[uucdigest] Thursday, March 2 2000 Volume 03 : Number 368 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 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] e34 535 engine nightmare Re: [uuc] E36-M3 TWO TONE INTERIOR?? [uuc] Choose your Chips - Carefully ! [uuc] Chester's Wheels [uuc] The 740 tow vehicle Re: [uuc] Chester's Wheels Re: [uuc] Chester's Wheels [uuc] Auto Tranny fluid question.. RE: [uuc] e34 535 engine nightmare Re: Selling a high milage car.. [uuc] 1991 525i for sale...again ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 01 Mar 2000 23:14:14 -0500 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] e34 535 engine nightmare Sounds like: >O learned list-- After some foot-dragging ($), my 89 535 (124k) headed into >the shop for a $900 head gasket job. Turns out, the shop spots "extreme >wear" (haven't seen it myself yet) to the cam and timing chain--they say the >gears are worn to points (don't all gears have points?), and in addition, the >rails and oil pump need replacing--for another $600 (I know, I shoulda sold >the car and started saving up for the Euro M5 Touring with buffalo leather >instead--too late now). > >Does this range of problems accompanying a mid-mileage car sound reasonable? >Isn't the big 6 the engine that keeps on giving? The mech gave me >alternative to seal the engine back up without this additional work (and the >new head gasket, of course), with the warning that the chain could snap, bust >injectors, etc.--not a comforting thought. > >Are there any similar experiences along these lines, and/or suggestions about >what I might look for in a visual inspection to the chain or cams? TIA for >any thoughts. > > >Blake >89 535 >93 525 The mechanic is hungry.. the litanity of faults he's giving you sound like horsepucky: 1. Gears worn to points? What gears?? The sprocket which the chain rides on are manufacturered with points. If you can find a friend locally who has owned/serviced motorcycle dirt bikes.. ask him to show you how a sprocket should look when good, and how it looks when worn out.. 2. Chain worn and bust injectors?? HUH?? The injectors couldn't care LESS what the chain is doing. They are electrically operated and nowhere near the cams or chain or even valves. 3. Chain worn? How is he telling this? 4. The rails and oil pump? What 'rails'?? And the oil pump? Well.. if there was an oil pump failure - it could explain some of what he claimed to have seen - it might explain camshaft failure but I'd also expect bearing damage and lots of other things. The only known 'bug' in the big-6 is the hollow bolts which hold the cam-shaft oil-rails in place (and the rail's are not a part which will wear out) backing out - allowing oil leakage and eventual failure of the cam due to oil starvation. This should not effect the timing chain or sprockets (unless the camshaft seized - and I think you'd notice this).. I'd suggest getting a second opinion - even if it's just a knowledgeable friend stopping by to see the disassembled engine. It really sounds like either poor communication with you - or a very hungry mechanic. BTW - the big-6 is known to typically last 175-250k miles with no major problems. At about 250k - it might need the rings refreshed and a few new seals. That's with normal maintanence (regular oil changes, good coolant). Best, Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ JMP#1 [EMAIL PROTECTED] NJ Shore BMW Riders web page: http://www.monmouth.com/~deilenberger "You're absolutely right, and I apologize" --Darryl Richman "Silly me... I apologize." --Tim Hall "Sorry..." --Magwa ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 20:17:50 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] E36-M3 TWO TONE INTERIOR?? I think they actually came from the factory that way. I remember when I was shopping for my M3, I saw a technoviolet M3 in the showroom which had either two tone or tri-tone leather seats. Very cool... No one was ever able to give me the definite name to it....DOH! Chester - --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Has Anyone made their M3 interior 2-tone? I have a e36 M3 2dr with Sport > seats and a all black interior. I want to do the seats (grey and black) the > sifter boot grey, the center of the door grey and get grey speedo and rpm . > Anyone have pics or info on this please help.!.!.! > > Thanks > Bill > 97 ///M3 > NJ Chapter BMWCCA > ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:26:34 -0500 From: "Duane Collie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Choose your Chips - Carefully ! >Which software is better for my 97 M3, the Jim C or Autothority ? Does >anyone have any experience with either ? Oh yeah. I luv this stuff....about every year or so I get to take another shot at AutoThority (APE), the absolute WORST so-called 'tuner' to steal your money on the market today. You old timers will know this story, but I gotta tell it again so as to help save the young'uns here on da list. Back in February of 1996, when my '95 M3 was just finished getting broken in, I went on the quest for MORE POWER (ARrrrrrgghhh!!! ARRrrrrrrghhh!!!). Now, not wanting to buy foolishly, I collected all the info I could get my hands on from all the tuners that advertise in Roundel, etc. AutoThority, Dinan, Korman, Racing Dynamics, etc......and absolutely poured over their info. And lemme tell ya, charts on slick paper are impressive. Out of all the tuners info I had, Autothority looked like a winner. Why? They had the best power charts, reasonable prices (at least they seemed reasonable) and they were close by, only 20 minutes from my house. What I did not think of...was that these tuner charts LIE. I learned that much later on. So, I buzzed over to AutoThority on Pickett Street and YEAH-MAN...they were glad to see me ! REAL helpful and stuff, and as they loaded up my AutoThority Exhaust ( + 20 hp claimed), Chip ( + 18 hp claimed) and Flow-Tech ( + 8 Hp claimed) I was like.......wow - I'm gonna get some 45 hp for my car, all for $ 1,800.00. Man, is that great or what? I couldn't wait to get home and bolt the stuff on. Now then, just for shits n' grins I had done a series of 5mph to 80mph runs and recorded the times. Did about 20 runs, threw out the best three times and the worst three times, then averaged the rest. Now I had a rather crude baseline to work from. On went the APE stuff....It sounded hot...hot...hot. Intake noise! Loud Exhaust !!! Yeeee-hawww....let's go do some more test runs 5 mph to 80 mph like we did before. Same stretch of road, same temps, etc. Odd. When I compared the times, the M3 had slowed down. Not much, but it was now slower than stock. I was not happy. So I called up APE and told them of the runs. Their response was : "We can't believe it". "Yes, its' true". I said. "What's your refund policy?" A.P.E : "Oh, we just need to test your car on our dyno to see what's happening to it. Maybe something else went wrong with the car." RIGHT. A.P.E.: "Bring your M3 in and we'll let you have dyno runs for half price." Oh yeah, RIGHT again. So, they wouldn't refund my money, nor fess up. Rat Bastards. O.K., so I'll trash them on the old Welty BMW Digest and extract my pound of flesh. And I did. Then, at O'Fest '97 in Waterville Valley, Chris - the Sales Manager for APE came up to me and said, "We've been hearing a lot about your comments on our stuff on the internet. I'll admit our early chips weren't very good, and your car probably did slow down, but we've improved them a lot and would like to get you a new one." Me: " Aahhhhh....no way, Chris. I've got a Conforti chip in the car now and it kicks ass. Not gonna take it out for yours." Chris: "Well, what can we do to keep you happy on the internet lists?" Me: "Refund my money. I want 100% for that chip, and the pipe you sold me is nothing more than a B&B Triflow that you charge and extra $ 250 over B&B's price, plus that stupid FLOWTECH thangie you zapped me $ 250 for is nothing more than a K&N filter with a sheet metal tube on it. So I figure you owe me about $ 1,000.00." Chris: "Oh - I can't do that....how about we trade you another accessory for your chip?" Me: "Well, I'd like an X-Brace for the M3." Chris: "O.K., our X-Brace is $ 395.00." Me: "WHAT??? ARE YOU NUTS? You get a $ 125.00 X-Brace from BMW and paint it blue to sell it for $ 395.00? No, I want a refund." Chris: Mail me your chip and I'll see what I can do." So, in September of 1997 I mailed back my chip to APE, with a note telling them if they refund my chip money in full, I'll stop trashing them. Guess what? I'm still waiting for the refund.....and still trashing them. - - Duane Collie The Seven Sled P.S. Conforti Chips Rule. There is no comparison. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:28:06 -0500 From: "Duane Collie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Chester's Wheels > What really grabbed my attention was the huge 18" M Parallel wheels for the E38 > Sport Packaged car. Will those, with proper spaces/etc, fit my M3? I know > Turner used to sell (perhaps they ran out) the M Parallel knock off wheels, but > it would be nice to have the authentic things. Are these one piece forged? Chester, Not a chance. Offsets are wayyyyyyyyyyy off. - - Duane The Sled ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:38:50 -0500 From: "Duane Collie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] The 740 tow vehicle >The reason I am interested is that I will be needing a tow vehicle pretty >soon and I never was a big fan of either big SUV's or the Trucks. If I had >a chance where I could have a 740 tow my trailer, it would make the trips >to and from the track that much more comfortable. >Any ideas, >Vijay Vijay, Towing with a 740 is akin to having Sophie Marceau (my most latest lust interest) in your house and you ask her to scrub the kitchen floors as part of her chores. Now, Sophie can probably scrub the floors alright, but she ain't a-gonna scrub 'em as good as Bertha, the 275 lb. semi-pro world ladies wrestling federation contender (otherwise know as a Ford F-250 / Excursion with Powerstroke Diesel). Sophie is highly specialized. She is not a cart horse. She is for goin' out on the town IN STYLE. Too much housecleaning, and her chassis will weaken with age. Bertha, on the other hand, is not only happy cleaning house, she REVELS in it. And clean she does. But, while Bertha is a terror in on the kitchen floors, she doesn't clean up all that well and is not really "dinner at the Ambassador's House" material.... To review, you can go stylin' with Sophie, but she's really not what you want for cleaning. You want Bertha. Get the right tool for the job - as always. - - Duane The Seven Sled ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 20:39:09 -0800 From: "Jonathan Reiser" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Chester's Wheels > > Not a chance. Offsets are wayyyyyyyyyyy off. > > - Duane > The Sled > Couldn't you have them machined? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:55:54 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Chester's Wheels Would you feel comfortable with a wheel that was 20mm thinner than originally designed, all at the central load-bearing area? In other words: NO. However, I bet there will be "replicas" (nice way of saying "copies") in the E36 fitment soon from some wheel manufacturer. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Jonathan Reiser <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Chester's Wheels > > Not a chance. Offsets are wayyyyyyyyyyy off. > > Couldn't you have them machined? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 1 Mar 2000 23:44:20 -0600 From: "Dave Lacki" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Auto Tranny fluid question.. Hello, car in question is a 90 535i with 120k miles. From what I can tell from previous owners records seems transmission has been changed fairly regularly. Question is when I get ready to change the fluid should I stick with the standard dextron 3 or try a fancy synthetic..i.e.. redline. Ive heard that a synthetic is slicker so to speak and may cause some slippage. Also dont mess with a transmission with that many miles on it. Any thoughts... Dave 90 535i 91 Alfa Spider ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 16:30:48 +1100 From: "Thomas, Andrew j" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] e34 535 engine nightmare Blake ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) writes: > O learned list-- After some foot-dragging ($), my 89 535 (124k) headed into > the shop for a $900 head gasket job. Turns out, the shop spots "extreme > wear" (haven't seen it myself yet) to the cam and timing chain--they say the > gears are worn to points (don't all gears have points?), and in addition, the > rails and oil pump need replacing--for another $600... > Isn't the big 6 the engine that keeps on giving? At 160k my pop's '88 735i (same motor) is showing little signs of internal wear. When I helped to look after it (he's no petrolhead) after it reached 100k, I asked each shop it went to for servicing to check the timing chain; in a car that old, a bust chain would write it off and the alternatives were unattractive - depreciation on a new 7 is horrific, and all the younger E32 in the UK suffered the same V8 problems they did in the US. But every shop - including some good, reputable ones I'd trust - said there was little wear to speak of with no evidence of chain stretch or undue wear. The engine is a little noisier than when it was new but I can forgive that for the 160,000 miles of fairly hard use it's had. If pop decides to keep it for another few years, I'd probably suggest he gets it done anyway. Is your engine excessively noisy? Can you hear noticeable chain lash? Is the performance OK? 124,000 miles - if the car has been used hard - is probably not unreasonable. It's a good, if expensive, insurance policy for the next 100,000-plus and makes sense if you intend to keep it for a good few years more. Andy T "This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. When addressed to our clients, any opinions or advice contained in this email are subject to the terms and conditions expressed in the governing KPMG client engagement letter. If you have received this email in error, please notify us immediately by return email or telephone +61 2 9335 7000 and destroy the original message. Thank you." ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 2 Mar 2000 01:47:34 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Selling a high milage car.. [uuc] 1991 525i for sale...again I wish to thank Don, Cole, and everyone else that have been so helpful in thoughts, suggestions and support. It's just so great to {sniff} have such a wonderful group {sniffle} that I can lean on and {sob} and know that you're there {waaahhh}. Just joking, starting this mail, I was thinking that I sounded like something out some daytime talk show episode... But truthfully, all joking aside, it IS great to have a list like this with so many people that are willing to help out someone they don't know. I have this list on digest and I STILL feel like I get too much mail. Definitely too much to try to read all the way through everything. Which, to me, makes it all the more meaningful to think that someone took the time to, no only read my post, but to respond. And that there are those like Don, that took extra time to dig deep into his expanse of experience and post such a detailed reply. So once again, thank you to all that responded; and thank you to the founder(s) and maintainer(s) of this list, without who's effort, this forum would cease to be. Thanks, ~Glenn <A HREF="http://hometown.aol.com/bagsmode/myhomepage/photo.html">1998 M Roadster</A> ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #368 ************************** _________________________________________ | 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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