[uucdigest] Saturday, October 18 2003 Volume 03 : Number 6823
_________________________________________________________________ | | 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] Poor running Re: [uuc] Cupped tires [uuc] Today at NHIS with BMW CCA (White Mountain) RE: [uuc] Steptronic or not for 5-series year 2000 RE: [uuc] Steptronic or not for 5-series year 2000 RE: [uuc] I won! [uuc] Cupped Tires RE: [uuc] Paranoia rages (found something in garage) [uuc] Re: Cupped tires [uuc] Openings for Drivers School at CMP next Weekend [uuc] Brake Dust RE: [uuc] Brake Dust ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 21:28:00 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Poor running Actually running rich shuts of the cats since there is no oxygen to react. Gary Derian > > Running at the track means lots of WOT.. lots of running rich.. can be > somewhat hard on the cats. > > > Chris Pawlowicz > Stebro Stainless Performance Exhaust > http://cpcperformance.com > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:01:47 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Cupped tires Happens all the time. Rotate often, say every 5000 miles. Gary Derian > My Dunlop Sport A2's, with less than 15000 miles on them, have become > terribly cupped, most notably along the inside edge. > > I spoke with a Dunlop rep who is very familiar with the problem, but says > there must be something wrong with the car mechanically. Uhuh. Odd that such > an apparently common problem occurring with this tire is the fault of the > car. > > Anyone familiar with this phenomenon? (of cupped tires, not b.s. customer > service rep's) > > Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably quiet H-rated street tire that will > last more than a summer and a half? I'm driving a '97 328ic, with > 225/50/16's. > > TIA > > Roger > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:07:49 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Today at NHIS with BMW CCA (White Mountain) Dave Nichols asked: >BTW, do they still have the wall REALLY close to the exit/entrance on the uphill portion at NHIS? This is one of the scariest places to have an "Uh-OH" anywhere. ____________________ Yup! Last year, David Sharrow, a good friend of mine, in his 911 lost his brakes while braking for turn 3 (the tight hairpin right hander leading to the uphill). Turn 3 is on the opposite side of Turn 10, the right hander coming down the hill from the back section of the track and leading to the oval/second infield chicane. He hit the tire wall and forced his way through it, rumpling the sheet metal on either side of the car. :-( At the next event I attended at NHIS thereafter, the track had created a passageway in that tire wall; a narrow portion where a car could theoretically pass through from turn 3 through to turn 10. I now call it the "David Sharrow Memorial Escape Hatch." :-) Anyway, this afternoon, a nice red E46 BMW (in run group 2, intermediate), went cooking into turn 3, got a little panicked perhaps, and... went right into the tire wall. The Escape Hatch is, unfortunately, not in a direct line with the braking zone of Turn 3. If a driver goes into turn 3 too fast, he/she needs to slow down and do a little zig-zag to make it through the passageway unscathed. One supposes that if the passageway was directly in line with the braking zone, the danger might be that a flying car might cruise right into 10 and smack someone coming down the hill, but, as it is, someone who thinks that he/she ain't gonna make Turn 3/4 probably isn't going to have the sense to make it through the passageway. Oh well! At least today's victim didn't do much damage - he displaced a bunch of tires, and rode the nose of the car up on a bunch of then. Minor cosmetic damage to the front end (all the light worked). Otherwise, today's event was a lot of fun and mostly uneventful. The day started chilly, but warmed up nicely with the sun shining through. We ran the North Oval instead of the chicane, which is a relatively rare configuration for club D.E. My The White Mountains Chapter did a great job, as usual. As a very nice present for instructors, the chapter paid for spiffy 8x12 track-side photos. As I get older and lazier, the less motivated I get to schlepp up extra wheels and slicks etc. with the red car, so, as has been the habit for much of this season, I borrowed my wife's 996. I tech'ed the car yesterday, and flushed the brake fluid. While I had the wheels off, I did sit there with a drill hit and cleaned out solidified brake dust from all 3,670 holes in the rotors. But other than that, this morning, I just threw my track bag and helmet bag into the car, drove up, pulled the V1 down, taped up the headlights, and drove onto the track! How easy is that?!? The car ran flawlessly, though I **really** need to put some new tires on it. The current Michelin Pilot Sports have ~19k street miles and lots and lots of track events on them... heat cycled to death, but still about 33% of tread left, and I'm too damn cheap to replace them until the season is really over. :-) I ended up leaving the traction control ON, because otherwise, it was just massive oversteer everywhere. As it was, to try keep up with the very fast M3s, I was probably pushing the car a bit more than I should have, considering that my wife will kill me if I do anything do it, and it was a bit slidy. All in all, a great day. Wish I could attend the second day tomorrow, but I've got baby duty. I will, however, be back there on Sunday with the Boston Chapter (last day of the season at NHIS for me!). Anyone else going? vty, - --Dennis . ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:15:24 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Steptronic or not for 5-series year 2000 We have an E38 740 without steptronic and a 2000 E39 528iT with the steptronic. My brief conclusion? The steptronic is nice, but it really isn't a "must have". We're lucky enough to have a couple of sports cars with manual transmissions, so when I drive the 740, I'm pretty lazy and don't mind the automatic. I do use the steptronic occasionally, mostly to keep the car locked in the desired gear. What is really nice about the steptronic is that it allows me to keep the transmission in SPORT mode AND in 5th gear, whereas the 740's non-steptronic requires me to lock it down to 4th if I want it to shift with the more aggresive sport mapping. If you think you'll be driving your 5 with any gusto, then get the steptronic; otherwise, it's not a huge benefit. OTOH, is there a significant price difference? Why NOT get the steptronic? vty, - --Dennis - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Jerry Faber Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 10:01 PM To: UUCDigest Subject: [uuc] Steptronic or not for 5-series year 2000 Apologies to the group for repeating this question. I searched the archives but could not find the thread about why or why not to choose the Steptronic transmission. In the thread, Brett had made a real nice summary comment. Is there any reason to avoid the non-Steptronic transmission in a 2000 5-series? Or conversly, why it would be better to have the Steptronic? Thanks. Jerry almost 3-less with a 5 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:20:10 -0400 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Steptronic or not for 5-series year 2000 There is no need to avoid one or the other. Why? Because they are the exact same transmission. The only difference is the fancy shifter and a small section of the software. Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > On Behalf Of Jerry Faber > Apologies to the group for repeating this question. I searched > the archives > but could not find the thread about why or why not to choose the > Steptronic > transmission. In the thread, Brett had made a real nice summary comment. > Is there any reason to avoid the non-Steptronic transmission in a 2000 > 5-series? > Or conversly, why it would be better to have the Steptronic? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 22:59:32 -0400 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] I won! Congratulations Ken. Of course, sitting there when Larry Koch drew your name, we all figured it was a scam..... ....So.....Was it? ;-) Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > I wanted the digest to be one of the first to know that a very nice man > at the BMWCCA told me today that I'm one of the raffle winners. > Ken Koch ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 20:38:50 -0700 From: "Mike Holbrook" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Cupped Tires I thought generally that cupped tires were indicative of worn out shocks. I had a Honda recently that had the worst cupped tires I ever saw and the shocks were completely shot. I replaced tires, springs, shocks and springs and what a difference. New owner may never know what she got. Mike Holbrook ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 00:27:27 -0400 From: "KMS - Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Paranoia rages (found something in garage) When the update first appeared, the oil filters were supplied with the "condom". After 2 or 3 months, the filters stopped coming with the condom, although it's always been available separately. I can't begin to guess why you have a used one on the shelf, but it's not hard to check. Simply remove the filter and look. If you have a smooth aluminum tube in the housing, put the condom on it. If you have a ribbed plastic shaft, then you have nothing to worry about. To check, simply unscrew the filter housing lid. Let it sit for a minute (hot) or ten minutes (cold) for the oil to drain, then remove the lid. Filter should come out with the lid. See what you see and react accordingly. Brett Anderson KMS On Behalf Of Dennis Liu > So... here's the follow-up question. Is it possible that the OEM filter > that I purchased from a BMW dealer an older filter that didn't need what > Brett cheerfully called the "condom" (what's with all the sex > talk)? If so, > it would be logical that I would have saved the "condom" from the used > filter (I think). > Sigh. Bottom line, I guess I need to check the filter, huh? Any magic to > it? Should I warm up the car before doing it? If so, I need to let oil > drain from the filter, yes? Will it spill out? ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 09:19:28 -0300 From: "rblangille" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Re: Cupped tires Stock suspension, about 80,000 miles, new control arms and control arm bushings on the front, all four tires cupped, more on the inside than outside. Date: Fri, 17 Oct 2003 17:57:23 -0700 From: "JS Nord" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: [uuc] Cupped tires >what suspension modifications have you made? >fronts or rears only or all tires? - - ----- Original Message ----- From: "rblangille" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, October 17, 2003 4:23 PM Subject: [uuc] Cupped tires > My Dunlop Sport A2's, with less than 15000 miles on them, have become > terribly cupped, most notably along the inside edge. > > I spoke with a Dunlop rep who is very familiar with the problem, but says > there must be something wrong with the car mechanically. Uhuh. Odd that such > an apparently common problem occurring with this tire is the fault of the > car. > > Anyone familiar with this phenomenon? (of cupped tires, not b.s. customer > service rep's) > > Can anyone recommend a good, reasonably quiet H-rated street tire that will > last more than a summer and a half? I'm driving a '97 328ic, with > 225/50/16's. ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 09:09:04 -0400 From: "Dave Kelley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Openings for Drivers School at CMP next Weekend There are still student openings for the BMWCCA Sandlapper Chapter Drivers School at Carolina Motorsports Park next weekend. See www.sandlapperbmw.org for more information. Dave Kelley 98 M3/4 94 325i ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 10:46:18 -0500 From: "Celisa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [uuc] Brake Dust Is there anything to keep the brake dust off my rims? They look horrible. Of course I wash the car often, but the brake dust appears so quickly. Is there such thing as brake dust covers? Do elaborate please thanks so much in advance. Celisa '99 328is ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 18 Oct 2003 12:02:22 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE: [uuc] Brake Dust Yes, things like brake dust covers do exist, but as many people out here will tell you, they are a HORRIBLE addition to your car. These covers retain heat, which is the last thing you want for your brakes. You may have some success in changing your brake pads from the stock pads to an aftermarket pad that claim to reduce dusting, though it may also corrspondingly affect your braking performance - I dunno, as I prefer better pads that also, as a side effect, causes a fair amount of dusting. The simplest solution may be to REALLY, REALLY clean your wheels once, wax them to help protect them, then, once a week, soak the wheels with P21S brake cleaner gel, then rinse off with a hose. vty, - --Dennis - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Celisa Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2003 11:46 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [uuc] Brake Dust Is there anything to keep the brake dust off my rims? They look horrible. Of course I wash the car often, but the brake dust appears so quickly. Is there such thing as brake dust covers? Do elaborate please thanks so much in advance. Celisa '99 328is ------------------------------ End of [uucdigest] V3 #6823 *************************** | | 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 |__________________________________________________________
