EfficientDynamics Upshift indicator

skier219 · 12-11-2010, 11:41 AM

I have a couple questions, related to the upshift indicator light on cars with manual transmission. It seems to want me to upshift real early, and would have me in 6th gear at 35mph (less than 1500rpm on the tach, which feels like borderline engine lugging to me). I'd be glad to follow this advice in daily commuter driving to get the best gas mileage (you know, when there's so much traffic that I can't have fun anyhow), but it seems to be way too conservative for even that. I am curious what other folks' experiences are.

If I ignore the indicator and drive according to my tastes, I end up upshifting much later than the indicator (I may be doing a 2-3 upshift and it's already prompting for 6). My own schedule has me amble around town at 35mph in 4th gear, maybe 5th. So the indicator is pretty much useless, and is well out of phase with my own manual transmission driving and shifting style.

The owner's manual makes zero mention of the upshift indicator that I can find. I'd like to turn it off, or change the display to something more useful overall. Right now it just seems to be an annoying distraction more than anything else. Anybody know how to turn it off or change the display mode? It obviously knows what gear I am in, and it would be cool if it could simply show the current gear (like those rally cars

on TV).

cdeslandes · 12-11-2010, 12:28 PM

Must be a 2011 MY feature. I don't have such an indicator on my 2010 car.

Driving between 1,500 RPM and 3,500 RPM seems to be a reasonably frugal range to me. I do most of my driving in that range.

juhap · 12-11-2010, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skier219

I have a couple questions, related to the upshift indicator light on cars with manual transmission. It seems to want me to upshift real early, and would have me in 6th gear at 35mph.

Just ignore it. That's what I've done since day one. After a while it'll stop bothering you. As far as I know, you can't switch it off, but since some of us have it and some don't, maybe it is possible (mine is MY2010).

zEdP · 12-11-2010, 01:01 PM

My 30i also indicates ~1500 rpm to shift up. If you want to drive economically by accelerating slow, the indication works fine. You should just apply a little power with the throttle to prevent the 'lugging' engine. I just use it to warm-up the engine. After that I switch to the sport (+) mode. The up/down shift indication is disabled from that moment on.

EdP

teagueAMX · 12-11-2010, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skier219

I have a couple questions, related to the upshift indicator light on cars with manual transmission. It seems to want me to upshift real early, and would have me in 6th gear at 35mph (less than 1500rpm on the tach, which feels like borderline engine lugging to me). I'd be glad to follow this advice in daily commuter driving to get the best gas mileage (you know, when there's so much traffic that I can't have fun anyhow), but it seems to be way too conservative for even that. I am curious what other folks' experiences are.

If I ignore the indicator and drive according to my tastes, I end up upshifting much later than the indicator (I may be doing a 2-3 upshift and it's already prompting for 6). My own schedule has me amble around town at 35mph in 4th gear, maybe 5th. So the indicator is pretty much useless, and is well out of phase with my own manual transmission driving and shifting style.

The turbocharged 35i n54 engine with a MT can lug well down in the 1200 RPM range without a problem, but that's not the case with a 30i. Looked around and didn't see a dyno chart for the n52 engine, but it's going to be typical of other normally aspirated engines. That means it doesn't really start to pick up strongly until 1500-1800 RPM. Your 30i transmission and final gear ratio will help in that regard as well.

Like you, I would feel uncomfortable driving slow in 6th gear at less than 1500 RPM. It's not healthy to lug the engine either. Just keep up what you're doing, and as others have said, you'll get used to it after a while.

BMWZ4 · 12-11-2010, 01:44 PM

Hey Skier,

Mine's a MY11 also and have the 6MT. I noticed this a couple of days after I picked up the car. I also couldn't find anything in the manual so swung by my dealer to ask; they had no idea either and had to call it in to find out what it was! Too funny.

In any case, I found the only way to "swith it off" was to put into to Sport or Sport+. This way (for some reason), you only see the "up/down" arrows and no suggested gear change.

Hope that helps
Dave

Memphis1 · 12-11-2010, 06:00 PM

that's kinda like best case scenario, not the "optimal" shift point. if you follow the shift points you'll get good gas mileage but "normal" driving doesn't allow that. that's because you gotta remember that now all bmw's have the efficient dynamics fully enveloped in all the cars, so you have the regenerative brakes, the shift points to help you get good gas mileage and other things you don't actively have to worry about.

skier219 · 12-12-2010, 12:07 AM

So it sounds like putting the car into sport mode, which I prefer, will stifle that indicator. Seems like the way to go. It's too bad the Z4 doesn't remember the sport mode setting -- I'd like to leave it there all the time. Thanks for the comments everybody.

BMWZ4 · 12-12-2010, 08:32 AM

Skier, agree on somehow getting a software enhancement to leave it in Sport or Sport+ mode as a default.

Perhaps Andreas at prochip.de knows of a way!

Dave

RaphyZ · 12-14-2010, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by juhap

Quote:

Originally Posted by skier219

I have a couple questions, related to the upshift indicator light on cars with manual transmission. It seems to want me to upshift real early, and would have me in 6th gear at 35mph.

Just ignore it. That's what I've done since day one. After a while it'll stop bothering you. As far as I know, you can't switch it off, but since some of us have it and some don't, maybe it is possible (mine is MY2010).

You can, just keep the ok/change display button pressed for 3sec when the indicator-only "page" is selected (maybe not so clear, but it's in the manual...)

marcw · 12-16-2010, 12:38 PM

It is? What page? I have a MY2010 6MT and I have never seen a gear shift indicator pop up on my dash. I downloaded the MY2011 owners manual and couldn't find any mention of a gear shift indicator in there either. Is this a feature that can be turned on/off by the dealer? Curious minds want to know.

Quote:

Originally Posted by RaphyZ

You can, just keep the ok/change display button pressed for 3sec when the indicator-only "page" is selected (maybe not so clear, but it's in the manual...)

BMWZ4 · 12-16-2010, 01:10 PM

It's definitely not in the manual and dealer didn't know (a) what it was at first and (b) how to shut if off. My z is MY11.

As noted above, the only way I found to switch it off, was to put the car in Sport or Sport+ mode.

Dave

cdeslandes · 12-16-2010, 02:03 PM

I've never seen anything of the kind on this car. Does anyone have a picture?

HerrK · 12-16-2010, 02:32 PM

The small up/down arrows in the upper left corner of the lower display. When in Normal mode they indicate that you should up/down shift to a displayed gear (a number appears to the right of the arrow) for maximum fuel efficiency. Mine is a MY 2011. As stated does not recommend a gear in sport or sport+ modes. Obviously if you have the automatic or sport automatic trans this is not in your display. I know of no way of turning it off either.

cdeslandes · 12-16-2010, 03:37 PM

^ definitely no such thing on my 2010 Z4.

My upshift indicator is the redline on the tachometer.

marcw · 12-16-2010, 04:53 PM

Ditto. I don't have an indicator on MY2010 either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cdeslandes

^ definitely no such thing on my 2010 Z4.

My upshift indicator is the redline on the tachometer.

RaphyZ · 01-03-2011, 01:36 PM

I checked again to be sure I didn't dream, from my 2009' manual:

So I can on my car enable/disable this feature.

marcw · 01-03-2011, 08:15 PM

Hmmm interesting. Does it say to flip the turn signal up or down and then hit the board computer button for 3 seconds to turn this on/off? Sorry I'm no good with languages other than English and German

HerrK · 01-03-2011, 10:35 PM

Raphyz - Je ne comprends pas. Can you provide us a complete french to english translation. It would be nice to turn this "feature" off.

cdeslandes · 01-03-2011, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrK

Raphyz - Je ne comprends pas. Can you provide us a complete french to english translation. It would be nice to turn this "feature" off.

System Activation/Deactivation
When the computer displays is blank -see page 58- hold the computer button 2 at the tip of the turn signal lever for about 3 seconds.

HerrK · 01-04-2011, 05:46 PM

Thanks!! I'll give it a try when I get back from skiiing (not with the Z4) on Thursday.

cdeslandes · 01-04-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HerrK

Thanks!! I'll give it a try when I get back from skiiing (not with the Z4) on Thursday.

I can tell you that this does not work with my 2010 Z4 35i.

12-11-2010, 11:41 AM	#1
skier219 Captain 607 Rep 969 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, M2C, Ferrari 328 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	EfficientDynamics Upshift indicator I have a couple questions, related to the upshift indicator light on cars with manual transmission. It seems to want me to upshift real early, and would have me in 6th gear at 35mph (less than 1500rpm on the tach, which feels like borderline engine lugging to me). I'd be glad to follow this advice in daily commuter driving to get the best gas mileage (you know, when there's so much traffic that I can't have fun anyhow), but it seems to be way too conservative for even that. I am curious what other folks' experiences are. If I ignore the indicator and drive according to my tastes, I end up upshifting much later than the indicator (I may be doing a 2-3 upshift and it's already prompting for 6). My own schedule has me amble around town at 35mph in 4th gear, maybe 5th. So the indicator is pretty much useless, and is well out of phase with my own manual transmission driving and shifting style. The owner's manual makes zero mention of the upshift indicator that I can find. I'd like to turn it off, or change the display to something more useful overall. Right now it just seems to be an annoying distraction more than anything else. Anybody know how to turn it off or change the display mode? It obviously knows what gear I am in, and it would be cool if it could simply show the current gear (like those rally cars on TV).
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12-11-2010, 12:28 PM	#2
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	Must be a 2011 MY feature. I don't have such an indicator on my 2010 car. Driving between 1,500 RPM and 3,500 RPM seems to be a reasonably frugal range to me. I do most of my driving in that range. __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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12-11-2010, 01:01 PM	#4
zEdP Ed 18 Rep 298 Posts Drives: Z4 sDrive30i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	My 30i also indicates ~1500 rpm to shift up. If you want to drive economically by accelerating slow, the indication works fine. You should just apply a little power with the throttle to prevent the 'lugging' engine. I just use it to warm-up the engine. After that I switch to the sport (+) mode. The up/down shift indication is disabled from that moment on. EdP
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12-11-2010, 01:44 PM	#6
BMWZ4 Major General 1910 Rep 5,105 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Hey Skier, Mine's a MY11 also and have the 6MT. I noticed this a couple of days after I picked up the car. I also couldn't find anything in the manual so swung by my dealer to ask; they had no idea either and had to call it in to find out what it was! Too funny. In any case, I found the only way to "swith it off" was to put into to Sport or Sport+. This way (for some reason), you only see the "up/down" arrows and no suggested gear change. Hope that helps Dave __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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12-11-2010, 06:00 PM	#7
Memphis1 Lieutenant Colonel 91 Rep 1,838 Posts Drives: Z4 SDrive 35i Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	that's kinda like best case scenario, not the "optimal" shift point. if you follow the shift points you'll get good gas mileage but "normal" driving doesn't allow that. that's because you gotta remember that now all bmw's have the efficient dynamics fully enveloped in all the cars, so you have the regenerative brakes, the shift points to help you get good gas mileage and other things you don't actively have to worry about. __________________
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12-12-2010, 12:07 AM	#8
skier219 Captain 607 Rep 969 Posts Drives: X3 M40i, M2C, Ferrari 328 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	So it sounds like putting the car into sport mode, which I prefer, will stifle that indicator. Seems like the way to go. It's too bad the Z4 doesn't remember the sport mode setting -- I'd like to leave it there all the time. Thanks for the comments everybody.
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12-12-2010, 08:32 AM	#9
BMWZ4 Major General 1910 Rep 5,105 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	Skier, agree on somehow getting a software enhancement to leave it in Sport or Sport+ mode as a default. Perhaps Andreas at prochip.de knows of a way! Dave __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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12-16-2010, 01:10 PM	#12
BMWZ4 Major General 1910 Rep 5,105 Posts Drives: '23 X1/'23 Allroad Progressiv Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	It's definitely not in the manual and dealer didn't know (a) what it was at first and (b) how to shut if off. My z is MY11. As noted above, the only way I found to switch it off, was to put the car in Sport or Sport+ mode. Dave __________________ '11 Z4 30i (retired);'11 X3 28i (retired); '15 M235i Stage 1 Dinan (recalled & crushed); '16 M235i Stage 3 Dinan (retired); '15 X3 28i (retired); '14 328i (retired), 2019 X3M40i (retired); Loaded '18 X1 (retired); Loaded '20 X3MC DG, Black/Tan Merino (retired); Loaded '23 X1 Cape York green and Red/Black interior; '23 Audi A4 Allroad Progressiv
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12-16-2010, 02:03 PM	#13
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	I've never seen anything of the kind on this car. Does anyone have a picture? __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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12-16-2010, 02:32 PM	#14
HerrK Captain 42 Rep 640 Posts Drives: 21 X5 40i, 77 R100Rs Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	The small up/down arrows in the upper left corner of the lower display. When in Normal mode they indicate that you should up/down shift to a displayed gear (a number appears to the right of the arrow) for maximum fuel efficiency. Mine is a MY 2011. As stated does not recommend a gear in sport or sport+ modes. Obviously if you have the automatic or sport automatic trans this is not in your display. I know of no way of turning it off either. __________________ HerrK - 2021 X5 40i M Sport l PCD l Atlantis Blue/Ext'd Tartufo Merino l M Sport w/blue Calipers l Matt Popular l HK Sound l 740's l Exec & Drive Pro Pack Sold w/Great Memories - E89 Z4 l ED 2010 l 2011 35i l Crimson/Ext'd Coral Red w/Alum l 6 sp MT l Prem Sound l Sport Pack l 296's
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12-16-2010, 03:37 PM	#15
cdeslandes Captain 27 Rep 676 Posts Drives: 2010 Z4 s35i Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Connecticut iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Jeep Wrangler ... [0.00] 2013 Volvo XC90 [0.00] 2010 BMW Z4 sDrive35i [8.67]	^ definitely no such thing on my 2010 Z4. My upshift indicator is the redline on the tachometer. __________________ 2010 BMW Z4 s35i 2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 2013 Volvo XC90
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01-03-2011, 01:36 PM	#17
RaphyZ New Member 0 Rep 8 Posts Drives: '13 Z4 sDrive35is, Sapphire Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Switzerland iTrader: (0)	I checked again to be sure I didn't dream, from my 2009' manual: So I can on my car enable/disable this feature.
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01-03-2011, 08:15 PM	#18
marcw Captain 584 Rep 695 Posts Drives: 2021 M2 Competition Join Date: May 2010 Location: Portland, OR USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2014 Porsche C4S Coupe [0.00] 2019 330ix Sportwagon [0.00] 2014 Jaguar F-Type ... [0.00] 2021 M2 Competition [0.00]	Hmmm interesting. Does it say to flip the turn signal up or down and then hit the board computer button for 3 seconds to turn this on/off? Sorry I'm no good with languages other than English and German
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01-03-2011, 10:35 PM	#19
HerrK Captain 42 Rep 640 Posts Drives: 21 X5 40i, 77 R100Rs Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	Raphyz - Je ne comprends pas. Can you provide us a complete french to english translation. It would be nice to turn this "feature" off. __________________ HerrK - 2021 X5 40i M Sport l PCD l Atlantis Blue/Ext'd Tartufo Merino l M Sport w/blue Calipers l Matt Popular l HK Sound l 740's l Exec & Drive Pro Pack Sold w/Great Memories - E89 Z4 l ED 2010 l 2011 35i l Crimson/Ext'd Coral Red w/Alum l 6 sp MT l Prem Sound l Sport Pack l 296's
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01-04-2011, 05:46 PM	#21
HerrK Captain 42 Rep 640 Posts Drives: 21 X5 40i, 77 R100Rs Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: AZ iTrader: (0)	Thanks!! I'll give it a try when I get back from skiiing (not with the Z4) on Thursday. __________________ HerrK - 2021 X5 40i M Sport l PCD l Atlantis Blue/Ext'd Tartufo Merino l M Sport w/blue Calipers l Matt Popular l HK Sound l 740's l Exec & Drive Pro Pack Sold w/Great Memories - E89 Z4 l ED 2010 l 2011 35i l Crimson/Ext'd Coral Red w/Alum l 6 sp MT l Prem Sound l Sport Pack l 296's
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