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Vernon Balbert
Guest
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 Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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Jason G wrote:
| Quote: | I think mine must be broken. It seems to stay all the way to the right almost
the whole time! :-D
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You have the Canadian model? ;)
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Andrew Thomas
Guest
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| Posted:
Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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nopcbs wrote:
| Quote: | Electric, huh? I wonder why they didn't make it a digital display
then. The
needle swinging back and forth sure looks cheap and like something
that will
break.
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Why? Analogue gauges are generally better for drivers, especially as
they don't need to be looking right at it to sense it moving. In time
you get to know that pointing straight up is 30 mpg, for example, so
you can read the dial without having to look right at it (as with the
speedo and tach'). Furthermore the mileage swingometer is very
possibly the last electronic component of a BMW to give up the ghost -
you've got much to learn about BMW electrics :).
In the M cars that swingometer becomes an oil temperature gauge (albeit
buffered). More important if you're on the track, but I guess there's
no point in fitting a mileage meter to an M3 since the owner is
unlikely to care how much fossil fuel he's burning up. |
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Raybender
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:10 am Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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Andrew Thomas wrote:
| Quote: | nopcbs wrote:
Electric, huh? I wonder why they didn't make it a digital display
then. The
needle swinging back and forth sure looks cheap and like something
that will
break.
Why? Analogue gauges are generally better for drivers, especially as
they don't need to be looking right at it to sense it moving. In time
you get to know that pointing straight up is 30 mpg, for example, so
you can read the dial without having to look right at it (as with the
speedo and tach'). Furthermore the mileage swingometer is very
possibly the last electronic component of a BMW to give up the ghost -
you've got much to learn about BMW electrics :).
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I agree with you Andrew - the analog gauge is much easier to use - can be
glanced at quickly just like the tach and speedo.
This is actually a very useful gauge for me. Not only do I like watching
it for a general report on my driving habits, but out here in the Western
US I have some long drives through nowhere land with few gas stops along
the way, making this gauge quite useful in estimating unexpected changes to
my driving range. More than once, I've noticed that the gauge is reading a
bit lower than normal, only to step out at a rest stop and find I've been
fighting a 30 mph headwind (makes a difference when you're cruising along
at 80+) - gets me to adjust my next planned gas stop.
Those on the east coast probably don't care, as they've never driven 2
hours straight in 100 deg temps without seeing another car, highway patrol,
or gas station. 'Twas my first experience out west driving through
northern AZ on my way to school in Tucson many years ago. You learn to
appreciate ALL the gauges you can get that provide assurance that the car
is operating correctly - also you want them to be accurate.
Frank
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John Stone
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:19 am Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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in article 0dPtd.3977$5t1.1119@fe03.lga, nopcbs at nopcbs@chartermi.net
wrote on 12/8/04 8:57 PM:
| Quote: | Electric, huh? I wonder why they didn't make it a digital display then. The
needle swinging back and forth sure looks cheap and like something that will
break.
|
They have had that gauge since the E30 3 series of the early 80's. I think
it was an outgrowth of the old Eta concept where fuel economy was a goal.
This is when BMW dumbed down the I6 engines to low revving high torque
affairs for the US market. I don't know if they had those engines anywhere
else in the world. Finally in '87 they came back to their senses with the
325is coupe with its lovely 167hp and 6500RPM red line. My first BMW, and
what a gem it was. BTW, the gauge worked perfectly up to the time the car
was finally totaled (3 months ago). I'm now driving an M3 with an oil temp
gauge in the place of the fuel economy meter. A reasonable compromise, given
the car,I guess. But I did like the idea of that gauge. |
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Jim Levie
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 3:40 am Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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On Thu, 09 Dec 2004 20:10:19 +0000, Raybender wrote:
| Quote: | This is actually a very useful gauge for me. Not only do I like watching
it for a general report on my driving habits, but out here in the Western
US I have some long drives through nowhere land with few gas stops along
the way, making this gauge quite useful in estimating unexpected changes
to my driving range. More than once, I've noticed that the gauge is
reading a bit lower than normal, only to step out at a rest stop and find
I've been fighting a 30 mph headwind (makes a difference when you're
cruising along at 80+) - gets me to adjust my next planned gas stop.
That's where the OBC's range readout comes in really handy... |
| Quote: | Those on the east coast probably don't care, as they've never driven 2
hours straight in 100 deg temps without seeing another car, highway
patrol, or gas station. 'Twas my first experience out west driving
through northern AZ on my way to school in Tucson many years ago. You
learn to appreciate ALL the gauges you can get that provide assurance that
the car is operating correctly - also you want them to be accurate.
Believe it or not, but there are places in the East where gas stations can |
be few and far between, especially late at night. I remember being on the
Interstate in W. Virgina once and finding out that I was in an area where
the nearest gas station was about 30 miles away. And yes, I did stop and
ask... When we got there the range display on the OBC showed less than 10
miles.
--
The instructions said to use Windows 98 or better, so I installed RedHat. |
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Jason G
Guest
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| Posted:
Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:04 am Post subject:
Re: Reflections on a 350 mile test drive of a 2003 330i ZHP |
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In article <btCtd.102920$7i4.69851@bgtnsc05-news.ops.worldnet.att.net>, Rob
Munach says...
That ain't no vacuum gage. It is actually electronic and tied to the ECU
| Quote: | (at least that is how it is on my E30). It is pretty damn accurate.
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I'll be darned. Well, I guess it is a bit useful then. I'll have to pay closer
attention to it to see how it works.
--
Jason G
"This isn't a matter of being tolerant;
it's a matter of being sane." --REP, a.s.c. |
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