I noticed on my R53 S that the tach has about 4 or 5 notches before the redline.They look as though they are supposed to light up (maybe yellow?) but they dont. Just today, I looked at an E46 M3 for my father and the salesman told us that when the car is cold, the tach lights up in yellow before the redline, and the more the car warms up, the less yellow notches there are lit up before the redline. (Its to let you know when to shift when its cold) Does my car also have this? Whats the purpose of those notches that look like they light up?

 

I'll have to check mine out this morning.

I usually do not rev beyond 4000 RPM and use a light foot before the oil reaches operating temp since that take a little longer then the coolant.

 

I think redline for the s and non s are different, so depending on which you have determines where the redline (lights on the tach) are. Never checked this, but that is what I assumed.

Nik

 

Thats what I thought, but those extra notches go to 5.5k. I really dont think a 1.6L 4 cyl only redlines to 5.5k.

 

I used to have a r50 and it definitely didn't redline at 5.5k. It wouldn't move anywhere if that were the case.

 

Those extra lines are for the diesel engine in Europe.

 

Well that explains that. I was kinda hoping it was a dealer programmed thing to have it light up like the M3.

 

I've been wondering about this on my 04 MCS since I got it.