[uucdigest] Friday, February 11 2000 Volume 03 : Number 243 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 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. | Visit http://www.bubbaclub.com | www.bimmers.com - "serving enthusiasts on the 'net" | Visit http://www.bimmer.org - ultimate BMW bulletin boards! | Subscribe to the Zionsville Autosport Parts Digest: | http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com/majordomo.htm ����������������������������������������� In this BMW UUC Digest: [uuc] E30 16" Tahres Re: [uuc] Fw: 02 BULBS [uuc] Re: Airbag, flowers Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? Re: [uuc] To: "'Bubbadigest'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Re: [uuc] Air Bags. [uuc] Airbags and my E34 Re: [uuc] Re: Deactivating/removing E34 airbag Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? [uuc] Lost '00 M5, was mine, now her's . . Re: [uuc] Re: Deactivating/removing E34 airbag [uuc] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> [uuc] RE: belts, bags, tall guys Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? RE: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? [uuc] Re: Driving instructions ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 13:14:54 -0600 From: "Alarcon, Rob" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] E30 16" Tahres I'm looking at getting some new rubber for my E30 325is in a 205/50 R16. I'd appreciate any and all feedback on the following tires: Bridgestone Potenza RE730 Sumitomo HTR-z Yokohama A520 Pirelli P7000 Supersport (all season ... humor me). Robb A. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:15:03 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Fw: 02 BULBS The 02 princess wrote: >I know I have been in incognito for a while... Incognito, is that near Cupertino. :-) Lisa, go test drive a new Beetle for some neat-o dashboard lighting ideas. Carlos 91 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:22:37 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: Airbag, flowers In a message dated 2/11/00 2:17:55 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << If you have any family, I send flowers after you horrible death! >> Sure do 'preciate that, Joe. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:37:36 -0500 (EST) From: Moe Drippins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? Gary Derian writes: > In frontal impacts above 30 mph, a single diagonal seat belt will > damage your ribs and internal organs. Like any such pronouncement, it's not a given. Having been in a frontal impact above 30 MPH (55-60 for me) wearing a single diagonal seatbelt, in *my* case, at least, I was bruised along the seatbelt line but no rib or internal organ damage. I hit hard enough to deform my wedding ring; it had to be made back "round". Can't say whether or not I hit my head; I'm as stupid as I was before the accident. My neck was OK. BUT, and to your point, I would've been no WORSE off with an airbag, and probably some better. - -- Just Moe '95 540 6 speed, BL/SS ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:39:59 -0500 (EST) From: Moe Drippins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] To: "'Bubbadigest'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Chao, Harvey writes: > Just got my copy of my insurance company (USAA) magazine - one of > the lead items is that one of their insurance adjusters had an > offset head on in a late model Ford Taurus (?) which was equivalent > to 95 mph into a wall - she walked away with minor bruises (to her > arms - ? - don't remember for sure, but definitely minor > considering!). Airbags and seatbelts. Out of curiosity, since people DO die with airbags and seatbelts, do you think USAA would publish the story if any their employees were one of the unfortunate ones? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:41:18 -0500 From: "Pat Donahue" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Air Bags. Calling me ignorant would be counter productive. Now at least everyone can read the report from which you condensed the information and make up their own minds. Many will have read the text accompanying the videos. Thanks. Pat Donahue - ----- Original Message ----- From: Eric Fournier <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Not to call you "ignorant", but all info can and will be interpreted... > > I like how the test subject is so close to the steering wheel that it is > nearly touching the dummy's abdomen already. I'm glad I don't fit the > size and shape of this dummy, nor is my car in any way configured like > the one in the videos. > > >From http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/airbags/208con2e.html#sec2.4 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:44:14 -0500 (EST) From: Moe Drippins <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Airbags and my E34 When I bought the car, the dealer told me that the airbag had 2 "speeds"; it'd deploy slower if the seatbelt was being worn, quicker if not. Anyone know if this is true? - -- Just Moe '95 540 6 speed, BL/SS ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:39:47 -0500 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Deactivating/removing E34 airbag I can't answer directly but I have some comments. Door, frame, roof, side airbag are all designed to work together. Being strangled by a seat belt is a truly awful way to go. Your chances of that are higher without a door. If the crash is so bad that the door is torn off, you are betting on luck to survive. A side airbag probably won't strangle you (after a few million crashes with side airbags, you might find one where the passenger was strangled, it might even be the first one) but don't fall asleep and lean on the door of a side airbag equipped car (passengers only). Proper positioning is very important for air bags or seat belts to work effectively. A crash while you are bending down or turned around will result in greater injuries. Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > 1) it's effectiveness without a door behind it > > 2) without a door, my body would still go out but would the bag, positioned > by my head, catch my head and break my neck? > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:23:48 -0500 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? What did you hit at 60? My example (sorry, I omitted the impacted object) was 30 mph into the proverbial brick wall. Hitting anything softer than that will drastically reduce your injuries. I am not defending the airbag standards as they exist, just pointing out that they do help and it doesn't make sense to disconnect them without a good reason. My mother-in-law is 67 years old and 4'10" tall. I have disconnected her air bag, but not mine. If airbags had been mandated to work with belted passengers, the threshold for deployment would be much higher (20 to 25 mph rather than 10 to 12 mph) and they would be smaller and deploy more slowly. That would have been a better solution to safety. Unfortunately the safety Nazis use statistics to prove their pre-conceived idea rather than using the data to deduce an effective plan. Correlation does not infer causality. Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I can say from experience in 60mph head on crash, my seat belts did not damage > my ribs, internal organs, or hit my head on the steering wheel. I had a mark > on my shoudler and a bruised knee. > > If air bags only save 175lb males, it's going to be a lonely place. > > -John > > In frontal impacts above 30 mph, a single diagonal seat belt will damage > your ribs and internal organs. Also your head will hit the wheel and your > neck will get severely strained. These are the circumstances where an air > bag will help. We can debate what federal regulations should have been but > the fact is air bags are here so why not use them? Even if they provide > benefit in only 5% of crashes, we should take advantage of that. Especially > if you are near the 175 lb healthy male that they were designed for. If you > are a short elderly woman, you should disconnect the air bags because they > will hurt you. > > The federal regulations are flawed by mandating that air bags be designed > for those who don't wear belts instead of designing them for those who do > wear belts. Regardless, they still offer a benefit for belted passengers > who are properly positioned. > > Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 14:06:20 -0600 From: Michael Weishaar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? Moe Drippins wrote: > > Gary Derian writes: > > > In frontal impacts above 30 mph, a single diagonal seat belt will > > damage your ribs and internal organs. > > Like any such pronouncement, it's not a given. I too was in a frontal "impact" over 30 mph. OK, it was really stupid on my part. I was in my Dodge Stratus (no snickering!) and I was taking an exit ramp at a pretty good lick. This was about 2 am, so no traffic. I had the green light, and if I knew then what I know now about FWD cars and dynamics.... I was doing, oh, let's say 50 mph. :) I ended up sliding into the concrete median which was about 4" high, at a 10 degree angle. Shattered the aluminum wheel, airbags blasted away, but the car didn't crash to a halt, just kept right on going and I slowed to a stop. I had no bruises at all, the only mark on me was from the airbag scraping my watch into my wrist. The car on the other hand, had some major suspension damage. On top of the repair costs ($4000) was the additional $2000 to replace the airbags, which did absolutely nothing except almost made me pee my pants. > Can't say whether or not I hit my head; I'm as stupid as I was before > the accident. My neck was OK. I had no injury or soreness whatsoever, except for the scrape left by the airbag. In my case, I guess I got smarter. Bought a bimmer and sold the Dodge. :) And yes, I went back and took that damn exit at 70 in my bimmer, to prove it was the car and not the driver. :) Michael 88 M3 > -- > Just Moe > '95 540 6 speed, BL/SS ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:09:59 -0500 From: "Eric Augustyn (Derivatives)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Lost '00 M5, was mine, now her's . . Lucky you. My SO would divorce me. Claim both cars in the divorce and then proceed to sell them to some lucky SOB at below market prices. Eric P.S. Just kidding, I hope. > Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 08:47:52 -0800 > From: "Jerry Chyo" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] RE: One Last M5 PLUS Viper Post > > You can't fight city hall (or logic in this case. Seems to me those who can > afford one or the other may also have the resources to afford the other. > > BUY BOTH! I think I'd sleep in my garage if I owned both. I'm pretty sure > the SO would insist on it since I just unloaded $140 Large on two cars. But > hey. I'm a car guy. > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:08:03 -0500 From: "Grant Low" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Deactivating/removing E34 airbag Gary Derian wrote: > I can't answer directly but I have some comments. Door, frame, roof, side > airbag are all designed to work together. Being strangled by a seat belt is > a truly awful way to go. Your chances of that are higher without a door. > If the crash is so bad that the door is torn off, you are betting on luck to > survive. <snip> Speaking of doors in crashes, I know some people always lock their doors when they start moving, and a lot of cars do that automatically. What is the logic behind this? Are locked doors less likely to "pop" open in a crash? Wouldn't the doors being locked just make it harder to get out of the car in a potentially explosive wreck? If I could walk without further injury, the first thing I would do in a wreck is get out of and away from the car. Grant ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 12:10:20 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: "My wife's new to us '95 525iT [automatic] seems a little sluggish while driving around town, but I have nothing to compare it to. All I know is its a lot slower than my M5." Sounds right to me, Gary. My '93 525i (manual) with the same M50TU VANOS engine as Mrs. Derian's station wagon seemed a little sluggish until installation of a Korman turbocharger kit. Problem solved. It's still slower than my M5 porker, though. I have a Dinan engine management chip (D900-2550-E 623A) from the 525i which may fit your slug and provides noticeable performance improvement above about 3500-4000 rpms. It fits 1993-1995 325i/325is/525i/525iT M50TU VANOS with "-623" stock chip. Cheap. Used briefly, removed when I installed the turbocharger. E-mail privately if interested. Richard '00 M5 '93 525i turbo ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 12:20:53 -0800 (PST) From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: belts, bags, tall guys On Fri, 11 Feb 2000, John Coffin wrote: > If air bags only save 175lb males, it's going to be a lonely place. That reminds me again how ticked off so many cars make me. What about us tall 200 pounders? I would experience instant fatal death in any crash in an M Coupe because my head sticks through the sunroof. In several other cars, my forehead sits mere inches from the front of the roof - I can't see up at all as the roof curves down just a bit before the glass begins. If the car were to decelerate suddenly, say against a wall, my head would be stopped almost instantly at the visor area while my body continued forward a few inches until the belt stopped it, probably snapping my neck. Leaning the seat back to get my head further from the front often results in a position where belt "submarining" would be a definite problem in a collision. I would love to see the added abuse a 6'4" NHTSA dummy would take in many popular cars today. I have resigned myself to dying horribly with my quivering brains smeared across a bloody headliner. So I drive a ragtop. My brother has 6" on me, but no death wish, so he sticks to pickup trucks only... - -- John Bolhuis | "In America it is not considered to be mentally ill bolhuijo | when a woman advances on her prey in a discotheque @bolhuijo.com | setting with hardy cocktails present." | -Madonna ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:20:36 -0500 From: Patrick Burns <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? Quick story. I was riding down a main road on my motorcycle. I was right behind an blue hair who was driving a Dodge somethingorother K car. We came to a fork in the road. Her brain shut off, and she drove straight into a BIG, BIG tree right in the middle of the fork, at 50mph. The brake lights never came on, even for an instant. "Oh my God. She's dead." I stopped my motorcycle, ran to the car (which was revving madly, as the throttle linkage apparently jammed open, and the engine didn't die in the crash), opened the door, and was AMAZED to see the woman unbuckle her seat belt and try to exit the car. She was shaken up, and she seemed a bit surprised to see a man in full racing leathers and an Arai reaching across her to shut off the ignition, pull the airbag out of her way, and hold his hand out to offer assistance, but she lived through it. Bad mouth airbags all you want, guys. I WATCHED one work. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:27:21 -0500 From: "VincentMathew Malfa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Stupid!! - Really? I know, I know... none of us is as good a driver as we think we are, and there is almost always something we could have done better (and more safely) behind the wheel, but sometimes superior hardware just feels damn good!! - -Matt M. Michael Weishaar wrote: <<And yes, I went back and took that damn exit at 70 in my bimmer, to prove it was the car and not the driver. :) Michael 88 M3>> ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 11 Feb 2000 15:28:59 -0500 (EST) From: Michael Fennell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Driving instructions On Fri, 11 Feb 2000, Don Eilenberger wrote: > Well, my 17 year old drives an '86 Volvo 240 wagon (as close to > a humvee as I can afford..) and also has gone to two schools > specifically teaching skills teenage drivers CAN use to stay > alive. I'd recommend either school: [snip] I was going to mention that DonE's son had taken the Driving Dynamic's course and see what feedback he had about this. Fortunately, that wasn't necessary. ;-) I can only speak for myself. Any instruction beyond typical use-your- turn-signals-parallel-park-here blandness would probably have worked against me. Skills I learned to get myself out of bad situations would have been offset by an increased proclivity to get in them in the first place. I was reasonably serious and understood (or at least knew about) threshold braking, left foot braking, understeer/oversteer but was timid enough to only try them in VERY controlled circumstances in the Blandmobile. Legitimate training might have had me taking more chances. YMMV, as they say. Mike ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #243 ************************** _________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | Bonneville Motorwerks . http://www.bonnevillemotorwerks.com | Circle Tire Co. 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