new here, ? about rpm

Philly · 08-26-2006, 08:05 PM

So to put it short, i just got a 1998 base(i think) and im in love.
red, 5spd, 157,000 KM's almost mint.... wicked wicked car ... impresses me more than the nissan spec-v i had before this.

So my only concern is...... is my engine suppose to rev at 3k RPM going 65mph and like 3k 1/2 @ 70?? seems really sketchy to me...

is there a chip or anything that can lower the RPM?

thanks alot

Philly · 08-26-2006, 08:12 PM

oh and is it suppose to idle at 700 rpm?

thanks again.

fourbysix · 08-26-2006, 08:31 PM

thats our high strung four bangers for ya..700rpm is a totally fine idle range..and sounds like your revving at speed is fine too. DustenT might have something to say about this though.

roadrash · 08-26-2006, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rwd_king

is my engine suppose to rev at 3k RPM going 65mph and like 3k 1/2 @ 70??

Maybe I'm missing something, but wouldn't that depend on what gear you're in??

AlaskaBlue · 08-26-2006, 08:47 PM

That is exactly where your RPMs are supposed to be. Also no you can't use a chip to lower your RPMs because your engines computer does not have anything to do with the ratios in your gearbox and rear end.

If you want to lower your idle speed there is no point because 700 rpms is right on the money.

BTW I have 170,000 miles on my car and autocross it often. I shift most times near or at 7000 rpms. I think your car will be fine cruising at 3500.

Oh lastly welcome to the forum.

Philly · 08-26-2006, 09:01 PM

hey, thanks alot.. thats a load of my mind!
im just not used to it is all.... probably because im so used to a 6spd..

i still can't get over how peppy this car is off the line though... i love it.

thanks again

tastade · 08-26-2006, 10:41 PM

The 5 speed manual is direct drive in 5th gear; it has no overdrive, so the RPMs are higher at highway speeds than many vehicles. Most vehicles are around 0.75:1 or so in 5th. This makes the 318ti feel pretty fast on the highway, and it also has excellent spacing on the other gears.

J3553 · 08-27-2006, 11:31 PM

i noticed the high rmps at highways speeds as well. everything i've read says it's normal for the ti. one of the only complaints i have about the ti is that it does seem to need a sixth gear. but it's not a big deal. i was on the highway today going about 65 and had to pass a guy, so i gave it a little more gas and it still had amazing giddy-up beyond 3k rpms. i'm sure the car was designed that way for a reason. and i'm sure my intake, chip, exhaust and throttle body upgrades aren't hurting anything

m3outtanowhere · 08-28-2006, 12:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J3553

i noticed the high rmps at highways speeds as well. everything i've read says it's normal for the ti. one of the only complaints i have about the ti is that it does seem to need a sixth gear. but it's not a big deal. i was on the highway today going about 65 and had to pass a guy, so i gave it a little more gas and it still had amazing giddy-up beyond 3k rpms. i'm sure the car was designed that way for a reason. and i'm sure my intake, chip, exhaust and throttle body upgrades aren't hurting anything

Post mods in you AVATAR...User CP in Top left corner \

**1996 328ti** · 08-28-2006, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by m3outtanowhere

Post mods in you AVATAR...User CP in Top left corner \

Doesn't work anymore.

Tyler · 08-28-2006, 02:08 AM

That sounds about right. I have an auto and when doing 80mph i'm at 4000rpm or slightly lower and when doing 70-75mph i'm at 3500rpm. It's supposed to idle at about 750 so thats all normal.

tol4o · 08-28-2006, 06:04 AM

If you don't like the high rpm you can do a lower ratio diff swap. I am not sure which one exactly you can use, but I think there was a 2.93 ratio diff which would lower your rpm's with about 15% but you will have a slower start. I am not a fan of the high speeds, I preffer faster acceleration, that's why the basic ti setup is fine for me. Don't forget that it is designed to be this way. The germans know what they do

tastade · 08-30-2006, 07:36 PM

I hate it, people always think that their big 6 or 8 cyl. needs a sixth gear. That just isn't true. A big 6 or 8 cyl has so much torque that the gears can be further spaced and you won't hurt acceleration. Take the Corvette for instance, it has a 6 speed, but top speed and is set in 5th gear. The 6th gear is just for fuel economy at higher speeds.

The engines that really need 6 speeds are small engines with a narrow power band, like many of the Honda engines, or especially the BMW M42/M44 with the low red line. My '91 Prelude really needed a sixth gear as well. It was at about 4000 rpm at 75 mph, but like the BMW was geared for excellent acceleration. Gas mileage doesn't suffer much until you get above about 4000 rpms, but still it would be nice to only run 3000 rpms at 75 mph.

Alas, we only have 5 speeds so we have to live with that. I personally wouldn't change the gearing as I love how it is geared from the factory, but it would help reduce RPMS.

pnosker · 08-30-2006, 08:05 PM

Dad's M Roadster has a 5 speed and runs at around 2700-3000 RPM at 65mph too, you could have the same 5 speed hooked up to a VW W16 from the Bugatti Veyron and that'd run 2700-3000 RPM at 65MPH too!

Philly · 08-30-2006, 10:52 PM

well im glad this is how its suppose to be, now i won't feel like im breaking anything on the highway!
I completely agree with the 4cyls needing the 6spd more so than the big 8s and stuff... my nissan se-r spec-v was a 6spd and that was alot of fun, but it was @3k RPM in 6th going 120KM/h also... the M44 should be a 6spd for overdrive but hey, we get what we pay for

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