E30 top speed limiter

[tonytony]

i knew my car had a limiter, because when i first got it i tried to keep up with a e39 it cut off at 125. I thought i blew up my car cause the revs dropped but then it came back on again

[James Crivellone]

The E30's that do have a top speed limiter simply have a wire running from the back of the speedometer (same green connectors where the cruise control plug in) and run that over to the ECU connection through a single pin plug.

Unplugging that will remove the limiter...Very simple

[Bandit325]

But now I have firsthand experience that there is indeed a speed limiter at 125mph - when my car was an auto it really wouldn't go much faster than 110 (and it took forever to get there too, no power) so I never got to test that theory.

That's odd. My cabbie is an auto, with a 4:10 diff, and I've hit 120, and to tell you the truth, My car has NO bottom end, but the top end is crazy, form 80 to 120 is the strongest accelleration in the entire power band.. my only problem is that at WOT it wouldn't change into top gear, so I was hitting the rev limiter at 120, not the speed limiter

My only mods are a ST tuning chip, Exhaust, and Cam (not sure what lift and duration)..... Not trying to jack the thread, but does anyone know what would cause it not to change into top gear???

[wycoco]

I've done and indicated 130mph in a stock 325is.

Same. My 88 325iS. 5 speed.

[AdamF 88iS]

what build date (or year, at least)?

10/87.

[Brian 89 325i]

89 325i manual 3:73.
Build date 10/88
indicated 140 slight downhill

[JasonC]

i hit 125 in my e down hill with 2.97 rear, don't remember it hitting limiter but i also let off the gas at 125 also. i'd try it now but i got a 3.73 lsd under it now so my top end has suffered.

[AdironRider]

I saw similar things in my old stock 325is way back in the day, I figured it just ran out of power, but maybe I was wrong. I havent had my 318is over 110 though so I cant help you there.

[nando]

I've done and indicated 130mph in a stock 325is.

what build date (or year, at least)?

[nando]

Prolly because you have a 4.10 diff then :)

Will

huh? I have a 4.10 with the same tranny (getrag 260) and at 125 I'm at around 5800rpm. there is no way you could hit the rev limiter with a 4.10 in 5th gear.

[silverfbimmer]

built date 11/87
5spd

My car hit 133 and quit the same way every one elses did...It didn't bounce, it just would not let you accelerate anymore.

[AdamF 88iS]

I've done and indicated 130mph in a stock 325is.

[pancake]

I've hit 125 in my 89 325i, but I don't remember it stopping me there. It could have been that I only hit 124 or something close though. I try not to do anything more than glance at my speedometer at that speed.

[blueapplesoda]

yeee 4.10 ftw.

[PeaveyBassist]

i ran out of gear (bounced rev limit) in 5th when i tried...i was going 115 about...but it was on a slight uphill......i didnt have time to wait until the down hill, since i was doing it on a freeway. only a small section where cops can't see you.

89 325is prod dat 1/89 original auto, 5spd swap.

Prolly because you have a 4.10 diff then :)

Will