i also have an 89 190e2.6, but this is a rare 5spd manual. Somehow 1st gear is too undergeared and there is a big gap between 1st and 2nd, and considering the low-end torque characteristics of the M103 engine, i almost always get behind when the light turns green, and/or the car behind me turns up tailgating me. That is, until i shift into 2nd and really rev it.

and yes, i always get underestimated by most cars on the highway, where the car comes into its element. It's a bit difficult to see the "2.6" from a distance, or to understand what that means.

what i really love to do is take the car in 3rd on highway onramps and take it near the redline as i merge into traffic, with the knowledge that redline in 3rd gets me all the way to 160kph/100mph, with the engine sounding just happy happy happy in the process. You can even feel it come on the cam at about 4200rpm.

another thing i like about it is that top speed can be attained in 4th or 5th gear. In 4th gear at top speed, the engine is at approximately its power peak. In 5th gear at top speed, the engine is approximately at the torque peak. Bogey car bothering you? Just downshift to 4th and floor it.
Too lazy to shift - just leave the stick in 5th, floor it and watch the needle climb.

i don't mess with bimmers though ... unless i can see clearly that it is a 4cyl version ...

pedal to the metal!