GEAR CHANGES

O

ONLYONETM1983

New member
Hello

I have the 14 plate Z4 S28i 2.0 MSport

Have noticed that when driving the dashboard prompts you to change gear (by indicating gear number)

Is this to do with fuel efficiency or should it be followed to avoid damaging the engine?

My thinking is that with a car of this engine size and power, you should be able to take the car up to 50-60mph in 3rd, >60 in 4th, and only really use 6th gear at speeds of over 90-100. At lower speeds, you should be able to go up to 30 or 40 in 2nd?

Interested to hear fellow forum members' thoughts.

Thanks
 
I believe you can turn it off if you wish...
Am sure I can in our 3 series.

It's really for fuel efficiency. Just ignore it and drive how you want to.
 
You can turn the gear change indicator off by changing the dashboard display to the blank option (usually displays MPG or range) and then hold down the button at the end of the left indicator stalk for 3 seconds.

If you aren't accelerating or about to then ideally you want the engine revs to be around 1.5k. Best for fuel economy and the engine will be at its quietest. I don't know what the ratios are like but in my last BMW manual you could use 6th gear quite happily at 45mph. I imagine the ratios are shorter in the Z than a 320d so you could probably be in 6th at 40mph without labouring the engine.
 
R.E92 said:
You can turn the gear change indicator off by changing the dashboard display to the blank option (usually displays MPG or range) and then hold down the button at the end of the left indicator stalk for 3 seconds.

If you aren't accelerating or about to then ideally you want the engine revs to be around 1.5k. Best for fuel economy and the engine will be at its quietest. I don't know what the ratios are like but in my last BMW manual you could use 6th gear quite happily at 45mph. I imagine the ratios are shorter in the Z than a 320d so you could probably be in 6th at 40mph without labouring the engine.
Click to expand...
So you would be labouring the engine in a 320 in 6th at 40mph?
 
My previous car was a small 1.6 Mitsubishi petrol, happy to poodle about in 5th at 30mph, maybe 35. The Z does its own thing but seems willing to engage 7th when prompted at around 60-70km/h.
 
andysat said:
R.E92 said:
You can turn the gear change indicator off by changing the dashboard display to the blank option (usually displays MPG or range) and then hold down the button at the end of the left indicator stalk for 3 seconds.

If you aren't accelerating or about to then ideally you want the engine revs to be around 1.5k. Best for fuel economy and the engine will be at its quietest. I don't know what the ratios are like but in my last BMW manual you could use 6th gear quite happily at 45mph. I imagine the ratios are shorter in the Z than a 320d so you could probably be in 6th at 40mph without labouring the engine.
Click to expand...
So you would be labouring the engine in a 320 in 6th at 40mph?
Click to expand...

It's been a year since I drove the car but from memory 40mph in 6th was a bit low. Not quite labouring but it was hard to maintain a steady speed.
 
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