[uucdigest] Friday, June 29 2001 Volume 03 : Number 3948 _________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.gis.nsw.gov.au/staff/rnott/bmw/bmw.html | | 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. | Technical Problems? Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: Re: [uuc] <E46> M3. http://www.donotbuyabmw.com. ["Dean Boucouras" <dbou] [uuc] My purchase of a 540 6 Speed [Donn and Sally York <[EMAIL PROTECTED]] [uuc] F1 Practice [Steve Nash <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] RE: <E46> M3. http://www.donotbuyabmw.com. [Don Eilenberger <deile] [uuc] NY Bans Cell Phones... and other bads laws [Ed Walters <teamdfle28@] [uuc] Re: Has BMW lost its way? I think not [Don Eilenberger <deilenberg] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 08:18:39 -0400 From: "Dean Boucouras" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <E46> M3. http://www.donotbuyabmw.com. Let me clearly state my point. I personally think that the guy who created the website donotbuyabmw.com is overdoing it with his complaints. People need to take responsibility for their decisions and actions. He should go buy a Buick so he can get a spare tire and floor mats. Dean - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Deshpande" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2001 11:39 PM Subject: [uuc] <E46> M3. http://www.donotbuyabmw.com. > Dean: > > So what is the problem with the M3 that makes it > unsafe to drive? I was not able to arrive at that > answer from a fairly good look at his site. > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 07:33:18 -0500 From: Donn and Sally York <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] My purchase of a 540 6 Speed This will be a two part story. Part one will be the buying of a '98 540i 6 speed and bringing it back from Canada. Part two will be my first several days of owning the car. After looking around Chicago at a number of 540/6s, I decided that I wanted a '98. Opinions that I solicited stated that some '97s had bugs to work out, electronic gremlins, squeaks, etc. '99s and newer were more expensive than I wanted to pay. So I focused on '98s. I ended up scouring the internet and looking around the country at cars available for sale, since there don't seem to be all that many 540's with 6 speed transmissions. They're not rare, just not too common. I guess you know that. Anyway, I was intrigued by a couple of ads I saw in the Roundel for '98s, both of which were advertised by Will Zaraska in Canada. We started an email dialogue, and it turned out that he specialized in 5 Series cars, both M5s and others. He had sold the cars I inquired about, but had three new '98s coming in. So as not to make this too long a story, I'll cut to the chase. In order to import BMWs from Canada, you have to do several things: 1) switch the speedometer/odometer instrument cluster to MPH from KPH; 2) pay a 2.5% duty; 3) get a letter from BMW stating that the cars meet US EPA and other requirements (they all do, in fact, even meet California specs). Will explained the process in numerous emails, which were confirmed by BMWNA, who said that I just had to fax the bill of sale, VIN, and title to them and they'd transfer the warrantee to a US warrantee. Anyway, since one of the cars was just what I was looking for ('98, Cosmos Black, 6 speed, Sport package, sport seats, Xenon headlights, digital stereo, CD changer) with only 28,000 miles and 17x8 and 17x9 rims, I started to think this might be worth the effort. Will described all the blemishes and features of this car, which he bought from a BMW Lease auction, and sent many digital pictures and answered millions of questions. We decided to proceed, since the car sounded great and the price was better than I had seen locally for less loaded cars with more miles and less enticing colors (like metallic green, for instance). We agreed on a deal, contingent on me seeing the car and agreeing that it had been fairly represented. Will had the speedometer cluster replaced at a Toronto BMW dealer. I'll spare the gory details of wiring instructions gone bad (one was my fault and one was my bank's fault). We met on Monday in Windsor (Will is based in Toronto, but agreed to meet in Windsor) and I must say, the car was even better than I had hoped. It was stunning. It had been detailed and the body was in better shape than any '98 I'd seen. No dings, just a few chips in the paint. The wheels are virtually perfect. I drove it and it drove well, like most of the others I had test driven. So I called my bank to wire the funds. Unfortunately, this did not go quickly and we had to wait around Windsor all afternoon waiting to confirm that the wire was received by Will. In the meantime, we filled out the paperwork at customs and paid the duty. The bottom line is that we left Windsor at 5 pm and headed back to Chicago, with my wife and I switching between the Camry and the 540. The process itself went very smoothly, other than the inevitable waiting for the wire confirmation. Will basically makes it a turnkey deal, where all I have to do is have the day time running lights programmed off, and send VIN detail to BMW USA for transferring the warrantee. The rest was the paperwork was ready to go and the car is equal to a US car in every way. The car is everything I hoped it would be, and looks like new. Will even brought a great selection of Canadian beers for me to bring back to Chicago! On the way home (a 300 mile trip) I got to play with all the neat dashboard/steering wheel controls and everything worked perfectly. The car is so quiet, you can be going 45 and forget to shift out of 2nd if you're not careful. I also forgot initially to shift into 6th on the highway. Anyway, we were cruising home, and I was really loving life. I just couldn't wait to get the car in the garage, and get up the next morning and clean it up after the drive and learn how everything works. Ugh, now it's time for part two: So we're about 40 miles from home, just in the NW part of Indiana, surrounded by lots of trucks and some cars on I94, despite it being 10 pm on a Monday night. I see some road debris in front of me and figure it's just another shredded truck tire. Whatever it is, it's way too crowded on I94 to try to avoid the debris in the 1/2 second that I have to respond to it. My wife, in front of me in the Camry, drives right over it. At the last moment, I think I saw a spark in the road, and thought, "Oh my God, I hope that's not a broken muffler sparking on the highway." Anyway, in that next split second that I have replayed in my mind a million times, I hear this bang, like a gun being shot, or two airbags exploding, as it turns out. Yeah, I know something's wrong so I flash the brights at my wife and pull over right away. The side airbag and higher side airbag (the one that comes out from the pillar by the top of the windshield) deployed. I couldn't believe it. I turn off the car and get out and check the car. There's oil leaking. Son of a bitch. I just can't believe that I've been woken out of this dream. Since I still get sick thinking about this turn of events, and since this already is the longest email I've ever sent to a Digest, I'll be brief (I know, too late). Two hours and $180 later, the 540i, which has now been owned by me for about 5 hours, has been flat bedded to my local BMW dealer. Here's what I know so far about the damages. The two airbags are, get this, about $5000 to replace. Then the air bag controller, which either has to be replaced or is likely to need replacing, is $1800. It's a fluke that the impact was just right to detonate them in the first place, given that I didn't strike anything weighing more than a pound or two. Today I find out that the dealer put the car up on a lift and not only is the oil pan punctured, but somehow the foreign object hit the drain plug for the transmission, which I guess drained the transmission fluid, and the transmission will have to be replaced too ($5000). So we're up into the five digits for Allstate for a car that they have only insured for half a day. I'm glad they have a sense of humor. I guess I'm out the deductible and the towing. And I hope that the car is fine whenever I get it back. And that Allstate forgives me. And that nothing else happens to me or the car in the next few years. The bottom line is that I'd be ecstatic about my purchase, if it weren't for the bad luck on the trip home. And I was very pleased with my dealings with Will and the whole importing process. I don't really feel like I own this car, since I don't really get to see or drive it <sniff, sniff>. I think I'll really feel like I own it when I get it back from the dealer, and I sell my '97 328i sedan (shameless plug). Anyway, I was all set to write a very happy, excited email of my dealings with Will and buying this car, but unfortunately the Epilogue (as they used to say on "The FBI") goes along with the fun part of finding and buying what seem like a great, great car. Thanks for all the advice on buying 540/6s. Donn ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:33:32 -0400 From: Steve Nash <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] F1 Practice I have noticed that on most of the Friday, and Saturday practice time sheets McLaren seems to be running fastest. But come time to qualify it seems like Williams and Ferrari have the upper hand. Any thoughts on why? Is it because Williams and Ferrari are doing more testing setup work and McLaren is just a falling star trying to keep up? Anyone? I am Speedvision impaired this weekend so I need my F1 fill today before I leave work. Steve Nash 1989 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:36:57 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: <E46> M3. http://www.donotbuyabmw.com. Neil asked: >So what is the problem with the M3 that makes it >unsafe to drive? I was not able to arrive at that >answer from a fairly good look at his site. His DSC stopped working. He didn't say how, but if it just 'stopped' working, I can't imagine this making the car 'unsafe' to drive in anyones mind except the lawyers for BMW.. snip >As Bill Matthews pointed out, "Who cares about the CD >player." After I had paid the PO of my M5, I asked >him if the car had a CD player and he said, "Of >course, and it sounds quite good. Want to try it >out?" "No, I replied, I'm sure it is adequate." I >then opened it up to take out the CDs he had in there >and only used it next for my drive up to Putnam (1200 >miles) after which I once again emptied it. Different people have different values :-) I'm kinda pissed that my E39 radio has crappy AM reception (and I'm thinking it is just the design, unless my friend with one who parked next to me in my driveway has the identical problem I do - his was just as crappy.. :-) Can't listen to Imus in the Morning on the way to work.. :-( >Don't know about lawyers though. >http://www.bmwlemon.com has been around a long time. I suspect it's one of those cases where BMW thinks like W.C.Fields.. "Ignor'm my dear.. they're beneath you.." eventually the guy may get a life and move on with something else to bitch about. >Neil Deshpande >http://www.neilwerke.com :-) Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ JMP#1 FOT2.A [EMAIL PROTECTED] NJ Shore BMW Riders web page: http://www.njsbmwr.org/ Moderator - BMW E39 Enthusiasts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmwe3 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 06:43:24 -0700 (PDT) From: Ed Walters <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] NY Bans Cell Phones... and other bads laws The cell phone ban in NY state and other politically conspicuous laws just give the police one more law to selectively enforce. This promotes bias, profiling, and other abuses of my Constitutional rights. I especially love the laws in Florida and other states which allow police to sieze property or cash thought to be drug related without an arrest or court proceedings. What next, an anti-SUV law when public backlash builds after some cellphone talking, NJ Turnpike commuting, left lane squatting moron drives over the back of a Miata? Ed ___________________________________________________ GO.com Mail Get Your Free, Private E-mail at http://mail.go.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 29 Jun 2001 09:42:13 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Has BMW lost its way? I think not Zandr sez: >At 4:49 PM +0000 on 6/28/01, Evan Arnerich commanded the electrons to >create a missive titled "[uuc] Re: Has BMW lost its way? I think >not": > >|How many others really place styling over engineering? Certainly not >some M coupe owners who admit that styling is secondary. I guess it's >easier to take ugly when you get fast & quick in return, eh? > >That's the funny thing. I certainly thought that when I bought my >Coupe. And maybe it's just rationalization, but the ugly little pug >has really grown on me. I suspect what it is - you can't SEE the styling from behind the wheel.. and that IS the place to be on an M-Coupe.. The inside view out over the hood reminded me of the view that I had on my short-owned (it broke too much) Jag XKE.. a glorious look at the road coming at you VERY FAST, and a nice bulge in the center of the hood so you knew what was causing it. Never really thought about how the coupe *looked* once I got behind the wheel. (And on the 2 or 3 occasions I saw another one on the road, I'll admit to thinking "what a goofy looking car.." and then ZOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM..!! forgot all about it.. :-) >- -Zandr :-) Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ JMP#1 FOT2.A [EMAIL PROTECTED] NJ Shore BMW Riders web page: http://www.njsbmwr.org/ Moderator - BMW E39 Enthusiasts: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmwe3 ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #3948 *************************** ________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | Camptown Automotive - http://www.camptownauto.com | Circle Tire Co. (used & classic BMW parts) e-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED] | Detailwerks Chicago Inc. "Chicago's Premier Automotive Appearance | Center" . http://www.detailwerkschicago.com |==================================================== | Koala MotorSport . 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