My God, 320i's actually are fast!

[Dr Firefly]

Now I know you'll all take the mick (and so you should), but I've just found out that there's a whole other world over the 3.5k rpm border! Suddenly I'm beating everything at the lights (even brand new VW polo 1.2s!:mad:) and the car feels like a different beast altogether! I've always been lounging around in the 2k-3k revs and I never knew what this much ridiculed 2.0ltr engine can actually do...

All started when I was pulling onto a roundabout and some idiot indicating left actually went all the way around, forcing me to accelerate much harder in 1st gear to not be hit by him. Went up to about 5k, and couldn't believe the power. So I tried doing it in 2nd, and then 3rd. It's a slippery but oh so beautifully addictive slope....

Do the other engine's (M40s, M20B25 etc) have such crazily obvious power bands? It is seriously like a different car over 3.5k rpm.

[89-325isport]

oh aye the 2.5's are the exact same... different (more interesting) car over 3.5k

[Greeny]

Mine doesn't really start to fly untill over 4000rpm.

[snoops]

mine shifts above 4k but in high gears there is a reasonable amount of torwue under 4k

[e30bmlover]

ah you have found the b20's power band(what little it has) yep mines the same, the engine has done 112,000 soon to be replaced by the 87 325i(rebuilt) then she will move, still badged as a 320 of course... she will have a surprise under the bonnet.

[fozzymandeus]

My M52 2.5 engine is a little better than the E30 6cyls lower in the revs, due to the VANOS, but hell yeah above 4k and it really flies.

I imagine my newly acquired M40 1.6 will be rather lacking in that department however.

[hoshy]

Yeap.. When I want to drive properly my m42 doesn't see below 4k

Of the few cars I've none of them really went until above 3/3.5k

I guess an engine can be tuned to give you power wherever you want it and most come from the factory with the power up high. Probably various reasons. Economy, BHP figures and usability would be my guess?

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Mine is a little shaper again after a zone chip fitted a few years ago. Still want something new under there. There's plenty of cars around that it simply doesn't worry.

Still, enough urgency to get you out of trouble if needs be.

[hoshy]

I reckon an m30b35 on a 4.1 slipper would be quite a weapon

[Dr Firefly]

Not sure the 4.10 would be a long-term investment though! But for the couple of thousand miles it lasted, it would be fun...

[munky30]

my 325 with a 4.2 pulls like that at 2000rpm in 5th 'Few thousand miles it lasted' is a crock of shit imo. Mine has taken a LOT of abuse and shows no signs of weakness.

when I use it with the m50 I guess that will be the ultimate test

But there's definitely a great improvement over 4000 rpm in all gears.

[toby]

Put an Ant chip in and it will go even better - wider power band and more torque.

[ric325i]

oh you must be young.

but even when i was 15 and driving my dads boses 535i i leathered that all the way through the revs!
scared the pants off me and my dads boss.

get a chip as the 320io loves it!
and whats really good is a cone filter wont help with power at all but it makes it sound sooooo deep! just try it for fun.

you will be going sideways next

[FlappySocks]

Megasquirt with Wasted Spark is the answer. Huge improvement to lower end torque on my 325i. The power band is not so obvious anymore.

[jonny320is]

You wanna try an S14 mate, take that above 6k and your into a whole new world

[mattG]

try a yamahaaaa rd500

[casper8r]

Chip-schmip, why not MS?

+If you replace the engine you can keep the MS

+If you get the MS you can loose the airflow meter thingy

- is more expensive to buy and setting up & probably involves paying someone who know what they're doing to set up. (Unless your idea of fun in spare time is building nuclear reactors using an old clock, assortment of springs and an old calculator.)

[hoshy]

- is more expensive to buy and setting up & probably involves paying someone who know what they're doing to set up. (Unless your idea of fun in spare time is building nuclear reactors using an old clock, assortment of springs and an old calculator.)

Careful - you'll have the anti-terror squad in next

[hoshy]

Not sure the 4.10 would be a long-term investment though! But for the couple of thousand miles it lasted, it would be fun...

Yeah for sure and as it isn't going to last long anyway why not up the rev limit too. What's an m30b35 good for? 7.5k?

[fuzzy]

You wanna try an S14 mate, take that above 6k and your into a whole new world

or even try a cossie 2 litre and start flying from 1400rpm

[maxfield]

You wanna try an S14 mate, take that above 6k and your into a whole new world

or even try a cossie 2 litre and start flying from 1400rpm

Untill 3k before it goes pop...

320i's don't really cut the mustard now, neither does a standard M3...

You obviously haven't driven many quick cars...

6k, pffft, 8k is where it's at

[e30bmlover]

You obviously haven't driven many quick cars...

6k, pffft, 8k is where it's at

and you have max? correct me if im wrong but arent you 16?

[maxfield]

and you have max? correct me if im wrong but arent you 16?

You are right...

[josh-hocking]

my dads 320i auto is very quick he just puts his foot to the flor and it flies!!!!!!!!!

[e30bmlover]

my dads 320i auto is very quick he just puts his foot to the flor and it flies!!!!!!!!!

she would be quicker with the 325 in!

[bigkev]

you left the goal WIDE OPEN there Max

[GDBN]

How can a 320 auto fly ?
Josh ... you and Max should start your own appreciation society !!

I have a 320 and a 325 ... the difference is big. ( mind you the 320 sometimes sounds better)

G

[HairyScreech]

mine seems a bit slugish at the moment. seems to pull good a60 in 4th. but dosent seem to want to know after 5 ish k.

[hoshy]

Surprised Neil hasn't been along yet to pedal his b20 lies

[maxfield]

Oh yes e30bmlover i have driven plenty of quick cars to name a few E30 M3, 540i and Audi S4.

[fuzzy]

320i's don't really cut the mustard now, neither does a standard M3...

hes right though 170 bhp from the 2.5 is nothing nowadays especially in a big heavy e30.lots of the modern little hot hatches can more than match or even beat them nowadays

[e30bmlover]

Oh yes e30bmlover i have driven plenty of quick cars to name a few E30 M3, 540i and Audi S4.

on forza motorsport????????(i know the e30 m3 isnt on there!)

[maxfield]

Oh yes e30bmlover i have driven plenty of quick cars to name a few E30 M3, 540i and Audi S4.

on forza motorsport????????(i know the e30 m3 isnt on there!)

Shut up.

[e30bmlover]

Oh yes e30bmlover i have driven plenty of quick cars to name a few E30 M3, 540i and Audi S4.

on forza motorsport????????(i know the e30 m3 isnt on there!)

Shut up.

lol, i was mearly stating that you are not old enough to hold a full driving licence. keep ya cap on!

[maxfield]

lol, i was mearly stating that you are not old enough to hold a full driving licence. keep ya cap on!

I believe i am but i need a disabilitie...

Still i can drive just not on the road haynes museum comes to mind...