I bought my 545i in July and still love it.

Question: I noticed something on the Tach and didn't know what it was. Around numeral 7, there is a solid red line. I guess I'm not supposed to go there. This morning when i started my car, i noticed a dashed red line, just above that solid red line. As I drove further, i saw that dashed line dissappear over time (moved is similiar fashion to the cruise control display on the speedometer).

What the heck is that?

Thanks in advance.

Teriyaki

 

I just noticed it the other day too. I concluded that it is a temperature indicator. Bmw sure thinks of everything.
-jasen

 

That's a variable "white zone" that you should avoid until the engine warms up to normal temperature. There will always be about 4 little white bars before redline during normal operation.

It's clearly not a temperature indicator. Actually, BMW didn't think we needed one of those...

 

This dashed area retracts as the engine heats up, and indicates the rev threshold you shouldn't exceed at a given moment. The feature in part replaces the temperature gauge present on e.g. the previous 5er. As the temperature provided really wasn't adequate or relevant to a normal driver.

In short: It's not recommended that you rev beyond the dashed area - and the dashed area is "interactive" and at all times adjusted according to the temperature of the engine.

 

On our 520i there is only one bar/dash present when the engine has warmed up It obviously varies from model to model.

Hm.. I could bet we could read the coolant temperature off this indicator.. my guess is that there's a direct connection between the indicator and the coolant temp. instead of a visible temperature gauge. At least this is the impression I've gotten through last winter and this summer.

 

As indicated in the manual that tach needle should not approach those white lines/dashes. It's can be interpreted as temperture gauge, but not quite. German engineeringers always prefer complicated design, which might not work well 100% as the end result, than a simple work, which will guarantee to work 100%. Don't ask me why.
"German designs, others make it works"

 

The previous posts were right.
Welcome aboard, teriyaki88 !

 

Got one in my loaner X3 and no gas meter. You gotta trade down next time, Rudy. I'll be putting 3000 miles on this loaner. They didn't get my computer back from Germany yet. Mixed emotions here about that.

 

welcome aboard, teriyaki88 ! your user name makes me hungry .

 

Thank you very much. This site is very informative and useful. You guys are Da Bomb!

One regret: I purchased my car from the lot and it didn't not come Sat Prep. I want to put a Sirius radio but looks like I can't (unless i go aftermarket). I want to put my I-Pod but I can't. This seems silly for a brand new model. I purposely did not get a CD Changer for this reason. I use an FM modulator for my IPod and the sound quality isn't very good. I wish there was a way to hard wire/direct connect with it. I'm zero for two in upgrades.

Teriyaki