V50 Engine D5 : V50 D5 performance

[S60D5NI]

If your coming from a pertol to a diesel, you will notice a big difference. Gear ratios are similar, but most petrol engines are red-lined at 6000 RPM+ whereas most diesels are red lined at 4500 RPM.

For performace cars, the benchmark figure important to manufacturers is the 0-60 dash. In the real world it's pretty meaningless and in-gear times are more important. However, to achieve a good 0-60, manufacturers will ideally gear their car to just hit 60 (or 62 / 100 KPH) in 2nd. Assuming this is at 6000 RPM (ish) a diesel reving to 4000 RPM will 'only' be hitting 40. However, if your overtaking in 3rd, most diesels will demolish the equivalent pertol car time because it's all about torque, and that's what diesels are good at.

I agree with other posts that the actual speed you achive when red lining it in 2nd is fixed by the gear ratio and not linked to engine performance or lack of it. I have an S60 D5 (185) and on anything but bone dry roads you can't floor it in 1st or 2nd - you just get wheelspin when the torque hits in at around 2000 RPM. Also because your limited to 4500 RPM, its doesn't seem that fast. However, if your quick on the gear changes this is a sub 8 sec to 60 car, albeit in 3rd rather than 2nd.

If you still think that you motor is slow to pick-up and your clutch isn't slipping - are you sure your not activating the traction control (indicated by flashing light on the dash). If you wheels are trying to spin, this system will activate and cut engine power to keep everything under control. In reality you will feel it as the car will seem to loose power. For most powerful front wheel drive cars, grip is one of the main limiting factors in achieving good 0-60 times. If you look at the stats, BMW's all have better 0-60 times than equivalent (BHP & weight) front wheel drive cars because they get better grip 'off-the-line'.