[uucdigest] Friday, March 3 2000 Volume 03 : Number 378 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 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: Re: [uuc] <E46 M3> Is the new M3 a porker? [uuc] Re: Trans Fluid [uuc] Re: All Pre Purchase Inspections - Cost$$$??? [uuc] Tune Day at Currys [uuc] Re: ATF in a manny? [uuc] Re: SO vrs Touring Re: [uuc] Gloves Re: [uuc] Honda M3 Pics Re: [uuc] last comments on car sales... Re: [uuc] <E30> 325e Why My Car Hates Me [uuc] RE: Honda M3 Pics Re: [uuc] The perfect car [uuc] Re: Need a floor jack ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 08:46:24 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <E46 M3> Is the new M3 a porker? Herman Chan wrote: > - The flared wheel arches and power bulge give the E46 body some much > needed machismo (a better term escapes me at the moment). But, > perhaps some of the money spent on parts to help visually > differentiate the M3 could have been better spent on some nice big > brakes and 4-piston calipers that peek out behind the wheels. the wheels are a strangely "closed plan" design in that they do not allow the brakes to show thru very much. perhaps there will be a second type of wheel available which is more friendly to the brakes. Steve D'G - any word from Guido on the changes (if any) that have been made on the E46 M3 vs. E36 design ?? > - The gills...ugh. Even if they are functional(?), they look gimmicky and out > of place. if these are anything like those on the show car at Detroit, they are complete crap. the car was close enough to the ropes to touch the gills & they bend & flex as if made out of over-cooked pasta. if they are going to add this sort of "jewelry" to the car, it should be more substantial & maybe even "functional", as on the Z8, which incorporates side repeater lights into it's gills. imho the standard Z3 & MZ3 gills are just slightly on the good side of tasteful & the body needs something at that point to provide character to the lines. > - The underbody shot shows extensive shrouding (but not as much as a > F355/360 or Skyline GT-R), which for DIYers brings to mind: how am I > going to reach the oil drain plugs? An oil sucker may be a necessary > purchase. Also check out the size of the muffler can. based on the bad attitude about releasing service manuals and such to the public, it seems the BMW would like you to require a dealer to open the hood, let along actually do work on the cars, so lack of access might not be a big concern. on the other hand, the shrouding might just remove easily - who amoung us has spent time servicing or messing about under a 355/360 or Skyline ?? speaking of opening the hood (or not) the new Audi A2 comes with a "service panel" instead of a hood - you have fillers & dip stickes for oil, coolant, washer fluid & brake fluid, no direct access to the engine. Ben Keyes '99 M coupe '88 M5 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 08:50:55 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Trans Fluid These transmissions suffer no more or less failures than every other BMW auto trans. As a result, I (and most professional techs I know) advise fluid and filter changes every 60-80K miles. There is a drain plug, it's on the right side at the front of the pay. The fill plug is up in the centre of the pan and needs a 17mm Allen socket and a really long ratchet or breaker bar 'cause that sucker's tight. A fluid and filter service on that trans will run somewhere around $4-500. Fluid alone is getting close to $200 for a 5 litre can. Brett Anderson www.koalamotorsport.com Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual. > From: "Duane Collie" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] Trans Fluid > > Brett, > > What do you think of the 'Lifetime Trans Fluid" that BMW has cars like my > 740i? I've got 68K on the car and if there's ever gonna be a change I > suppose I shouild do it. There's no drain plug in the trans though....have > you been seeing trans failures out of these cars? > > TIA, > Duane ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 08:56:07 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: All Pre Purchase Inspections - Cost$$$??? The cost depends on variables such as the type of vehicle and the amount of checks you want done. Rob's pre purchase on the M5T cost him about $700 by the time he flew me to Atlanta, etc, etc. However, on a USED car with a price tag in the $35-45K range, it was cheap insurance. What I usually suggest is buyer and seller split the cost. If the seller is confident in the car, he won't have a problem with this. For your average 4 or 6 cylinder BMW, you should be looking at 3 hours of shop time to go over the car totally, including compression and leak down tests. An another half hour for a V8 and 2 hours for a V12. Brett Anderson www.koalamotorsport.com Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual > From: "Christopher Chow" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] RE: All Pre Purchase Inspections - Cost$$$??? > > hello, > i'm planning on buying a used BMW, so i have been checking out german > auto repair shops, and have gotten price ranges from $120-$300. what's a > resonable price to pay for this inspection? considering sometime the > purchase hinges on such an inspection, and you're out the cash if you choose > not to buy it after all... > - -chris chow ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 09:01:08 -0500 From: Matt Curry <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Tune Day at Currys Thanks Duane, i knew i could count on you for some experience with this. I've also done alot of looking into and yeah, Autothority's software looks pretty good, and they are so damn close to us, its so convenient, but i will hold out for the Jim C...waiting to see if Currys gets the software, or maybe the man himself will show up. jeff Hey Jeff, Duane and everyone else, we are supposed to be getting the software that will enable us to flash/reprogram the BMW's with the Jim C. program at some point in the near future (I don't know when exactly) hopefully within the next 60 days. We will also have the capability to burn chips on location for the OBD 1 cars. We are trying to set a date for a tune day, where we will have a portable Dyno and Jim and Josh will come in tune your cars to the specific upgrades, etc. Anyone interested?? We need about 20 people. We will combine this visit with a tech day, like last year, open to the entire club, which we will of course cater and hopefully have other guests, door prizes, etc. No dates are set as of now, we are still trying to get everyones schedules worked out and find out when the dyno is available. If anyone wants to get on the tune list please e-mail me privately. BTW we have 22545r17 and 24545r17 BFG G-Force R1 on special (limited quantify). either size $155.00 installed, already heat cycled. Matt Curry Curry's Auto Service 703-502-0400 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 09:07:25 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: ATF in a manny? >From memory, the change over year was 86. However, a general rule of thumb is if the fill and drain plugs are "innies" it uses gear oil, "outies" use ATF. An "innie" requires a 17 mm Allen socket, an "outie" requires a 17mm hex socket. However, you can run ATF, engine oil or gear oil in your transmission. You make the decision based on ease of shift vs noise. The heavier the oil, the quieter the trans. Also, if the trans is old, ATF may leak out of it faster than gear oil. Brett Anderson www.koalamotorsport.com Home of the E30 M3 CD-ROM repair manual > From: "Steven Reed" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] ATF in a manny? > > Ochi-wan-kenobi wrote about putting ATF in a manual transmission and that > the owner's handbook thingie recommends it. I've got an '87 325iS with the > obligatory manual transmission - what kinda lubricant should I have? > > Steve ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 09:20:25 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: SO vrs Touring In a message dated 3/2/00 5:18:04 PM Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: << We're too happy with our Bimmer to look at Saab or Volvo or Mercedes wagons, though they all have the +2 seats in back. So we got another 7-seat Dodge Grand Caravan instead. Sigh... At least it leaves room in the garage for the fun car. - -- Bob Sutterfield >> Good choice. If you're still a Saturday house slave you can't beat a minivan for practicality. When the kids are gone you can get the Touring and cruise in luxury. We did! Fred Callender RMC Mazda B3000 work and recreation vehicle 95 M3 for fun 99 528iT for visiting kids and grandkids scattered coast to coast ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 09:39:51 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Gloves I wld expect that Sparco is hard to beat. But, caveat emptor those sold by Griot (knit back, leather palms w/ribs): recently drove 3+ hours (98 M3/4, 12k miles), straight, flat, little wheel movement; 9 o,clock position on wheel "bubbled" and coarse, distinct pattern, didn't notice until I removed gloves. Stealer has ordered new wheel under warranty. carl ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 09:44:38 -0500 From: Chaz Yoon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Honda M3 Pics Actually, I'll call you an elitist snob, Ron. How are your desires for a particular car any different from the "wet dreams" of others because they happen to own a particular car right now? Does your ownership of a German marque make elevate you to a high level? It sure as hell didn't put you on a higher standard. Yes, I've been watching the coming of the E46 M3 for a long time now. I'm planning to purchase one sometime next year, probably in the spring, if I find a nice place to garage it every night. If I post messages here regarding the car, I somehow have a higher taste than everyone else. Yet, if I post an occassional message on a Honda board because I happen to own a '98 Accord, it somehow turns it into a riceboy fantasy? What about Hondas disgust you so much? Gee, I don't have a 6" wing, an aftermarket exhaust, a slammed suspension, or even a single sticker on my car. I'd say it's a damn fine car for $19k. Amazing, isn't it? That someone that's interested in BMWs actually owns a Honda? Absolutely startling? What makes you any different from them that you can like the car and they can? I invite you to answer or else I'll let your elitism stand. Chaz "Chazzy" @ http://www.honda-acura.net/ On Thu, Mar 02, 2000 at 10:30:42PM -0500, Ron Katona wrote: > The phrase "dang this car is so phat!" comes to mind. I don't know > exactly why, but it bothers me that they like it. It bothers me that > Chazzy, Wag, Fazle, and BoostJunkie are all having wet dreams about this > car. Call me a elitist snob, but I don't want to lust over the same car > that a guy who goes by the alias BoostJunkie does. - -- Chaz Yoon http://christabel.mit.edu/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 09:55:37 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] last comments on car sales... This is how I bought the Touring. I knew I would check out the car to see if it really was in the condition as presented, as long as we could reach a price that I was comfortable with in the first place - over the phone. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Brian Foster <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Likewise, a caller who tries to > > negotiate a price without having seen the car is also not serious. > Not true. I've sold cars to people -- and bought cars from people -- > where the price is set on the phone without seeing the car. Not in the > same class as the high mileage '91 525i that started this conversation, > but you cannot over generalize here either. > Brian Foster > Irvine CA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 10:02:48 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <E30> 325e Why My Car Hates Me I suggest plenty of chanting and dancing around a fire. Nudity optional. If that doesn't work, say to the car, "See what happened to the GELDing? Take a hint, you're next." - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Alix Sebesta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E30> 325e Why My Car Hates Me > Sorry if this is long winded--it's late, I'm tired, and my customers are > astoundingly idiotic. At any rate, here goes... > I think my car must just have a bad attitude. It can't handle it's owner > not fawning over it every waking moment of the day. For instance... <snip> > Alix Sebesta > '86 325e "Damien" ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 10:03:48 -0500 From: "George, Zachariah (CICG Development)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: Honda M3 Pics I have to agree. I noticed it myslef, and it had me reeling there for a second too, tryin to find an explanation... Zach '94 325i w/ sports pkg. 5-spd. Sharked. > ------------------------------ > > Date: Thu, 02 Mar 2000 19:17:31 -0600 > From: Scott Ferguson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: [uuc] Honda M3 Pics > > Did y'all notice that even though it posted on a Honda/Acura > site, nobody > there had much negative to say about it? Someone even > promised that if he > had one, he wouldn't even rice it up (His words, not mine). > They display > an admirable level of tolerance, don't they? > > Scott > 1985 535i > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2000 10:09:37 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson - UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] The perfect car Read a book called "Japan in the Fast Lane" (I'll try to find my copy for the author's name). It's an insider's view of ToyotaWorld, specifically how factory workers are treated. Truly horrific, near-slave conditions. Granted this was written a few years ago so things may have changed. With the introduction of the current Camry, AutoWeek ran an article about how Toyota was specifically making steps to lower production costs, loosening the rigid requirements/tolerances for parts and parts from independent suppliers. New Toyotas are NOT the same as old ones. BMW's major components do seem to be built stronger than most anything else. All the annoying stuff that breaks on our cars is usually an auxiliary component, controller, electronic piece, etc. - made by an independent supplier. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: Joe H. Harrison <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] The perfect car > Jonathan Reiser stated: > > "Why manufactured by Toyota? Toyota uses incredidly cheap components on > their automobiles to keep costs down. My impression when climbing into > a..." blah blah blah > > I'm going to refrain from telling you what I think you can do with your > opinions. Instead I'm just going to ask that you read "The Machine That > Changed The World". It was written several years back by several M.I.T. > researchers. They have plenty of *informed* things to say about Toyota.... > After reading, I'd love to hear your response. > > And yes, there is a reason Porsche came running to Toyota several years ago > begging for help with their production system (or should I say craftwork > system?). > > Joe > (guess who helps me make my BMW payments?) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 03 Mar 2000 10:12:16 -0500 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Need a floor jack Dennis sez: >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [uuc] Re: Need a floor jack > >If history is any indicator, I've had my Sears 2 ton for 23 years. No leaks >no fuss. Looks like hell and the only work I've done to it is grease pivots >and axles. Of course I've now jinxed the damn thing and it'll let go on a >Sunday night and I will have to use a bottle jack. > >Dennis Jeong My Sears jack is.. ummm.. 26 years old. Has always worked. Has lifted things like a 4,000lb sailboat.. many many cars, corner of a house.. Mine was rated at 1.5 tons (I know - the sailboat was pushing it a bit - but I did have boat-stands all around it.. :-) but I noticed what appeared to be *exactly* the same jack later became the 2 ton model - and I believe now is being sold as the 3 ton model. Whenever I lift it - I get confused and think the rating actually is the weight of the thing. Can't beat it. Never did a thing to it except lift things with it.. :-) Bought it on sale for ~$125 - and split that with my brother-in-law. He lost interest - so it stays in my garage.. ................................................................... 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 ................................................................... ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #378 ************************** _________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | Bonneville Motorwerks . http://www.bonnevillemotorwerks.com | Circle Tire Co. (used & classic BMW parts) e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Curry's Auto Service . http://www.currysauto.com | Eurosport . http://www.eurosport-hp.com | Koala MotorSport . http://www.koalamotorsport.com | Taylor BMW - http://www.taylorbmw.com - Doc Bimmer! | The Ultimate Garage . http://www.ultimategarage.com | UUC Motorwerks . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com | Zionsville Autosport . http://www.zionsvilleautosport.com ����������������������������������������
