[uucdigest] Friday, February 28 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6159
_________________________________________________________________ | | 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: Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII [uuc] RE: Damned OBDII Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta [uuc] Electrical/Charging System Re: [uuc] 1995 BMW 540i 6-speed pre-purchase info? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 09:00:44 -0800 From: Jim Bassett <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII At 08:09 AM 2/28/03, Robinson, Lee talked about: >My question is, how the F!#$%^$$#ing hell long do you have to drive this >thing until it will pass an emissions test. Just long enough to get the cats good and hot, then it should pass. As to the CE light, it comes on *for a reason*. You need to have the dealer, and independent BMW mechanic, or someone with a Peake code reader, READ the code. Then you can fix the cause of the CE and chances are the car would then pass smog. How many miles on the car? I would guess it's time for the O2 sensor to be changed? Also, when was the last time the plugs were changed? Those tend to be the two most common causes of failing smog checks, IME. My 2 cents, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 1993 325is #44 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 11:24:14 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Subject: G.F.'s 98 323is--problem: emissions test > > I seem to be having trouble getting this damn thing to pass an emissions > test. The car has a CE light that goes on from time to time (which I > hear they all do....). Lee, CE light comes up for a reason. Despite what you may have been told, it is not a common sight on OBD2 bimmers. Even if it goes off, the fault code is still stored in the DME. Read the fault codes either with your own code reader (Peake and such) or at a local independent. Chances are the code has something to do with your emissions problems (mostly like failing 02 sensor-s). > So, we had this light reset last Thursday where we bought the car. > This is the second time this light has been reset since we bought > it in Dec. Still no one is apparently able to tell me why this > comes on..... Anyone with a code reader should be able to tell. > We've had this car since 12/2 and it still doesn't have a tag on it!!!! > Or is there something else wrong I should be looking for? Most likely YES! alex f '95 M3 (once had a load of CE fault codes traced to failing ignition coils) '98 328i (no fault codes ever) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 12:26:47 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Damned OBDII The vehicle needs to complete a "drive cycle". A drive cycle can take up to 30 days to complete, depending on driving habits and style..... Yes, it's stupid. Thank the EPA. - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: G.F.'s 98 323is--problem: emissions test > > I seem to be having trouble getting this damn thing to pass an emissions > test. The car has a CE light that goes on from time to time (which I hear > they all do....). So, we had this light reset last Thursday where we bought > the car. This is the second time this light has been reset since we bought > it in Dec. Still no one is apparently able to tell me why this comes > on..... > > Anyway, on Friday, we take the car for an emissions test. Nope, sorry, the > GA state OBDII reader tells the tester that the light has just been reset & > there is no data there. The tester tells said G.F. that there is no > problem, the car just has to be driven around a bit to aquire data for the > test. Yesterday, she goes back....still no data for a couple of points > (maybe it was incomplete data). Another fail...... > > My question is, how the F!#$%^$$#ing hell long do you have to drive this > thing until it will pass an emissions test. We've had this car since 12/2 > and it still doesn't have a tag on it!!!! Or is there something else wrong > I should be looking for? We've really had this car too long for not having > a tag..... ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 12:47:06 -0500 From: "K.C. Boyce" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: Damned OBDII Lee, While I've not had experience with this, per se, I thought I could add some useful info. When I went in to do emissions on my new (to me) '97 M3, I got to chatting with the guy at the garage. Basically all they do is hook the car up to the OBDII port to ensure that the CE light works, that there are no emissions-related codes stored in the computer, and that there is data in the computer (to stop someone from resetting the system and then passing the test w/o functional emission controls). >From what he told me, the car has to be driven daily on the order of two weeks before the system acquires sufficient data to pass the test. Interestingly enough, they don't do any tests on the ACTUAL emissions that the car produces. So you could be spewing hydrocarbons and, assuming your emissions control equipment is functional, still pass the test. In fact, he told me that during the changeover from the old test to the new, he had a number of vehicles fail the new test (i.e., system check) but pass to old (i.e., ACTUAL emissions). Stupid, stupid, stupid! I imagine that there will be a burgeoning black market in a few years for a cheap emulator that plugs into the back side of the OBDII port and tricks the emissions computer into thinking that the system is functional... What is the code stored when the CE light illuminates on your GF's E36? I'd check that out first, unless you want to take your chances that it just won't reappear until after you pass emissions. KC Boyce '97 M3 Crew Cab E30 Eta Page: http://www.e30eta.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 12:53:10 -0500 From: "mike" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta No, not saying that at all. But for towing a 7000lb trailer/car combo, any V8 pickup truck with the right rear springs and trailer brakes will do fine Also, I am not a lawyer, but I have seen many vehicles modified with leaf springs, trans coolers and trailer brakes, so their effective towing capacity has been increased by a large margin. As to the enforcement of towing weights, that is a new one on me and CANNOT imagine ever being stopped for that. Especially when you can easily prove the vehicle has been modified to handle larger loads Mike - ----- Original Message ----- From: "marco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 28, 2003 11:23 AM Subject: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > And used by the highway patrol to give pricey tickets. > > So you're saying that a vehicle rated to tow 5000lbs is just as safe and > engineered to the same level as one rated at 20,0000? > > Go for it. > > Marco > > mike wrote: > > That woudl not stop me from using it for towing, tow ratings are for > > lawyers. > > > > Have towed 9400lbs with a long bed F150 with the 4.6L auto, no problems at > > all. > > > > Mike > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 9:26 PM > > Subject: RE: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > > > > > > > >>The "Harley" tows 500 lbs less than the Lightening. > >>Marco > >> > >>-----Original Message----- > >>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of mike > >>Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 5:39 PM > >>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>Subject: Re: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > >> > >> > >>Actually, > >> > >>The Harly Davidson version which comes in a crew cab, has the same motor, > >>with a larger supercharger pulley I believe for lower boost. > >> > >>I have thought about keeping my eyes open for a decent used one in a few > >>years, then sell all of the stupid harley shit to some other idiot for > > > > their > > > >>F150, putting a smaller pulley on it and there you go, a 4 dr lightning. > >> > >>Mike > >> > >>Not a fan of trucks, but have had many many F150 for company trucks, they > >>are damn near bullit proof and have also been mightly impressed with the > >>Lightning, nothign like 450lbs of torque and it does handle!!! > >>----- Original Message ----- > >>From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 8:23 PM > >>Subject: RE: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > >> > >> > >> > >>>I thought about getting one of those as my tow vehicle but it was only > >> > >>rated > >> > >>>at 5000lbs towing and couldn't get a crew cab nixed that idea. Bummer, > >>>could have been fun. > >>> > >>>Marco > >>> > >>>-----Original Message----- > >>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>>[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Brian Daley > >>>Sent: Thursday, February 27, 2003 11:02 AM > >>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>>Subject: Re: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > >>> > >>> > >>>Brett, > >>> > >>>Most of those who posted on that thread own Lightnings. The particular > >>>gentleman you quote owns a 2002 Lightning which off the showroom floor > >> > >>pulls > >> > >>>.85 g on the skidpad. That doesn't look so bad next to an '02 M3 which > >> > >>pulls > >> > >>>about .90. Throw in the facts that the Lightning also makes 380 hp and > >> > >>450 > >> > >>>ft-lb stock and that truck is capable of embarrassing a lot of cars on a > >>>road course. Considering it stickers for about $14K less than the M3 > >> > > and > > > >>>can carry a full sheet of plywoood, yeah, there _is_ a performance > >> > >>vehicle. > >> > >>>Brian Daley > >>> > >>>-------Original Message------- > >>>From: KMS - Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >>>Sent: 02/27/03 03:35 PM > >>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >>>Subject: Re: [uuc] Consider this before you go to Road Atlanta > >>> > >>> > >>>>Gotta love the comments from the, umm, people, on that board! > >>> > >>>"He should let one of us drive it for them, huh?" > >>> > >>>>From a pick up truck forum.......Yeah, there's a performance vehicle! > >>> > >>> > >> > > > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 12:55:06 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (by way of UUC Admin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>) Subject: [uuc] Electrical/Charging System I have an E30 (87' 325) that yesterday decided it did not want to charge the battery. Everything was fine on Wednesday, but on Thursday I first noticed that the heater fan was not working. I then noticed that the tach, temp and fuel gauges were not working and the battery charging light is on. In addition, when you first start the car, the fan and gauges work for a split second and then cease to operate. I checked the battery and found it to have 10 volts and it was not charging. Though I have an electrical diagram, I have no clue as to the problem. It almost seems like it is a capacitor/relay, because it does work for a split second. On reading other posts, I know there is a wealth of knowledge on the board. Hopefully, the board can help provide some hints as to what to check. TIA Bob Olson ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 28 Feb 2003 10:06:10 -0800 (PST) From: Howard Poe <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] 1995 BMW 540i 6-speed pre-purchase info? Thanks for all the advice. I'm not sure about the 6-speed, everyone (including Car and Driver) agrees that the clutch wears out too fast. As this car is to be a daily driver, the auto. may be a better choice. I've found an island green / tan interior '94 540i with 125k miles locally. The green / tan combo should be cooler in the heat than black/black would be, though it will still show dust. Runs good, not sure if the engine has been changed or not. Brakes and handles well, no play anywhere and no noise jinking the car back and forth at 35 in a 25 MPH sweeping corner from the suspension. The OBC says that avg. mpg is 17.5, is that normal for a 540iA? The car idles well, and checking the drivers door edge for visible movement after the car warms up (as per the BMW tech bulletin on the nikasil engine block), there is no visible movement with the door open. The car has the options I'm looking for in an iA, and seems to be in decent condition. The leather on the seats seems to be hard?!? from whatever was used to treat them, and there's a small tear at the forward seam on the drivers seat. Other than that, the leather is in great shape (I checked behind the back seat armrest and it is leather, not leatherette, not that I know 540is came with leatherette?). Oh, and it has brand new Michelin Pilot's on 10-spoke BBS/BMW 17" wheels (the spare is a basketweave), with the Dinan exhaust (+33 HP?). Don't know if the car / transmission were chipped, I don't have another 540i to compare using my butt dyno. =-) All I know is that it's much nicer than my '89 325iX was. Oh, and the car is listed for $11,000. - -Howard ex-'89 325iX ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6159 *************************** | | 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 . BMW technical information, special tool sales/rental | http://www.koalamotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | Taylor BMW - http://www.taylorbmw.com - Doc Bimmer! | UUC Motorwerks . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com |__________________________________________
