Tapped out?

[Mafiaracers]

So it was a sunny day and I just so happened to be driving the old girl down a certain stretch of highway when I noticed I couldn't see anyone...as far as I could see down my portion of the freeway, there were no cars. So I settled into my seat and said "oh why not." I dropped it into 4th and took it to about 100...got there surprisingly quick, just touched the top of redline then popped her into 5th. It climbed to 115 pretty easily, but then tapered off, 120 was all I could squeeze out of it. I don't know if the aerodynamics caught up with it or the age of the car or what. Only mods are billys/HR and trunk tar removed and 3.73lsd. I keep up on the oil/filter maintenance religiously...car runs like a champ. It was the first time I've "maxed" it out and kinda felt let down...probably the wrong word, but I was like, "that's it?"

I know top speed isn't everything, but I sat there thinking, hey, there's 30+ more MPH left on the speedo...wtf.

Anyone else with this experience?

[nrubenstein]

The car should definitely do more than 120. My friend Mike is hitting an indicated 135 (probably an actual just over 125ish) on the front straight at Summit in his SE30.

Realistically, the top speed should be in the 130s. 120 is low for the car.

[E30SPDFRK]

My 318is did 135, so you should be able to do at least that. That was with a 4.10 sitting at 6700

ninja edit: what engine?

[george graves]

[lennon]

do cars normally max out their speedometer?

i was just driving my friend's mitsubishi galant 2.4L 4cyl today and the speedometer goes to 150/160 but i wouldn't expect it to do that, nor would i ever try.

anyways... if your car is a 325i, you should be able to hit an indicated 130mph. but why...?

[Be30mer]

Im guessing you have an m20b25 powering your car. 3.73 lsd is taller than standard differential, so that could be it. 120 mph is fast enough, dont go crazy on mods so you can surpass that. And remember, e30's are bricks, not knives, aerodynamics are not an e30's friend

[nando]

Im guessing you have an m20b25 powering your car. 3.73 lsd is taller than standard differential, so that could be it. 120 mph is fast enough, dont go crazy on mods so you can surpass that. And remember, e30's are bricks, not knives, aerodynamics are not an e30's friend

what? 3.73 is stock for a 325is 5 speed..

[Be30mer]

what? 3.73 is stock for a 325is 5 speed..

he said it was a mod though...

[Mafiaracers]

Its an 89 325is 5spd, g260, 237k on body and about half that on the motor, 14" weaves. Doesn't burn oil, doesn't smoke...maybe it's just old. Not like I'm all that worried about it, I have a twin-cam in the works but I was just surprised at the outcome today.

[Moberg12]

Check the DME!! The 525 and I think the 526 are both top speed limited.

[nando]

Check the DME!! The 525 and I think the 526 are both top speed limited.

this is true

[Mafiaracers]

Oh, so I may have a "governor" on my computer? The computer in the glove box? And only way to fix this would be to.......?

[nando]

swap computers