How slow should a 525i be?

[Hypr5]

Hey guys,

I'm just curious here...
I have an m20 auto e34... The thing is the slowest of the slow and I mean it. Anybody who has driven one knows...

Anyway - I now have an m50tu powered e34 auto - and its got a lot more grunt down low, but things like getting on the highway and passing are no better than the m20 e34. Is this normal?

The engine is rather rough at high RPMs, but I'm not sure how much more power this thing is supposed to have. Can somebody who has driven both chime in?

Thanks!

[wingman]

Hey guys,

I'm just curious here...
I have an m20 auto e34... The thing is the slowest of the slow and I mean it. Anybody who has driven one knows...

Anyway - I now have an m50tu powered e34 auto - and its got a lot more grunt down low, but things like getting on the highway and passing are no better than the m20 e34. Is this normal?

The engine is rather rough at high RPMs, but I'm not sure how much more power this thing is supposed to have. Can somebody who has driven both chime in?

Thanks!

Yes I've driven both. I haven't driven the M50 more than a few squirts on a skid pan but got the chance to take off from standing to, well, fairly quick. I could feel the difference but not a great deal. Personally I find the M20 fine when on cam although it gets out of breath really high up in the revs. I've recently had my car serviced with a local euro specialist. He adjusted the valves and left a little more clearance than usual. The car feels heaps better and is a lot more responsive.

[E34-520iSE]

I too havee driven both - M50 has better low & high rev power, M20 has 'NOTHING' below 1800 rpm, but seems to develop power linearly up to the rev-limiter.

HTH,

Shaun

[Zeuk in Oz]

Yes I've driven both. I haven't driven the M50 more than a few squirts on a skid pan but got the chance to take off from standing to, well, fairly quick. I could feel the difference but not a great deal. Personally I find the M20 fine when on cam although it gets out of breath really high up in the revs. I've recently had my car serviced with a local euro specialist. He adjusted the valves and left a little more clearance than usual. The car feels heaps better and is a lot more responsive.

Do you know what gap he set the tappets to ? Are the tappets very noisy ?

I have always found the M20 to be very responsive, but mine is a manual and that might make a difference. I have never driven an auto.

At legal speeds the gearbox / diff ratios work very well to give excellent performance.

[Tom Bombadil]

I drove a high-mileage M20 525A a while ago and it was sloooooow.
My 95 M50 525iT is *much* faster.
With the trans in Sport mode it is satisfying for a 4000 lb. touring wagon.

[DaveVoorhis]

Curious. I wouldn't describe my M20 525iA as "sloooow." Off the line launches aren't exactly neck-snapping, but once the revs are up the performance is more than adequate, especially when the tranny kicks down. Maybe the Euro M20 is better than the North American version? Or maybe some of the aforementioned slug-like 525s were in serious need of a tune-up?

[Hypr5]

Well, I'm not sure. I think everybody has different expecations of "slow" I mean, I have a 98 528 (slowww, but adequately powered as a daily driver I suppose), and in the family there is a G35. I've always had fast cars around - so yes, when the 525 is brought up, it's a slug. I like it though. My 95 is *much* faster from a stop, but it seems like up top, it's no better than the m20. Very wierd. Overall, I love the way the m20 has a constant pull that gets harder as the rev's climb. The m50 kind of fades away after 5k or so.

[Blitzkrieg Bob]

the design.

I don't think BMWs were meant to pound from stop light top stop light.

They were built for highway-Autobahn kind of driving.

Even with my old M20, it can still will spank a ricer on the freeway and quietly crusie past them in a turn without a squeal from a tire

[Hypr5]

I do understand that... and thats pretty much what im getting at. The m50 has NO highway power whatsoever. It's just as weak as the m20. I thought the m50 (especially the tu) was supposed to be noticeably quicker. It's only quicker from a stop, though.

[RobPatt]

...as my 525ia w/M50tu tuned and well maintained w/140K miles on it will pull hella more than my buddies also automatic... E28 528e with only 57K miles... (m20 but the eta head?). He rides my car and he's like damn... I loved the M20 in the E30 and the M50tu in the E34 ain't bad... but it's not an M30... nor dual vanos (which I'd really like...). Maybe you got junk in the trunk or something....tires need air, dirty airfilter, something...