The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 37 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: Dealer or Not Re: Dealer or Not Re: Dealer or Not Re: Dealer or Not Re: Where again? Re: BMW Radio Question Re: <E36> changing oil in your pajamas? Re: BMW Radio Question Nice Oil Filter Jobs RE>Alternator problem Re: coil pack thingy Re: <E36> Worst Job (was Front Door Handle R&R) Re: <E36> Worst Job Re: <E36> Oil Drain Fittings was: Worst Job Re: <E36> Worst Job
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 15:58:39 -0600 From: Dennis Wynne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Dealer or Not Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> You hear anecdotal horror stories about the quicky-lube places all the time, but I take my cars there. The exception would be the BMW - since I get free oil changes (for now). I didn't take the 'vette there either since it required a special routine (tilting the car forward) to get all the oil out. Other than that, I take the others cars and truck there - and did previous cars. I like being able to watch them drain the oil, remove the filter, replace the filter, and put in new oil. When I drop the car off at the dealer I have no idea what, if anything, they did. I usually use Valvoline, but I am sure the other national chains are OK too. They give me a discount if I bring in my own oil in filter - for example Mobil 1 synthetic and an OEM filter. The only issues with your car would be - does it need any "special" BMW oil? Does it need synthetic oil? And does the quicky lube place have a BMW reset tool to clear the service interval lights on your car? You can probably find the answers to the first two questions in your owners manual - or maybe under the hood on the oil cap itself. I THINK for a 99 it would say "BMW recommends Castrol" - so it would be "normal" oil. It should say "Synthetic" if it calls for that. Another possibility would be to find a local independent shop that specializes in BMWs. They can usually do the job with "genuine" oil and filter and have the reset tool - probably for a lot less than the dealer. Of course, my local dealer gives me a free loaner car for an oil change. That may make it worth taking it to the dealer rather than dropping off at a shop and leaving it - and finding a way to work/home/back on your own. Dennis 01 M5 silver/black At 03:28 PM 02/20/2004 -0600, you wrote: >I'm going to get my oil changed, is it necessary to have the dealer do it, >or quicky lube or any of those 10 min oil changes. Thanks in advance..please >don't tell me to do it myself, I don't the car work:) > > Celisa >'99 328is > >__________________________________________________________________________ >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, 20 Feb 2004 17:17:03 -0500 From: "Robinson, Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Dealer or Not Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Celisa, I would recommend finding a good independent shop in your area. Certainly, there should be folks around where ever you live who can guide you in the right direction. You should try changing the oil.....it builds character. :) Lee > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Celisa > Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 16:28 > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: [UUC] Dealer or Not > > > Search the > ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > I'm going to get my oil changed, is it necessary to have the > dealer do it, > or quicky lube or any of those 10 min oil changes. Thanks in > advance..please > don't tell me to do it myself, I don't the car work:) > > Celisa > '99 328is > > ______________________________________________________________ > ____________ > 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, 20 Feb 2004 14:32:45 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Dealer or Not Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Celisa, are there any independent (non-dealer) BMW shops in your area? That would be the best choice for oil changes. To answer your questions, 1. The dealer does not have to do it. Anyone can do it. If the car is under warranty, you need to make sure that the shop you choose uses BMW approved lubricants and BMW approved filters. This will keep your warranty in effect. 2. Quicky oil changers are not good places to get oil changed on a BMW. Too many of them strip the threads on the drain plug, or install the filter improperly. They generally just don't have good enough training, since they have to handle literally every car make and model available. That's why I recommend an independent BMW shop for people who don't want to do it themselves. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA 1990 325i 1991 325iA Both due for oil changes this weekend >Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 15:28:29 -0600 >From: "Celisa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Subject: Dealer or Not >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > >I'm going to get my oil changed, is it necessary to have the dealer do it, >or quicky lube or any of those 10 min oil changes. Thanks in advance..please >don't tell me to do it myself, I don't the car work:) > > Celisa >'99 328is ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 17:30:09 -0500 From: "Rosario DeCicco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Dealer or Not Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hello Celisa: I'm going to say dealer for the reason after a while you will get dicount on specials mailed to you. Also look to find a local person in your area that works on these cars. Ask around for any recomended place in your town or near your town either through this board or the other boards on www.RoadFly.com Good Luck, Rosario DeCicco 88 M5 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Celisa" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, February 20, 2004 4:28 PM Subject: [UUC] Dealer or Not > Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > I'm going to get my oil changed, is it necessary to have the dealer do it, > or quicky lube or any of those 10 min oil changes. Thanks in advance..please > don't tell me to do it myself, I don't the car work:) > > Celisa > '99 328is > > __________________________________________________________________________ > 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: 20 Feb 2004 15:58:09 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Where again? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Brian Daley <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Curt, > > I noticed your name and was curious if you're talk show host > Laura Ingraham's brother - I know she has brother named Curtis > in the Bay area. No relation. Curtis A. Ingraham Oakland, CA ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:03:30 -0500 From: Ed MacVaugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: BMW Radio Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Yes, they are, I have one in a BMW envelope here in front of me. I had the number added to the US database: 65 12 6 907 824 I also have the number for the knob added as well, since early production ones' knobs turned to goo. When I find that number, I'll post it. I also have a number for the knob to the cassette version somewhere. Ed Dorffer, Rich wrote: Are the little flaps that cover the installation screws on the >>radio faceplate available separately? If so, anybody know the part >>numbers? The radio is a CD43 business CD from a Z3. >> >> > >No, they are not available separately. > > ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 16:44:07 -0800 (PST) From: John Bolhuis <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> changing oil in your pajamas? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> On Fri, 20 Feb 2004, Brian Daley wrote: > Marc, > > They're convenient for sure, but I'm not real confident about how > good a job they do. Particles settle to the bottom of the pan > after all. I'd think the vacuum would only pick them up in the > immediate vicinity of the hose. When the oil is flowing out the > drain hole gravity is on your side. This argument against the topsider/mityvac thngines always makes me wonder about those alleged particles. If they settle, they will stay down there and nothing happens. If they are small enough not to settle, they'll get sucked up by the oil vac. If they settle toward the oil pump intake, they'll get trapped in the filter. -- "It is an honor to be Cookie Monster." -Sesame Street spokeswoman Audrey Shapiro ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:48:30 -0500 From: Martin Bullen <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: BMW Radio Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Thanks, Sean. I kept looking, and found that BavAuto carries them, albeit at an exhorbitant $7.95 each. They use the same part number. I don't have ETK, but Rich seemed to think they might be Euro special order parts. FWIW, my local dealer couldn't find them either, even after I gave him the number..... Martin Bullen '95 M3 '97 Z3 2.8 On Feb 20, 2004, at 7:52 PM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > Date: Sat, 21 Feb 2004 01:43:11 +0700 > From: "Sean Cordone" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Subject: Re: BMW Radio Question > Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > (This post seems to have bounced the first time; sorry if it reposts) > > > Looks to me like they are: "cover", 65 12 6 907 824 (CD43 from > 9/98). --SC > > >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Dorffer, Rich" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: [UUC] BMW Radio Question >> >>>> Are the little flaps that cover the installation screws on the >>>> radio faceplate available separately? If so, anybody know the part >>>> numbers? The radio is a CD43 business CD from a Z3. >>> >>> No, they are not available separately. >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Rich >>> >>> 95 M3 - CD 43 head unit ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 19:19:57 -0600 From: "Matt Evans" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Nice Oil Filter Jobs Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The type ATQ VAG engine - the 2.8L 30valve V6 as used in Late model B5 A4's and B5 Passat's. The filter mount is a horizontal threaded rod at the bottom front drivers side of the engine compartment. If you have the plastic undertray off, you lay down next to the car, reach behind the bumper, and unscrew it with your hand. Note that the drain plug is about 9 inches away form this, on the same side of the engine. The last two times I changed the oil on my wife's passat, I didn't bother jacking the car - you can fit a catch pan under both the drain plug and the filter housing without jacking the front. If you're crafty you can even get the filter, in the drain pan, to slide out from under the front of the car when you're all done. The oil filter is designed to be hand tightened and I use a $4 rubber strap wrench on the occasion that I cant hand loosen it. My audi 90Q seems to be about the same way. Are nice oil filter locations a VAG thing ? ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 17:25:21 -0800 From: Harvey Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: bmwuucdigest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: RE>Alternator problem Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> RE>Alternator light, no battery light, etc. An E34 MIGHT be old enough such that: The alternator field winding is initially energized upon engine start by current through the battery light in your instrument cluster. Unless there is a resistor in parallel with the bulb, when the bulb burns out, the field winding doesn't get energized at startup and you get the described symptoms. This was common for a lot of manufacturers in older cars using Bosch alternators (can you say VW?). Eventually manufacturers got smart and added the parallel resistor so that even if the bulb burned out and generated an "open" circuit, the resistor would pass enough current to initiate energizing the field circuit at startup. Theory: From a dimly remembered "Rotating Machinery" course 30+ years ago - automotive alternators are what are called "self energizing" AKA "Bootstrapped". If no initial external energizing voltage/current source is provided (i.e. the battery light has no bypass resistor and is burned out) the field circuit is not "active" and therefore any alternator output is dependent upon the weak residual magnetic field of the iron field winding core and the rotation of the armature generate ( if you goose the revs) to create a very weak but sufficient energy for the voltage regulator to energize the field coils (the voltage output is controlled by the voltage regulator feeding back some of the output to the field coils - the stronger the magnetic field of the field coils, the higher the output voltage). Once there is enough voltage generated for the regulator to feed to the field coils (boot strap) then the stronger alternator output [because of the now energized field coils] can be regulated by the voltage regulator to generate the appropriate output voltage and hence current. I know, sounds like circular reasoning - that is why they call it "Bootstrap" or self energizing. HTH Harvey The box said "Requires Windows 95, or better." So I bought a Macintosh. I live with fear, death, and evil...but I used to be able to turn it off and use a Mac. " Author Unknown Failure is not an option. It comes bundled with your Microsoft product. -- Ferenc Mantfeld ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:04:22 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: coil pack thingy Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Don't change a coil. Start by moving the coil to a different cylinder. If you then get a fault for that cylinder, replace all of the spark plug wires <connectors>, before trying the coils. Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > > Brett - > > Have had intermittent rough idle (felt like it was running on 5 > cylinders), which finally resulted in CEL. Code indicated > misfire on first cylinder. Replaced plugs, but still feel > occasional roughness at idle. If not a bad coilpack, perhaps a > dirty injector?? > > Neil > > In a message dated 2/20/2004 1:41:41 PM Eastern Standard Time, > [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: > > > Neil, > > > > What makes you think you need to replace the coils? They > > should be good for > > 200K miles or better. > > > > Brett Anderson > __________________________________________________________________________ > > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:05:33 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> Worst Job (was Front Door Handle R&R) Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > -----Original Message----- > How about replacing the microfilter? Maybe not a greasy nuts and > bolts job but small hands and yoga practice come in handy! > 3 minutes tops. Provided you do it the way BMW intended, not the way the repair manual says. Hardest part is getting the footwell air vent re-seated. Brett Anderson KMS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:09:36 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> Worst Job Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Therein lies the secret "putting a service part there". BMW actually removed the service interval for the fuel filter sometime in 93 I believe. Yes, after they'd located it there for a few years, but hey... The BMW fuel filters were removed from the service requirements. Only to be changed in the event of a drivability problem. Now, they are rather large filters, quite an overkill for the original 15K mile change intervals, or was it 30K, can't remember, but either is low for the capacity of the filter. Regardless, if you get your filter changed on a 94 or later car, at a BMW dealer, they're not doing the service <ahem> "correctly", but I'd suggest continuing to patronize them... Brett Anderson KMS > -----Original Message----- > > Rich, > > Where is it located on your 95? The location on my 94 is awful. > What were the engineers thinking putting a service part there? > Must have been a Friday afternoon. If it can be relocated using > the later parts I might want to do that next time I replace the filter. > > Thanks, > Brian > --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:11:11 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> Oil Drain Fittings was: Worst Job Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > -----Original Message----- > The Fumoto oil drain valve is a *very* popular upgrade on GM/Chevy HD > trucks, particularly the Duramax diesels. Personally, I would worry > about scraping it off on something and leaving a 10 qt oil slick behind > me. > > The cool thing about these trucks is that you don't need to jack them > up to drain the oil. :) > > - Mark You do need to jack them up if you have running boards..... The one downside of installing them on Kathy's tow vehicle, it totally changed the dynamics of the oil changes. Brett Anderson KMS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ Date: Fri, 20 Feb 2004 21:14:33 -0500 From: "Brett Anderson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "UUC Digest" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E36> Worst Job Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > -----Original Message----- > 2) Replacing fuel lines -- those one time use clamps are a pita > to remove unless you have really good access for your needle nose > vise grips. > > Regards, > > Kirk Lachman Or the correct 1/4" drive socket..... Brett Anderson KMS --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.573 / Virus Database: 363 - Release Date: 1/28/2004 ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
