6MT Speed Bumps...

[TampaBlueE90]

What is the best way in general for the car while driving over speed bumps?
What aspect and how does each affect certain components(motor mounts/transmission/suspension etc)?


1) Neutral/roll over bump

2) Low gear/with gas

3) Leave in gear/no gas

[Lorde]

Since when did the M3 become a Fabergé egg??

[Z K]

WTF? Is this the first time the OP has driven manual?

[chmura]

I wonder how some owners even own a M3???

I frequently visit other forums and this forum seems to lack intelligence compared to the others.

[M3Duo]

Any of the options will work fine depending on your speed and terrain...

[TampaBlueE90]

Informative posts thanks

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Snig

Since when did the M3 become a Fabergé egg??

LOL!!!!! The more you read the forums the more it seems to be possible.

[ES_TRADER]

how u drive over a speedbump in a honda civic = how u drive over a speedbump in a M3..6mt or dct

[///My5UV]

On the gas with the front wheels, coasting with the back.

Or build a ramp leading up to it and Dukes of Hazard that sumabitch!

[jphughan]

As much as my personality tempts me to chime in with a post similar to the others here, since I'm a new 6MT driver I'll sympathize with the OP.

Any of those should be fine. I personally coast over them in 1st or 2nd with little to no gas because this car can creep on a flat surface without any gas and it still won't stall. If you're paranoid about stalling because you're coming up to a really big speed bump (they're out here in Texas), then sure give it some gas. There really isn't much point to clutching in over a speed bump unless you're coming in way too fast because you didn't see the speed bump and now need to slam on the brakes. In that case, brake hard, clutch in to avoid stalling, release the brakes just before you go over the speed bump to avoid having a bunch of extra weight on the front end, and hope you scraped off enough speed to avoid bottoming out your front end. Then put the car into 2nd or 3rd, smoothly clutch out, and carry on.

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by richpuer

how u drive over a speedbump in a honda civic = how u drive over a speedbump in a M3..6mt or dct

does this include M3 Civics?

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by jphughan

As much as my personality tempts me to chime in with a post similar to the others here, since I'm a new 6MT driver I'll sympathize with the OP.

Any of those should be fine. I personally coast over them in 1st or 2nd with little to no gas because this car can creep on a flat surface without any gas and it still won't stall. If you're paranoid about stalling because you're coming up to a really big speed bump (they're out here in Texas), then sure give it some gas. There really isn't much point to clutching in over a speed bump unless you're coming in way too fast because you didn't see the speed bump and now need to slam on the brakes. In that case, brake hard, clutch in to avoid stalling, release the brakes just before you go over the speed bump to avoid having a bunch of extra weight on the front end, and hope you scraped off enough speed to avoid bottoming out your front end. Then put the car into 2nd or 3rd, smoothly clutch out, and carry on.

for slow speed bumps: depending on the height and speed, I do this:

clutch in
off the gas
car goes over bump
slip clutch back in


For high speed bumps
off the gas
car goes over bump
back on gas


OP is this your first manual?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by mdosu

OP is this your first manual?

If it is, since I was in the same boat I created this thread and got a lot of helpful responses. There are some great people on these boards: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=501071

[JCtx]

The ideal speed bump pass is as follows: have enough momentum to barely put the car over the speed bump, then use the brakes to slowly roll the car down. With the front wheels it can be momentum from coasting. When the tires hit the bump, you should be with the clutch in and in 1st. If needed, you can help the car roll over the bump if you didn't calculate the speed correctly. But you'll need to power the car after the front wheels are over the bump and just before the rear ones hit the speed bump. Again, at that time you have the clutch in and should have enough momentum to barely barely get over the bump and over, before you start breaking to slow the car down. And yes, I'm talking about Texas sized speed bumps , like the ones where I live. And some of those require the additional step of getting sideways, to avoid hitting anything. Those super long ones about 4' long and about 4" high, are not even speed bumps to most < he he>.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by elp_jc

When the tires hit the bump, you should be with the clutch in and in 1st.

Out of curiosity, why do you bother clutching in for speed bumps? I haven't seen a need but since I'm fairly new to this I'm always open to more information.

[TampaBlueE90]

Um this is the first manual car I've owned. I've had the car for a few years though. I'm not trying to ask how to get over a speed bump without stalling. Just want to know what is best for the car and puts least amount of wear on the clutch/transmission/motor mounts etc. I drive over a lot of them on a regular basis and was looking for a technical answer. Thanks

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by TampaBlueE90

Um this is the first manual car I've owned. I've had the car for a few years though. I'm not trying to ask how to get over a speed bump without stalling. Just want to know what is best for the car and puts least amount of wear on the clutch/transmission/motor mounts etc. I drive over a lot of them on a regular basis and was looking for a technical answer. Thanks

I don't think it makes much difference. A speed bump is such a small load change at such low speeds that it doesn't matter. This car's drive line and suspension were built to handle huge weight transfers at very high speeds under high engine and transmission load, so I really don't think you'll have a problem no matter what you do.

ADDED: Besides, remember that the transmission is connected to the REAR wheels, not the front wheels which would be the only ones affected by the differences in the options you're contemplating -- unless you're actually considering clutching in before the REAR wheels go over the speed bump.

[Totti]

I coast over in 2nd gear.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by username11

Not sure about this. With the way I go over speed bumps in rental cars (25-35 mph without braking) I can guarantee you there is some damage. Sure feels dramatic. I think at minimum one should slow down.

I'm not implying one should be reckless going over speed bumps. I was commenting on the OP's question about which of his proposed 3 methods of going over speed bumps would be best. I feel that there's no significant difference between any of them, especially in a car with this sort of quality and design goals. Abuse is still abuse, but that wasn't the question.

Speaking of abuse, if you feel like you're damaging the rental car, then maybe you should slow down rather than needlessly damaging someone else's property and making rental cars cost more for the rest of us?

[Space Ghost]

Depends. Does this guy live in your neighborhood?

[Space Ghost]

This speed bump may require a particular technique

[FVM3]

leave in first gear, give it little gas