[uucdigest] Friday, March 31 2000 Volume 03 : Number 549 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | 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] Re: Suspicious Re: [uuc] Carfax [uuc] Minilite Replicas -13"/E21 F S [uuc] Carfax [uuc] Maintaining Black Paint!! (Part 1) [uuc] Maintaining Black Paint!! (Part 2) [uuc] <E39> Electronic Woes Re: UUCFest is on! [uuc] Re: [uuc] Carfax [uuc] <misc> Whadja find in dere? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 16:25:03 -0600 From: "Daniels, Jason S" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Suspicious And the world is full of fools... jason daniels - ---------- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [uuc] Re: Suspicious > Date: Friday, March 31, 2000 3:39 PM > > Don't know what part of the country you're from, but here in NJ some of the > seargant's make around $60 - $80k... in Paramus, NJ standard police officers > All of this goes to prove the simple point that until you know the details, > it's foolish to pass judgement.. > > -Ted > '99 323i/4 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 22:27:20 GMT From: "Chaz Yoon" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Carfax http://www.carfax.com/free still worked as of an hour ago. Chaz Henry Caldwell writes: > If anyone on the list still have free access to carfax, I would like to ask > if you would please run the following vin#. 4T1BG12K3TU951004 > Thanks much. > Henry > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 15:26:57 -0000 From: "BMW Bits" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Minilite Replicas -13"/E21 F S Set of 13x6" Minilite replicas (made by 'that' Shelby ) correct offset for 320/323i . 4bolt fitting . 2 have useable BFG 205/60's T/A radials (mebbe 5/8 k mls left on them ) . $400 the set,FOB Seattle . They are straight and pretty ding-free .Have one more BFG same size , not mounted ,TONS of tread left $30 with the wheels ,$40 without . Can supply digipix if U R serieux . Bill Proud ,29 yrs messing with BMWs in Seattle. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 17:34:20 -0500 From: "Henry Caldwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Carfax Thanks very much to everyone who responded with help on Carfax! My son thank you as well. Henry ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 15:00:41 PST From: "Manuel Paredes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Maintaining Black Paint!! (Part 1) Okay everyone, since the rains are starting to dissipate and the sun is starting to shine I decided I would finally post this on the board. It's time to shine up them dark bimmers!! I was going to try to summerize what everyone sent me but it's just too much and some of these tips are good the way they were sent to me so here they are. Manuel Paredes 95 325i (crippled) L.A. BMWCCA P.S. I am not responsible for any damage you do to your vehicle. ===================================================================== Part 1 Maintaining black paint Hi Manuel. Not sure what a Kragen wash mit is, but if it's that polyester one, get rid of it. It scratches the paint. You need to get the sheepskin (or fur,for that matter) wash mit. Also, sounds like you're using stuff that is available from a Kmart of sorts. Meguiars stuff sold in those retail stores is second rate. They make a whole set of other products for the pros. These can be obtained from Larry at http://www.carcareonline.com. He has a lot of info there about caring for paint as well as other stuff. About drying the car, I'd stay away from using a chamois to dry the car. Think about it. It's so thin and flat that if you have any residue dirt that didn't come off in the washing process that it would get rubbed around on the paint surface. Instead, use the old trick of removing the nozzle and running a nice stream of water slowly from top to bottom. The key is to get the water to sheet off the paint and leave less water to mop up. After that, use a 100% cotton towel to dry off (remember, stay away from towels made in 3rd world countries...they contain polyster even though they say 100% cotton). Use Cannon brand or Fieldcrest (sp?) towels available at Macys. This is all covered in that website I gave you. As for maintaining paint smoothness, you might want to consider a clay system. It's really nice. Also, check out http://www.zainobros.com. I use their products and like it very much. They have UV blockers as well as anti-static properties so dust just glides off when driving. HTH,Chester Manuel, I use Hi-temp products to remove swirls and found nothing beats it (I have tried Meguiers, etc. and although they work, I usually do not find they work as well and some other products are awfully harsh on the finish with actual abrasives). I also have used every polish or wax known (seemingly anyways). I prefer Pinnacle over Zymol products with Blitz Wax as a runner-up. Over all of these I prefer Finish First Polish (not a wax but synthetic clear coat protection). Not very well known but provides the most durable long-lasting protection with very good shine. Easier to use than wax and much moredurable. If you want any more information regarding these products, please feel free to write or call me at 216-420-4366. I used to detail cars (before I left college for a "real" job) and continue to enjoy making cars look there best. I also still obtain certain hard to find products for friends and family as I am a dealer for certain products (like Finish First). I do not make any money currently from my auto supply work but do it as a favor to certain auto enthusiasts. Best regards,Rich Hi Manuel, How are you doing? I think your car is black like mine. I feel like I have a pretty good system for minimizing micro scratches. Here's what I do: 1) I wash with Meguair's #00 (hi tech wash) I've used a few soaps and haven't noticed a major difference from one to another. I'd say that you ought to pick one based on price, availability, and smell! I use a sheep skin mit from griot's garage. It is hugely different from the mit I bought at pep boys. It is much softer, and seems to stay cleaner. I use it on the paint on the upper body of the car (everything above the side rub strips.) Below I use an old cheapy mit. I keep em seperate b/c the bottom of the car tends to have the really gross stuff that I don't want on the good part of the car. 2) I dry with a synthetic chamois. I hate how chamois's get old and ugly very quickly. griot's sells them at a reasonably cost. 3) I do final dry with a cotton towel. I only use a clean towel. After the chamois it usually only takes one small towel to dry the car. 4) I keep the car covered as much as possible. I actually pick up most of my scratches from putting on the cover. 5) I use 3m imperial hand glaze to polish the car. It is the easiest to apply / take off, of any polish I have tried to date. 6) I will use a clay bar 1 - 2x per year to give the car a freshlypolished look. 7) Blitz wax every 1-2 months. This stuff give a finish as good as zymol in 1/3 the time. Highly recomended. It usually takes care of most small scratches. 8) In between washings I will use Meguair's final inspection to cleanoff dust. Scratches will still appear, but these products have worked well on mycar. Good luck, Bill Isaacson 94 325i blk on blk (big mistake!) ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 15:09:48 PST From: "Manuel Paredes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Maintaining Black Paint!! (Part 2) Here is the other half ===================================================================== Part 2 Hi Manuel, I have a black 328i (MY 98), with those same damned scratches. It was delivered witha large number of them... Causes: 1. Washing (soaping) a car with some amount of dust on it. Doesn't have to be a lot of dust. 2. Buffing a car (such as after applying wax, polish, glaze, cleaner) outside, where a slight amount of dust can settle on the car between drying and buffing. 3. Using buffing towels that aren't made of cotton. You asked for advice on avoiding another round of scratches on your now-fresh paint surface. Here goes: - - I would suggest using the lightest pressure when soaping your car. Maybe drip water and/or soap over the car beforehand in the hope that most of the dust will come off before you have to touch the surface. I personally use a cotton bath towel (tagged:100% cotton made in USA) to soap the car. - - Avoid buffing the car whenever possible. Avoid polishes and glazes until your paint actually seems to need it (imperial hand glaze is great at getting off those bird stains on an unwaxed surface). Use a wax that is easily removed and in particular doesn't require strenuous rubbing of the surface. - - Use towels that are truly cotton. I use Fieldcrest towels. I've been told that towels that aren't made in the USA and claim to be cotton may not be; and I've ruined my own paint using the cheapo Detailer's Choice towels.I used to own an auto detail business. The most important thing about those hair line scratches is to go along with the wind. Your car will develop them due to particles in the air, as you drive at 60-70-80- maybe 90-100 mph, they scratch your car. While washing your car use forward to rear movement with your mit (going along with the wind marks). While waxing your car do the same DO NOT GO IN A CIRCULAR MOTION!!!!!!!!! I can not stress that enough. That is where most of your visible markings come from. Do small areas at a time so you do not have to use a lot of pressure or friction to get the wax off. While washing your car you do not really need any type of soap in the water. If you choose to use a soap (USE A CAR SPECIFIC soap) you only need a small drop in a gallon of warm water. The more you use does not get the car any cleaner. It will only remove the wax from the paint. If you have any other questions, I would enjoy answering them. Pete Manuel, I have a black '94 325. Based on my experience, Meguair's polishes work great on BMWs but their waxes do not. After 15 years of using Meguair's, I changed to 3M Imperial Hand Glaze for polishing and Blitz One Grand Wax. For the first time ever I am getting very good results without needing to buff the final coat of wax repeatedly. Apparently the Meguiar's wax has some polymers in it that react with the BMW paint, causing the wax to become slightly cloudy. Visually this looks like big smudges in the finised wax job that no amount of buffing will remove. I would recommend calling Larry at www.carcareonline and getting his advice. He stocks a lot of product, prices are reasonable, and if you tell him what you want to do he will recommend the right products. FWIW, Zymol is good but very expensive for what you are getting. HTH, Mike I'll give you my formula. I have a "Lapis Blue" '87, 325 I bought new. This is almost black. I had a terrible time with swirls, etc. for years and finally found this solution (YMMV). Throw out the wash mitt and the chamois. The chamois drags off all the wax. Get some 100% cotton terry towels, older the better. If you are not sure if they are 100% cotton, you can hold a match to a few threads. If they give any sign of melting instead of just burning, they have some polyester in and you don't want to use them. Wash towels in hot water two or three times using a powder detergent. Make sure they get a good rinse each time.I use all Meguire's products. Wash with their car wash liquid. Start at top and work down. Change the water, soap and towel at the first sign of any of it getting visibly dirty. Take a small (4-in.) squeegee and very lightly flick off any standing, or beaded water. Then dry with the toweling. I have a Porter Cable orbital buffer with separate foam pads to apply the following:If the car is very dull and swirled start with No. 2- Fine Cut If not too bad, skip the No. 2 and go straight to:No. 9 - Swirl Remover No 7 - GlazeNo 26 - Yellow Wax. Each of these has to be applied, let dry and buffed off using the toweling. Now go and wash all the towels on hot again with the powder detergent at least twice.I only have to do this once a year. In the meantime, a wash and the squeegee, followed by a quick dry does it all. Depending on what your car looks like initially, you will be amazed after you finish the Nos. 2 and. The car actually looks best after the No. 7 and I think this is where people with show cars stop, but it will not last and the wax is needed to preserve the shine. MANUEL: IMNSHO, black (or any dark color) paint requires special care and attention to look nice. You're on the right track in using Meguiar's Number 7, Show Car Glaze as your polishing product. You might also try their Number 81, Hand Polish. 3M also makes a great polish in their Foam Polishing Pad Glaze Swirl Mark Remover For Dark Colored Cars, PN 39009: http://www.mmm.com/market/automotive/showcar.html Now on to waxing. Unless you only drive your car on sunny weekends I'd avoid the Zymol products. They have a half life measured in days!! The best wax I've found for a black BMW daily driver is One Grand Blitz. Call Larry Reynolds at CarCareOnline: http://www.carcareonline.com/ Several Digest folks have raved about the Zaino Brothers' products: http://www.zainobros.com/index.shtml The best investment I've made towards dark car care is a Porter Cable random orbit polisher, Model 7336 or 7424: http://www.toolsforless.com/porter_cable/sanders_polishers.htm Usual disclaimers apply. YMMV. Jim Millet1995 M3, Hellrot, Sharked and Blitz'd Formerly owned a black 1994 325iS. Manuel, I was busy during the holidays and missed your post and the replies to it. Do you mind sharing some of the good tips you received? I have a black 94 325is and it's been a real pain to keep looking good. I have read a lot of articles on paint care, talked to several high-end auto paint shops and tried most of the major polishes and waxes. The best results I've gotten are polishing with Meguiar's #9 swirl remover or #7 glaze followed by a coat of #26 (I think) wax. To do it right takes 7 or 8 hours. Here is one of the better articles I've found on the web: http://vettenet.org/wax.html I have also called Meguiar's 1-800 number (listed on all their products) several times and have found them to be helpful. Terry [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 18:14:05 EST From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] <E39> Electronic Woes I'm looking for some help, hopefully someone on the list may have had a similar experience. Purchased, brand new 10/99 and have just under 5000 miles, a 528iT, with automatic. This is a great car, but mine seems to have a deficiency in the DME or perhaps some Microsoft operating system. It seems as if for no apparent reason the brains of the system goes into a "limp home mode." The following lights appear on the dash, EML, Service Engine soon, Brake light (in yellow) the one that tells you, you did not release the emergency break, and the DSC light (Yellow traction controls light). This has happened three times. The first time driving at highway speed 55-65mph, after several hours on the road. managed to literally limp home. The second time, starting the car cold in the morning and the third time starting the car after it was running for several hours and then after it was parked for a half hour. The sales rep from my dealership (Life Quality, Brooklyn, NY -- good people) asked me to try to reset the computer after the first experience. Reset procedure: Turn ignition key all the way short of turning over the starter, three times. On the fourth try turn key all the way. This worked the first two times and all lights went out, except the 'Service Engine Soon' light and the engine behaved normally. The 'Service Engine Soon' light went out after several more start ups of the engine. Today, I was at the service department to have the fault codes read. I forget the codes the rep told me, I did not have time to wait for the print out but will get them on Monday. The service writer said that they have no clue as to what is wrong, his guess that it might be the throttle body. He is going to be running this problem thru BMW NA. However that was in the AM. This afternoon the third incident occurred and the reset procedure is not working. I'll be bringing the car in Monday, AM, having it Flat Bedded. Any ideas, as to the problem? Steve Fischthal Lawrence, NY NY Chapter BMW CCA 98 328is spts pkg., BL/SSed, X-Brace 00 528it (just a virgin,untouched by this bimwad,the ultimate geezer mobile) "If you're not scared, you're not driving fast enough". ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 18:12:22 -0500 From: Rich Beebe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: UUCFest is on! [uuc] Steve Nash wrote: > I have planed on coming up to see the race and cheer my fellow NCC members > on and I am glad to see so many will be there. Now I know to bring beer and > food :) If any one can use an extra helping hand in the pits I don't mind > getting dirty, let me know. oh, we'll put you to work alright steve!! if you're serious about helping out, even a little, let me know and i'll add you to my crew list. i have one 'free' slot left. i'm sure some of the others have opening too. look for us against the back of the paddock (towards the trees), across from the tech shed. rich beebe ncc 95 M3 88 M3 ITS 325is #7 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 31 Mar 2000 18:38:19 -0500 From: "Henry Caldwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Carfax Thanks Chaz for the info and your help. Henry - ----- Original Message ----- From: Chaz Yoon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 5:27 PM Subject: Re: [uuc] Carfax > > http://www.carfax.com/free still worked as of an hour ago. > > Chaz > > Henry Caldwell writes: > > If anyone on the list still have free access to carfax, I would like to ask > > if you would please run the following vin#. 4T1BG12K3TU951004 > > Thanks much. > > Henry > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 30 Mar 2000 17:49:32 -0600 From: Scott Ferguson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <misc> Whadja find in dere? Alex Cagann writes: "I take the front seats out and really hit that carpet good....Who knows, you may find something neat under the seats...." When I bought my euro 635csi (dead now of terminal rust, RIP) I took out the seats as a matter of course, and found, to my delighted surprise, a 40 watt Alpine amplifier and 2 ADS crossovers - and about 20 quarters to tell all my friends about it! Man, this guy must have been crapping quarters, they were all OVER the inside of the car - in the spare tire well, under carpet, underneath the console, etc. In another car (a 1972 Celica. Don't ask.) I found a gold wedding band under the back seat. What's the best thing YOU'VE ever found inside a used car? Besides, of course, cargo netting in rental cars. We've already ridden that thread like a two dollar...horse. ;-) Scott Ferguson 1985 535i, which came to me with a ballpoint pen, a dozen beads from a child's necklace, a medallion of St. Christpher (I think) and about a buck thirty five in loose change. ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #549 ************************** _________________________________________ | 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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