M3 gearing

[Gaffes]

Hello all,

I love my new M3 (e36) but I don't really understand the gearing.

First gear seems too short. If I start off from a stop in first gear, I have to shift to second by the time I get to 5mph. But if I try to start from a stop in second gear, it seems to slow, and I don't want to slip the clutch.

Can someone tell me why they are geared like this? How do you start from a stop during normal driving, not racing?

[Mikey52]

5 mph sounds a little crazy for 1-2 but I think the reason an M3 might be geared taller is they were made to drive on the autobahn. Taller gearing allows you to sit at a lower rpm while youre cruising at, say, 100 mph. Increases gas mileage, etc.

[Gaffes]

Heh. 5mph is not even an exageration(sic). Basically, if I am starting from a stop I just put it in first, and as soon as the car starts to move I put it into second and take off. Is this what everyone else does?

If I stay in first gear, I am redlining at 7000rpm by the time I hit 15 mph.

[nodemgr]

You must have a modified car then because my '98 redlines first at 30MPH.

[EvoM3]

Originally posted by Gaffes
Heh. 5mph is not even an exageration(sic). Basically, if I am starting from a stop I just put it in first, and as soon as the car starts to move I put it into second and take off. Is this what everyone else does?

If I stay in first gear, I am redlining at 7000rpm by the time I hit 15 mph.

thats crazy.
maybe ur speedos broken

[SI///M3]

Something is screwed up, redline in first on a '96+ M3 is ~37mph. I usually shift out of first at about 4500-5000 rpm (somewhere around 20-25 mph I think) when just cruising then about 4000 in other gears, most of the time at least. You should not have to shift into second gear at 5mph....

[PHAT 328]

something is messed up, I can take my 328is to 40mph in first gear...