Bouncing off the rev limiter

[tjlazer]

I just thought I'd check that this is fairly standard practice with the M when you're in a hurry? I am operating on the principle that there is a reason the limiter exists and the engine is fine operating up to the max 8k anyway. Obviously as soon as I hit it I tend to shift up unless there's a good reason to hold but I'd be interested on other forum members thoughts/advice on this subject...

 

[Rudd]

i would say dont. have u ever seen an engine held on the limiter for a length of time? they dont last too long.

they are obviously within the safe threshold but i wouldnt like to think of hitting it all the time

 

[flimper]

I wonder if I'm alone in never having got anywhere near to the limiter?

 

[Andy]

lol gosh.

tz.. yes, regularly. If it's remapped it's common to up the limit, so I'm fine with 8k. I *never* ignore the orange limiters tho, very very important.

 

[sk93]

aren't you out of the powerband by then anyway?

 

[EdButler]

Isnt 'bouncing' off the limiter what most Honda drivers do? My 3.0i has a soft limiter so it doesnt bounce at all, it just cuts fuel to maintain speed. You should really learn the engine pitch to stop 'hitting' it though and it definitely shouldnt be sustained for more than a few seconds (like if you're anticipating on braking hard for a corner).

 

[sherlock]

Dont know why you need to bounce off the limiter, I race regularly and if you are then you are not getting the most out of your driving style.

 

[Andy]

edit.. i dont ever "bounce" off it, just reach it regularly and anticipate it for the gear change.

 

[Tweed]

I wonder if I'm alone in never having got anywhere near to the limiter?

You are not alone

 

[Rudd]

it it once or twice but i would never aim to do it. as sherlock said you just dont get the best out of the car

 

[Kaide]

Never hit it on my car. I think twice on my bike, by accident.

 

[James_G]

Used to hit the limiter all the time in my Civic Type-R and always in third, but it was a company car so I never thought much about it. Occasionally hit it in my Porsche 944 when on a track but never intentionally.

Never hit it in the M - to be honest I find I'm running out of road before I get close, as it's usually only likely to happen when in third gear, overtaking.

I think this is the case of not relying on it, but it's nice to know that it's there.

 

[sixspeed]

I very rarely hit it, but do stretch the engine's legs and get close to it, when it permits...

However I did hit the limiter after owning the E92 M3 for a few weeks and then jumping back into the Z. The delivery of the new V8 engine in the M3 kicks up a notch at the top end of the rev range, and I was waiting for this second-wind in my Z when I got it back and first took it out again... except it didnt happen :lol: Made the Z4M seem quite slow in comparison, but have since readjusted and got over my disappointment

 

[Breaker]

Great engine that M3 V8 isn't it!

Would be nice in the Z4!

 

[a11y]

Used to hit the limiter all the time in my Civic Type-R and always in third

Ha ha ha, exact same as me and same car! I was the same in my EP3 - such a small crappy powerband and it revved so quickly that it used to catch me out quite often. Sounded amazingly adictive at high revs though so was rude (and completely ineffective) not going there.

I've never hit the limiter in my 3.0i Z4 though...

 

[tjlazer]

Interesting thoughts all. Just to clarify I'm not making a habit of hitting the limiter so perhaps "bouncing off" sounds a bit casual...I do hit it from time to time when looking for a sudden kick to overtake in 2nd and I don't see it causing any problems if the engine is fully warmed up. I don't think I have ever smacked into it in 3rd gear given the road speed involved!

To my mind the M has a massive rev band so you might as well use it to the fullest (and enjoy the sound). I'm in total agreement that it's better to shift before it kicks in but at the same time 7500 - 8000 happens pretty quickly with your foot planted For non-M owners I wouldn't go near it but then that's why I bought an M in the first place...

 

[sixspeed]

I must admit its the howl from the H&S exhaust and Gruppe-M barking away that do drive me towards the upper rev-band on a fairly frequent basis Motorway entry slip roads are particularly good, as they provide good cause for full throttle.... especially enhanced if you have the windows down and can move towards the outside lane, complete with concrete central reservation barrier to bounce the sound back at you....

Sorry, got carried away there.

As you were.

 

[Tweed]

especially enhanced if you have the windows down...

just imagine what it would be like with the roof down

 

[Andy]

Roof down, H&S at full bark, 3rd gear 3-8000rpm down a motorway entry slip... gets me every time :heart:

 

[mmm-five]

I don't tend to hit the limiter at all as I'm used to a 7200rpm limit in my e34 M5s, so I insitinctively–or more likely out of habit–change at about 7000rpm.

I still take it above that 7200rpm now & then, and unless it's on a motorway commute then it's regularly kept in the 5000rpm-7200rpm range, but I've got to be in 'driving god' or 'road rage' mode to get anywhere close to the limiter