[uucdigest] Monday, August 18 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6671
_________________________________________________________________ | | 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] <E34> touring question RE: [uuc] Atlanta Indep. shops and dealers [uuc] E34 check engine code 1215 Re: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise Re: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise [uuc] e30 exhaust [uuc] Muffler shops in Houston Re: [uuc] E34 check engine code 1215 [uuc] Re: Central Locking Question Re: [uuc] Re: Central Locking Question [uuc] Book repair charges - WAS Central Locking Question ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 14:00:02 -0500 (CDT) From: Clarence Behrend <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] <E34> touring question Car is a '93 525iT. I need the small wire-like clip that holds the tailgate shock on the receiverball. It's my understanding this clip comes w/a new shock. The PO had the shock replaced, andit works fine, but the clip is missing and the shock has a tendancy to come off the ball. If anybody has an extra or knows where I can get one w/o buying a shock, please let meknow. TIA Clarence West Bend, WI ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 15:14:31 -0400 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Atlanta Indep. shops and dealers > Josh, don't listen to what all Lee said, he is right about > Phil Bowman, he > has a great shop. ON the dealer side, Lee brings a 17 yo BMW > that they only > made 5000 of and he expects those guys to know how to fix > it!!! They don't > know how to fix a 745i!!! Lee has made some emenies @ most > dealerships. ON No enemies. The service writers at Global just got tired of having it pointed out to them that they were stupid. I think that I'm probably a prime reason why you the service area isn't directly connected to the sales floor any more. Dumbass tried to make me spend 8 hours of labor at $87/hr to find out where there was an electrical draw in the car, when the problem was the $200+ battery they frightened my mom into buying by telling her that any battery except a BMW battery would explode in the car (I was out of town) wouldn't hold a f'ing charge. I finally got them to admit it was their crappy battery by charging it, setting it on their counter & completely draining it in 5 sec with a load tester. BTW, what can cause a battery to explode in the car is if it's not properly vented. Guess what those blithering idiots didn't do when installing the battery. They sent my mom away in a more hazardous state than when she arrived. Then there was the dealer in Columbus that overfilled the oil by 2 quarts! Oh yea, the alternator bushings they installed they didn't grease & were shot by the time I stopped for gas. Oh yea, and the time I went to the dealer for a front hub in a pinch. Clearly a hub noise I had. Service writer tried to tell me I need $3800 worth of suspension parts, including the shocks & springs--which had been installed new only a month before (yellow bilstiens no less). I have to admit that's the time I lost my composure & kicked the door to the service dept open. Basically, you couldn't pay me to take an out of warranty BMW to the dealer. The only person at any dealer I know who I would let touch my car is Poo. > the other hand, if you know the service or parts guys, they > can be realllll > helpful. Josh, get to know Colin & John Allen at Global REAL well. I don't think Tim pays for parts anymore.....Those two guys are really good guys & will really set you up. > BTW Lee: did you know that the HEart of Dixie school @ BArber > Park is part > sponsored by a SAAB parts place!!!! Germany and Swedish blood > don;t mix. > I got my instructor package today. :)))))) yehaaaaa There are Saabs in 'Bama???? Sorry, $425 for a school with under about 4-5 hours of track time is nuts. I'll wait for the novelty of Barber goes down & hopefully takes the price with it. > > Tim Ng > 95 E36 M3 BzznM3 > 92 E30 325ic M-tech convetible > 91 E30 M3 street car > 88 E30 M3 Track car > 93 Chevy Blazer 2 dr. tow vehicle Lee->less BMWs ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 12:26:57 -0700 From: "Michael Lapinskas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] E34 check engine code 1215 Starting the car for work the other day, the check engine light came on and it had a very rough idle. The stomp test shows 1215, mass air flow meter. I've measured the meter (vane and air temp sensor), and tried another MAF which measures out very similar to the first. I don’t know if it is related, but I can't seem to clear the code holding the pedal 10 secs. Any help on what direction to look in now would be appreciated. Are there any other online resources which describe debugging of the engine codes? The archives came up empty on 1215 and I couldn't find anything on bmwe34.net I'm on digest so cc's would be appreciated. Thanks, - -Mike '93 535i manual ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 15:52:27 -0400 From: "Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise Sorry not to have any technically helpful information, but I just heard Click and Clack for the first time a few days ago. Sort of like "Opie and Anthony meet the Haynes manual"... except they're not funny and their technical advice to all callers was useless. At least the "and" part is still applicable. - - Rob - ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 1:50 PM Subject: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise > First, I forgot to report that the car is Laguna green. From years of > listening to Click and Clack the Tappet Brothers (a.k.a. Tom and Ray > Magliozzi) on Car Talk, I realize how important this can be in diagnosing a > problem. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 13:22:33 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise Mike, so far we've heard the noise only when moving. Happened going straight, and also while curving both right and left. Happened both during the day and at night, and also before and after the recent full moon. Happens with lights on or off. Happens with stereo on or off. Since it is intermittant, I'm sure there are other conditions under which the noise will occur, but I haven't yet had the opportunity to experience them. I'm not convinced that it is electrical arcing either, but there are no moving parts under the left side of the dash. The closest thing that moves is the steering column, and its movement seems unrelated. There are a couple of devices with relays under there somewhere. Also, the car once had an alarm system. I don't have the transmitters, but the horn is still under the hood, and the LED is still in the center dash panel. It is possible that the main alarm brain is under the dash - common place for it - - and could be related to the noise. Mainly I had been sharing this in case someone else had experienced the same problem. I've had lots of good suggestions on things to check, but it sounds like no one else has had the same problem. My biggest need right now is for enough time off to investigate further. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA 1990 325i 1991 325iA >Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 12:01:06 -0700 (PDT) >From: Mike Hsu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [uuc] Update on Electrical Arcing Noise > >Hi Scott, > >Does it make the noise when your moving? Or does it do >it when standing still? Or only during left hand >turns, etc.... > >Or how about when it's engine off/key on and/or engine >off/key off? > >I kinda have the feeling that it's not actually >electrical arcing, but something that sounds like >arcing. I say that because I don't think it's really >possible to hear arcing unless you got a coil and >primary wire running inside the cabin. But maybe you >should keep a fire extinguisher in the car. ;) > >Mike ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:58:36 -0400 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] e30 exhaust After taking the cat back system off my 84 325e, it didn't look bad at all. The welds look good, there is not rust on the cans or the pipes and all hangers are sturdy and accounted for. the only thing is I hear a rattling of what sounds like tiny beads of something in the final muffler. Is this thebaffles of the muffler otting from the inside or substrate from my now defunct catalytic converter? Either way, would it hurt to put it back on? I have a new Eberspaecher system for it, but I wouldn't mind putting the $200 toward some new tires. Thanks all. Dave ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 16:30:45 -0500 From: "Malcolm Reitz" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Muffler shops in Houston The exhaust on my M5 was put on by idiots (they couldn't get the flanges on the cat to line up with the flanges on the exhaust, so they cut the flanges off and welded the pipes together <arrgh!>), so I can't drop the exhaust without taking the cat off too. I think the cat is bad (it rattles) and, if I have to replace the cat, I'd like to take the opportunity to correct the exhaust fittings. I also might have a leak in the pipe before the cat that needs patching. Can anyone recommend a good shop in Houston to help me fix these issues? Thanks, Malcolm '88 M5 '98 328i ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 14:30:32 -0700 From: "JSN" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] E34 check engine code 1215 Check for vaccum leaks: Oil cap Brake booster line and check valve Dip stick ICV hose Intake boot post AFM Clamps etc. Hope this helps Jeff 90 535i - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Lapinskas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, August 18, 2003 12:26 PM Subject: [uuc] E34 check engine code 1215 > Starting the car for work the other day, the check engine light came on and > it had a very rough idle. The stomp test shows 1215, mass air flow meter. > I've measured the meter (vane and air temp sensor), and tried another MAF which > measures out very similar to the first. I don’t know if it is related, but I can't seem > to clear the code holding the pedal 10 secs. > > Any help on what direction to look in now would be appreciated. Are there > any other online resources which describe debugging of the engine codes? The > archives came up empty on 1215 and I couldn't find anything on bmwe34.net > > I'm on digest so cc's would be appreciated. > > Thanks, > -Mike '93 535i manual > ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 23:19:51 +0100 From: "Andrew Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Central Locking Question Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > I hesitated to bring up the dealer part too, as I didn't want my first > post to stir up problems and/or be whiney. I was in shock > when I was > quoted $179, and when I pressed him on it, his response was "well, the > tech has to take the wheel off". :( He also quoted > something like $485 > for replacing the lower control arm bushings. When I asked > him whether > he was sure those weren't warranty items, he came back and > said yes. It > sounds like these are fairly commonly replaced items on E46s, > but is it > questionable whether they're warranty or customer pay items? I inferred from Josh's post that this dealer was in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. Egregious charges are not unfamiliar coming from a dealer in the centre of town whose customer base is perhaps less likely to quibble. I used to think that there was a BMW standard way of dealing with warranty vs out-of-warranty remedial work but I have found that dealers out of town are more likely to cover something under the warranty - or extend goodwill to the customer - than a dealer in the city. I imagine this is partly to do with the value of warranty work vs. the cost of labour inside and outside of the metropolitan area, and the simple law of supply and demand. Andy T ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 23:27:43 +0100 From: "Andrew Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Central Locking Question Alex <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: "BTDT. It neither helped nor made me feel any better. Their service manager did not miss a beat fired me in return and 'recommended' not to bring any cars to them if I knew what was good to my cars." It's at this point that a scrapheap-ready E30 318 and unlimited legal funds become things to die for :). Andy T ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 18 Aug 2003 17:47:13 -0500 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Book repair charges - WAS Central Locking Question A guy I know had his 7 series into the local BMW dealer for out of warranty repairs. He dropped it off at 8:00am and picked it up at 4:00pm. Looking at the bill he was charged for 10 hours or so of labor (I can't remember the exact numbers - but it was 2-3 hours more than the time the dealer had the car). He asked how many mechanics had worked on the car - the answer was one. He asked how they could work on it longer that it was in their possession - the answer was that he was charged the book rate and this his mechanic (lucky for him) was faster than the book time. If it had taken longer, then he would have paid the same (they said). I would not mind having a good mechanic that can fix my car in less time that the books calls for. But it would SEEM tempting to the mechanics to rush through all the jobs. Do 12 hours worth of work in 8 hours and make 50% more money. Is this NORMAL for BMW dealers? Dennis At 11:19 PM 08/18/2003 +0100, Andrew Thomas wrote: >Josh [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > I hesitated to bring up the dealer part too, as I didn't want my first > > post to stir up problems and/or be whiney. I was in shock > > when I was > > quoted $179, and when I pressed him on it, his response was "well, the > > tech has to take the wheel off". :( He also quoted > > something like $485 > > for replacing the lower control arm bushings. When I asked > > him whether > > he was sure those weren't warranty items, he came back and > > said yes. It > > sounds like these are fairly commonly replaced items on E46s, > > but is it > > questionable whether they're warranty or customer pay items? > >I inferred from Josh's post that this dealer was in the metropolitan area of >Atlanta. Egregious charges are not unfamiliar coming from a dealer in the >centre of town whose customer base is perhaps less likely to quibble. I >used to think that there was a BMW standard way of dealing with warranty vs >out-of-warranty remedial work but I have found that dealers out of town are >more likely to cover something under the warranty - or extend goodwill to >the customer - than a dealer in the city. > >I imagine this is partly to do with the value of warranty work vs. the cost >of labour inside and outside of the metropolitan area, and the simple law of >supply and demand. > >Andy T ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6671 *************************** | | 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 . The Ultra-High Performance BMW Specialist | 207 Elm Street, Amesbury, MA 01950 | 978-388-7769 / fax 978-388-4202 | http://www.turnermotorsport.com | |==================================================== | | UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning | and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! | 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com |__________________________________________________________
