there a longer 6th in some gearbox that can match to replace the 'stock' one.

[jbiswurm]

I don't really understand much of this. The 6mt spins around 2900 in top gear at 80mph... thats far far far from pushing, "wearing" (lmao), or straining the motor at all. People always seem to think motors dont like to spin, when the opposite is closer to the truth.

Also to say that you do or dont use a gear makes no sense. There is a time and a place for every gear in the box.

The amount of people that pay for a 300hp car and never use more than 200 of them is crazy.

[sinner-]

the reason i'd like to change the 6th gear ratio for a longer one is just, fuel mileage

Otherwise, when driving around city i am revving quite often above 4k

[im_an_alien]

I once asked the same question too...and I still skip 5th regularly

https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1642661

[dmaxdmax]

With the density of cars and idiots in NJ, I'm usually cruising on the highway in 5th, but I think my engine sounds like it would enjoy 3rd more. 6th is only when I'll be doing nothing for a long time.

[pshovest]

Originally Posted by sinner-

......the reason i'd like to change the 6th gear ratio for a longer one is just, fuel mileage ......

The cost of changing gear ratio(s) in the trans will never be recovered by the miniscule fuel savings.

[Atom Ant]

I am also curious if there is a way to change/mod ratio somehow, because my fuel consumption is too high on freeway. I drive between 130-200km/h, sometimes even faster (when road is clear of cars). But engine speed is high... it consumes about 10-11l/100km. My previous 120d never eat more than 6l, almost half fuel consumption.