1990 Bmw 325i

Four and six-cylinder power for Threes

The story of BMW, which started life during the First World War making aircraft engines, is more than anything else the story of its engines - and it is those engines that have the reputation of the 3 Series over 36 years and five model generations, as a very sporty compact premium sedan.

The first BMW 3 Series, launched in 1975 - the 316, 318 and 320i - each had a four-cylinder petrol engine, with the 320i boasting fuel injection and 92 kW. Then, in 1977, came the smooth-running, straight-six 320/6 and 323i, the latter with electronically controlled engine management and transistor ignition for 105kW.

The second generation 3 Series, launched in 1982, had only one four-cylinder variant, the 66kW, while the top-of-the range 323i, retuned for 102kW and with a five-speed gearbox, returned a remarkable (for the time) 8.9 litre/100km.

But only two years later it was overtaken by the 2.7-litre 325, rated at 90kW on only 8.4 litres/100km, thanks to digital engine management, a first for a street car according to its maker.

1985 saw the arrival of the first diesel-powered Three, the 324d, a straight-six providing a somewhat clattery 66kW at a cost of only seven litres/100. The same year saw the first M3 - with a 2.3-litre, 147kW, four-valve engine.

When the third-generation 3 Series was introduced at the end of 1990, it brought with it new, twin-cam, six-cylinder engines and, later, variable camshaft timing. There was also a new diesel, the 2.5-litre, 85 kW 325td, which in 1993 became the 325tds, a new six-cylinder oil burner with turbocharging and intercooler for 105 kW and 0-100 km/h in 10.4sec.

In 1995, the six-cylinder block was changed from grey cast iron to aluminium and the 328i with 142 kW took over as the top-of-the-range model.

The fourth generation of the 3 Series introduced the 320d, the first BMW diesel with feature direct fuel-injection, rated at 100 kW at a cost of just 5.7 l/100 km. The six-cylinder petrol engines now hade variable cam timing on both inlet and exhaust camshafts.

From 2000, three six-cylinder petrol engines were available - the 320i, the BMW 325i and the BMW 330i - successor to the 328i - a 170kW three-litre that set new benchmarks in terms of flexibility and smooth running.

does a 1990 BMW 325i automatic 6-cyl 2.5l car has enough power to ...

This car would definitely be able to peel out but because it is an automatic it may be difficult to peel out just by flooring the gas. The best way would be to press the brakes hard then floor it. Rear brakes are not as powerful as the front brakes so the engine will overcome them and the front brakes will hold the car in place allowing the rear wheels to spin and give you the awesome sound of squealing tires and if held long enough, the sweet smell of melting rubber. If you don’t own the car yet, just get a manual transmission which will allow you to rev the engine and release the clutch swiftly (pop the clutch) and peel out.

I have owned a 1992 318i Manual transmission 4 cylinder and it would burn rubber no problem. I just bought my second BMW, a 1999 M3 Coup and without the ASM (Active Stability Management) it will peel out really easy!

Now go and have some fun… just don’t get caught, believe it or not peeling out is against the law. “Failure to maintain control of a motor vehicle” cost me about $ 250 bucks.

Not really sometimes you can get a tire slip but its rare with an automatic. The car is more of a higher speed performer. That means you can leave just about any non really high performance American or Japanese car in the dust when you punch it at say 60MPH or so.. You want to burn out you will have to change the rear diff at the very least..

And doing the hold the brake press the gas trick will only break the rear diffs ring bolts.

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