Found the Rev Limiter

sawcat · 06-01-2006, 06:05 PM

Monday afternoon after I washed my car, I took it out for a quick drive to shake loose the remaining water drops and dry the underside of the vehicle. I have the manual six speed and was having fun ripping through the gears on some twisty roads in northern VA. I came to a stop light and made a right turn onto a four lane divided highway and decided to really open it up. No other cars were around. I nailed it and just as I was going to shift to second gear the car bogged heavily. I looked at the tach and realized I was well into 7,000 RPMs and that the rev limiter had probably shut the ignition down to control the revs. I am estimating that I probably hit 7,500 RPMs. I immediately backed out of the throttle and brought the revs down to the normal driving range. There appears to be no damage to the engine as it is performing as it did prior to this incident.

My question is how much damage might I have done to the engine both immediate and long term?

Anybody else have a high rev experience?

Romulus · 06-01-2006, 06:08 PM

why would they design a rev limiter high enough to let you damage the engine by the time you hit the limiter? you're engine is fine

HRC · 06-01-2006, 06:15 PM

Yup, sounds like you found the rev limiter! Also sounds like it worked the way it was suppose to, your fine, thats why the limiter exists.

Danny

David328M-Sport · 06-01-2006, 06:15 PM

I used to do that often to my lacklustre E46 323i without any problems whatsoever. I did it because you really had to wind the car up to get anywhere with it unlike the E90 325.

BMW's protection system come in with ample "headroom" to stop potential damage to the engine.

Even when cars are chipped and the rev limiter lifted or removed, engine power drops off significantly at high revs so there is no use staying so high anyway.

BMW engines are free revviung, high revving units so you have not cause your car any damage from the fun you had.

Enjoy.

canucklion · 06-01-2006, 06:31 PM

yip, like others said, the rev limiter is there so that you woulnd't damage your engine

sawcat · 06-01-2006, 06:33 PM

Thanks for the feedback all. I guess I just not used to such a fine revving machine and the capabilities of my first BMW. I am having a good time learning them though!

larryn · 06-01-2006, 06:55 PM

At autocross, it's common to be bouncing off the rev limiter for extended periods (>3 seconds) without effect. I've done it numerous times.

ALPINE6SPD · 06-01-2006, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lni

At autocross, it's common to be bouncing off the rev limiter for extended periods (>3 seconds) without effect. I've done it numerous times.

very true

sblument · 06-01-2006, 08:37 PM

no damage

E90Boy · 06-01-2006, 08:59 PM

When I was given a E90 330i 6MT ZSP as a loaner I beat the sh!t out of it. One point I was racing

with a G35 Coupe 6MT, I was so nervous I forgot to shift when I was in 3nd gear and at the limit for about 5 seconds, I could smell the transmission(demo car had 400 miles). I'm no expert stayed with the G35 up to 80+mph, but he pulled away slowly. I was so afraid when I brought the car back to the dealer, but when I arrived the smell was gone

.

tctic · 06-02-2006, 01:34 AM

Just be careful of 'money shifts' if you have a manual. No electronics are going to save the engine for you if you do.

RaptorKTM · 06-02-2006, 01:43 AM

Well to answer the question here. Of Course the higher you rev the car the more stress you put on the engine. I mean staying at such high RPM's will cause alot of oil usage, as well as coolant and other mainstream things that go on in the engine, however doing reving like this 1 time a month is not going to hurt that car. BMW is made for rough driving and for a very long time. I race lots of my friends cars and rip through gears do things that most wouldnt. I mean I have a 525i 1989 that i have been just ripping away at and not a problem except a lot of oil is used. So if you do this in the future you are going to experience alot of engine issues. But like i said if you know what you are doign you will be fine. ALSO you do NOT need to redline the car to get max torque you will look at BMW dyno sheets and see that you get max hp right before redline. At least in my experience that has always been the case. Also take a look at them to see where you cars powerband is.

hope this helps

lux.sh · 06-02-2006, 03:21 AM

lol. some of you really need to go learn some stuff about cars.

Rev-Limiter. Just read it and think about it. Rev limiter is there so you can't hit any high revs that might cause engine damage.
Bringing your engine to higher RPMs probably does more wear and tear to the engine, but hey, these days engines last.

06-01-2006, 06:05 PM	#1
sawcat Enlisted Member 4 Rep 36 Posts Drives: e90 - 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Found the Rev Limiter Monday afternoon after I washed my car, I took it out for a quick drive to shake loose the remaining water drops and dry the underside of the vehicle. I have the manual six speed and was having fun ripping through the gears on some twisty roads in northern VA. I came to a stop light and made a right turn onto a four lane divided highway and decided to really open it up. No other cars were around. I nailed it and just as I was going to shift to second gear the car bogged heavily. I looked at the tach and realized I was well into 7,000 RPMs and that the rev limiter had probably shut the ignition down to control the revs. I am estimating that I probably hit 7,500 RPMs. I immediately backed out of the throttle and brought the revs down to the normal driving range. There appears to be no damage to the engine as it is performing as it did prior to this incident. My question is how much damage might I have done to the engine both immediate and long term? Anybody else have a high rev experience? __________________ 2006 330i premium, sport, cold weather, satellite prep, monaco blue, beige, walnut.
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06-01-2006, 06:08 PM	#2
Romulus Private First Class 15 Rep 171 Posts Drives: 05 M3 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Charleston, SC iTrader: (0)	why would they design a rev limiter high enough to let you damage the engine by the time you hit the limiter? you're engine is fine
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06-01-2006, 06:15 PM	#3
HRC MAUI BUILT 486 Rep 7,781 Posts Drives: 2006 330i MT Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NORCAL iTrader: (10) Garage List 2002 E46 325i [0.00] 2012 E70 35i [0.00]	Yup, sounds like you found the rev limiter! Also sounds like it worked the way it was suppose to, your fine, thats why the limiter exists. Danny __________________ Arctic/Blk Leather/Alum.Trim/MT/ZSP/Sunshades/Blk Lines/M3 Illuminated Knob/Alcantara Performance Wheel/M-E-Brake Handle/Euro Fog Switch/Koni Yellows/H&R Sport Springs/19" VMR V718's w/PS2 Tires/M-Tech Body Kit/Carbon Fiber Spoiler/Bimmian Interior Bulbs/OEM Eye Glass Tray/SSK/Alcantara Boot/Split Armrest/OEM Dual Rear Power Outlets/Rear Ashtray Delete/OEM Alum. Pedals/Osram 6000K/Brex Rings/LED Side Markers/BMS Power Box
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06-01-2006, 06:15 PM	#4
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	I used to do that often to my lacklustre E46 323i without any problems whatsoever. I did it because you really had to wind the car up to get anywhere with it unlike the E90 325. BMW's protection system come in with ample "headroom" to stop potential damage to the engine. Even when cars are chipped and the rev limiter lifted or removed, engine power drops off significantly at high revs so there is no use staying so high anyway. BMW engines are free revviung, high revving units so you have not cause your car any damage from the fun you had. Enjoy. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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06-01-2006, 06:31 PM	#5
canucklion pull my finger to get your kinder® surprise 148 Rep 10,455 Posts Drives: circles around you Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Toronto, Canada iTrader: (9)	yip, like others said, the rev limiter is there so that you woulnd't damage your engine __________________
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06-01-2006, 06:33 PM	#6
sawcat Enlisted Member 4 Rep 36 Posts Drives: e90 - 330i Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vienna, VA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Thanks for the feedback all. I guess I just not used to such a fine revving machine and the capabilities of my first BMW. I am having a good time learning them though! __________________ 2006 330i premium, sport, cold weather, satellite prep, monaco blue, beige, walnut.
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06-01-2006, 06:55 PM	#7
larryn Lieutenant General 2148 Rep 10,176 Posts Drives: '97 332ti, '21 X5 45e, '16 GT4 Join Date: May 2005 Location: Seattle iTrader: (2)	At autocross, it's common to be bouncing off the rev limiter for extended periods (>3 seconds) without effect. I've done it numerous times.
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06-01-2006, 08:37 PM	#9
sblument Lieutenant 13 Rep 427 Posts Drives: 2006 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Champaign, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	no damage __________________ 2006 330i, SP, PP, fold down rear seats, sparkling graphite, black leather, metallic trim.
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06-01-2006, 08:59 PM	#10
E90Boy Captain 35 Rep 674 Posts Drives: 14 F33 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Boston iTrader: (4)	When I was given a E90 330i 6MT ZSP as a loaner I beat the sh!t out of it. One point I was racing with a G35 Coupe 6MT, I was so nervous I forgot to shift when I was in 3nd gear and at the limit for about 5 seconds, I could smell the transmission(demo car had 400 miles). I'm no expert stayed with the G35 up to 80+mph, but he pulled away slowly. I was so afraid when I brought the car back to the dealer, but when I arrived the smell was gone.
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06-02-2006, 01:34 AM	#11
tctic Major 38 Rep 1,238 Posts Drives: BMW E90 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canada iTrader: (0)	Just be careful of 'money shifts' if you have a manual. No electronics are going to save the engine for you if you do.
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06-02-2006, 01:43 AM	#12
RaptorKTM Colonel 238 Rep 2,366 Posts Drives: 1 M Coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: San Diego iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 BMW 1 M [0.00]	Well to answer the question here. Of Course the higher you rev the car the more stress you put on the engine. I mean staying at such high RPM's will cause alot of oil usage, as well as coolant and other mainstream things that go on in the engine, however doing reving like this 1 time a month is not going to hurt that car. BMW is made for rough driving and for a very long time. I race lots of my friends cars and rip through gears do things that most wouldnt. I mean I have a 525i 1989 that i have been just ripping away at and not a problem except a lot of oil is used. So if you do this in the future you are going to experience alot of engine issues. But like i said if you know what you are doign you will be fine. ALSO you do NOT need to redline the car to get max torque you will look at BMW dyno sheets and see that you get max hp right before redline. At least in my experience that has always been the case. Also take a look at them to see where you cars powerband is. hope this helps
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06-02-2006, 03:21 AM	#13
lux.sh missing two turbos. 581 Rep 4,859 Posts Drives: fast around corners. Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Curves iTrader: (12) Garage List 2006 BMW E90 330i [0.00]	lol. some of you really need to go learn some stuff about cars. Rev-Limiter. Just read it and think about it. Rev limiter is there so you can't hit any high revs that might cause engine damage. Bringing your engine to higher RPMs probably does more wear and tear to the engine, but hey, these days engines last. __________________ 06 AW E90 330i ZPP/ZSP/Step/Expired Warranty : Prior Design Front : ACS Rear : ACS Roof : BlackLines : Simota Intake : Carbon Fiber Interior Trim : : MTEC V3 : 24% Charcoal : V1 Hardwired : Solaris Invisibulbs/LED interior :
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