Are all M20b25's a little bit of a slouch until 3500rpm?

[Sagaris]

I am just wondering if my engine is normal. it is slower than I would expect it to be until 3500 rpm and then it is alive and well all the way to redline. in other words: When you are in the bottom of 2nd or 3rd gear cruising and then floor it, it doesn't seem like you are floored until around 3500.

With that said. My car is an automatic which I know gearing could be a contributing factor. The car has 190k ( I have yet to check compression). Every sensor and bit of maintenance has been performed except a new AFM. The intake setup is stock and I have a MarkD 91 octane chip (running 93 since 91 isnt available at the gas station I go to) and 17# injectors.

I remember a friend in high school had an 89 325is 5spd and it seemed to have more grunt below 3500 than my car has but my car is definitely faster above 3500.

I feel like my car runs excellent, but I am wondering if I might have a small issue somewhere (AFM? ignition coil?) or if other M20's behave like this.


picture somewhat related but posted for no real reason:

[theox69]

Yes, they're all like that and the fact that yours is an auto doesn't help.

[KillaCams]

Tell me about it, i went from a 5 speed 325is with a 272 cam, to a stock 325i automatic. Can't wait to convert it to 5 speed or get my 5 speed car back on the road lol either one will make me happy at this point

[kamotors]

needs a 4.27 diff to fix problem. The autos should of come stock with one, first gear still goes almost 40mph with a 4.27 so by no means are the gears "short" but it will pull up hill like no other. 60mph will be around around 3k.

[Sagaris]

I plan on running the 4.10 when I do the manual swap. I have done the gear ratio/rpm calcs with it and it shouldnt bother me on the freeway like some people are bothered by it, I have owned cars that run higher RPM on the freeway than a 4.10 manual e30, it should help it come alive more below 3500.

[nando]

the cam/manifold are tuned for torque to come on strong at 3500rpm, so that is a factor. But mostly, it's a slug because you have an automatic. They're always slow after the initial 20 feet or so. the automatic's 1st gear is almost as long as a manuals 2nd gear, and then you have a torque convertor to deal with.