[uucdigest] Friday, February 14 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6115
_________________________________________________________________ | | Search the ARCHIVES: | http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected] | | Visit Richard Nott's Ultimate BMW Database: | http://www.bmwdatabase.com | | 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] OT - Junkyard Wars looking for contestants! [uuc] Drei Bond 1209 or RTV [uuc] USA Today - "For yuppies, BMW is better" [uuc] E-28 Starter Replacement Pointers RE: [uuc] More driveline woes...trying to help! [uuc] Re: [UUC] E30 underdrive pulley [uuc] Re: Drei Bond 1209 or RTV Re: [uuc] Interesting program on the Autobahn RE:[uuc] Drei Bond 1209 or RTV ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:13:29 -0600 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] OT - Junkyard Wars looking for contestants! I love the show, but I leave the wrenching to the "pros". Perhaps some of our fellow uuc list members would like to partake? - --------------------------------------------------------------- Help Us Bring On The Junk! Take a tour stop in our Junkyard! 'Junkyard Wars' is looking for new contestants to compete on the 2003 series. 'Junkyard Wars' (broadcast on TLC Wednesdays @ 9) is an Emmy nominated hour-long engineering talent show that pits teams of mechanics and engineers against each other. Teams of contestants are given ten hours to build a machine to solve a specific challenge using parts they salvage from a junkyard. The winners go onto further rounds and a chance to get their hands on the coveted Junkyard Wars trophy! In contrast to previous seasons, this year we are looking for individual applicants who are skilled at putting together sophisticated machinery and not afraid of getting their hands dirty. These individuals will be split into teams as part of the show. Successful candidates will possess a strong background in engineering, fabrication and a good mechanical know how. 'Junkyard Wars' wants applications from people of all ages, races, creeds, colors, sexes, religions, and sexual orientations, as well as people with physical disabilities. We are especially interested in applications from women and/or people of color, as previous crops of contenders have been underrepresented among these groups. Lots of kids watch 'Junkyard Wars' and we want to show them that anyone can grow up to be the world's greatest mechanic or engineer! If you think you match the description or you know of someone who does please log onto our website and apply: http://www.junkyard-wars.com/apply.htm You will find the application forms as well as all of the information that you need regarding applying. Please submit completed applications and videos as soon as possible Application deadline is February 28, 2003. Please mail completed applications to: Junkyard Wars Applications 3940 Laurel Canyon Blvd. # 107 Studio City, CA 91604 If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please feel free to forward this to anyone else you think may be interested in applying. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:12:35 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Drei Bond 1209 or RTV Brett says > > Remember though, less is better. Any RTV that you see squeeze out of the area > when you bolt down the cover, is indicative of how much just squeezed INTO > your engine. RTV floating around inside your engine is a VERY bad thing. Here is an example of what Brett is talking about. When we rebuilt the M20 motor in my old 325is, the only issue we had when rebuilding it was bleeding the coolant system once we were all finished. Of course, I looked like a numb skull, unable to get it bleed easily. Brett starts to fiddle around with the overflow tank, the return line, the cap, etc. He is blowing on this, blowing on that, grabbing for the air hose and air nozzle. Long and short of it, he back flushes / blows out a little piece of black RTV from the coolant system return line to the overflow tank. Then, he bleeds the system in minutes and all is right with the world. All the coolant hoses and the radiator had been replaced on the car prior to the motor being rebuilt so the system was pretty clean of 'white powdery radiator stop leak' and RTV from the prior owner. Sadly, a remnant of RTV from the prior owner had found its way into the coolant return line to the overflow tank causing the bleeding issue. Regards, Rich ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:21:19 -0500 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] USA Today - "For yuppies, BMW is better" FYI.... vty, - --Dennis ___________________ http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-02-11-entrylux_x.htm Posted 2/11/2003 11:30 PM For yuppies, BMW is better By Earle Eldridge, USA TODAY Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Jaguar all have low-priced cars aimed at dethroning the BMW 3 Series as the preferred yuppie car. So far, they're failing. BMW sold more than 115,000 3-Series cars last year � 11.8% above 2001 � making it the top seller in the low-price luxury segment. Mercedes sold 64,000 C-Class; Jaguar, 33,000 X-Type; Lexus, 20,300 IS 300. In the past four months, sales of C-Class, IS 300 and X-Type have fallen from a year earlier. Volvo's S40 and V40 have been plagued by slow sales, too. But 3-Series sales have continued to climb, despite the fact that the current 3 Series went on sale as a '99 model, making it the oldest in the segment. That would usually mean falling sales as newer models attract buyers. Analysts say automakers missed their target because young buyers view their models as cheaper versions of traditional Mercedes, Lexus and Jaguar cars. "Maybe when people step up to the luxury class, they don't want the bottom-end vehicle," says Gordon Wangers of Automotive Marketing Consultants. The BMW 3 Series, with a high-performance M3 version, defines the automaker's marketing line, "Ultimate Driving Machine," says Art Spinella of CNW Marketing/Research. "Unlike the X-Type, IS 300 and C-Class, no one sees the 3 Series as a lesser BMW." The 3 Series also offers more choices than its rivals. It's available as a sedan, coupe, convertible or station wagon and comes with more engine, transmission, body and performance options. Entry-level vehicles are important to automakers because they can make young buyers loyal to the brand as they age and move up to higher-priced models. Mercedes, Lexus and Jaguar officials, who dismiss talk that their cars have failed, say they are drawing more buyers into showrooms who might purchase more expensive models later. "If you're a Mercedes, Lexus or Jag dealer, you like those cars because they brought some new shoppers into your store," says James Bragg, owner of FightingChance.com, a car-buying service. But slow sales have forced the brands to cut production, boost incentives or tweak their cars: Sales of the Mercedes C-Class lineup were up 25% in 2002 from a year earlier. But they fell sharply in two of the past four months. Sales of the $25,000 coupe, the least expensive Mercedes, fell more than 30% for three of the four months. Mercedes blames fickle coupe buyers. Sales of the 3-Series coupe have fallen two of the past four months. Mercedes spokeswoman Donna Boland also says pent-up demand, which pushed sales after the C-Class Coupe hit the market in July 2001, has started to "normalize." Mercedes has a $1,000 dealer rebate to move the coupe, and the company is adding a six-cylinder engine and all-wheel drive. Jaguar is closing a plant for two weeks at the end of this month to cut production of the X-Type, which went on sale in August 2001. It is priced under $30,000, excluding the destination charge. Jaguar argues that the X-Type has helped the luxury marque's U.S. sales jump almost 40% since 2001. It had expected to sell 100,000 X-Types a year worldwide, yet sold only 73,600 in 2002. X-Type sales in the USA fell more than 40% in January. Jaguar spokesman James Thomas says the low-price luxury market is new territory for Jaguar, and the company is learning as it goes. "Sales in the U.S. have exceeded our expectations," he says. Jaguar has used lease deals to try to boost sales. Sales have fallen sharply for the Lexus IS 300, which has a sporty-driving feel and was clearly aimed at 3-Series buyers. The IS 300 went on sale in June 2000, but a manual transmission, widely popular in this segment, wasn't available until August 2001. Lexus brags, correctly, that it is the No. 1-selling luxury brand in the USA. But IS 300 sales have fallen more than 20% for three of the past four months. Lexus officials say they have started to curtail IS 300 production to concentrate on sales and promotion of the redesigned RX 330 sport-utility vehicle, which goes on sale in April, and the GS 470 SUV, which went on sale in December. Lexus also has a 3.9% finance rate for 60 months on the IS 300. Lexus points out that the IS 300 has succeeded in drawing the brand's lowest-age buyers, an average 31 compared with 52 for Lexus overall. "The IS 300 is doing extremely well for us, but that segment is extremely competitive," says Robert Carter, vice president of sales for Lexus. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 10:43:42 -0800 (PST) From: Sasha <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] E-28 Starter Replacement Pointers Time to replace a starter on my �87 535i 5-speed. I know that it is a major PITA. Benteley Manual is not much help. Looking for some pointers. I�ve heard that 10-inch extension will be helpful anything else? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. TIA. Sasha. __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:15:10 -0800 From: "KKiely" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] More driveline woes...trying to help! Lee, Just for grins, have you looked at the other end of the motor for a possible source of the vibration.... i.e., harmonic dampner? rotted alternator bushings? - -Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:44:07 -0800 (PST) From: Brewster Fong <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: [UUC] E30 underdrive pulley Before you undertake this project, you may also want to read Dinan's technical white paper on these pulleys here: http://www.dinanbmw.com/html/danger_of_power_pulleys.htm Note, its written with the E36 engine in mind, but nevertheless, its something you should consider.... __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Shopping - Send Flowers for Valentine's Day http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 12:14:21 -0800 (PST) From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Drei Bond 1209 or RTV On Fri, 14 Feb 2003, KMS - Brett Anderson wrote: > Yes, you can use a high temp RTV. > > Remember though, less is better. Any RTV that you see squeeze out > of the area when you bolt down the cover, is indicative of how > much just squeezed INTO your engine. RTV floating around inside > your engine is a VERY bad thing. Oh good grief yes. My friend took the valve cover off his old Suzuki GS550 and found HUGE blobs of silicone inside, still sticking to the edge luckily. The gigantic bead that the hamfisted PO must have laid in there boggles the mind. - -- "It is an honor to be Cookie Monster." -Sesame Street spokeswoman Audrey Shapiro ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 15:18:13 -0500 From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Interesting program on the Autobahn I found three things fascinating, all of which were sort of known in "general Autobahn lore" but were interesting to hear confirmed: 1) Fanatical maintenance of the surface specifically to maintain high-speed safety. 2) Curves effectively reduce driver fatigue, in sharp contrast to US Interstate "straight line blur" as they called it. 3) Curves banked appropriately to allow maintenance of speed. 4) Death rate per million miles traveled only 7.4 vs. US Interstate 8.4. 5) Driving taken seriously. Argh, I hate driving here! The RUF was cool. I liked the digital speed display within the analog. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Interesting program on the Autobahn > Wasn't it? There's a lot of history there that I had > no idea about. I won't lie to you though, the RUF was > without question the best part. :) > > > --- Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Saw it last night - what a great show! > > > > - Rob ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 13:00:46 -0800 From: "Brant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE:[uuc] Drei Bond 1209 or RTV Brett - I've been taught that RTV will damage O2 Sensors unless it is specifically sensor safe (the blue stuff). Seems that a BMW engine assembler was using RTV without authorization and BMW got fined by the US for producing cars that failed emissions testing. Or some such. So, what is your secret of successful use? Is the high-temperature RTV (I presume you mean the red stuff) not damaging to O2 Sensors? Or is it that you use only small amounts? BTW, the red stuff is magic on aircraft exhaust systems! Thanks for whatever additional education you can offer. Brant Miller <<<<<<<<Date: Fri, 14 Feb 2003 11:18:44 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Drei Bond 1209 or RTV Yes, you can use a high temp RTV. . . . . - - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member>>>>>>>> ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6115 *************************** | | In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. |________________________________________ | Please visit these UUC-approved BMW parts vendors/service providers: | (listed alphabetically) | | Autoscope-Motorsports - http://www.autoscope-motorsports.com | |==================================================== | | Koala MotorSport . 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