[nexusonemeover]

While dicking around with my car, 328i with 6MT, I realized that with the car in neutral the engine will rev to red line. However, with car in gear, but clutch depressed, the car revs to about 3000 rpm, drops to about 2000 and will only go back to about 3000 rpm unless significantly more pressure on accelerator pedal is used. Even then, it still wont redline... gets to just over 4000 or so.

I tried to think about why this might be. First thought is that its protective for the clutch... for those clutch dumpers... at only 3000 rpm, the clutch will last longer than dumping at redline. But, then I thought about those exotic supercars that have a launch control feature. Those cars rev the engine at 0 mph and then release of brake causes the poop shoot to give out requiring new underwear.

Do our BMWs have a launch control of some type, or was my first thought, clutch protection, more correct?

I have not tried dumping the clutch at all... but if the car is designed to handle dumping at 3000 rpm, I shall be doing so with great joy.

[Feanor]

This seems to be fairly normal. I found that my 118D did the same thing and started a thread on a generalist car forum and the response was that many other new cars do the same thing these days.

I also asked my dealer and his response was basically that there's no sense in revving a diesel when pulling away as the torque is greatest at low revs. With the petrol, I'm not sure.

[mocohead]

My impression is the rev limit in gear with clutch depressed is intended to protect the drive line from undue abuse.