[uucdigest] Tuesday, April 23 2002 Volume 03 : Number 5117
_________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/bmwuucdigest@uucdigest.com | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.bmwdatabase.com | | For all available Digest commands including unsubscribe/subscribe, | visit the BMW UUC Digest page: http://www.uucdigest.com | | Send SUBMISSIONS to [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Complaints? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] if you must. | Technical Problems? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: Re: [uuc] Best dealer to buy parts.. Re: [uuc] FS: set of 18x8 BBS LMs [uuc] Re: Rites o' Spring [uuc] Re: ACO rules (was: ALMS Petition) [uuc] Re: [uucdigest] V3 #5116 [uuc] Re: Tires - section width v/s contact patch [uuc] Re: public sales of M3 GTR [uuc] Aux Fan` [uuc] <WOB>Motorcycle Tires RE: [uuc] Re: public sales of M3 GTR [uuc] RE: E30 318 Parts FS -2 of them [uuc] coolant choices ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:04:33 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Best dealer to buy parts.. I just had some parts priced from both The BMW Store and Nick Alexander--Alexander was a lot less expensive. Marc '95 325is ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:07:19 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] FS: set of 18x8 BBS LMs Would you consider a trade for 17" LTW BMW motorsport wheels? These wheels have a custom polished lip and the centre was painted silver/titanium which really sets off the paint on my ////M3/4. These wheels are true and impeccable. They came off of a 95 LTW and are forged, lightweight, and look real sharp. E-mail if your interested. Thanks, Jef ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:14:24 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Rites o' Spring on 4/23/02 12:00 AM, Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > [Deleted] Sorry about the WOB folks, that was obviously supposed to be an off-Digest message to Ben. Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:24:17 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: ACO rules (was: ALMS Petition) on 4/23/02 12:00 AM, "BOOM,BILL (HP-Roseville,ex1)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Forgive me, but you are incorrect. As was documented in many publications, > BMW was allowed to race in 2001 under the proviso that it create a small > batch of road-going M3 V8's, which it did. Are you sure? BMW certainly showed quantity one of the road-going version, and announced a price. But have any actually been produced or sold? Now that there's no ACO homologation requirement to comply with I'd be surprised if BMW goes ahead with any GTR production. Face it, the GTR V8 was an attempted end run around the ACO rules, just as Porsche did a few years ago - was that with the GT1? - and others will no doubt try in the future. BMW got nailed by the rules change this year, and it's over. It's happened many times before in racing and it'll happen again. Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:29:04 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: [uucdigest] V3 #5116 Not sure if you are asking me the price of the Camry in Canada. I have not priced these recently but I remember the top of the line Camry is slightly higher than $30000 CDN. Hope that helps. Jerry Surzycia 1994 E36 320i - ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Apr 2002 23:35:07 +0100 From: "Andrew J Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] BMWs in Canada Jerry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]< writes: "We have the E46 320i, 323i, 330i all available in Canada. Cost is about $35000 CDN for the 320i. They are advertising it as slightly higher than the Camry." Does that go for pricing too? Reason I ask: a 3.0 litre V6 Camry in Australia is A$32,000. A 2.2 litre I6 BMW in Australia is $65,000. Andy T ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:31:12 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Tires - section width v/s contact patch on 4/23/02 7:51 AM, "Lin Gary" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Sorry, been away for a while; has anyone commented yet on the new Michelin > Pilot Sport Cup that replaces the BFG G-Force R1, as Michelin seems to be > positioning itself as the motorsports leader and reducing BFG's involvement? > http://www.tirerack.com/tires/michelin/mi_pilot_sport_cup.jsp Well, I'd comment that they sure are expensive: $247 for 255/40YR-17! Pretty limited size selection too, nothing I'd want on my E36 M3. They jump from 225/45-17 straight to 255/40-17. Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:32:02 -0400 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: public sales of M3 GTR Neil Maller wrote: > Are you sure? BMW certainly showed quantity one of the road-going version, > and announced a price. But have any actually been produced or sold? Now that > there's no ACO homologation requirement to comply with I'd be surprised if > BMW goes ahead with any GTR production. Montoya supposedely has one and there are posts on some message board somewhere from Dubai where there was one on the showroom floor for sale at a dealership, so there are a couple of them floating around. I agree however that they will never sell them in any volume for street use, so might as well give it up. they could build & sell the M3 CSL concept they showed last year, but it's still got the S54 so it's not going to be any better than the older M3 in race car form as it will still be limited by the motor. Ben ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:33:12 -0400 From: "Pat Green" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Aux Fan` Group: Have a question on auxillary cooling fan. The vehicle is a 92 325i sedan and the auxillary fan is does not have the resistor wire. First, it's not working when it should, from my reading it is supposed to come on when the car is sitting and the engine is at a predetermined temperature or when the AC is engaged. It is not operating in either case. So, one of the thing I did was replace the switch on the side of the radiator, no effect. The I tested the fan by disconnecting the electrical plug and running a wire directly from the battery jump terminal to the fan. The fan worked. So, I'm confused. The fuses are ok, the relays are ok, etc. Can anyone point me in a path to find the short in this system. Thanks Patrick S. Green, CIC, LIC Vice President Acordia ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:46:39 -0400 From: "Pat Donahue" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <WOB>Motorcycle Tires I know there're a few motorcycle riders on this list. I took a set of mostly used Dunlop tires off my Gold Wing this spring and mounted up some Avon Venom-X tires that were, and still are, much heralded on the Gold Wing Road Riders list. Trouble is the Avons suck so bad in the wet I'm planning on taking them off with only about 1500 miles or so on them. The Dunlops were better in the wet but still didn't exactly shine. What recommendations do you folks have for tires that are _proven_ in the wet? I commute in the DC area and the ramps get incredibly slick when wet. I'd rather put new tires on each year than slide on wet roads. Geeeze '95 525iT - 4GTFUL '91 Gold Wing - GEEEZE ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 09:48:51 -0400 From: "Fuerst, Robert C. (Chris)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: public sales of M3 GTR <Snip> "To fulfill the ALMS regulations from 2001 - when we have won the GT-class in ALMS racing - we have built some street cars of that M3 GTR and we offer that car in some different countries so far. Customers who are interested in buying one should get in contact with [EMAIL PROTECTED] or, by phone it?s 0049-89-32903-180." <snip> Oh, I asked about Brochures - they're out. Although if I really wanted to buy one I am sure you would get one... 1st ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 08:04:34 -0500 From: "BMWBITS" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: E30 318 Parts FS -2 of them Gentle and Ladiesmen, Excuuse me whilst I repeat myself a little ......Do you remember the att note from last week ?? I think it came out late fri so some of you may have not noticed it ,which is why I regurgitate it here . The response/enquiry rate has been surprisingly low (surprising me at any rate !!) for cheap parts ,so I guess this is LAST CALL -after which I will allow them to erode away Beepee in Tenor Sea mit M3 Subject: E30 318 Parts cars FS -2 of them While wandering the byways in Midsouth Tenn today I found an auto repair shop that has 2 early E30 318s (BOTH with sunroofs )for sale cheap...so cheap he's ready to deliver them to my place as part of the deal ..... So ....before I committ to buying & parting them (and taking on a whole passel of work (after I just retired from work !!).. I need to judge the demand for 'stuff' from them . VISUALISE ..both in front-end accidents ,so NO spoilers ,but grilles and some front lights are avail . A VERY GOOD dark red leather sport interior in one of them ..other one ?? Who knows..its full of Ford hubcaps !! One's an auto ,ones manual . 'the man' says they both run...so there should be 2 operating Fuel inj systems for 2002/320i conversions ,2 motors that don’t have funny gasket problems..a five-speed ? .an automatic , 2 4;10 diffs ? 8 stock alloy wheels ('cokebottles'..great for 2002 upgrades ),one trunklid spoiler,one good radiator ,tailights . That's as far as my allocation of time allowed me to see....will look more soon .Obviously there's the usual shocks/springs (who knows ?? Bilstein sports with H&Rs ..hah !!),steering wheels,brakes ,drivelines,empty beer cans in trunk ,instruments ..yasa yada yada.Didnt look to see if A/C systems exist (good source for rotary compressor & mounts for 2002/320i) Is there enuf demand to 'move' this stuff quickly ? You want to come take some stuff off for a good price ? 70 mls south of Nashville, (camping space avail for your tent ,flat concrete carport for the project car ).Bring your tools . NO visible rust ...want to make a racecar ? I could deliver some stuff in June if you live on a line between here and Seattle/Portland/Vancouver BC Give me your ideas on what you'll pay for stuff (that whole leather interior for $750 ?? NO tears ,just 80k mls of normal wear )..maybe this way I can buy that black leather Vader seat for my office chair project? Off digest responses please ....Want to make decision by next wed or so...tempus fugit Bill Proud, Newly relocated to Tenn. 931-424-6501 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 23 Apr 2002 10:25:42 -0400 From: "Fuerst, Robert C. (Chris)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] coolant choices "Domestic coolant mixtures remain very basic, starting with a pH of 10 or higher and slowly absorbing acids, dropping to 8.5 to 9.0 during normal life." Bzzzzt... Maybe old silicated (sodium silicate) BMW coolant is domestic. Zerex: http://www.valvoline-technology.com/data/valv/valvtechnology.nsf/fsZerex?Ope nFrameSet G30 is 8.6 Ph (PF) G34 is 8.6 (PF) (for GM) (Walmart grey, orange cap, 5/150) G48 is 8.2 Ph (phosphate free #1 for BMW sparturnsburg Z3 plant) Cavitation figures are for Aluminum pumps so I don't think you can infer/imply plastic impeller failure with aluminum cavitation numbers. For sure any coolant that has a low cavitation figure can't be good for anything but I would bet BMW's problems stem more from a mismatch of temperature and plastic. Now if the PH were 13.5... Go to Walmart (or your choice) get 5/150 - grey color, orange cap. Mix it 50/50 and you get the same as BMW coolant with a slightly higher Ph, phosphate free yada cubed. Or - ask for G48 from your dealer at $14 a gallon pre-mix. 1st > -----Original Message----- > From: Pat Donahue [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > > Wow. The first write up was good, this one a bit more generalized but > full > of good information. I was particularly interested to note the mention of > water pump cavitation which led me to think of the plastic impeller > failures. There's gotta be a correlation between this alkalinity and the > impeller failures. > > Looks like I'll be flushing my system and adding Dex-Cool soon. I always > used Sierra because there are a number of neighborhood cats but they can > be > replaced more cheaply than my radiator. > > Geeeze > '95 525iT - 4GTFUL > '91 Gold Wing - GEEEZE > > > From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > Here is some good info and corroborates Dave's pH data. > > http://www.babcox.com/editorial/us/us60024.htm The orange Dex-Cool has > a > pH > > of about 8.3. I have used it for 3 years and still have the original > > radiator in my 135,000 mile, 11 year old car. Of course, correlation, > > especially a sample size of one, does not infer (or imply) causality. > > > > Gary Derian > > > > > > > Speaking of plastic radiator failures, Dave Walker (president of the > > > Rocky Mountain BMW CCA chapter) sent this excellent tech info to the > E34 > > > 530/540 mailing list ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) awhile back. Interesting > > > hypothesis on plastic tank longevity; if anybody can answer the > question > > > on coolant pH I bet it's someone on this list. > > > > > > Cross-posted w/ the author's permission. > > > > > > --SC > > > (540 running MB coolant) > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------- > > > > > > No doubt a few of you get the Star mag as well as Roundel. As much as > I > > > like Bimmers, I gotta say the M-B guys have a few superb technical > > > writers on their staff. The most-recent Star, July/Aug. '01, has a > great > > > article on cooling systems. This is of more than passing interest as I > > > just snapped the neck off of my @#$! plastic-tanked radiator last > > > weekend at the track. An OEM Behr unit cost me $480 at discount--and I > > > was thrilled to be able to get one on short notice and have another > club > > > member deliver it to me at the track so I could drive home! BMW does a > > > lot of things very well, and few things are just plain idiotic. These > > > radiators are notorious for embrittlement over time, and they > > > practically all start failing at 5+ years. > > > Anyway, I learned a couple important things from reading this Star > > > article. I'll excerpt one passage: > > > > > > "The latest M-B Specifications for Service Products lists 45 > > > approved coolant products made around the world, from South > Africa > > > to Korea, but non are available in the U.S. or Canada! The only > > > approved antifreeze that Americans and Canadians can buy is > MBUSA's > > > part number 000 989 08 25. While most U.S. antifreeze meets > > > corrosion protection levels specified by M-B, its pH is > > > unsatisfactory. Fresh domestic antifreeze has a pH in the 9.5 to > 10 > > > range, which is extremely basic. According to M-B, the allowable > pH > > > range of the coolant _mixture_ is 6.5 to 8.5. MBUSA's antifreeze > > > has a measured pH of 7.5 to 7.8, which, when mixed with water, > > > drops to 7 to 7.5. The buffering (pH maintenance chemistry) of > > > MBUSA antifreeze is excellent, so the coolant mixture remains > > > neutral, neither acidic nor basic, throughout its service life. > > > Domestic coolant mixtures remain very basic, starting with a pH > of > > > 10 or higher and slowly absorbing acids, dropping to 8.5 to 9.0 > > > during normal life." > > > > > > > > > I can hear the cry already: But of COURSE M-B would never approve the > > > liquid-gold (er, blue) $14/gallon BMW coolant, which must be just as > > > good! I don't think so, and here's why. The article continues: > > > > > > "In our experience, radiators with plastic header tanks last far > > > longer and have far fewer broken upper hose necks if factory > > > antifreeze is used. Look at radiators with broken necks, and > you'll > > > clearly see where overly basic coolant has eaten away the > plastic, > > > which has become embrittled. Most failed necks that we see are > > > actually crumbly. We have found much longer radiator life in cars > > > using MBUSA coolant exclusively." Credit: Stu Ritter, Technical > > > Editor, Star Magazine, July/August 2001, pp. 74-76. > > > > > > > > > My point being, when my upper hose neck snapped off, it blew wonderful > > > blue BMW coolant all over my engine compartment and down the left side > > > of my car. The P.O. had ALWAYS had the car serviced at the dealer, and > > > so is there any reason to believe it ever had anything in it besides > BMW > > > coolant? Not only that, but given the high numbers of plastic > radiators > > > that have failed on these cars, and that many (but not all, certainly) > > > have been factory-maintained, it makes me wonder about the quality of > > > the BMW OEM coolant. Or radiators. Or both. By the way, can any of you > > > verify that the BMW coolant is non- diluted; i.e., you buy it in "full > > > strength?" That's what my dealer told me--and charged me 3X$14/gal for > > > the stuff!--making it seem even more outrageous. In the grand scheme > of > > > things, $42 worth of coolant wouldn't be a huge burden if it protected > > > the engine, radiator, and other parts properly. But I'm not convinced > it > > > does. Since all the cool blue coolant is now gone, and I don't keep > the > > > stuff around, I can't test it with a pH meter. Maybe I'll try to get > > > some just so I can do this test. If someone wants to send me a sample > > > (s) to check I'll be happy to do it--or, if someone already knows the > pH > > > characteristics of BMW coolant, step forward! In the mean time, I'm > > > buzzin' down to my local M-B dealer and buying their stuff. > > > > > > Dave Walker > > > '95 540i/6 Sport > ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #5117 *************************** ________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | | Autoscope-Motorsports - http://www.autoscope-motorsports.com | Camptown Automotive - http://www.camptownauto.com | Circle Tire Co. (used & classic BMW parts) e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] | |==================================================== | | Koala MotorSport . BMW technical information, special tool sales/rental | http://www.koalamotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | Need Nokian Hakkapeliitta winter tires? 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