[uucdigest] Tuesday, March 4 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6171
_________________________________________________________________ | | 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] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) [uuc] BMWs Getting Too Complicated (was <E34> Problem with a/c) [uuc] Re: A couple of E36 problems.... Re: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) [uuc] Turning off Brake-Assist [uuc] (somewhat OT) Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords Re: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 19:09:36 -0500 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords Ford Australia had a separate production line in the late 80s for the "Mercury Capri" which was the Ford Capri convertible that was exported to the US. I know, because I tried to get a job on the line during the local recession. GM is about to start importing a watered down, LHD version of the Holden Monaro as a Pontiac GTO. Why Ford can't bring one of the souped up Falcons over here, I don't know. - ----------------------------------------------------- BMW Special Tool Rentals Pay per incident tech support - ----------------------------------------------------- Brett Anderson KMS (440) 338 1650 www.koalamotorsport.com OSS committee member > "Now if Ford would only bother to build *cars* with bits of similar > capability. Oh wait, they do. They get real close in Australia > (http://www.fordperformancevehicles.com.au) but they won't send > them to the US." > > They would need to build them in LHD for the US market, something I don't > think the Australian Ford plant is capable of. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 18:30:19 -0800 (PST) From: Carlos Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) Brett wrote: >Not sure about some of those sanctioning bodies listed, but those that >I do recognize all require roll cages. I haven't seen the info (I'm on digest mode) but out of curiosity what racing school was it in which this girl died? I assume it happened in a Formula car. I didn't even know there was a track in Yakima. Carlos (former Puget Sound chapter member) 91 M3 88 iS __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - forms, calculators, tips, more http://taxes.yahoo.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 19:27:50 -0800 From: "Scott & Charlotte Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] BMWs Getting Too Complicated (was <E34> Problem with a/c) <rant on> This is what is wrong with the newer BMWs. (One thing anyway.) >Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 09:53:50 -0800 >From: "Brant" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: RE: [uuc] <E34> Problem with a/c <snip> > >Without shutting the engine >off, they got the car onto their computer and discovered that they could >not "see" the a/c control computer. After a shutdown and restart, the >fault corrected itself and they could "see" the computer. They replaced >the computer and the problem has not recurred. <snip> >Brant Why does a car need a computer to control the AC? What is wrong with the old systems? One or two switches, a thermostat, a bunch of plumbing, a few mechanical parts and some refrigerant was sufficient. Now a computer fails and no one can figure it out without another computer to test the fauty computer. I'm all in favor of tech advances, I just don't see the point. I like my simple, albiet somewhat ancient, E30. Three levers. Each one controls the air going to one of three sets of vents. Set each for as much or as little as you want. Two AC switches - one for on/off, one for recirc. One temp knob. One fan speed knob with four settings. That's it. No computer, none needed. I'm perfectly happy with it. What would a computer give me that I don't already have? Not happiness. <rant off> Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA 1990 325i ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 19:34:50 -0800 From: "Scott & Charlotte Miller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: A couple of E36 problems.... Hi Manuel, or Eric, or whover you are today, I'm not an E36 expert (one might argue that I'm not ANY kind of expert and would probably be right), but I'll answer you anyway. Fuel gauge: Have you been through multiple fill-ups since the problem started? Did you leave the key in the ignition during the last fill-up? Before assuming there is a problem, fill up the tank again and make sure the key is not in the ignition. Does the alarm have a motion sensor? I suspect it is being set off by traffic on the street, not necessarily the angle of the pavement on which it is parked. Find out if you can change the motion sensor sensitivity. HTH, Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA >Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 10:48:28 -0800 (PST) >From: Eric Draven <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [uuc] A couple of E36 problems.... > >Greetings all!! >Lately I have had a couple of problems with my 95 325i >159K. First of all my fule guage needle went dead on >me the other day. Just out of no where. I'm assuming >this is the infamous fuel sending unit problem. I >would like to know how difficult it is to change this >and how much these units go for approx. I haven't >done any research on this problem and I figured I >would start here. >Secondly I have also had a problem with my factory >alarm sys. It also likes to go off when ever the hell >it wants to. I noticed that it goes off more when the >car is parked on a street that has a curve to it >therefore tilting the car sideways a bit. Our streets >here aren't totally flat and I noticed when the car's >in the flat driveway it doesn't go off. I figured the >problem might be one of the trunk sensors going bad? >I say this because when I'm driving and I go over a >big dip the lights flicker on and off very quickly so >I thought the two might be related. Could I be >correct with the trunk sensor thing or is it most >likely an alarm control module problem?? TIA for your >help!! > >Manuel Paredes >95 325i Lots of mods, getting old 179K >L.A. BMWCCA ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 23:10:51 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords KMS - Brett Anderson wrote: > GM is about to start importing a watered down, LHD version of the Holden > Monaro as a Pontiac GTO. and an ugly, heavy, unworthy of the GTO name bland-mobile it appears to be. > Why Ford can't bring one of the souped up Falcons over here, I don't know. $$$$$, or lack of it more correctly. due to the incentive wars & an ageing product line, we're still not making any money on what we build here for the US market. plus, we didn't kill off the Mustang like GM did with the F-bodies (which I know Brett has a soft spot for :-), so we don't need a testoterone-soaked pseudo muscle car to draw greying boomers into the showrooms*. the investment necessary to convert the RHD cars to LHD & do the various upgrades which are perceived as necessary (interior quality, likely NVH) likely doesn't balance out against the other needs w/in the company to develop more mainstream products. Ben *works at the plant where the 390hp Cobra Motors are built, clearly not impressed with the GTO one bit :-P ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 4 Mar 2003 23:05:02 -0500 From: Phil Marx <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) And yet somehow we are allowed to ride motorcycles, and in some states, without helmets! Go figure. Better yet, go out and buy one before they come with airbags and seat belts! - -Phil Marx >Ben White wrote: > >Brian Daley wrote in part. > "Brian Daley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ><snip> Bear in mind that most laws are written with the (not entirely >misguided) assumption that 95% of people are too stupid to be allowed to >decide for themselves what to eat for breakfast. > >______________________________________ >Not to mention that such laws are in violation of the U S Constitution >which, sadly, has been largely ignored since the rein of FDR. > Ben White/ Ocean Springs, MS ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 20:19:30 -0800 From: John Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords > They would need to build them in LHD for the US market, something I don't > think the Australian Ford plant is capable of. Perhaps not, I'm not sure about Ford. GM Holden does build LHD models, sold in the Middle East and soon in the US. > size of a Lightning :). The Focus RS is the latest - very hard work to > drive, but extremely fast around a track when it's done properly (8 m 25 > s round the 'Ring). Yes, I'd very much like to see that one in the US, though I suspect Ford thinks it'd be too expensive to sell. Much like the VW Golf R32, it'd be a $35K car in the US. Though we're now going to get the Mitsu Evo VIII and the Scooby STi (in 2.5-liter form, which might prove better than the 2-liter version that's getting picked on for lack of torque in the rest of the world.) > It's a parts-bin special: Quaife diff, Brembo brakes, AP Racing clutch, > Sachs Race Engineering suspension, OZ, Sparco, Garrett, you name it. There's now a Quaife listing for the (deutscher) Mini Cooper, which makes it a tempting prospect. I'll never own FWD again without a limited-slip. John. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 23:22:54 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] WA state to regulate racing schools (part 2) Carlos Lopez wrote: > I haven't seen the info (I'm on digest mode) but out of curiosity what > racing school was it in which this girl died? I assume it happened in > a Formula car. I didn't even know there was a track in Yakima. it was some sort of regional NASCAR-like series IIRC the initial part 1 message. Ben ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 20:26:45 -0800 From: "Bora Akyol (BMW)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Turning off Brake-Assist Does anyone know whether the brake-assist feature in new cars can be turned off? My street car has this feature and it is driving me CRAZY. thanks Bora ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 20:28:07 -0800 From: John Miller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] (somewhat OT) Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords > I may be wrong but I think that Andrew might be mistaken. As I recall, > the Mercury Capri (the fwd version based on Mazda 323 architecture) was > built in Oz by Ford for the North American market. Different situation, the Capri and its Mazda underbits were made to be built as either RHD or LHD. The Australian Falcon platform *may* not have been. It's quite a nice chassis, though, with an aluminum tall-spindle SLA front suspension and a multilink rear setup with the beef for trailer-towing (a must in the Oz market.) The GT motor is an Aussie-tweaked version of the 2000 Cobra R 5.4 DOHC, 1000 less RPM on the redline so maybe a little less rod beef. The Holdens are based on an old (late '80s) Opel Omega pan, updated with rack-and-pinion steering and the semi-trailing arm rear suspension gets the additional toe-control link from the 377HP twin-turbo-3.6L 1991 Lotus Omega. They are built in LHD form, and the coupe version (Monaro) will be in the US in Sept 2003 as the 2004 Pontiac GTO. Both the mass-market Aussie GM/Ford sedans are a couple inches longer than a 5-series, and are very roomy inside. John. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 04 Mar 2003 23:34:49 -0500 From: ben keyes <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Lightnings and other fast Fords John Miller wrote: > Yes, I'd very much like to see that one in the US, though I suspect Ford > thinks it'd be too expensive to sell. the car is ~$30k in the UK, but the main problem is likely the certification of the motor to meet US emissions & perhaps also concerns about the nervousness of the car on less than perfect surfaces due to the Quaife's twitchiness. we can only hope that something similar will come along in the future when we have the newer I4 engines & perhaps the later Focus platform coming out in Europe soon. > Much like the VW Golf R32, it'd be a $35K car in the US. actually the R32 is supposed to be "just under" $30k according to vwvortex.com, which gets extremely good information from VW. most of the magazines in the UK have tagged the R32 with "best VW since the original GTi" and similar superlatives. I'm sure it will be well received here. it's got the thickest steering wheel I've ever seen. makes the E46 M3's feel like the wheel on your old Ford :-) > Though we're now going to get the Mitsu Evo VIII which even in it's slightly watered down US spec is a car with worlds more performance than the R32 or the Focus RS. > the Scooby STi (in 2.5-liter form, which might prove better than the > 2-liter version that's getting picked on for lack of torque in the rest of > the world.) the 2.0l revs more & has some different character to it, but the cars are likely very closely matched. somewhat of an edge to the US car for less than WOT driveability, but it's not a huge difference. a friend of mine has thousands of miles in both the US & Japanese versions & says they're both very impressive. the ride I had in a development US car was illuminating to say the least :-) unless BMW comes out with a real successor to the E30 M3 in the M version of the upcoming 1-series, I don't see BMW getting me to buy a new car anytime soon. Ben ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6171 *************************** | | 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 |__________________________________________
