[uucdigest] Friday, October 10 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6806
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Send 'em to [EMAIL PROTECTED] |__________________________________________________________________ In this BMW UUC Digest: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story [uuc] Giving Fast Cars to Kids (was Re: Sad BMW-related Story) <long> RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story [uuc] RE: Sad BMW-related Story (My Take) Re: [uuc] BMW CCA Raffle [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story Left/Right (was [uuc] <E36> Coolant Leak) Re: [uuc] <E36> control arm conundrum ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 10:49:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story Jason: When I was in Germany Sven Euteneuer told me that all trucks out there are supposed to have these set at 80kmph. Some East European trucks have them disabled apparently, but I found most trucks at sub-80kmph speeds on the 2000 miles that I drove during my visit. In India the roads limit the speeds! Neil Deshpande *** Jason Daniels <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Mark made a comment about the liability. Good point, but in all the years I was in insurance I never saw an issue come up with them. They are a little more computerized than most would think. Usually allow full power in 1st gear so you can get moving out of the way. Most truck companies use them to lower the red line a few hundred or thousand diesel/gas to make sure they don't loose engines. Also limit the heavy trucks to limit the liability of the driver going 90 and crashing into something. 65 is easier to stop from than 90. Especially in a 60K lb rig. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 10:55:37 -0700 (PDT) From: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story Marco: It is a pity that some silly kids deprive the responsible ones (which may include your daughter). I learnt how to drive at 16 (it was ardous process with my Dad, who had various advanced lessons including some police technique-based training in England) and never drove after I learnt till, at age 18, I needed to drive the car out of a ditch the chauffer had put it into and was quivering with fright at how my Dad would chastise him when he found out. I returned the car home and never drove again until I was 23 and bought my own car in the US. At no time was I tempted to 'steal' the car or speed with it or anything. In return my brother and I had full run of the house, the guns, the drinks, etc., etc. We still don't drink (age 28 and 29) though my parents make quite good wine continuously. I hope my kids will inspire the same confidence and will be able to be similarly rewarded. Neil Deshpande *** Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 07:28:26 -0700 From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story I'm with you. I had a 100hp 72 Toyota celica many moons ago. I came literally 6" from putting that thing in a flooded river when I was 19. Took a tractor to drag me out of the woods. Some how I managed to miss all the trees between the road and the river. When my daughter turns 16 she's getting a 14 year old Chevy Avalanche with 4 plugs pulled and the back seat filled to the roof with cement. ;-) ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 14:07:50 -0400 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story > > In India the roads limit the speeds! That & they're probably seriously overloaded. Most of the places I've been to in Asia proves that they obviously don't read the language that the "Vehicle Load Capacity" sign is written in........ It can be, we'll say interesting, approaching at 160kph when the truck that can manage 20kph up a hill decides he's going to pass the truck that can only manage 15kph. By the way, he's bigger, meaning right of way is his. > > Neil Deshpande Lee ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 11:20:46 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Giving Fast Cars to Kids (was Re: Sad BMW-related Story) <long> My timing is probably way off in bringing this up now, since it does contain an element of humor and this is a serious subject. But I still feel it is worth sharing. Kevin triggered my memory when he said: >Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 10:49:12 -0700 >From: "Kevin Kelly" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story <snip> >It's sad but we >will probably see a lot more stories like the one above if parents keep >buying their kids cars with 300+ hp. > >Kevin Kelly >BMW CCA 50039 A former co-worker, Bob Leach (husband of former CA Assemblywoman Lynn Leach, if anyone is in the Small World mode here) learned that my wife and I were expecting a child (this was over 15 years ago), so he came to my office to warn me. He said something like: "Let me tell you what is going to happen. You'll bring the baby home from the hospital and it will cry and keep you up all night. You'll say you can't wait for this phase to be over. Well, this is as good as it gets. When they start eating food, you'll have them sitting up in the high chair trying to feed them, and they'll refuse to eat and swat the food on the floor. When they learn to talk, their most frequently used word will be 'NO!'. When they go off to school, can you just buy them cheap clothes at Target? No, they've gotta have all the fancy designer lables like their friends at school." (There were 2 or 3 more things in here which I've forgotten.) "When they get to be teens, they won't want to be seen with you. You'll have to drop them off a block away so that they are not 'embarassed' if their friends see you. Then one day when they're a little older, your kid will come in and say, 'Dad, can I borrow the keys to your new BMW?' Later they'll come back and say, 'Dad, here are the keys back to your new BMW. Unfortunately, this is all that's left.'" Bob knew how to push my buttons (the BMW reference). But anyway, the important thing is, EVERYTHING HE SAID HAS COME TRUE. Now our daughter is learning how to drive (she's really quite good for a beginner). We bought an E30 with an automatic transmission expressly for her to learn how to drive (we've discussed this before, I know some of you disagree that an automatic was necessary, but it was our choice, so get over it). Based on Bob's advice, I have drawn two conclusions: 1. I'm not buying a new BMW, or even one that isn't too old, any time soon. 2. If I actually did have a new BMW (like when I win one in the CCA drawing at O'Fest), she's not going to drive it. And yes, a teen car control clinic is in her future. But a powerful car is not. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 11:30:11 -0700 From: "Marco Romani" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story I'm putting spikes in the bed ;-) Marco - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of J. Ochi Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 9:04 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story At 07:28 AM 10/10/2003 -0700, Marco Romani wrote: > When my daughter turns 16 she's >getting a 14 year old Chevy Avalanche with 4 plugs pulled and the back seat >filled to the roof with cement. ;-) Who needs a back seat when you have the bed of a pickup? :-) Jim Ochi ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 15:24:45 -0400 From: "John Weese" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] RE: Sad BMW-related Story (My Take) Kevin Kelly wrote: << I was out with a bunch of friends after the story was in the news and every guy with us admitted that they probably would not be here today if they had a 400hp car at 16. When I was in High School it was scary when kids were racing cars with about 100 hp (like my 2002 and 914) on mountain roads.>> Well Kevin, I think it "depends"...when I was 16 I had a vary fast car ('67 Chevelle SS 396 with Corvette engine, headers, slicks, etc.).....well in excess of 400hp, and I "although tempted at times" used my head and did NOT drive like a complete idiot on public streets. I took care of the car, and it took care of me. I think it's like gun control......guns don't kill people...people kill people. It's NOT the fault of the BMW M3 or "any" fast car....talk like what you said is very worrisome to me (please don't take it personally, I am speaking generally...I understand what you were saying "in context"), but the "do gooders" on this earth will have us all driving around in electric cars going 25 mph if they had their way. So let's blame the dumb kids, not the cars for such acts of stupidity. That kid was old enough to drive, so he should have had enough common sense to "drive responsibly". And the parents don't get off scott-free either....stupid parents raise stupid kids. John Weese BMW CCA #76646 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 14:15:26 -0500 From: "Ben White" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] BMW CCA Raffle What Bill says is true and the 'week or so' starts tomorrow. The drawing is tonight. Some chapters send a list of members' phone #s to O'fest with a member so that chapter members can be notified early. I was in Austin but left early. The crowd was down a bit but the venue is very nice. Good luck Ben White/Ocean Springs, MS - ----- Original Message ----- From: "Bill Matthews" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2003 3:31 AM Subject: RE: [uuc] BMW CCA Raffle > This question comes up every year. IIRC Winners aren't posted until they > have all been notified. Sometimes takes a week or so..... > > Bill Matthews > Hockessin DE > 00 M Geeze > yada^3 > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Kevin Kelly > > Sent: Wednesday, October 08, 2003 11:54 AM > > To: BMW BMW BMW BMW > > Subject: [uuc] BMW CCA Raffle > > > > > > Have the results of the BMW Raffle at Octoberfest been posted to > > a web site > > yet? I just went to the BMW CCA site and could only find the > > 2002 winners. > > > > Kevin Kelly > > BMW CCA 50039 > > > > > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 13:03:58 -0700 From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story My sentiments exactly, Bora. The first car for my oldest was a VW Fox and he still managed to total it in a one car accident in a deserted, unpaved and unmarked street in the border area of San Ysidro near Tijuana. He claims he was just trying to see how fast it can go. Needless to say I had to deal with the Border Patrol and the SDPD. One big mess. Sent him to serve in the Air Force after that, now he's a responsible driver who occasionally autocrosses with us. Yes, they only have half a brain at that age. Pingger Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2003 17:34:13 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: RE: [uuc] Re: Sad BMW-related Story >Any parent that buys their 20 year old an E46 M3 is asking for this outcome. >No matter how well trained the driver is, the "responsibility" part of the >brain is not well developed (generally) at 20 years of age. >I have two kids and their first cars are going to be 9XX series Volvos. >Bora ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 15:27:37 -0700 (PDT) From: "Curtis A. Ingraham" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Left/Right (was [uuc] <E36> Coolant Leak) > Is you right side the passenger or driver's side? > As you can guess, the right-left orientation changes depending which way > you are looking at the car. Negative. The right side of the car is the right side no matter where the observer is standing. Same as starboard. Otherwise, 'left hand drive' and 'right hand drive' would be meaningless. "Driver's side", however, IS ambiguous, as it depends on the country. Curt Ingraham Oakland, CA 72 2002tii, 73 2002 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 15:49:13 -0700 (PDT) From: willie yeo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] <E36> control arm conundrum - --- Herman Chan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Greetings again: > > Low speed encounters with botts dots, driveways, and > other low > amplitude bumps tell me that either my (original) > balljoints or > control arms are likely kaput at 93k miles. > > E36 outer balljoints are notoriously weak, which is > probably why > they're replaceable separately, unlike their E30 and > E46 counterparts. > > With that in mind, has anybody tried substituting > E30 control arms > for E36 control arms? My understanding is that they > share the same > geometry and dimensions so there are no > compatibility problems. > > I do wonder whether there are pluses/minuses to the > solidly-mounted > balljoint of the E30 arm, and whether they will be > any more or less > durable than the rubber-encapsulated E36 joint, > given that the former > was meant for a lighter car. > > The real conundrum is whether to solely replace the > outer balljoints, > or replace the whole arm. I've found that most > shops (either out of > habit, ignorance, or completeness) will > automatically replace the > control arms on E36s. > > Some lack the E36 outer balljoint press, and the > standard practice > for most shops is to remove the control arm, so it > makes little sense > to waste the labor by reinstalling the old arm, even > if the inner > joint is OK. > > I'm debating which route to pursue, but given that > my gearbox may be > ready to implode (other post, +new brakes +new > tires), I'd prefer the > cheaper balljoint-only option, rather than the added > cost of new arms > and bushings. > > I have considered DIYing the arms myself, but the > whole > bushing/lollipop/press issue seems like a PITA, > especially without a > parts runner. > > And yes, I am a frugal bastard, so M3 arms are not > under consideration. > > Thoughts welcome. > > TIA > Herman > > PS- thanks to those who offered tire advice; I'm > going to opt for the > RE750 as soon as Tire Rack gets them back in stock. Herman. I just replaced my right side outer balljoint 2 weeks ago with help from a friend. The tools used was borrowed from AutoZone (under free loaner program) consist of a pickle fork and a ball joint press set. I replaced the balljoint with the control arm attached to the subframe. It took a while to pounding to separate the balljoint from the knuckle. A solid iron hammer about 4lbs helped. It took just couple of hard knock with a good dose of PB Blaster did the job. Power tool is required to press out and in the ball joint. The ball joint press set looks like a beefed up C-clamp. It took us about 15 to 20 mins to press in the last 1/8 inch of the ball joint using the air gun. That is waiting for the tank to fill up after each 90 degree turn on the C-clamp. I used lithium grease to lubricate the ball joint and the control arm socket. The whole job would have taken about an hour if we did not try to use a rubber mallet in the first place. Will ps. After driving my friend VW jetta with poly-urethane brushing all around, I am sold on going with poly-urethane. The different is like going from sloppy handling car to a BMW. The turn-in is very crisp. My e30 now feels slow on turn-in. __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Shopping - with improved product search http://shopping.yahoo.com ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6806 *************************** | | 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 . 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