[uucdigest] Monday, August 6 2001 Volume 03 : Number 4106 _________________________________________________________________ | | 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: [uuc] Front Seat Cover Removal from Seat Pad? (and OT content) ["Noe, Ste] [uuc] Re: <e36> clutch pedal squeak [Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] <E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions [[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Re: [uuc] rotate tires+no tread left ["Michael Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Re: [uuc] Oh Gawd it's the dad-blamed languidge police [krowley@mindsprin] [uuc] Re: checking fuses electrically [John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]] [uuc] VANOS solenoid ["Gary Krumian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] Re:<E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions [[EMAIL PROTECTED]] Re: [uuc] <E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions ["John Van Houten" <jv] [uuc] E36 bump stops [david kroth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] <misc> factory alarm source ["Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <jayk@iscmed] Re: [uuc] VANOS solenoid [Eurowerks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] <E30> Relays ["Fluharty, Bob" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] e36 exhaust ["Reichenbach, Carl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] [uuc] Passenger weight [Jeff Stowe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:39:37 -0400 From: "Noe, Steve (CIT)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Front Seat Cover Removal from Seat Pad? (and OT content) Unless I'm wrong, it looks like I have to snip the rings (hog rings?) holding the cover to the rod imbedded in the E36 sport seat pad. Those are damn small rings, both in gauge and in OD when in place. Am I right or am I right? OT: Seen the fighting crash test dummies Nissan ad? Why in the name of all that is holy are they fighting to get in the -> passenger's <- seat? The theme of the ad seems to be that the car is fun to DRIVE, for chrissakes. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 11:38:56 -0500 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: <e36> clutch pedal squeak on 8/5/01 8:53 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > I rode in a friend's e36 323iS the other night. His clutch pedal had the > infamous squeak. I vaguely remember that there is an easy fix to this. > Anyone care to let me know what it is so I can help my friend out? > > Kirk Lachman > Las Vegas, NV The stock clutch pivot bushings in the 3 series are a poor design. They tend to squeak, and to develop excess lateral play - as you've found. Fortunately there are easy solutions. Ron St*gar ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) sells a clutch pedal modified to accept uprated bushings. Cost was $65 when I bought mine in early 2000. UUC Motorwerks (http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/) now sells bushings alone for $20, so you can replace them yourself. Installation is a mild PITA, since it involves groveling in the footwell. Well worth it though. Neil 96 M3 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 08:57:19 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] <E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions Does anyone know: 1. How much more does the U.S. S50 engine weigh than the U.S. M20? 2. How much torque can the standard E30 325i transmission handle? 3. How much torque can an E30 M3 differential handle? TIA to anyone who knows, Scott Miller Entertaining naughty, nasty thoughts of an engine swap GGC BMW CCA ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:46:03 -0700 From: "Michael Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] rotate tires+no tread left Well, I would think that the pressures might be an answer in less than 1% of the cases. I have about 175,000 miles on M3s. I have run them with low pressures just for ride comfort and did not notice any unusuall wear rate on the tires. But I have noticed that a 'tweaked' car (as in wrecked) will wear tires funny. A bent suspension piece can cause it. The salad tongs in the rear suspension, which affect camber, can be easily bent. Also the ALIGNMENT is most likely at fault. Just because you recently had it aligned, dont assume it is right. I have on more than one occasion, taken my car to get aligned and they did not do it properly. Learn how to measure the alignment yourself and see what you have. And, since you are in a very small minority of folks that are having this issue, I would say it is the foot or the car. Do you think everyone on this list pays attention to their tire pressures? Hell half of them would not know how to even check the pressures but yet they are not wearing out tires that fast. I have gone thru a set of tires that fast, Pilots and I ran the shit out of the car to do it. Normal driving will not do it. Also for tire pressure to cause abnormal wear, the tire will also have a strange wear pattern to it aswell. the outsides will be worn much more than the inside of the tire. He stated it was even across, so that is not a case of under inflated wear. As to the heavy foot, it is not the speed you travel at, it is how fast you get to that speed. Acceleration causes most of the wear and high corning loads. not straight line speeds. Mike I would suggest for John to get an alignment and then tell us what it is before another 2 page babble post. - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gordo, Ping" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 06, 2001 9:12 AM Subject: [uuc] rotate tires+no tread left > Subject: Re: [uuc] rotate tires+no tread left > Mike says: > >Ummm, John > > >Didnt you get several replies about this tire thing? I know I saw 2 that > >were from folks that KNOW E-36 very good. You have an alignment problem or > >heavy foot. Those pressures didnt wear the tires out. > > >Mike > > I too have wear problems, Mike. Nobody's been able to convince me that it's my heavy foot either; I never drive faster than the speed limit and around SoCal, it's around 100 mph. I think it's the pressures myself ;-). > > Pingger > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 12:52:21 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Oh Gawd it's the dad-blamed languidge police I want to thank you guys for dredging up my memories of 12 years of Catholic school. Visions of ruler-wielding nuns waiting to rap me on the knuckles are forcing their way back into my head. My therapist told me I should avoid conversations like this... ;) Kevin Rowley Catholic school survivor ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:56:54 -0700 (PDT) From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: checking fuses electrically On Sun, 5 Aug 2001, Neil Deshpande wrote: > In the process we swapped fuses with the right side by > mistake. Voila! Right side out, left side on! The > fuse looked good, but was bad! Check yours > electrically instead of just visually! I can second this. I was once burned by a fuse that went high-resistance. Looked fine, even Ohmed out ok with a meter. Voltage was present at the input to the load, but only until the load was switched on, at which point the fuse dropped nearly all of the voltage, and the load got almost nothing. Very frustrating to troubleshoot when you thought the fuse was fine. - -- "It is an honor to be Cookie Monster." -Sesame Street spokeswoman Audrey Shapiro ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 09:51:54 -0700 From: "Gary Krumian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] VANOS solenoid Lately I've been having a problem with a low and rough idle that lasts for a few seconds when I start my 1995 325i each morning. A friend said that it could be the VANOS solenoid. The car has 59,000 pretty easy miles on it. It's had regular oil changes of Castrol 20W50 since new and my friend suggested using a thinnner oil (synthetic) to see if the better oil flow would get rid of a possible stuck solenoid in the VANOS unit. Does this sound like a plausible explanation to my problem? Gary Krumian ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:12:13 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re:<E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions Scott, Seems to me if you go M50 or S50 then you do the trans at the same time. The S50US uses a ZF transmission so I'm not even sure you could retain your original tranny. >>3. How much torque can an E30 M3 differential handle? I'm sure it could handle it, but a 4.10 with an E36 drivetrain is too much. Larry Wright uses a 4.10 (built up) in his Euro M3 motored club racer but he uses a 6-spd trans. With a 5-spd you probably want less, Bob Tunnell uses the E36 M3 auto tranny rear end in his 95 M3 autoxer and you *know* that car works well. I can't recall the ratio, it's above 3.23 maybe a 3.46 or something like that. Carlos. PS Yeah go for it, it sounds like fun! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:17:39 -0500 From: "John Van Houten" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <E30> Engine Swap / Drivetrain Questions > 1. How much more does the U.S. S50 engine weigh than the U.S. M20? According to the ETK for the short engine, S50=153 Kg, M20=117 Kg. Or you could go all the way with a Euro 3.2L at 154 Kg ;-) > 2. How much torque can the standard E30 325i transmission handle? Not sure on that one. I'm pretty sure that most of the M50/S50 conversions I have seen used the E36 transmission. If this is b/c of torque or b/c it won't bolt up, I don't know. > 3. How much torque can an E30 M3 differential handle? Not sure on that either, but I think E30 diffs were used in these conversions. Zionsville may be able to help as well as Ben Keyes (who has a Zionsville 332is). John ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 10:22:06 -0700 (PDT) From: david kroth <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] E36 bump stops Over the weekend I installed a set of Bilsteins on my 325is. Is there any value in switching from "stock" rear bump stops to the sport/M-technic rear bump stops? Anyone know the difference between the stock and sport bump stop? Shorter? Harder? Different color :-P ? ===== David Kroth [EMAIL PROTECTED] __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 12:29:54 -0500 (CDT) From: "Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <misc> factory alarm source Anybody know where I can get a replacement factory alarm unit for my E36? My dealer can get me one for over $400... I'm wondering if less expensive sources are out there. - - Kevin Jay '96 328is, red/tan, 46K ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 13:33:43 -0400 From: Eurowerks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] VANOS solenoid Gary, Yes, it is plausible. Using a thinner oil may help, but it didn't make a noticeable difference to my 95'. I do know that it is critical to keep the oil clean/changed. Gary Krumian wrote: > Lately I've been having a problem with a low and rough idle that lasts for a > few seconds when I start my 1995 325i each morning. A friend said that it > could be the VANOS solenoid. The car has 59,000 pretty easy miles on it. > It's had regular oil changes of Castrol 20W50 since new and my friend > suggested using a thinnner oil (synthetic) to see if the better oil flow > would get rid of a possible stuck solenoid in the VANOS unit. > > Does this sound like a plausible explanation to my problem? > > Gary Krumian - -- Kirk A. Gilchrist EURO-WERKS / Mercedes Benz, BMW, Volvo Service and Repair 8 South Highland St. / Winchester, KY 40391 / 859-745-0125 [EMAIL PROTECTED] / www.euromajic.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 13:05:12 -0400 From: "Fluharty, Bob" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E30> Relays Trying to identify the 3 relays in the auxiliary relay compartment (in front of the fusebox). Bentley gives conflicting info. The rear one is the oxy-sensor heater relay. The middle one is identified in the Fuel System chapter as the Fuel Pump relay, but in the Engine Chapter as the Main relay. So, front-to-back, is it Main-Fuel Pump-Oxy, or Fuel Pump-Main-Oxy? Bob 87 325is (14.5 year old relays) Cincinnati ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 6 Aug 2001 14:03:08 -0400 From: "Reichenbach, Carl" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] e36 exhaust Hi all, It's been a while, but I'm back atfter a few year hiatus. Nice to see a lot of familiar names out here. Anyway, the muffler on my 1993 325is is finally giving up the ghost (Not bad, 8 yrs on the original system). I'm in the market for a replacement and am looking for suggestions. Last I remember, the AA exhaust was highly rated, the E&S just was introduced, the UUC system was still in design, and the B&B was way too loud for everyday use. TIA for any info, and if this thread has been beaten to death/never to be spoken of, please let me know and I'll drop it. Thanks Carl Reichenbach 1993 325is 1995 Buell S2 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 06 Aug 2001 11:17:48 -0700 From: Jeff Stowe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Passenger weight Not to question Jay's experience, but for my own education. How much effect can adding a passenger make to the cars handling? I ask this because at a recent Thunderhill track event I had been running very well (for me) all weekend. Every session I was taking a few tenths and even full seconds off my previous best times. Late on day two a guy in the paddock (about 220 lbs I would guess) asked for a ride. After a few heat 'em up laps, I go into turn 2 (long fast sweeper) and my M3 will not turn. Serious understeer. It's a long turn so even I had time to try different things, I tried lifting a little, I tried increasing throttle, finally I tried tapping the the brake a bit with left foot and that got the rear end to come around. I was about out of track at that point and had to drive two wheels off for a few yards. Anyway, could adding the passenger have a material impact on the cars handling? I thought I had hit my normal braking point and it seemed like I was holding my revs in the same range as earlier sessions but the car just wouldn't turn. When a passenger jumps in, does there need to be a concious reduction in cornering speeds? thanks jeff > Date: Sun, 05 Aug 2001 23:02:31 -1000 > From: Jay G <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Jay wrote: > i neglected to take into consideration the weight of my > passenger on my run...i didnt think that it was going to > affect the handling of my car to any significant extent, but > it did...i was sooo thankful that it happened on the WIDE > straight, b/c if i was pushing it thru a turn, i am certain > i would've crashed into a wall...on the rest of the run, i > slowed way more than i usually would have, and i could feel > the car start to rotate way more easier...the passenger was > a pretty big dude, i'm guessing about 250 lbs...i know, i > know...some of you guys are saying, "how can you forget to > consider that that amount of weight wont affect your > handling?" but i didnt think of him as 250lbs, i thought of > him as passenger...so PLEASE learn from my experience, that > when you add a passenger, the dynamics of the car changes, > so take it a little more easier out there...on a side note, > a regular autocrosser did smack his less-than-1-month-old > WRX into a wall :( he was okay, but his car suffered > significant damage to the right rear... > > jay <- extremely happy with my unscathed M3... > ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #4106 *************************** ________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | Camptown Automotive - http://www.camptownauto.com | Circle Tire Co. 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