[uucdigest] Thursday, August 21 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6686
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Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: [uuc] Digital Climate Control [uuc] MM motor issue [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion RE: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion Re: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion [uuc] re:Metric Mechanic engines: Re: [uuc] Digital Climate Control [uuc] Sqeaky Rear Suspension (E39) and Check Engine Light (E36) RE: [uuc] re:Metric Mechanic engines: ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:56:34 -0700 From: Steve Albrecht <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Digital Climate Control Jeeze guys, all this consternation about the E39/E46 climate controls has me wondering about my E39. It works perfectly, all the time, any temperature, any weather. When I bought it, I set the temp to 69 degrees, and put it in 'Auto' mode. I haven't touched it in four years. I haven't had any complaints about the clutch delay valve either. Perhaps I'm just easy to please. Yea...right. :-) Steve Albrecht ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 18:58:57 -0400 From: "Michael Lawrence" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] MM motor issue > [uuc] RE: M30 valve noise, Metric Mechanic I can also add to what Miller said. I believe back on the old list, more than just a couple of people came forward with issues about the motors. All were disappointed with the HP claims that they could not achieve in reality. Around 95-96, I was big into the E28 scene, had a 87 535i, roommate had a 88 535is and we were both looking to upgrade HP numbers. I looked into MM and talked to them a few times. The experience just didn't leave me jumping to send them a check. I was at a autocross in Jackson MS around that time too, talked to a guy with a nice 535is with a MM motor. He stated the samething, doing timed runs, he calculated his car to have about 200hp, not the 240-250hp that was claimed for the motor. Now keep this in mind, this is parking lot talk etc, but he was highly upset with them and stated he tried working things out, but in the end, he was pretty much left with a motor he was not happy with and short of legal issues, no way to fix it. >From memory, asking older club guys at the time, who to go to for motor work, HP etc, they suggested some of the local guys here in Atlanta who were doing cams, high compression pistons, etc. When asked about the shop and buy MM motors, not a single person spoke nicely. Take that for what is worth, hearsay and not worth a penny, but it is information like that which does influence where I spend my money. If somebody makes a decent product, there will be plenty who rave about it. When people in different states, different circles tend to share the same opinion, makes me wonder what happened for them to form that opinion. But then again, most are of the opinion that it takes rocket science to work on S14 or S38 motors too, when they are actually quite simple compared to any modern engine or motorcycle engine. Mike ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:40:30 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion Not to mention that if the newer, digitized climactic controlling car is an E36, it will have an engine with VANOS, which provides superior torque characteristics relative to the lower tech non-VANOS-equipped '92. As for everyone not being like Gary, you'll get no argument from me! Scott Miller, likes the manual climate controls in my E30s GGC BMW CCA >Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 14:07:37 -0400 >From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion > >I have a procedure. 1) sell car. 2) buy later model with digital climate >control. 3) enjoy new car. > >Unless you really enjoy tearing your car completely apart for some silly >feature creep system, this is a poor use of time and resources. But then >not everyone is like me. > >Gary Derian > > > > > Has anyone converted their rotary style HVAC to the digital style found > > on later model e-36's? > > > > I remember reading that someone on the E36M3 list had done that. > > > > I want to change mine (1992 325i sedan) to a digital (1998). > > How is it gonna be possible, what are the parts I'll need? ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:46:17 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion I've found that a climate control OFF function that can be quickly operated is very helpful when passing by noxious-fume-spewing factories or refineries. Otherwise, my system is always on in one mode or another. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA >Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 15:28:47 -0500 >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion <snip> >> P.S. I LIKE the auto climate control in my car. I don't like that >> there is no off switch > >You would have never used it if it was there. In all the years I've owned >cars, I don't recall ever keeping the blower at anything below 1 setting. >It gets either too stuffy, too cold or too hot in a hurry without >ventilation. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 16:43:53 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion Marco, The squirrel cage type fans are not easily designed to be quite. A pancake type with the proper blade and frame design can be however. - -Kevin ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 19:30:06 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Re: Digital Climate Control Conversion That's easy, a few simple inputs, a computer chip and a few simple outputs. The simple stuff gets checked with a meter, the chip and the control unit it resides in gets replaced. Gary Derian > There's always situations where it's not right, like cold, sunny days. In > my Saab owner's manual it says that the car uses inside & outside temp > sensors, cooled air sensors & a sun sensor to try & figure out how to > control. Have fun diagnosing that in 10 years!!!!! > > Lee->off the clock for Alex ;-P > 88 M3->manual climate control > 88 9000turbo->ACC, just no cold air > 01 9-3SE->ACC, programmable, with an OFF button > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:02:23 -0700 From: jkerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] re:Metric Mechanic engines: re: Metric Mechanic engines: I'm wiritng this to give two thumbs up to Metric Mechanic's engines. To me Metric Mechanic is the high creative genius in innovative BMW re-engineering. That claim is based on having visited their shop personally on two occasions, and talked tech in depth with them about things that years later BMW themselves incorporated into production engines. This is first hand experience with Metric Mechanic's engines: They built me a head for a 318i 8 valve. The engine was already thoroughly optimized to SCCA stock class autocross rules. The goal was to maximize flow at stock cam lift without violating any then current SCCA stock or street prepared class rules. I installed their head at their shop, using their recommended procedures and torque specs. I still have the flow bench numbers from the porting they did. I watched it done personally, stock versus after porting. The increase at .350 lift was 13%. Rule of thumb would convert that to a 6.5 percent increase in torque. They were not afraid to have their finnicky customer, me, stand and watch as it was done. A 7.5 percent torque increase above and beyond other accepted mods, and in stock legal form, is __considerable. That night, on the standard highway "test track" in Kansas City that MM uses to obtain the 60 to eighty times they reference in their catalog, the car timed similar to their reference time for a stock 325e. Btw, the 'surface turbulence' rings they cut in the valves on their full blown 'Hi-Flo"head was so innovative and effective that if you look at a new style production exhaust valve for the //M3, you will see the same rings. A year later, I switched the car to street prepared with a 2 liter and custom made Stahl header. When it comes to improving the flow of BMW heads, no one does it better than Metric Mechanic. Because flow benches, don't lie. Btw I also put 100k hard miles on a MM quick shifter on that car, beautiful machining, brass or bronze bushings, flawless shifting with never any slop. No offense to UUC, but if you want the cream of the crop shifter for a dairy cow's price, the MM shifter is also worth considering. Extrapolate my street prepared 2 liter, 140hp (based on the minimum 140hp that a well tuned Improved Touring tii would produce) up to a fully ported Metric Mechanic 2.2, the increased head flow plus larger displacement would produce 15% more power, or at least 161 hp. So the MM estimate of 155hp with a stock cam is easily realized, at a minimum. Plus the additional improvements in surface turbulance, flow, and lubrication which MM builds into their engines. Their rings, pistons, oil pumps, many other components are all superior to stock. Where a customer can screw up a good motor is in not tuning it right. And the first screw up could have been in not dyno testing the stock motor before it was removed. I've used Metric Mechanic engines and parts in past BMWs and I can declare first hand that they produce the performance and increased reliability that they claim, and then some. I wasn't paid to write this and its probably eight years since I've been in touch with them. But these are hard working decent honest guys know their stuff and make a darn good product. Imho, 'jk ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:06:47 -0700 From: Mark Dadgar <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Digital Climate Control Steve Albrecht at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Jeeze guys, all this consternation about the E39/E46 climate controls > has me wondering about my E39. It works perfectly, all the time, any > temperature, any weather. When I bought it, I set the temp to 69 > degrees, and put it in 'Auto' mode. I haven't touched it in four years. > I haven't had any complaints about the clutch delay valve either. > Perhaps I'm just easy to please. Yea...right. :-) You must be, because the auto climate control in my wife's E39 sucks bigtime. It never seems to do what you want it to do. - - Mark - -- [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:46:03 -0700 (PDT) From: Donn York <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Sqeaky Rear Suspension (E39) and Check Engine Light (E36) Sqeaky Rear Suspension on 540: The mechanic who diagnosed the problem said it's the lower control arm bushings, but also referred to the upper ball joints. He's German and I didn't catch all of what he said. What I did catch is that he said I'd have to go to the dealer to fix it, because it requires a special tool to press the bushings in and he doesn't have it. Check Engine Light on 328: My 328i Check Engine Light issue was described as "Evaporation Control System Leak Detected (small leak)" when the code was read while doing the EPA test. I called the local BMW dealer who said they would have to pressurize the system and see where it's leaking. It could take 1 hour, 2 hours, 3 hours just to diagnose. I have NOT had good experiences at BMW dealers. My local mechanic also felt that this was a dealer issue and not one he could tackle. I have, of course, already replaced the gas cap... So, anyone have any good advice, preferably for a west suburban Chicago independent mechanic who could do this work? Any other advice? Thanks, Donn Hinsdale, IL (suburban Chicago) '98 540/6 '97 328iA __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software http://sitebuilder.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 20:49:31 -0400 From: "Rob Levinson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] re:Metric Mechanic engines: Welcome to the '90s, Barry. MM sold off the shifter business quite awhile ago and they now have nothing to do with it. While the current iteration of that product is indeed a finely executed piece with beautiful machining, this expert's view on the matter is that a really excellent second best is a good choice for some people, but technology moves on. Glad you liked your MM components, I would be surprised to see a business remain viable so long without some satisfied customers. Now if we could only lend some more credibility to your testimony by having you sign your real name. No masks here, we're all friendly - and anonymity is about to be a reason to be booted... this ain't that kind of list where we accept secret identities. ;-) - - Rob - ---- Original Message ---- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [uuc] re:Metric Mechanic engines: Date: Thu, 21 Aug 2003 17:02:23 -0700 >re: Metric Mechanic engines: > Btw I also put 100k hard miles on a MM quick shifter on that >car, >beautiful machining, brass or bronze bushings, flawless shifting with > >never any slop. No offense to UUC, but if you want the cream of the >crop shifter for a dairy cow's price, the MM shifter is also worth >considering. ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6686 *************************** | | 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 |__________________________________________________________
