The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 22 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Re: Lose spark plug chain of events E46 Serpentine belt - help My wheel locks are terrible!!! Re: My wheel locks are terrible!!! Re: My wheel locks are terrible!!! Spartanburg Delivery Re: <rant> butt ugly rear ends was <rant> autoextremist '98 318ti For Sale! E36 Rear Shock Mount Replacement
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Feb 2004 20:44:12 -0800 From: "Mike Hood-Douda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Sean Cordone'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I installed the GC shims on my '95 325 w/ new TABs. Since I didn't do it in stages (new TABs alone, then new TABs + shims) I can't say how much of the improved handling is due to which component. My philosophy was "I'm in there, why not??" It should extend the life of this new set of TABs. How much? We'll see... Mike -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Sean Cordone Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 11:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [UUC] <e36 M3> TAB time Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] Well, it's definitely time to do the trailing arm bushings on the M3. I'm thinking I'll install the bushing shims this time- what's the consensus: are they worth it for a street car? Any difference between the Ground Control and TMS products? Thanks all --SC -- _____________________________________________________________ Web-based SMS services available at http://www.operamail.com. >From your mailbox to local or overseas cell phones. Powered by Outblaze __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 08:41:51 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: "Sean Cordone" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Sean Cordone" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Well, it's definitely time to do the trailing arm bushings > on the M3. I'm thinking I'll install the bushing shims this > time- what's the consensus: are they worth it for a street > car? Sean, I would NOT put them on a street car. At least not the GC ones. For one simple reason that they squeak incessantly. Every time the trailing arm moves. Which is to say all the time. Liberal lubrication helps partially for a week at a time. Amazingly annoying. > Any difference between the Ground Control and TMS products? Turner's are aluminum and require some drilling into the bushing plate to secure. GC's are plastic/composite. It's hard to guess what causes the squeaking: rubber edge of the bushing to plastic spacer or spacer to metal bracket. IMHO, alex f ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 07:08:16 -0800 From: "Mike Hood-Douda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <e36 M3> TAB time Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> My experience has been no squeaks at all. Installed last July. FWIW... Mike -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 6:42 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: Sean Cordone Subject: Re: [UUC] <e36 M3> TAB time Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] "Sean Cordone" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Well, it's definitely time to do the trailing arm bushings on the M3. > I'm thinking I'll install the bushing shims this > time- what's the consensus: are they worth it for a street car? Sean, I would NOT put them on a street car. At least not the GC ones. For one simple reason that they squeak incessantly. Every time the trailing arm moves. Which is to say all the time. Liberal lubrication helps partially for a week at a time. Amazingly annoying. > Any difference between the Ground Control and TMS products? Turner's are aluminum and require some drilling into the bushing plate to secure. GC's are plastic/composite. It's hard to guess what causes the squeaking: rubber edge of the bushing to plastic spacer or spacer to metal bracket. IMHO, alex f __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 11:37:01 +0200 From: "Pavel Tcholakov" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Just thought I'd say what I think on the subject. I don't agree at all with the article. I think Bangle might have gone a bit too far, made his moves a bit too early, but IMO it needed to be done. First the was the shocker E65 7 Series. I'm sure pretty much everyone thought "WTF? They must be kidding?" when they first saw one. But it introduced the new design of BMW in a big way. The 7 was never their biggest trump card so it was kind of sacrificed - the people who have money to buy 7's can suffer quick deprecation as well, so I don't feel sorry for them :-) I still think it doesn't look quite right... But guess what, yesterday I drove past a beautiful E38 740i parked on the side of the street and I thought to myself, this looks SO DATED. The E65 has grown on me so much, that I'd take it over any other 7 in terms of looks. It's just one of those things... As for the rest of the "new" range - Z4 and E60 5er, I think they're stunning. I've no words to describe how much I adore both of those... I love the 6 too, especially the cabrio. And I know I'm not alone. I think it's just us, BMW fanatics, who are looking into this so much. For example when the E60 first came out, my boss commented on how great it looks - and he's a die-hard Benz man! I guess part of the reason why I find these new designs is my age - I'm 21. Just thought it had something to do with it... Then again, my dad who's 50ish thinks the 760i is the most beautiful car ever made... Never tried iDrive, will probably find it logical and simple - but then again I'm not a representative sample of the general population. Most people don't think C++ is logical and simple either. Best regards, Pavel Sorry for the waste of bandwidth if you disagree :-) '94 E36. Best car in the world, that is until I can afford a Z4. ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 07:44:52 -0600 From: "Scott Staewen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> So Alex, you're a J.Lo fan too? >but like 7's ass. _________________________________________________________________ Check out the great features of the new MSN 9 Dial-up, with the MSN Dial-up Accelerator. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 09:09:55 -0600 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: <rant> autoextremist on BMW Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> "Scott Staewen" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > but like 7's ass. > > So Alex, you're a J.Lo fan too? ;-) Hey, if she can also carry a golf-bag in her trunk ... I might even start listening to her music '-) alex f ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 09:29:59 -0600 From: "Sam Drake" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Lose spark plug chain of events Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I don't know how to make this brief enough with out leaving out something that may be important. I drive my wife's good running 85 318i on weekends for fun and to maintain it. Recently I started it and it had a miss that was cutting in and out but after warm-up it cleared up. For the next few outings the process repeated itself. A visual check with engine running revealed a wiggling spark plug wire. Loose plug. Hey this is going to be easy. Tighten the plug and all is well. Not so. Same symptoms. Remove plug and sure enough it is messed up. Tan carbon build up on electrode, thickness like I have never seen on a plug. Overheated plug from lose contact with head I guess. New plug and spark plug wire set changes the symptoms and now I am looking for help. Car starts great and idles smooth (almost always) during maneuvers out of garage and through first few stop and go's. Then at no certain predictable time it will start to miss (single cylinder miss) at a traffic light after settling down to smooth idle for a few moments. Then it bucks and surges as you accelerate, sometimes hitting on all four and sometimes on 3 (I guess). High revs does not clear it up. After getting up to cruising speed for a mile or so it settles down and will go fifty miles running great. The miss never develops while cruising or when varying speed as in moving traffic even when dropping into first. But when I stop at the next traffic light it sometimes will drop into the miss mode I just described and sometimes it behaves perfectly for several lights. I believe compression is good. The engine will lug at very low rpm (which I normally avoid lake the plague :) pulling hard and keep pulling as speed is increased unless it is one of those times when it has decided to miss and then it misses at all speeds. Distributor cap is fairly new but perhaps I should change it due to overstress during loose plug bout. Can injectors act this way? I ran two tanks with Chevron (techron?). Puzzler is that for the first half of tank the injector cleaner seemed to be solving the problem but this thing is so random it just could be a coincidence. The threads on the plug seem to be OK. Stays tight and held normal torque during installation. Was the lose spark plug just a coincidence with some other problem or did the looseness cause some sort of downward spiral on some things that I have not dealt with yet? Any thoughts would be appreciated. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Scott Staewen Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 7:45 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [UUC] <rant> autoextremist on BMW Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] So Alex, you're a J.Lo fan too? >but like 7's ass. _________________________________________________________________ Check out the great features of the new MSN 9 Dial-up, with the MSN Dial-up Accelerator. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200361ave/direct/01/ __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 08:30:18 -0800 (PST) From: Jay Guillermo <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: E46 Serpentine belt - help Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Last night I lost the serpentine belt on the alternator/water pump. Indications on panel : Battery light came on first, then the temp gauge went to the RED zone. I pulled over as quickly and safely as I could. What's weird is that the belt is not broken, it just came out from the loop. I bought new serpentine belts for both Alternator and AC and I'm trying to find some instruction that might be unique to the E46. Can't find one though and I'm hoping someone in the digest would offer some instructions. I've done a serpentine belt change before on my old E36. Is it the same procedure? TIA, Jay 2000 328i __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Finance: Get your refund fast by filing online. http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 05:18:08 -0500 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: My wheel locks are terrible!!! Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I've had experience with three different types of wheel locks and I now hate all of them, including my current ones. Yes, I know wheel locks can be nothing more than a false sense of security - as a true wheel thief will know all the tricks, but none the less. My girlfriend's VW Jetta had the McGard locks that have a lug adapter with a protruding outline like a flower. She managed to bend this all to hell one evening when trying to change a flat. My bimmer came with the plastic locking caps with actual keys. These were junk, the locking caps would foul up and the key would break. My other bimmer came with the adapter type that has a solid ribbed protruding section that inserts into the female matched lug. Last night's wheel changing event was the straw that broke the back. I've polished, lubed, and prayed for these to worked each time, And each time I have to pull the adapter out with pliers, The last wheel, last night, turned out to be a 20 minute episode. Before simply replacing them with standard lugs - any suggestions? Phil ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 06:33:42 -0600 From: "Richard Beaver" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: My wheel locks are terrible!!! Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Phil, Gorilla Locks are the best I've found. The lugnut/bolt is made of a very hard steel with a series of slots cut into the outer circumference. The Key is a socket that fits over the entire lugnut/bolt head. The lugnuts include a registration card and a code for the lock pattern. For a small nominal fee you can buy additional lock sockets (highly recommended) and replacement lugs/bolts, should you loose one. They also sell sets that allow you to replace ALL your lugnuts/bolts with locking lugs. I've tried them all and these are the only ones I've purchased for the past 20 years. Rich http://www.gorilla-auto.com/ -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 4:18 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [UUC] My wheel locks are terrible!!! Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] I've had experience with three different types of wheel locks and I now hate all of them, including my current ones. Yes, I know wheel locks can be nothing more than a false sense of security - as a true wheel thief will know all the tricks, but none the less. My girlfriend's VW Jetta had the McGard locks that have a lug adapter with a protruding outline like a flower. She managed to bend this all to hell one evening when trying to change a flat. My bimmer came with the plastic locking caps with actual keys. These were junk, the locking caps would foul up and the key would break. My other bimmer came with the adapter type that has a solid ribbed protruding section that inserts into the female matched lug. Last night's wheel changing event was the straw that broke the back. I've polished, lubed, and prayed for these to worked each time, And each time I have to pull the adapter out with pliers, The last wheel, last night, turned out to be a 20 minute episode. Before simply replacing them with standard lugs - any suggestions? Phil __________________________________________________________________________ In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of the BMW CCA. UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 17:21:12 +0000 From: "Gilbert Hoffman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: My wheel locks are terrible!!! Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Phip gripes about wheel locks: >I've had experience with three different types of wheel locks and I now >hate all of them, including my current ones...Before simply replacing them >with standard lugs - any >suggestions? I find the McGard to be the best. I haven't had any problems with the set on my E46 and they withstand repeated use from changing wheels at events. I do believe having multiple keys is necessary idea for them as well. One key remains with the car unused so that it is new/fresh when it is called into action on the side of a dark road at night. Use another for general maintenance. I keep a third as a backup. It is also important never to overtighten. Like I said previously I haven't had problems with my E46 and repeated tightenings to ~100nm. However, my girlfriend's Taurus recently had the key break while I was hand tightening without a torque wrench. (Temp was below freezing as well.) Of course, the nice thing about McGard is that they replaced the key free and in a few days time. False sense of security? Before the addition of wheel locks, my friend's stock E46 type44 wheels were stolen off the car while in his driveway. After wheel locks there hasn't been a repeat of that incident. Of course, YMMV. Gilbert _________________________________________________________________ Find great local high-speed Internet access value at the MSN High-Speed Marketplace. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200360ave/direct/01/ ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 08:10:42 -0500 From: "Bill Heumann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Spartanburg Delivery Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Joseph, >I'll be picking up my E46 M3 at the Performance Center, and have a few >questions for anybody who has done this. I took delivery of my M3 there about 1 1/2 years ago. It is a great experience. >1. Anybody able to get a nonstop flight from the NY area? Really do not >Want to fly to Dallas first. Not my route from Louisville, KY >2. Was your guest able to do all the activities with you, what do they >do during your track time? I don't know what has changed since I went there but in my experience they do a good job keeping guests entertained and were allowed to participate as passengers. While you are on track, your guest was allowed to ride with you if they wished (mine didn't after one lap!). >3. How long was the track time? When I did this we spent about 1/2 hour to 45 minutes in the classroom then about 1 1/2 hour on part of the track arranged much like an autocross event. Part of the course was for running slalom through cones while a large sweeping turn was used for training emergency stops with ABS brakes. If you have been to a BMW CCA driver education event or autocross before you would find the track time fairly interesting and educational but not near as much fun. If you haven't, you will have a smile from ear to ear at that point. We then moved over to the skid pad. After watching the instructor for a while we each took turns for a short session with traction control on then with it off. Also a blast for G-force junkies. Then followed by lunch in their cafeteria, rides (guests were invited if they wanted to) with the instructor while he shows off which is very impressive and lots of fun. Afterwards, you take delivery of your car in about as neat a setting as you can imagine, right next to the Zentrum museum, and tour the museum an/or the factory. Great fun. They treat you and your guest very well. Bill Heumann ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 08:29:57 -0500 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <rant> butt ugly rear ends was <rant> autoextremist Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Tim Ng drove around for more than a month without his last year....... Lee 88M3->car's so dirty no one would notice...... > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of donna seeley > Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 17:20 > To: UUC digest > Subject: Re: [UUC] <rant> butt ugly rear ends was <rant> autoextremist > > > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > You don't have to picture it - here's a shot I took during > the Evo wing > install: > http://s95267988.onlinehome.us/images/E30M3_Banglebutt.jpg > Gack! > > Donna > -- > Project Manager for hire > http://s95267988.onlinehome.us/DSeeley_resume.htm > > > On 2/12/04 1:54 PM, "jkerouac" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > Re: [UUC] <rant> butt ugly 7 was <rant> autoextremist: > > > > What about sticking a big wing rear on it? Can you picture > an E30//M3 > > without one? Then why not the new 7 with one? > > Barry > > > >>> And if you have an issue with 7's ass, I hope you are > fair and equally > >>> repulsed by the E30M3 tail (same trunk over trunk treatment). > > > ______________________________________________________________ > ____________ > In memory of Michel Potheau - friend, enthusiast, founder of > the BMW CCA. > > UUC Motorwerks - BMW Performance Fine-tuning and home of the Ultimate > Short Shifter - accept no substitutes! > 908-874-9092 . http://www.uucmotorwerks.com > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 06:28:25 -0800 (PST) From: Ed Fens <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: '98 318ti For Sale! Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For sale: 1998 318ti Silver/black leather. 121,000 miles. Automatic. Sunroof, rear spoiler. Zimmerman rotors, crossdrilled front. New Bilsteins less than 6 months old. Recent new plug wires and oxygen sensors. New BMW catalytic convereter. OBC. Cruise control. Zymoled on a regular basis. Non-smoker. $6000. Car is in Houston, Texas. (713)628-1528. [EMAIL PROTECTED] ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 13 Feb 2004 10:27:36 -0800 (PST) From: Brian Daley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: E36 Rear Shock Mount Replacement Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> It's time to replace the shocks and struts on my 94 325ic. At 106,000 miles I'm sure the rear shock mounts are also in need of replacement. My question is this: The UUC tech tips recommends using the E46 RSMs which are priced around $18 each. I stumbled across this alternative at Bimmerworld: http://tinyurl.com/2twol Just wondering if anyone has tried these and has an opinion on whether they're better than the E46 mounts. This car is a convertible and will never see a track, so I'm not interested in Turner or GC billet mounts, etc. No reason to spend $100 for something I don't need for my purposes. On that note, how about the Z3 reinforcement plates? Any reason to put them on a street car? Are the front strut mounts likely to need replacement? How can I evaluate their condition? Should I replace the spring pads? Should I use new fasteners? With the exception of the front strut mounts these are all fairly inexpensive parts, but together they add up to $50 plus. Just wondering what's really necessary. Also, it appears that the Bimmerworld mounts require bolts while the stock mounts have studs. It looks like the nuts listed for the rear shock mounts are the same as those for the front strut mount bolts. Is this correct? can I just get 4 front strut mount bolts for the RSMs? Thanks, Brian '94 325ic ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
