[uucdigest] Wednesday, February 23 2000 Volume 03 : Number 319 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 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] DentFest 2000 Update [uuc] (OT) Fiery Crash At Daytona Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - Available orNo?" RE: [uuc] Let's cut ! [uuc] E30 won't go into gear [uuc] Re: Flip-Up Helmets.. Re: [uuc] Re: What's with the newer BMW's Re: [uuc] What's with the newer BMW's RE: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - Available orNo?" [uuc] <E30 M3> E30M3 versus S2000 with a 5500 RPM shift point [uuc] Re: e46 m3 pricing & side "vents" Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - AvailableorNo?" [uuc] Re: Flip-Up Helmets.. Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual -AvailableorNo?" ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:32:26 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] DentFest 2000 Update DentFest2000 is now officially scheduled for Saturday, March 4 (rain date March 11). So far there are 25-ish confirmed participants and that's pretty much the max that can be handled. IF you have already told me you will be attending but now CANNOT, please let me know so I can let additional people in. Location is not yet determined - at this point, parking 25+ BMWs up and down my street would be cool, but would also be a logistical nightmare. I'm leaning very heavily toward the large parking lot at the North Brunswick Township High School. Further updates to follow. - - Rob Levinson ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:37:04 -0500 From: "Henry Caldwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] (OT) Fiery Crash At Daytona I watched the second half of the Daytona 500 and the fiery crash of the Daytona 250 Truck Series, this past weekend. Watching that fiery crash seemed certain of a fatality. The driver Geoff Bonine survived to drive again. It was unbelievable! You could see the engine flying down the inside of the track about 150 feet! Nothing left of the truck. The crash at the Daytona 500 was not as spectacular but Dale Jarrett pass to win the race at the end was a thing of beauty. Now I've not been a Nascar fan. But I will be watching more of this stuff from the safety of my living room. Henry 325i ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 07:46:40 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - Available orNo?" <lots of good stuff snipped> And here we have Mr. El Nabli laughing all the way 'cuz he has an individual car... Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:57:07 -0500 From: "Money, Jack (J.J.)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Let's cut ! Duane says: <<.....Corvair......Funny thing though, the car was never quite right after that.....>> Whaddya mean AFTER?!? <BFG> Jack Money former Dodge Colt "convertible" former Mazda GLC "convertible" ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 10:53:35 -0500 From: "Phemister, George" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] E30 won't go into gear To clarify something, it may be better to try and narrow down the nature of the problem. Generally, if the clutch is hanging up (i.e., not fully disengaging), it will make getting into any gear difficult. If this is because of a hydraulic problem - needs bleeding, worn cylinders, etc., it will also tend to engage/release very close to the floor, or not at all with the pedal fully depressed. This was easier to confirm on older models where the push rod was outside the bell housing. However, even if the throw out arm is moving properly and fully, it is possible that a defect in the clutch plate or disc can cause the clutch to drag or nor fully engage. For example, the disc may be getting hung up on the tranny input shaft, or getting stuck to the flywheel or pressure plate because of oil. Lastly, as pointed out by several posters, the clutch may be fine, but the shift lever is somehow not managing to move the gear; e.g., tranny or shift tower or even engine has moved, worn linkage and joints, lever is loose in socket. George ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:00:56 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Flip-Up Helmets.. That's very frustrating. Although I do have a motorcycle license, I really need the helmet for driving events. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Aside from BMW who used to sell these helmets in the US (as Scott > pointed out - they no longer do, although there are *ways* of > getting them if you have friends in Europe) - several other > manufacturers DO sell flip-ups in the US: <snip> > No flipup helmet has SNELL approval for several reasons > Best, > Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:04:24 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: What's with the newer BMW's Joe wrote: >BMW hasn't sold an engine that needed valve adjustment since they stopped >selling the E34 535i in 93 and the last E34 M5 in 93. The 325/525 engines >from 92 on don't require it nor do the V8's or the current 2.5/2.8 sixes. >There are no timing belts since the pre 92 2.5 sixes either. >Plugs are good for 100K miles. I'm aware of that but all those engines didn't have a throttle body per cylinder either. Just wondering if the newest cars will require valve adjustments, E39 M5/E46 M3 with the throttle body per cylinder being back just like the older M cars. And I for one don't buy that 100K mile plug line, leave yours alone for 100K if you wish. Carlos 91 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:18:58 -0500 From: "Bill Matthews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] What's with the newer BMW's [EMAIL PROTECTED] aksed: > I assumed the opposite, as in solid lifters. So what is the maintenance > schedule on the E39 M5, specifically when are the valves supposed to be > adjusted? I'm assuming the same will be true for the E46 M3. No valve adjustment. In fact the only difference in the schedule from the standard E39 is a 1200 mile break in transmission and gear oil change, plug change at inspection 2 (std is 100k miles). change M-Mobility cartridge every 3 years, and coolant change every 3 years instead of every 4. Oil changes intervals are on the same schedule as all the other Bimmers ~15k miles or 2 years whichever comes first and NO break in oil change. And of course use of the unobtanium Castrol RS 10W-60 Synthetic Oil p/n 07 51 0 000 420. The dealer I bought my car from has this oil in stock at 8.95/qt, the dealer closest to me didn't have it in stock when I checked a couple of weeks ago. Bill Matthews Hockesin DE 00 MGeeze - Just had the 1200 mile service, oil will be changed long before Inspection I Some Volvo's ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:33:12 -0500 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - Available orNo?" At 11:13 AM 2/23/00 -0500, Binder, Larry - Paoli wrote: >Don, > >I agree with you that certain combinations of engines and transmissions >would be quite costly to BMW. As far as the colors of the car. If I wanted >to get a loan for a car I couldn't imagine them turning me down because of >its color. (Do they even ask that on car loan applications?) Nope, they don't now - probably because it's not an option.. but they might ask why the delivery would take so long.. of course if you use BMW financing - they might be willing to work around this.. unless THEY think you're creating a car which has no later market value, in which case they wouldn't want to put 'paper' on the car (ie - lien value) because if you defaulted and they repossesed the car - they'd have trouble selling it. A lender is not going to assume your special tastes are the taste of 'everyman' - they want something they can easily sell for the maximum value IF you default on your loan. >I just don't see why certain color combinations are "not available". When I >was looking at a new 323i last year I wanted it in Titanium silver with a >tan leather interior. Even though both of these colors were available. They >would not do the combination. I would have paid extra to get it done but >that wasn't even an option. >>Shipping? If you're talking a car which has to come from Germany or >>Japan (not the US factories of each manufacturer) - how exactly would >>you handle the shipping so the customer received the car in a reasonable >>length of time? I don't know what the scheduling of shipping is - or >>involves, but I could imagine that 'standard' cars - preordered by dealers >>may fill a ships schedule for some months before an 'individual' car >>could be slotted in. If you're located in Japan or Europe - the shipping >>by boat problem doesn't come into the equation. Shipping by other means >>could be very expensive and would have to be paid for by the customer. > >Couldn't they just get the paint or whatever options you want and ship them >over? Then assemble the car in a factory here. What factory? Where? Do they build a seperate production line for your 'individual' car? Have you ever seen a production line? Although BMW lines are highly flexible (more handwork than most) - there are specialized setups and programming and machinery made and in place for EVERY model of car the line is going to handle. The more specialized the line is (ie - specific to a model) - the more efficient it is. What you're suggesting would basically require hand assembly of components of a car which would have to be shipped here.. if shipping an entire car sounds like a nightmare - shipping individual components for processing by hand at some factory in the US is even worse. Back when I was a kid - a standard 'class-trip' was to visit the Ford (or GM) assembly line at the nearest car assembly plant.. it's educational since you learn exactly WHAT an assembly line is (and why you don't want to work in one). I'm guessing that trip hasn't been done in a number of decades. But - there are certainly films (videos) explaining how an assembly line works and why it's efficient. Variances from the 'norm' on any assembly line decreases efficiency and raises costs. Suggested viewing - look for anything on assembly lines and Henry Ford.. >Larry >97 318i > >Mech Designer/Draftsman >Synthes Spine Best, ____D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________�1946________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ http://www.monmouth.com/~deilenberger ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:36:01 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] <E30 M3> E30M3 versus S2000 with a 5500 RPM shift point I have read some of the test reports on the new Honda S2000 with it's peaky rev forever motor. The best 0-60 times I have seen for it were in the low to mid 5 second range. It's pretty dead in the first part of the rev range, they say. And the low times included dropped clutch launching at the redline of many motors. Curious about low rev capability, one of the testers tried a 0-60 test using a 5500 RPM limit. Which took 11 seconds. Wow, about TWICE as long as the max rev trials. What would an E30 M3 do in the same type of rpm limited acceleration test? I decided to try it out using my Vericom to measure 0-60 times. My M3 is an 88 with an old Dinan chip, cam gear, Borla, original cat, heavy 16s and stereo, and a "better" air filter. I'm not sure how a stock E30 M3 would compare. I have achieved high six second 0-60s with this car but note that I have to shift into third gear at roughly 58 mph which hurts the times. A quick 0 to 58 mph (just reprogram the vericom) test showed about 5.9 seconds so with more revs or effective gearing changes it might do it in the low to mid 6s if I can avoid 3rd gear. Most of my testing involves in gear X speed or RPM to Y speed or RPM to eliminate skill and launch variation. O-60 tests require practice to get a good launch which can affect the results quite a bit - nearly a second in many cases. Then again it's a popular benchmark. Using a 2500 RPM launch and a 5500 RPM limit (tough to hit precisely in first gear) it can do 8 to 8.4 seconds zero to sixty. Hmm the dead below 4000 M3 came off quite a bit better in this casual test than the S2000. Decent acceleration and less of a percentage drop off compared to max rev tests. Questions? Comments? Smart remarks? Stan ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 16:50:49 -0000 From: "Nathan J.C. Burton" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: e46 m3 pricing & side "vents" I have spoken to numerous BMW franchises here in teh UK, most have about 5-7 people waiting with paid deposits. These dealerships have advised me that the cost will be �50 000 !!! Considerably more expensive :^( I may find myself coming to the States for a job just to get this car ;^) N p.s. Anyone know of any good Cisco jobs ? Jonathan Reiser wrote: > Well... Since we are for the first time getting the Euro version and since > the old Euro version was about 12-15k more than the US Spec. We are all > presuming the new one will be about 55k in the US. Some think $60k. & Timothy Taylor wrote: > If BMWNA really charges $55-60K for this car I gotta believe that the S4 > will become REAL attractive to a whole lot of buyers. $60K for a 3 series, > come on... The prevailing theory is that the new M3 will start at about ~$47-48k, with options putting the price up around $52k. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:54:01 -0500 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual - AvailableorNo?" At 08:35 AM 2/23/00 -0800, Jim Powell wrote: >I agree. Here are my solutions: > >Do it for cars assembled in the country of purchase. i.e. Anything >assembled in South Carolina or perhaps Canada/Mexico where shipping >isn't a big deal. > >Only do it where the customer will make a 10% deposit on the car and >finance through BMW. That way the papers are signed and the payments >are due whether you like your creation or not. > >Jim Jim - certainly more reasonable than for cars assembled overseas.. but the re-market value of the car will still effect the ability and desire of a lender to loan you money to buy it - so in most cases they'll err on the side of conservative (the car might be to your taste - but not anyone elses), so I'd suspect that the need would be for cash payment on ordering. Best, ____D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________�1946________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ http://www.monmouth.com/~deilenberger ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 11:50:00 -0500 From: Thomas Philip <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Flip-Up Helmets.. Yeah, but how badly do you need ice cream cones at the track? <g> Have you considered an alternative ice cream product like a milkshake? Cold, ice cream-y, and I'm thinking with a bit of skill you could probably slip a straw up below the open chin area and sip to your heart's content. tom philip '94 325is '99 Bell M2 full-face helmet no ice cream At 11:00 AM -0500 2/23/00, you wrote: > That's very frustrating. Although I do have a motorcycle license, I really > need the helmet for driving events. > > - Rob > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >> Aside from BMW who used to sell these helmets in the US (as Scott >> pointed out - they no longer do, although there are *ways* of >> getting them if you have friends in Europe) - several other >> manufacturers DO sell flip-ups in the US: > <snip> > >> No flipup helmet has SNELL approval for several reasons >> Best, >> Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2000 12:28:05 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] BMW NA's Response to "BMW Individual -AvailableorNo?" Don Eilenberger wrote: > At 08:35 AM 2/23/00 -0800, Jim Powell wrote: > >I agree. Here are my solutions: > >Do it for cars assembled in the country of purchase. i.e. Anything > >assembled in South Carolina or perhaps Canada/Mexico where shipping > >isn't a big deal. > >Only do it where the customer will make a 10% deposit on the car and > >finance through BMW. That way the papers are signed and the payments > >are due whether you like your creation or not. > > > >Jim > > Jim - certainly more reasonable than for cars assembled overseas.. > but the re-market value of the car will still effect the ability > and desire of a lender to loan you money to buy it - so in most > cases they'll err on the side of conservative (the car might be > to your taste - but not anyone elses), so I'd suspect that the > need would be for cash payment on ordering. as a data point on the possibility of this, Jon Maddux (of Leather Z3 armrest fame) wanted to purchase an M coupe with the Z3 2.8 coupe extended leather interior in tan. (IMHO, a _very_ nice looking interior, more subdued than some of the normal M interiors.) He had a dealer willing to order the car for him & was not going to have it in any sort of obnoxious or clashing exterior color. BMW still refused to build it for him. I .cc'ed him on this note & maybe he'll want to comment/clarify the exact circumstances. I do know that you can get non-US market colors (steel/gun metal grey is my favorite) for Z3's at a cost of $1,500, which is almost entirely pure profit since the paint is already in the plant system & there is going to be minimal cost for extra handling/sequencing of the bumpers in the plant. good business if you can get it... Ben Keyes ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #319 ************************** _________________________________________ | 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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