Automatic crazyness

[Zues]

I have a 90 m20is with an auto and its never shifted over 2500 rpm when left in drive even with the throttle barried. Ive heard that many e30 are like that and that its an economy thing.

[whodwho]

Nope, It should let it to almost redline. Check your kick down cable adjustment.

[kenika65]

kick down cable for sure

[Zues]

Thats the cable next to the throttle? Ive messed with that and all it does is make the car shift harder. Am i missing something?

[Be30mer]

drive it like a manual if it really bugs you.

[kamotors]

drive it like a manual if it really bugs you.

or just fix the problem? an auto should rev out to 6k in every gear simply by flooring it.

[Be30mer]

or just fix the problem? an auto should rev out to 6k in every gear simply by flooring it.

I change my mind. Just convert it to manual.

[siggy]

There is a kickdown switch that you can adjust, it is in the drivers footwell under the gas pedal. It adjust up& down similar to a clutch stop. Bentley goes over the procedure.

[nando]

There is a kickdown switch that you can adjust, it is in the drivers footwell under the gas pedal. It adjust up& down similar to a clutch stop. Bentley goes over the procedure.

it's not a switch, it's just a detent, but if the kickdown cable is adjusted properly it works sort of like a switch.

[Zues]

I have all the parts for a manual sway with the exception of the shifter assembly so thats in progress. Meanwhile I do drive it like a manual, but this has always been buggin me. Cable next to the throttle only seems to adjust the firmness of the shift. My other thought is that I have an ecu out of a manual. Could this be that case?

[Zues]

Hardcore!! so I adjusted the shiz out of that cable and now the shifts are right. However it chirps into 2nd at about 3200. I probably wont leave it this way for fear of wearing out the tranny.

[nando]

the ECU doesn't do anything with the tranny on E30s, auto/manual are the same.

[kamotors]

the ECU doesn't do anything with the tranny on E30s, auto/manual are the same.

I emailed Mark a couple years ago and Mark D told me the chips were different for the auto's and manuals. Although I've run the regular chip and the "automatic" chip and felt no difference. The "auto" chip he sent me was for an e34 525i.

[nando]

Sure. It might have a different idle speed or something but it doesn't control the transmission at all.

[bmwstephen]

how does the cable just get miscalibrated and mess up like that?

could messing with the throttle body cause this problem? My car had this rpm issue onyl after I had reinstalled my head, manifold etc