Ripping 3rd gear?

[Dgarcia41982]

I've read a few posts of people saying they throw it in third gear and there out. My question is for the people with first hand experience. If I'm on the highway cruising in sixth gear at about 60-70 mph will droppng it to third be really really cool or will out screw up the car? All I can think of is if I'm at cruising speed and drop to 3rd rpms will probably shoot up to 6 or 7 thousand. Idk thats why I'm asking, only had the car for two months. Thanks.

[SpdRacerTO]

If you shift properly, ie - rev match your downshift, as long as the downshift doesn't land you beyond redline it should be fine. Keep in mind large rpm changes during shifts (skipping gears) gets harder on the synchros the further the spread.

[SpdRacerTO]

And yes, accelerating at high rpm is fun. And dangerously, illegally, addictive

[Dgarcia41982]

Originally Posted by SpdRacerTO

If you shift properly, ie - rev match your downshift, as long as the downshift doesn't land you beyond redline it should be fine. Keep in mind large rpm changes during shifts (skipping gears) gets harder on the synchros the further the spread.

What do you mean by rev match my downshift?

[FormulaMMM]

As above, do you understand/know how to rev match on downshifts? EDIT: I guess not. I just found this on youtube, haha... learn from this kid:

At those speeds, I drop from 6th to 4th, and then 4th to 3rd if I want to be both "really really cool" and "out". I admit that a drop and rev match straight from 6th to 3rd might be really really cool-er, but it'd be a total guess on the match for me.

You do not want to clutch in, drop from 6th to 3rd, and then just let the clutch out without rev matching. That feels damaging, and it is..

Good luck on your 3rd gear ripping brah.

[John Tanglewood]

Originally Posted by Dgarcia41982

What do you mean by rev match my downshift?

Say you're slowing down and you want to downshift from 3rd to 2nd.

When you downshift into 2nd, you want to MATCH whatever speed you are going with the RPMs that are required in second gear.

So, hypothetically:
---3rd gear @ 40mph = 3200rpm
---2nd gear @ 40mph = 4000rpm


So, when you downshift, you want to blip the throttle so the revs reach 4000rpms before you release the clutch.

There.. That was my half-ass way of explaining.

[1MOREMOD]

i usually downshift to 3rd at 60 and 4th at 80 if im trying to get after it.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by Dgarcia41982

I've read a few posts of people saying they throw it in third gear and there out. My question is for the people with first hand experience. If I'm on the highway cruising in sixth gear at about 60-70 mph will droppng it to third be really really cool or will out screw up the car? All I can think of is if I'm at cruising speed and drop to 3rd rpms will probably shoot up to 6 or 7 thousand. Idk thats why I'm asking, only had the car for two months. Thanks.

3rd gear indeed is the money gear.

When I had the 6MT M3, with so many cars here in SoCal freeways, I never cruised in 6th gear. Not even in 5th. Not being a professional race driver, didn't want to take a chance of money-shifting into a wrong gear when trying to dodge some nutjob. Stayed constantly in 4th & 3rd. Engine sounds great that way anyways.

6th or 5th only when completely out of metro areas (like when driving in a desert highway, on the way to Vegas).

[jms_w]

Rev matching is the idea of matching engine speed to tranny speed. To do this, pull off accelerator, clutch in and keep in, move shifter out of gear, blip throttle to estimated rpm you'll be at in lower gear, move shifter into lower gear, clutch out, floor accelerator. This happens all within a second or so. It'll take practice but when done right, it's a beautiful thing. I think the general rule is 500 rpm to 750 rpm between gears at the same speed. So if engine is running 3k rpms @ 60 mph, blip to 4.5 - 5k rpms on a 6th to 3rd gear downshift.

[hieu1004]

Here's a thread that shows the approximate max. speed for each gear: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=292787

Like everyone else said, for such a big downshift, it's ideal to rev match or double clutch. I usually drop to 4th at freeway speeds to pass but will sometimes drop to 3rd if I want to be "really really cool."

[OC3]

Originally Posted by SpdRacerTO

If you shift properly, ie - rev match your downshift, as long as the downshift doesn't land you beyond redline it should be fine. Keep in mind large rpm changes during shifts (skipping gears) gets harder on the synchros the further the spread.

Why does he need to rev match when he's not downshifting & slowing down? i.e. if he's downshifting for a quick getaway or lunging or whatever, what's wrong with shifting and just punching the gas?

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by OC3

Why does he need to rev match when he's not downshifting & slowing down? i.e. if he's downshifting for a quick getaway or lunging or whatever, what's wrong with shifting and just punching the gas?

OP wants to go from 6th to 3rd @ highway speeds.

Sorry, maybe I misunderstood your post. Unless it was a situation requiring an immediate getaway as you say, what you describe is not something that I would attempt. Not confident enough on the timing I suppose. Especially going from 6th to 3rd.

If he just wants to get from 6th to 3rd at highway speeds, and can take a moment to do so, rev matching downshifts would be advisable I think. Especially for someone (apparently) just learning.

[cboneck]

You've never going to hit 6th going 70 or 80 in this car... Of course you can drive it like a corvette but I generally keep it at 4000 min

It took me 2 years to hit 6th after me ED and that was at 3 am on a drive to Charlotte from Chicago to visit a sick family member.... Where I tested if my limiter was really removed on a totally straight 6 lane no car situation

6th gear is for plus 100 in my experience

[Dgarcia41982]

Originally Posted by OC3

Why does he need to rev match when he's not downshifting & slowing down? i.e. if he's downshifting for a quick getaway or lunging or whatever, what's wrong with shifting and just punching the gas?

This! I didn't wanna come right out and say it but if someone comes out of nowhere and whats to play is it feasible to do this? In my previous car (modded evo x) there were five gears and it was torquey. So I know 5th gear to 4th was the limit to not damage the engine. But with this high reving eight. Im nervous to do this. If you read my thread on m3 vs. 911 turbo, you'll see I got my ass whooped but I can't help but feel if I was able to do a 6 to 3 I couldve done much better. It just felt like 6 to 5th to 4th wasted to much valuable time.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by OC3

Why does he need to rev match when he's not downshifting & slowing down? i.e. if he's downshifting for a quick getaway or lunging or whatever, what's wrong with shifting and just punching the gas?

IMO, downshifting for acceleration without rev matching is much more damaging than not doing so during deceleration.

Picture what happens to the drivetrain: drivetrain is loaded in one direction to move the car forward, after downshift drivetrain gets loaded in the other direction to accelerate the engine, back on the gas and the drivetrain load switches again to accelerate the car. If you have ever ridden with someone that does that, your head bounces forwards and backwards like a bubble head.

When I rev match to accelerate, I only lift the throttle slightly to unload the gearbox, clutch-in, neutral, blip, don't release the throttle, engage lower gear, clutch-out, full throttle. This technic provides for me the fastest and smoothest downshifts . 3rd pulls all the way to about 108mph, so it is perfectly OK to downshift to 3rd at 60-70mph (I'd do it at 80mph if needed).

I'd say practice rev matching simpler shifts first (6->5, 5->4 or 4->3), and them move to skipping one gear (6->4 and 5->3) before skipping two gears (6->3)... my 2 cents.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Dgarcia41982

This! I didn't wanna come right out and say it but if someone comes out of nowhere and whats to play is it feasible to do this? In my previous car (modded evo x) there were five gears and it was torquey. So I know 5th gear to 4th was the limit to not damage the engine. But with this high reving eight. Im nervous to do this. If you read my thread on m3 vs. 911 turbo, you'll see I got my ass whooped but I can't help but feel if I was able to do a 6 to 3 I couldve done much better. It just felt like 6 to 5th to 4th wasted to much valuable time.

What? With 8300 rpm's to play with, why would you not be less concerned? Unless you're planning downshifts to 2nd at ~80 mph, for example, you'll be just fine.

And I'm not trying to be a dick, but are you saying that the 911 turbo lined up against you in the appropriate gear, took off, then you began a frantic downshift sequence? If so, that's hilarious...

[OC3]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

IMO, downshifting for acceleration without rev matching is much more damaging than not doing so during deceleration.

Picture what happens to the drivetrain: drivetrain is loaded in one direction to move the car forward, after downshift drivetrain gets loaded in the other direction to accelerate the engine, back on the gas and the drivetrain load switches again to accelerate the car. If you have ever ridden with someone that does that, your head bounces forwards and backwards like a bubble head.

When I rev match to accelerate, I only lift the throttle slightly to unload the gearbox, clutch-in, neutral, blip, don't release the throttle, engage lower gear, clutch-out, full throttle. This technic provides for me the fastest and smoothest downshifts . 3rd pulls all the way to about 108mph, so it is perfectly OK to downshift to 3rd at 60-70mph (I'd do it at 80mph if needed).

I'd say practice rev matching simpler shifts first (6->5, 5->4 or 4->3), and them move to skipping one gear (6->4 and 5->3) before skipping two gears (6->3)... my 2 cents.

Point well taken, but... all that when the OP is only "cruising in sixth gear at about 60-70 mph"?

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by OC3

Point well taken, but... all that when the OP is only "cruising in sixth gear at about 60-70 mph"?

Yeah, I assumed OP wants to downshift to accelerate for a quick pass or something. Downshifting just to be cool is kind of pointless...

[Dgarcia41982]

Originally Posted by cboneck

You've never going to hit 6th going 70 or 80 in this car... Of course you can drive it like a corvette but I generally keep it at 4000 min

It took me 2 years to hit 6th after me ED and that was at 3 am on a drive to Charlotte from Chicago to visit a sick family member.... Where I tested if my limiter was really removed on a totally straight 6 lane no car situation

6th gear is for plus 100 in my experience

Wow, I kind of always felt that sixth gear was a cruising gear! Don't you go through a tank of gas rather quickly staying in lower gears? Anyhow thanks for your reply.

[Dgarcia41982]

Originally Posted by LM3

What? With 8300 rpm's to play with, why would you not be less concerned? Unless you're planning downshifts to 2nd at ~80 mph, for example, you'll be just fine.

And I'm not trying to be a dick, but are you saying that the 911 turbo lined up against you in the appropriate gear, took off, then you began a frantic downshift sequence? If so, that's hilarious...

Lmfao! Yes that is how it went down. I guess this extra gear really throws me off. Do you guys really not use 6th gear? Thats kind of the impression I'm getting from these replies.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by Dgarcia41982

Lmfao! Yes that is how it went down. I guess this extra gear really throws me off. Do you guys really not use 6th gear? Thats kind of the impression I'm getting from these replies.

I almost addressed this earlier because I thought you might get that impression.

I use 6th gear daily. Why one would not when traffic conditions permit, I have no earthly idea. I've never known any manual transmission driver not to use his top gear cruising at highway speeds, for example. And I regularly throw mine into 6th at speeds as low as 40-45 mph, or about ~1.5k rpm.

But to each his own driving style I suppose. Some people are having to dart in and out of urban traffic daily. In these conditions, being in a lower gear and having some revs on hand is understandable. But for me and my suburban 55 mph roads and long highway trips, 6th gets a lot of use.

[gatorfast]

Wow lots of interesting comments in here.

To OP: Not to be mean, but how can you drive a manual car and not know what rev matching is? Obviously you care about performance or else you wouldnt have purchased on M3 but your question makes it seem like you dont understand how an engine/manual transmission even operates.

To those saying they never use 6th gear...wtf? Whats the point in cruising in 3rd/4th going 60+ mph? Just a waste of gas and more wear on the car.