[uucdigest] Monday, August 11 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6650
_________________________________________________________________ | | 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] <E30> M3 springs raise 325i (!) [uuc] Wet BMW's... RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience RE: [uuc] <E30> M3 springs raise 325i (!) Re: [uuc] Wet BMW's... Re: [uuc] Rough idle on '99 M3 Chris' new tires, was RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience [uuc] <E36> WTB factory steering stops from M3 RE: Chris' new tires, was RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 08:16:59 -0500 From: "Weimer, Matt J." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E30> M3 springs raise 325i (!) So finally I get the '86 down off of the jackstands after several weeks of surgery on many different areas of the vehicle including the install of M3 springs and Bilstein sports. The front and rear end is sitting kinda tall but I attribute that to the car not yet being settled. So I roll the car back and forth, torque my wheels and go for a spin. When I get back and hop out to admire my slightly lowered beast I realize the rear end is visible sitting higher than before! I took out my measuring tape and confirmed that the rear end is 1/2" taller than before. The front is ever so slightly lower than stock. Before doing all of this work, I measured the difference in free length of the stock vs. M3 springs and there was about an inch of difference in the free length all around. So I was expecting under and inch drop all around. Could my car ('86 Euro) be THAT much lighter than an early U.S. 325i? Most spring manufacturers list one set of springs for all E30 ex. iX and 318iS. Who else out there is running M3 springs on their E30's and how much of a drop did you get? Should I just get two 3" straight pipes run out the back a set of Cragers and go cruise the strip? Matt Weimer Hoosier Chapter ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:24:29 -0400 From: "Luis Rueda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Wet BMW's... <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/08/business/worldbusiness/08SALV.html?ex=1061367173&ei=1&en=023a35ac1e37e4be> Cheers, Luis BMWCCA member ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:22:45 -0400 From: "Chris Baker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience I had tire work quoted at an independent once and got a similar quote. I guess that's the difference between paying a mechanic to do the work or paying some guy (gal) in a tire shop. FWIW, I've had the most luck with Costco's tire department. They do very good work. For example, they are the only shop I've gone to in my area that actually uses a proper torque wrench on the wheels. And they are very cheap. I imagine they figure that you'll go shop in the store for an hour while they do the work, which I usually do. Chris B. '94 325i <--- getting new Yoko ES100s mounted at Costco today - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Richard Bennett Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 5:06 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Recent dealer experience Thought I might share a recent dealer experience with everyone and hopefully get a response from some of you regarding the cost of work performed. I went to my local dealer to have four tires mounted and balanced for my 1995 M3. As I am new to this area and leery of taking my car into any random tire shop I thought the dealer would provide me with quality work and attention to detail. I wanted all weights on the inside of the wheel. I was prepared to pay somewhat of a premium for them to do the work, but what I paid seems ridiculously high. So, I purchased four new Yokohamas from Tire Rack and removed my wheels and existing tires from the car. With the car sitting on jack stands in my garage for a coolant flush and minor brake work I dropped of tires and wheels to be mounted and balanced. Dealer calls, says they're ready. Cost was $231.85! 2.5 hours labor - $187.50, 4 valve stems - $10.60, stick on weights - $20.62, plus tax. Dealer says they charge a premium for M! style wheels!? This sound ridiculous to anyone? Dealer says normal size (non M) wheels are $69.95 for all four! Thoughts. Richard Bennett ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:39:39 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience Chris wrote: >FWIW, I've had the most luck with Costco's tire department. They do very good work. For example, they are the only shop I've gone to in my area that actually uses a proper torque wrench on the wheels. And they are very cheap. I imagine they figure that you'll go shop in the store for an hour while they do the work, which I usually do. ____________ Agreed! My local Costco uses the same mounting and balancing equipment as most other tire shops and dealers I've visited. The mechanics at Costco do NOTHING but install tires 10.5 hours a day; they don't install shocks, they don't install brakes, they don't install mufflers, nothing. So I assume that they're pretty good at it. And as Chris said, they are required to hand-torque wheels. Lastly, at least at my local Costco, You have to stand in the waiting area, but you can watch them work - and they know it. I've had them mount Pirelli slicks on my 18" Speedline magnesium F. Challenge wheels, and they came out fine. I think it was something like $9/per, for mounting AND balancing. vty, - --Dennis . ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:43:19 -0400 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] <E30> M3 springs raise 325i (!) Could be that the springs for euro cars sit them lower. Also could be that your old springs had quite a bit of sag or were really soft. Does the car handle better? Probably. One thing to keep in mind is that the M3 springs would've been specifically designed to sit the car at a level ride height. The alignment specs for that car state that total (that is the sum) deviation in ride height for all four wheels is less than 10mm. If your car is now at a level ride height, BMW says the new springs are right. Also keep in mind that some 325 springs actually had a higher spring rate than the M3 springs. I would assume that this is to compensate for additional weight. I would say that if you want a drop, you should get springs designed to give a drop. For your speculation on weight, my E30M3 wieghs 2812 with a full tank & spare in nearly stock form. Sorry don't have any concrete figures on 325i's. Hope this helps a little...... Lee 88M3->dropped a little > -----Original Message----- > From: Weimer, Matt J. [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 9:17 AM > To: BMW Digest > Subject: [uuc] <E30> M3 springs raise 325i (!) > > > So finally I get the '86 down off of the jackstands after > several weeks > of surgery on many different areas of the vehicle including > the install > of M3 springs and Bilstein sports. The front and rear end is sitting > kinda tall but I attribute that to the car not yet being > settled. So I > roll the car back and forth, torque my wheels and go for a > spin. When I > get back and hop out to admire my slightly lowered beast I realize the > rear end is visible sitting higher than before! I took out > my measuring > tape and confirmed that the rear end is 1/2" taller than before. The > front is ever so slightly lower than stock. > > Before doing all of this work, I measured the difference in > free length > of the stock vs. M3 springs and there was about an inch of > difference in > the free length all around. So I was expecting under and > inch drop all > around. > > Could my car ('86 Euro) be THAT much lighter than an early U.S. 325i? > Most spring manufacturers list one set of springs for all E30 > ex. iX and > 318iS. Who else out there is running M3 springs on their > E30's and how > much of a drop did you get? Should I just get two 3" > straight pipes run > out the back a set of Cragers and go cruise the strip? > > Matt Weimer > Hoosier Chapter > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 10:26:19 -0400 From: "roger n. katz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Wet BMW's... How soon before Tricolor BMW's show up on eBay? - -----Original Message----- From: "Luis Rueda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 09:24:29 -0400 Subject: [uuc] Wet BMW's... <http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/08/business/worldbusiness/08SALV.html?ex=1061367173&ei=1&en=023a35ac1e37e4be> Cheers, Luis BMWCCA member [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.myrealbox.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:00:54 -0400 From: "m3 drvr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Rough idle on '99 M3 I believe I am seeing this also on my 98 M3 with 28k miles on it. Anyone have an answers? TIA >From: "Neil N." <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: [uuc] Rough idle on '99 M3 >Date: Sat, 9 Aug 2003 18:37:47 -0700 (PDT) > >Group, > >My 1999 M3 (23k miles) does a strange thing at cold >startup. About 15 seconds after I start it, it begins >to run really rough, for about 20 seconds. The idle >does not visibly fluctuate, but the motor is running >so rough you can feel the car shaking. After the 20 >seconds or so, it's completely normal, and runs great. > >Any ideas? > >Thanks, > >Neil >1999 M3 >1994 325is > >__________________________________ >Do you Yahoo!? >Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software >http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:04:06 -0400 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Chris' new tires, was RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience > Chris B. > '94 325i <--- getting new Yoko ES100s mounted at Costco today Chris, On behalf of the list (maybe?): Set of four, I'm assuming... Let us know what you think of those. With your wheels, 225/50-16? I was checking those out on-line this weekend at the tire rack. What kind of price are you getting? On behalf of me: Are your old ones toast, or would they make good cheap rain tires for the track...? Finally, maybe I can convince you to swap wheels with me long enough to try those tires for a few miles on my car. I would say I'd just drive yours, but my suspension is SO SLAMMED that I think the experience would be only somewhat relevant. I learned quickly that drive-able tires for a tired-out stock suspension vs. a low-low coil-over kit can be two very different things... Jay H. '93 325is - low. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:06:30 -0400 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience Forgot to mention... my dad swears by Sam's Club for tires for his GM van, his Ford Taurus, and his Chrysler Concorde. Also, FWIW... - -Jay H. Chris B. wrote: > FWIW, I've had the most luck with Costco's tire department. They do > very good work. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:20:26 -0400 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E36> WTB factory steering stops from M3 E36/ex-E36 types... Anybody parting an M3 or un-modifying their non-M? I'm running '95 M3 wheels on my 325is, and occasionally rub a wheel before hitting full lock (e.g. catching or attempting to catch oversteer). I'd like to add the M3 steering stops to protect against further rubbing. Seems Neil M. had a line on some for me at one point, but the deal never materialized. If I can't come up with something in the next couple weeks I'll have to bite the bullet and get 'em retail... TIA. - -Jay Plug1: Brett A. at KMS knows what he's talking about -- pinpointed my engine problem over the phone, letting me get myself home. I replaced the offending part this weekend for $3.08. Plug2: Jack M. at EMS has good prices, good info, anchors group buys, and generally takes care of my parts needs (anything over $3.10...) <g> Disclaimer: Neither of these guys will take what they're worth out of my hide, so I have to pay them with public thanks, which they have no control over! ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 11 Aug 2003 11:27:29 -0400 From: "Chris Baker" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: Chris' new tires, was RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience For the list: I'll let you know what I think of the ES100's - yes, set of four, 225/50-16. Tirerack guy said that's the tire he would buy for the money, plus I've heard good things in general. Paid $80 each for them, plus $7.50 each for shipping. I'm no expert, but I'll give my thoughts. I'm sure they'll seem great compared to my current past-the-wear-bars set (which includes two Yoko AVS-Is that I've hated from day one), at least as far as smooth and quiet goes. For you (the list just gets to come along for the ride): I think I answered your question in the list part. Lousy rain tires, very little tread left. If they didn't insist on sufficient tread, I'd hope to use them for the Mosport school in September (anybody else going?). I'd be buggered if it rained, though. No problem swapping for a few miles if you like. You might get a good idea from my car (H&R + Bilstein sports & M3 control arms w/solid bushings). Not coilovers, but not tired-out stock, either. Chris B. - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 11, 2003 11:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Chris' new tires, was RE: [uuc] Recent dealer experience > Chris B. > '94 325i <--- getting new Yoko ES100s mounted at Costco today Chris, On behalf of the list (maybe?): Set of four, I'm assuming... Let us know what you think of those. With your wheels, 225/50-16? I was checking those out on-line this weekend at the tire rack. What kind of price are you getting? On behalf of me: Are your old ones toast, or would they make good cheap rain tires for the track...? Finally, maybe I can convince you to swap wheels with me long enough to try those tires for a few miles on my car. I would say I'd just drive yours, but my suspension is SO SLAMMED that I think the experience would be only somewhat relevant. I learned quickly that drive-able tires for a tired-out stock suspension vs. a low-low coil-over kit can be two very different things... Jay H. '93 325is - low. ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6650 *************************** | | 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! | |==================================================== | Turner Motorsport Inc . 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