The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 250 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: Fan removal/ LH Threads/ was Wheel Bearing Re: E34 Business CD Install? Re: E34 Business CD Install? Car shipping referrals sought Re: Car shipping referrals sought Re: How to manage wind noise on in-car video? IMAX Was: How to manage wind noise on in-car video? Vacation Saved, Wheel Bearings Can Wait Re: Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse Re: Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse Re: Head light upgrade for E36 M3? E30 Sunroof Question Re: LH Threads/ was Wheel Bearing Project Re: now slant 6 vacuum pump
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 11:36:37 -0400 From: Phil Marx <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Fan removal/ LH Threads/ was Wheel Bearing Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Lee wrote: >I've always heard that BMW's have relatively small radiators for the kind of >car (i.e. not an econobox). I guess to some extent, that can be offset by >the mechanical fan. When he (friend) asked why BMW didn't use a bigger >radiator, I pointed to the engine comparment & asked where he'd like to put >it. Even my Saabs have had huge radiators compared to my BMW (& others I've >seen) and electric fans that continue to run even after the car is shut off >prompting, "dude, your car's still running" many, many times. > My '98 318ti doesn't have a mechanical fan and lord knows it could use all the horsepower it can muster! It's threaded for a clutch/fan but there isn't one there. Maybe the previous owner took it off?! Works fine though. I don't think any M42/44 E36 sedan-coupes have them either but I can't say about the Z-series 4-cylinders. I know the E30 318is had one. None on my Chrysler van which became obvious on our trip to the beach a couple of weeks ago when the electric fan motor gave it up. No problem pulling 85mph on the highway and even stop-and-go in city traffic to some extent, but you didn't want to leave it idling with the a/c on while the ladies went into the beachwear emporium! First trip was off-beach to Autozone for a jumper wire to test the fan motor. I'd only brought along one and bridged the relay with that to no avial. Chrysler sells the fan as a unit including blade and shroud for $260 but no one had one in stock. Autozone and Advance Auto sold motors-only that their computer said fit. Heavy Duty and normal both for about $40. Trouble was the fan had stuck to the motor shaft like someone had smacked it with a hammer upon assembly for good measure in case the clip came apart. That meant purchasing a flat file and spending some vacation time dressing the shaft until the fan blade slid off. Then I found the motor was riveted to the frame, so I had to drop it off at a local beach-side repair shop for a couple of hours for them to have a "technician" grind off the rivets ($12). Back to pick up the heavy duty motor (1" longer, no problem. Do I know a deal when I see one?), of course the supplied bolts were too short and Autozone didn't have any longer ones. Back to the beach hardware store and then search for heavy-gauge wire Scotch-locks since the "universal" motor had no built-in plug. That took visits to three other mercantile establishments. Everything humming along just fine, then some body surfing with the kids took all that accumulated grime I picked up from woking on a 188,000-mile family-truckster off my hands and arms, pronto. Saltwater, waves, and sand are recommended after any car repair project. -Phil ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 12:02:45 -0400 From: Phil Marx <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: E34 Business CD Install? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I wanted a CD player in a '98 318ti I bought recently for my daughters. It came with the Alpine C33 in-dash cassette CD-ready Weatherband head unit. It's an awful radio compromised for all sorts of internal reasons by BMW and limited in both tone and frequency response to correct noise and interference problems. Its output is also not enough to properly power the ten-amp stock BMW "hi-fi" sound system that came in the car. An Internet search confirmed what my ears were telling me. So the trunk changer really wouldn't solve any fidelity issues. I looked for the in-dash single-CD players from BMW like were fitted as an option on the Z3 but the prices were ridiculous. I went shopping for an in-dash CD player at Best Buys, Circuit City, and our own local Crutchfield store. Crutchfield includes the adapter necessary to interface with the BMW harness/plug without modifying the factory harness. Others charged extra for this. Crutchfield also included the antenna adapter and another antenna Y-connector in case I ever wanted to add an RF CD changer at a later date. All for less than BB or CC. I chose a Sony head unit that also offered MP3 capability ($30 more, but I figured the kids would get some use out of it). Installation was a snap with the exception that BMW uses the antenna power trigger to trigger the amps and Sony only powers the antenna when the radio is operational, not with CD. Crutchfield Technical gave me that wiring correction over the cel phone from the car in the driveway at midnight the evening I was installing the unit after listening to the radio but gettin no sound from the CD section. Great customer service! The entire unit cost me $169, sounds ten-times better than the stock head unit, and I can burn the equivalent of 12 CDs from my Apple iTunes program to an MP3 CD and the Sony will read off album and track title information for each selection. 12 CDs on one disc, in the dash! Too cool! Sound quality appears maybe slightly different in MP3 compression than the source CD but I can't say it's worse and anyway a car is a hostile environment for high-fidelity critical listening. The only problem is it's very difficult to find an aftermarket unit that won't offend your eyes in the dash of a BMW. I chose the Sony because it has a "blade" thing that closes over the CD slot that makes for a somewhat simpler appearance. Trouble was the non-MP3 unit was a nice dark gray/black and the MP3 capable unit is silver. Oh well. Can't have it all without paying about $700 for OE. That being said, I believe the actual plug on your harness is the same for the later radios so finding the Business radio at least should mean an easy swap keeping your amp and speaker system stock and unmolested. Your early changer won't work with the new radio though, since data cable and plug are both different after late '95-on on the I-Bus type radios. -Phil Marx Neil Deshpande wrote: >The CD changer in my 92 E34 appears to have died. I'd >prefer to upgrade the head unit to the BMW business CD >(or any other aesthetically compatible BMW unit) >instead of replacing the changer, which I may or may >not do later. I don't care for changers much and >would like to have a CD slot up front. > >What are the wiring issues? I know any DIN unit will >fit the hole, but what comes after? I'd like all >speakers to work and also use the stock amp in the >trunk. Also, will this work with the (Pioneer?) >changer that came with my car if I decide to have the >changer fixed later? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 11:05:53 +0200 From: Pavel Tcholakov <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: E34 Business CD Install? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Tue, Jun 29, 2004 at 12:02:45PM -0400, Phil Marx wrote: > listening. The only problem is it's very difficult to find an > aftermarket unit that won't offend your eyes in the dash of a BMW. I > chose the Sony because it has a "blade" thing that closes over the CD > slot that makes for a somewhat simpler appearance. Trouble was the > non-MP3 unit was a nice dark gray/black and the MP3 capable unit is > silver. That's the only thing that's stopping me from jumping onto the MP3 bandwagon. I bought the car with a very nice Grundig in-dash CD player with simple textured black plastic face and orange back-lighting. To this day I haven't seen any head unit that blends better with my interior. People don't actually believe me that it's after-market. <rant> Why does every decent MP3 player HAVE to have a chrome/silver/titanium/brushed alluminium face-plate with at least 3 different textures and bright, blinking red and blue graphics? Grrr... </rant> P ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 12:09:46 -0400 From: "Andrew E. Skopp" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Car shipping referrals sought Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Well the good news is that I've finalized my 2002 M5 purchase. The bad news is that the car is in Florida. I would be grateful if you could give me referrals, advice, and suggestions for car shippers and shipment tips. One question I have is: does the M5 have tie down points at the frame so that an open air carrier can be used, or does it have to go in a closed container carrier using nylon straps around the wheels? Thanks in advance. Andrew E. Skopp ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 15:51:11 -0400 From: "Michael Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Car shipping referrals sought Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Andrew, I might be able to offer some suggestions offline if you would drop me an email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Mike -> -----Original Message----- -> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of -> Andrew E. Skopp -> Sent: Tuesday, June 29, 2004 12:10 PM -> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] -> Subject: [UUC] Car shipping referrals sought -> -> -> Well the good news is that I've finalized my 2002 M5 -> purchase. The bad news is that the car is in Florida. I -> would be grateful if you could give me referrals, advice, -> and suggestions for car shippers and shipment tips. -> -> One question I have is: does the M5 have tie down points at -> the frame so that an open air carrier can be used, or does -> it have to go in a closed container carrier using nylon -> straps around the wheels? -> -> Thanks in advance. -> -> Andrew E. Skopp -> -> Search the -> ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] -> -> -> _____________________________________________________________ -> _____________ -> In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of -> the BMW CCA. -> -> UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the -> Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 -> . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com -> ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 10:17:00 -0700 (PDT) From: Andre Yew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: How to manage wind noise on in-car video? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Mon, 28 Jun 2004, Chris Skene wrote: > The solution - record sound in the car without the camera > running and lay in the sound in the studio. That's been done for > years. I'm sure you've heard tires squealing on dirt in the movies > from the thirties. John Frankenheimer had to do this for the Monaco sequence in Grand Prix after their sound equipment broke. He went to the defunct Riverside (in California) drag strip with a F1 driver and a car (imagine doing that these days!) who simulated all the gear shifts for Monaco in realtime while driving up and down the drag strip. I've heard that good drivers can mentally simulate their lap times very accurately, and I guess this is not only proof of that, but a handy use of it! --Andre ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 11:03:32 -0700 (PDT) From: david kroth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: IMAX Was: How to manage wind noise on in-car video? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Chris wrote: > The car Mario was driving was the previous > year's Champ car, which was faster than the > race cars because of some rule change, > despite the fact that he was carrying a hundred > pound camera out in > the air stream. I recall that to make Mario's car faster they cranked up the boost by removing the popoff valve. Then they cranked up the downforce to make the car safe given the extra power and weird dynamic properties of the camera. ===== David Kroth [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? New and Improved Yahoo! Mail - 100MB free storage! http://promotions.yahoo.com/new_mail ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 13:13:20 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Vacation Saved, Wheel Bearings Can Wait Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> A friendly GGC member (Hi Donna) was nice enough to loan me one of her cars for Oktoberfest, so Brant and I will be happily tooling around So Cal in a red '89 325i with custom rear bodywork. When I return from the Fest, I'll attend to my wheel bearings. My new plan is to remove the trailing arms and either have the bearings removed and installed, or just exchange them for arms that already have new bearings installed. Too bad I didn't have time to figure out the trailing arm removal process yesterday, but I ran out of time. Now my goal is to get it up and running for the next GGC autocross, which should be something I can actually accomplish. Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions. This has been a learning experience. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 13:54:27 -0700 From: "John Coffin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I'm surprised you didn't rent a trailer and tow the car yourself (I remember you had a SUV). I've tow many wrecked vehicles this way since the tow companies are not interested in problem cars. -John "Wondering if my lent tool is still in one piece ;^)" -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, June 28, 2004 4:09 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [UUC] Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse I contacted two local tow company managers to discuss my situation. Both said the only way they could do it was with a sling under the rear bumper, which would cause damage. I'm not particularly interested in any method that might cause more damage than I already have. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA >Date: Sun, 27 Jun 2004 18:54:04 -0400 >From: "Michael Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >Is the car located where a flat bed tow truck can get to the back end >first? Jack up and place on pieces of wood, gently pull onto flat bed, >repeat at shop in place? > >I have seen wrecked cars moved in such a manner and then tow truck >unloads them right onto the shops lift. > >For this to happen, you have to use a patient tow truck driver who >knows what he is doing and a shop willing to do this also. > >Another reference point, I have loaded several wrecked cars by dragging >them onto a flat bed, taking the to the shop and then they are rebuilt >for re sale. Loading and dragging without hubs etc didn't do that much >damage if placed on plywood and 2x4's. > >Mike Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 14:08:51 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "John Coffin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Well John, that was the plan, but I'm not interested in a tow method that causes more damage than I've already done. :^) So I was attempting to re-install the hubs and half-shafts so that I could mount wheels and roll the car, but the left hub was un-installable (is that a word?). And fortunately, since I didn't end up using your tool, it is still intact and capable of doing whatever it was originally designed to do. I'll get it back over the hill to you before I take off for O'Fest. Scott "John Coffin" <[EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> om> cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [UUC] Wheel Bearing Project Goes from Bad to Worse 06/29/2004 01:54 PM I'm surprised you didn't rent a trailer and tow the car yourself (I remember you had a SUV). I've tow many wrecked vehicles this way since the tow companies are not interested in problem cars. -John "Wondering if my lent tool is still in one piece ;^)" ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 17:35:18 -0400 From: Marty Fraiser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Head light upgrade for E36 M3? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Evan, et. al., I saw where R. Welty mentioned a lighting company on the BMW Digest list he hosts. I looked at the web site and contacted the proprietor, Dan[iel] Stern. He's taken time to explain all sorts of things and seems extremely knowledgeable. Of course he could blow me away with technical BS but I don't believe that to be the case. The web site url is http://www.danielsternlighting.com/home.html. I'd suggest getting in touch with him and he could probably clear up a lot of confusion for you. There's a lot of confusion/misinformation in this area and it's so nice to chat with someone who knows a lot about it. I also have an E34 with projector low-beams that need some help. He had a suggestion for that which sounds like it is also applicable to other earlier models. Here's some related text from our e-mail exchange: <email> Me: BTW, I also have an E34 and the low beam ?ellipsoids? just plain suck. Any help for those? Daniel: Yep -- I mentioned those as being the weak 1st-generation projectors in my first response. We can sharpen 'em up considerably for you, take a look here: http://www.bmwz.org/articles/lighting/0506trick/ Then come rattle my cage for the bulbs. I might want to do a group buy for UUC if there are enough E24/E30/E32/E34 owners on the list to support same </email> HTH, Marty <disclaimer>I have no interest, pecuniary or otherwise, in said merchant. blah, blah, blah</disclaimer> [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > The headlights on my '99 M3 are so poor that after driving a late > model BMW w/ real lights it's now obvious that I have to upgrade my > lights. What do those of you that have already done this recommend w/o > breaking the bank? I'm confused by all of the "Angel Eyes", Euro, > etc., lighting systems on the market. I just want better lighting for > a reasonable cost. Any help would be appreciated greatly. > > TIA > > Evan > '99 M3 > '89 535iA "For Sale" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 00:16:43 -0400 From: Ed MacVaugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: E30 Sunroof Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Need to go to the body shop tomorrow and remove the sunroof panel. I recall there being a trick to getting the headliner piece off the bottom. Anyone (Bentley is in trunk of car)? TIA Ed ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 18:19:13 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: LH Threads/ was Wheel Bearing Project Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 6/29/04 9:54 AM, John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My brother used to take the fan off the slant-6 motor in his Duster in > the winter. ...Hey, why isn't the motor in my BMW called a slant 6? > It's slanted! Because they remember the Duster? Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 21:42:35 -0500 From: "M Kittock" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: now slant 6 Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Boy that brings back memories. While I didn't own it, I had use of the family Duster during high school and college. A '76 with stripes on the side. And of course the slant 6, 3.8 liter as I recall, and rated for about 90 hp. Three on the tree transmission. I sure learned the meaning of understeer with that car! But back to an earlier stat - 3.8 liters, 90 hp - no wonder BMW has separated itself from the "slant 6" definition!!!!! Mark Kittock '96 328i Sport Pkg, many other mods, etc.... oh, and a slant six... :) > [Original Message] > From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Date: 6/29/2004 8:27:00 PM > Subject: Re: [UUC] LH Threads/ was Wheel Bearing Project > > on 6/29/04 9:54 AM, John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > My brother used to take the fan off the slant-6 motor in his Duster in > > the winter. ...Hey, why isn't the motor in my BMW called a slant 6? > > It's slanted! > > Because they remember the Duster? > > Neil > 96 M3 > > Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > __________________________________________________________________________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 30 Jun 2004 06:11:45 -0400 From: steve <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: vacuum pump Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I used a similar unit on my daughter's car and it worked fine. The compressor had to run at about 80 % duty cycle but for a one time use the venturi vacuum pump was a great buy. Steve C ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
