5-speed vs. 6-speed?
- Thread starter azroadie
- Start date
The following numbers for the manual transmissions were taken from a 2003 Z4 German market brochure (my US brochure doesn't have this information). I don't know if BMW changed the manual transmission or rear gear rations on the 06'+ models.
--------2.5i -----3.0i
------5-Speed--6-speed [Both, Manual Transmissions]
1st---- 4.23--------4.35
2nd----2.52--------2.50
3rd----1.67--------1.67
4th----1.22--------1.24
5th----1.00--------1.00
6th------------------.85
Rear---3.23--------3.07
The 2.2i 5 speed manual transmission has same gear ratios as the 2.5i while the rear gear ratio is 3.38
I feel a 6th gear would be nice on the 2.5 with manual transmission at speeds above 60mph.
--------2.5i -----3.0i
------5-Speed--6-speed [Both, Manual Transmissions]
1st---- 4.23--------4.35
2nd----2.52--------2.50
3rd----1.67--------1.67
4th----1.22--------1.24
5th----1.00--------1.00
6th------------------.85
Rear---3.23--------3.07
The 2.2i 5 speed manual transmission has same gear ratios as the 2.5i while the rear gear ratio is 3.38
I feel a 6th gear would be nice on the 2.5 with manual transmission at speeds above 60mph.
Back to the original question of this thread... What's the difference between a 5-speed and 6-speed personality?
I would describe my 5-speed personality as aggressive and able to pack a punch, yet laid back enough to enjoy the ride. Less complicated, more set in my ways, and traditional.
I think of a 6-speed personality as being a little more agreesive, quick to change, fast paced, high speed, and most of the time a thriller. Of course that makes it a little more complicated, having more options - basically liberal.
Anyone else have any different ideas?
I would describe my 5-speed personality as aggressive and able to pack a punch, yet laid back enough to enjoy the ride. Less complicated, more set in my ways, and traditional.
I think of a 6-speed personality as being a little more agreesive, quick to change, fast paced, high speed, and most of the time a thriller. Of course that makes it a little more complicated, having more options - basically liberal.
Anyone else have any different ideas?
flyboyaj said:
Look at my post directly above yours. You'll see that the transmission gears are nearly the same, with 6th being an overdrive. The rear gear makes a difference here, and with the 3.23 of the 2.5i (verses 3.07 of the 3.0i), the 5 speed (after passing through the rear gear) will feel more "quick to change".
3.23 means the drive shaft will turn 3.23 times to make the rear tire turn 1 revolution (higher the number, the slower you go at any given RPM and vice versa)
The transmission gear ratio (as shown in my post above) is how many engine revolutions needed to turn the drive shaft 1 turn (again, higher the number given, the slower you go at any given RPM and vice versa). Example, on the 2.5i 1st gear is 4.23, so the engine will turn 4.23 time for every 1 turn of the drive shaft.
Simply put:
If you had a 3.0i (3.07 rear gear) and 2.5i (3.23 rear gear), both cars in 5th gear (both are 1.0). If both cars are driven at the same RPMs, the 2.5i would be going slower. If you drive them at the same speeds, the 2.5i engine will be turning faster.
The added over drive of the 6 speed would be appreciated at speeds over 60-65mph on the 2.5i in my opinion. I've read somewhere that some 2.5i owners installed the 3.0i 3.07 rear gear to help reduce the RPMs on the autobahn at any given speed, while a few 3.0i owners installed the 2.5i 3.23 rear gear for quicker acceleration etc..
MarkC: outstanding description. I am of similar opinion to you, only to say 60-65mph on my 2.5i is more then comfortable in 5th. I could see where 6th might conserve on some gas mileage on long runs at 80+. I have driven 60mph easily in 4th, no strain and very smooth 
fire-n-ice said:MarkC: outstanding description. I am of similar opinion to you, only to say 60-65mph on my 2.5i is more then comfortable in 5th. I could see where 6th might conserve on some gas mileage on long runs at 80+. I have driven 60mph easily in 4th, no strain and very smooth
Our issue in SoCal is no one drives slower than 80 mph (that's why everything is only 20 minutes away :lol: ) so @ 80+, 6th gear comes in handy.
mmm yes, understood. You must not have much traffic? Lots of traffic in ATL and Macon. I cruise at 100 without even thinking about it, it's more of a gas conservation issue and at 3+ dollars a gallon for premium - any help is appreciated! Doesn't LA have the worst traffic in the world? ATL is 2nd, the congestion is getting ridiculous :x . By the time they get finished building 7 miles of highway width expansion, 50 thousand more people have moved here :fightwall: ! What a viscious cycle. I don't even stop people unless they're doing 20+ and driving like asshole's - or some other probable cause to accompany it. I know their pain: you spend 2 f*&king hours in traffic and when you finally break free, you just wanna get home.SoCalSizzle said:
Love your avatar by the way - guess that's a SoCal sunset?
fire-n-ice said:You must not have much traffic? Lots of traffic in ATL and Macon.
Love your avatar by the way - guess that's a SoCal sunset?
I live south of LA (Orange County) and know my way around the traffic patterns thank goodness. I try to stay out of LA as much as possible.
Thanks for the compliment on my avatar...took it down the street from my house in Laguna Beach. One of the best things about living on the west coast is the ocean sunsets 8) .
MarkC...Fantistic post! I'll definitely be saving it for future reference as I was trying to hunt down much of that info! Thanks!
Now I'm not very concerned about 5/6 speed differences. Other than the overdrive gear, they are extremely similar. Plus, I tend to not dive much over the speed limit. I find that 75-80 in my 2.5 is very comfortable and I get 30+ mpg. I just like getting those speeds as quickly as possible ;-)
One other question did come up though. I can only get to about 56-58mph in my 2.5 in 2nd gear. So I need 3rd gear for 0-60 runs. Can you get to 60 mph in 2nd gear in a 3.0?
If so, then I'm thinking the rear gearing of 3.23 vs. 3.07 has a lot to do with the 1 second difference between zero to 60 times for a 2.5 vs 3.0. You have to shift into 3rd for those fractions of a second on the 2.5.
This would also explain why I don't feel much of a performance difference between a 3.0 and 2.5. I expected the 3.0 to be much more powerful based on the 5.9 second (versus 6.9 second) 0-60 time. I didn't find that to be the case and that would make much more sense if that time was mostly due to the extra shift required.
Now I'm not very concerned about 5/6 speed differences. Other than the overdrive gear, they are extremely similar. Plus, I tend to not dive much over the speed limit. I find that 75-80 in my 2.5 is very comfortable and I get 30+ mpg. I just like getting those speeds as quickly as possible ;-)
One other question did come up though. I can only get to about 56-58mph in my 2.5 in 2nd gear. So I need 3rd gear for 0-60 runs. Can you get to 60 mph in 2nd gear in a 3.0?
If so, then I'm thinking the rear gearing of 3.23 vs. 3.07 has a lot to do with the 1 second difference between zero to 60 times for a 2.5 vs 3.0. You have to shift into 3rd for those fractions of a second on the 2.5.
This would also explain why I don't feel much of a performance difference between a 3.0 and 2.5. I expected the 3.0 to be much more powerful based on the 5.9 second (versus 6.9 second) 0-60 time. I didn't find that to be the case and that would make much more sense if that time was mostly due to the extra shift required.
on the Z4, i find 5th and 6th is pretty much the same if you are going speed limit or under. at 60 mph, i think the diff between 5th and 6th is only about 300 rpm
i actually wish the first 5 gears of my 6 speed would be shorter making the 6th gear acutally useful. as per above comments, don't need more than 5th in most occasions. A shorter 3rd gear would be really sweet since it goes to about 100 mph in 3rd.
for example, in a 6 speed miata, you need 3rd to get up to 60 mph and i believe you need to get to the end of 3rd to just cross that speed. a 6 speed miata is LOADS of fun to drive if you are the type to want to shift gears all the time which is what they are talking about when you say "6 speed personality"
i actually wish the first 5 gears of my 6 speed would be shorter making the 6th gear acutally useful. as per above comments, don't need more than 5th in most occasions. A shorter 3rd gear would be really sweet since it goes to about 100 mph in 3rd.
for example, in a 6 speed miata, you need 3rd to get up to 60 mph and i believe you need to get to the end of 3rd to just cross that speed. a 6 speed miata is LOADS of fun to drive if you are the type to want to shift gears all the time which is what they are talking about when you say "6 speed personality"
That's IT!!! :x I'm going to the track on Friday night and getting a 0-60 time in my 2.5i to prove to y'all that it's faster than you think. The trick is to not let the traction control slow you down in 1st and 2nd and shift from 2nd to 3rd at 6000 rmps (52mph), the car will continue to increase speed during the shift (coasting with a positive energy state) and lurch past 60 as you release the clutch in 3rd if you maintain pressure on the gas pedal throughout the shift.
I'm going to do 2 runs with it on and 1 run with it off. I've already talked to the owner of the track (a friend of a neighbor of mine) and she said that she'd let me do 3 runs for free any Tuesday or Friday evening (when they have open runs). I've just been super lazy about getting up there, but NOW I'm motivated. :chicken:
I have an //M. Atlanta Motor Speedway does not have an official track, they use pit row for an 1/8 mile stretch, with no timing tree/equipment. It is just straight up one-on-one with a judge at the line to determine the winner. But, according to a G-Tech unit I was running consistent 8.9 even with a bunch of wheel spin. Once I get rid of these Conti's, and get some good tires on, I will have to time it again.
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