So my wife’s econobox was in the shop, and she’d needed to drive my X3M instead. Of note she hates my car - so she pretty much never drives it unless she’s taking a turn on the freeway or something. In other words, with me in the car - until today.

So she messages me today saying she’s confused about why my car is so slow and also why it’s so loud. I was a little busy at work so I don’t really figure out what she means but it turns out she was driving around in first gear unaware that she had it in manual mode.

She probably drove it 20 minutes or so in first gear at about 30 mph. Periodically redlining the poor thing. She burned through about 2 gallons of gas.

So my question is, what damage might be done? I know these engines are built to handle high revs, but you’re not really supposed to drive it bouncing between 6000 RPMs and red line for 10 minutes straight or longer.

Any way to check? Sidebar, is it actually possible to overrev the engine into blowing up? Or do the nanny features prevent you from doing that nowadays?

  • macnachos@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Lol I did that with my m3 comp. Not nearly that long but yeah… then my wife did it too. Only like .25 miles. But yeah…. It happens.

  • ASV731@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    You’re probably fine. But if it starts burning oil, you’ll know why

  • mrbrettw@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    When I was a kid my friend’s mom drove home on the freeway redlining the shit out of her car for like 30 miles. She accidentally kicked it into 2nd gear. It was like a 99 Maxima and it was fine, in fact that car lasted 100s of thousands of miles until his sister got it second hand and then crashed it in a ditch. hahaha. I’m sure the car is fine. I mean think about how the s58 is designed to be driven on a track.

  • MKTekke@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Sounds like she’s not used to driving a SUV that is heavier and slower to get up without putting more torque down. That’s not how most women drive SUVs they usually drive them slow. Seems like she’s mashing the gas and braking too hard.

  • xAnilocin@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Don’t all ICE G01s have the ZF 8hp automatic?

    Why would your wife drive in first gear?

  • MasterRymes@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Imagine how dumb you must feel when someone explains you that you haven’t noticed it that the Car is all the Time in 1st Gear. How ignorant or uninterested do you have to be to not notice it?

  • marcpcd@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    On the positive side, now she knows that, hum, cars have gears ? 🥲

    I think the engine will be fine OP, many others are treated way worse and are still kicking. Wish the best for all three of you

  • Far_Carpenter6156@alien.topB
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    1 year ago

    Your wife basically took your car to a track day, as far as the engine is concerned at least.

    I’d change the engine oil, and never let her drive it again. If she ever asks show her the price of a rebuilt engine, to make sure she understands how much cheaper it is to call an Uber.