Warming up and the 'orange blobs'

W

Woody

Senior member
 Bristol
So was just wondering about this. I start my M up and gradually wait for the orange blobs to go out, not exceeding 3k RPM in the process waiting patiently for it to warm up. Unfortunately though it seems now its colder it takes longer but not an awful lot, but enough for it to sometimes seem like an eternity!

So once it gets to 7.5k RPM with just one orange blob left, it's technically warmed up right? It's just I give it a few minutes more just incase, before I give it full powerrrrr but is that really necessary? Am I just over nurturing?! Does the second it gets to 7.5k mean its all warm, lubricated and ready to go go go?

And also don't you just hate it when you've just started the car, got the blobs up to say, 6.5k RPM and you get a scooby/6 series/boxster etc etc up your chuff or revving at the lights and you can't make them red faced for fear of damaging the car, I just have to let them go...! It always seems to be at this time too, never when the car is all nice and cosy!
 
No the rule of thumb is not to exceed 3k until oil is at 75 degrees which takes much longer than it does for the lights to go out.
 
Ok yer I did think that, glad I have always waited a bit longer now as I did think it odd that the orange blobs had gone out (albeit up to 7.5k) but the oil temp needle was still fairly low. Guess I'll have to continue being patient and allow the M to get nice and cosy before beans are given. Does take an annoyingly long time though!
 
srhutch said:
No the rule of thumb is not to exceed 3k until oil is at 75 degrees which takes much longer than it does for the lights to go out.
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So just on that then, what is the point of the orange blobs and their gradual going out up until 7.5k??
 
Woo7dy said:
So was just wondering about this. I start my M up and gradually wait for the orange blobs to go out, not exceeding 3k RPM in the process waiting patiently for it to warm up. Unfortunately though it seems now its colder it takes longer but not an awful lot, but enough for it to sometimes seem like an eternity!

So once it gets to 7.5k RPM with just one orange blob left, it's technically warmed up right? It's just I give it a few minutes more just incase, before I give it full powerrrrr but is that really necessary? Am I just over nurturing?! Does the second it gets to 7.5k mean its all warm, lubricated and ready to go go go?

And also don't you just hate it when you've just started the car, got the blobs up to say, 6.5k RPM and you get a scooby/6 series/boxster etc etc up your chuff or revving at the lights and you can't make them red faced for fear of damaging the car, I just have to let them go...! It always seems to be at this time too, never when the car is all nice and cosy!
Click to expand...

the V8 6er,s may leave you with egg on your chin :evil: torque in abundance & coupled with a gearbox that will change faster than you can with your wrist :cry:
 
mr wilks said:
the V8 6er,s may leave you with egg on your chin :evil: torque in abundance & coupled with a gearbox that will change faster than you can with your wrist :cry:
Click to expand...

On my chin?! :) I'll have you know I have a very quick and strong wrist actually, it's had years of practice!

Oh yes I know, the V8's are good. Maybe the earlier 645i would be a more realistic challenge, the revised V8 650i maybe not but lets not forget the pace of the M and the weight difference.

Only reason I mentioned the 6 was because of some bloke in one wanting a little bit of light entertainment. He was in a 630i so.......
 
Woo7dy said:
mr wilks said:
the V8 6er,s may leave you with egg on your chin :evil: torque in abundance & coupled with a gearbox that will change faster than you can with your wrist :cry:
Click to expand...

On my chin?! :) I'll have you know I have a very quick and strong wrist actually, it's had years of practice!

Oh yes I know, the V8's are good. Maybe the earlier 645i would be a more realistic challenge, the revised V8 650i maybe not but lets not forget the pace of the M and the weight difference.

Only reason I mentioned the 6 was because of some bloke in one wanting a little bit of light entertainment. He was in a 630i so.......
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hahaa . sooooo you showed him the delights of the rear arches as seen from behind on a Z4 coupe :thumbsup:
 
Yup you got it :) Hopefully he enjoyed it...

Need to go wash that lovely behind now, just trying to build the energy up to get out there! It's coldddddd!

Has anyone gone from a V8 6er to an M or vice versa and offer any opinion?

Can anyone answer my question in regards what srhutch said, as posted above?
 
I always keep mine below 3k rpm until 75 degrees, then keep below about 5k until its upto full temp, about 90 ish.

Might be a bit over the top, but it's my choice.
 
Woo7dy said:
Yup you got it :) Hopefully he enjoyed it...

Need to go wash that lovely behind now, just trying to build the energy up to get out there! It's coldddddd!

Has anyone gone from a V8 6er to an M or vice versa and offer any opinion?

Can anyone answer my question in regards what srhutch said, as posted above?
Click to expand...


Drove a 650 sport a few weeks back and was massively underwhelmed.
Doubt it would get close to my M.
Also felt big, heavy, wallowy and very soft in comparrison.

regarding the orange blobs, - I dont know why they go out so soon incomparrison to engine oil temp. I always wait for indicated engine oil temp to settle at about 80-90.
 
I'd guess that the lights refer to water temp as opposed to oil?

question, do the revs get limited to the point the lights are at?
 
I always wait till its warmed up, has happed once when i wanted to race someone and i thought against it due to the car not being warmed up....
 
srhutch said:
No the rule of thumb is not to exceed 3k until oil is at 75 degrees which takes much longer than it does for the lights to go out.
Click to expand...
The information given in the Owner's handbook for the S54 Z3 MC/R is that you should not exceed 4000rpm when the oil temperature is below 60dec C, but according to the Z4MC/R Supplementary Owner's handbook, it is permissible to drive at all engine speeds below the variable amber lights which progressively increase as the oil gets warmer. In the early days of the S54 engine, BMW hadn't got a clue about the reason why it was the "Engine of Damocles" and kept spinning bearing shells, which resulted in BMW recalling over 48,000 E46 M3s in the US alone. Now that BMW has got to the bottom of that problem, it's clear that the later engines are not considered to be fragile and at the same risk. In any event, it's still good practice to let the oil to get up to working temperature before you expect the car to perform at its best at the limit.
 
Ye, regardless of the orange lights I dont take mine past 3k unless the oil temp is up to 9oºC takes 15 mins or so.
 
Yeah I always thought the orange lights were water temp therefore warmed up much faster than the oil.
Would never want to rev as high as them.
Always wait for the oil to get hot. Not the water :)
 
As exdos quoted: "but according to the Z4MC/R Supplementary Owner's handbook, it is permissible to drive at all engine speeds below the variable amber lights which progressively increase as the oil gets warmer"
RTFM :poke:
 
So I know this is the ///M section, and I don't have the same engine, and I don't have actual temperatures on my low-end dials... But I try to keep below 3,000 RPM until my temp gauge gets to it's normal (vertical) position. Is this simply a wise thing to do with any Z, or am I being overly careful of my car ?
 
Bing said:
So I know this is the ///M section, and I don't have the same engine, and I don't have actual temperatures on my low-end dials... But I try to keep below 3,000 RPM until my temp gauge gets to it's normal (vertical) position. Is this simply a wise thing to do with any Z, or am I being overly careful of my car ?
Click to expand...

well you are getting rid of your 3.0 soon so i wouldnt worry too much....
 
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