Was wondering if this symptom is common in inline6 engines, or the M50 engine for that matter (i have an automattic btw). When the engine is allowed to cool down completely, the car seems to not want to "get up and go" in the first 2 gears. In other words, the engines revs to higher rpm's as i press the gas pedal down, but the acceleration is really sluggish compared to the sound output of the engine. when it changes gears b/t 1st and 2nd and 2nd and 3rd, the car kind-of lurches forward, i.e. the gear shift is fairly dramatic. However, this does not happen when my car is warmed up. Is this just the way an i6/M50 drives, or might there be a maintenance issue? thx.

For all engines, you have to allow adequate time for the engine to warm up, mainly the oil inside of your engine to reach warm operating temperature.

If the engine is in fact revving higher, but just not moving through 1st and 2nd as quickly when completely cold, then it sounds more like a transmission issue to me than an engine.
Have you checked the ATF fluid level ? If it's low, then when the tranny is completely cool, and the fluid contracts, it could be causing insufficient lubrication and circulation. It could of course be anything else, but what you're saying points me in the direction of the tranny.

my 525 does exactly the same..
and when its warmed up it shifts and drives smoothly

two months back i changed the ATF and filter but that did not help

A true E34 Mystery.......

ok, sounds like its just the way the M50 drives. However, changing the tranny fluid and filter is a "once every 100,000 mile thing", and since its just 108k miles on the car, i suppose i should change it out anyway. Thx every1 for their advice and input =).