The BMW UUC Digest 
Volume 2 : Issue 820 : "text" Format

Messages in this Issue:
  Re: Is there a large maintenance cost difference for an e36 USA M3 over 
"regular" 3 series?
  Re: Is there a large maintenance cost difference for an e36
  Re: <E36> ASC Light
  Re: <E36> ASC Light
  Re: <E36> ASC Light
  Re: <E36> ASC Light
  Re: WOT: broken shock on Subaru WRX
  E36 ignition lock question
  Re: E36 ignition lock question
  Re: E36 ignition lock question
  Re: E36 ignition lock question
  Re: E36 ignition lock question
  <E46> New Purchase.  Work?
  Re: <E46> New Purchase.  Work?
  Re: <E46> New Purchase.  Work?

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 09:45:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: Carlos Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: aaron b <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected]
Subject: Re: Is there a large maintenance cost difference for an e36 USA M3 
over "regular" 3 series?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

--- aaron b <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> I wasn't aware until yesterday that the E36 M3 seems
> to have a different engine in the USA, apparently an
> M50 (or M52?) motor vs the S52 it got in europe.
> Apologies if I have my numbers mixed up but hopefully
> that makes some sense at least.

Yes.  I think you did mix them up though, Euro engine S50B30 (3.0L),
S50B32 (3.2L), the US engine is S50B30US or something along those lines
and the S52 (also known as S52B32) is the 3.2L US M3 engine.

> I've heard of the european M cars requiring a lot of
> maintenance, and having increased parts/servicing
> costs also, over a non-M 3 series.

I don't know much about the euro engines but I would think they're akin
to a 6 cylinder S14 (the 4-cyl E30 M3 engine) and I can tell you from
experience that it costs quite a bit to maintain those motors.  Common
repair parts are more expensive than in other motors.  I have no
experience w/Euro E36 M3 engines though so maybe they're not as
expensive to maintain as I imagine they are.

> My question is though, does an e36 USA spec M3 need
> more frequent or specialist servicing than say a 328i?

I would say "no", I would choose an E36 M3 over any garden variety E46
at this point, the performance difference is significant.

Carlos.
ex-91 M3
ex-95 M3
98 M3


                
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 09:47:20 -0700
From: JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: aaron b <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Is there a large maintenance cost difference for an e36
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

     Mechanically, the E36 US spec //m3 is more like an E36 332i than an 
especially //M version.  The front valence undershrapnels self destruct 
over time, while the 'Vader' seats on the Coupe are highly desirable.
     By 110k+ miles, the bad design failures, such as leaky ps hose 
clamps and broken radiator necks, failing RTABs, have already been 
attended to (hopefully before failure).  Also the shocks have likely 
been replaced with Koni or Bilstein.  If the previous owner was a yahoo 
driver then the clutch has already been replaced, else s soberly and 
respectfully driven //M clutch will have lots material left.
     If these items have not been done, the purchase price should 
reflect that accordingly.
     A friend has a 99' 323 which I drive from time to time, and it is 
sterile, anemic, and over-insulated from the road.
Avoid heavily modified cars.  One owner cars with stock springs, all 
receipts, and self or indy-serviced w/ 5k engine and 25k or less trans 
and diff oil, 15k or less spark plug, 2 year or less coolant and brake 
fluid changes are preferred.

Barry
'97 //M3

aaron b wrote:

>I'm sorry for posting yet another question, I've tried
>to research this myself but have drawn a blank.
>I wasn't aware until yesterday that the E36 M3 seems
>to have a different engine in the USA, apparently an
>M50 (or M52?) motor vs the S52 it got in europe.
>Apologies if I have my numbers mixed up but hopefully
>that makes some sense at least.
>I've heard of the european M cars requiring a lot of
>maintenance, and having increased parts/servicing
>costs also, over a non-M 3 series.
>I'd love to own an M3, and since learning of the
>chassis subframe mount issues that can affect regular
>3's, combined with the fact that the USA M3 has a
>slightly less exotic (if that's the right word)
>engine, my preliminary findings have been that as far
>as buying the car & insuring it go, something like a
>1997 M3 will cost around the same as say a 1999 323i.<>
>

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 09:54:34 -0700
From: JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Carlos Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E36> ASC Light
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

By removing the secondary throttle plate which ASC uses to cut off the 
throttle, you then get the anti-lockup brake control which keeps the 
good effects of ASC on the wheels but stops the system from taking the 
throttle away.
Let's you punch the throttle in a street corner and have the system keep 
you from getting too sideways.
Makes a good launch control for autocross starts too.
Barry

Carlos Lopez wrote:

>--- "C. Craig Eller" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>  
>
>>What were you doing when it came on?  The ASC indicator on my M5
>>would come on (flash) all the time when it was making adjustments to
>>compensate for a slippery take off.
>>    
>>
>
>Mine lights up whenever I get sideways around a corner.  Stupid light! 
>:-)
>This is embarrassing but I did the entire VIR club race school with the
>ASC on, not once did it occur to me that I should turn this silly thing
>off (car is sorta new to me).  I kept complaining of fuel starvation
>exiting turn 1 and entering the lower esses (both right hand turns) so
>I assumed it was the dreaded E36 fuel starvation.  Come to think of it
>a couple of battles I had during the graduation race wouldn't have been
>battles had I remembered to turn the stupid thing off.
>
>Carlos
>(stupid me)
>98 M3  
>
>
>       
>               
>______________________________________________________ 
>Yahoo! for Good 
>Donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. 
>http://store.yahoo.com/redcross-donate3/ 
>
>Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
>
>
>__________________________________________________________________________
>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
>
>
>  
>

-- 
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: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:21:08 -0700 (PDT)
From: Carlos Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E36> ASC Light
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

-- JKerouac <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Let's you punch the throttle in a street corner and have the system
> keep 
> you from getting too sideways.
> Makes a good launch control for autocross starts too.
> Barry

Does this apply to an E36 M3?  All I've ever felt is the car take away
the throttle not this fancy applying the brakes stuff.  Maybe that's in
cars that have ASC+T.  Mine only says ASC and it's a '98 M3.  Did other
E36 M3s ge the added "T"?

-Carlos.



                
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Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:02:20 -0700
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E36> ASC Light
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


Craig and Barry,

The light comes on and stays on. Barry had a good input which I'll look at
this weekend. The problem seems to coincide with my trying to clean the
throttle butterfly. So this weekend, I'll look at the condition of the ASC
throttle switch. I may have moved it out of alignment.

-Kevin



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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:15:07 -0700
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E36> ASC Light
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


I forgot to mention, the light comes on and does not extinguish until after
turning the ignition off. It does not respond to the console switch.

-Kevin



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------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 11:35:48 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andre Yew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: WOT: broken shock on Subaru WRX
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Thanks everyone for their feedback.  It turns out that the bottom piece is
a threaded onto the main shock body, which seems like a bad idea since the
cut threads could be stress risers.  Shock is being replaced for free, and
friend is getting rid of them for something else.  Yes, they were JIC
shocks.

--Andre



------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:38:14 -0700
From: Dave Thomas <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: E36 ignition lock question
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


We picked up the E36 M3 we were looking buying last night and I have
been going over it all day. So far it seems to be in really exceptional
condition...but I did have one strange thing happen to me. I went to
start the car and the ignition cylinder just turned freely and did not
do anything. It would turn 360 degrees. It was like the lock cylinder
was disconnected from the rest of the lock assembly. I removed the key
and tried again, and it was OK after that. Is this a sign of a failing
ignition lock assembly or was it some sort of theft prevention feature
caused by a worn key?

Thanks,
Dave T


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 13:53:33 -0700
From: Greg Cagle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: E36 ignition lock question
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Sometimes that will happen if the key isn't in the slot all the
way. Or at least it does on mine.

- Greg

Dave Thomas wrote:
> We picked up the E36 M3 we were looking buying last night and I have
> been going over it all day. So far it seems to be in really exceptional
> condition...but I did have one strange thing happen to me. I went to
> start the car and the ignition cylinder just turned freely and did not
> do anything. It would turn 360 degrees. It was like the lock cylinder
> was disconnected from the rest of the lock assembly. I removed the key
> and tried again, and it was OK after that. Is this a sign of a failing
> ignition lock assembly or was it some sort of theft prevention feature
> caused by a worn key?
> 
> Thanks,
> Dave T
> 
> Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
> 
> 
> __________________________________________________________________________
> 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
> 
> 
> 

-- 
Greg Cagle
Portland, Oregon
gregc at gregcagle dot com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 14:09:37 -0700 (PDT)
From: P Kroon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: E36 ignition lock question
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

I also find if you start to turn the key before it is
all the way in, it will do it.  

-Paul

--- Greg Cagle <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:

> Sometimes that will happen if the key isn't in the
> slot all the
> way. Or at least it does on mine.
> 
> - Greg
> 
> Dave Thomas wrote:
> > We picked up the E36 M3 we were looking buying
> last night and I have
> > been going over it all day. So far it seems to be
> in really exceptional
> > condition...but I did have one strange thing
> happen to me. I went to
> > start the car and the ignition cylinder just
> turned freely and did not
> > do anything. It would turn 360 degrees. It was
> like the lock cylinder
> > was disconnected from the rest of the lock
> assembly. I removed the key
> > and tried again, and it was OK after that. Is this
> a sign of a failing
> > ignition lock assembly or was it some sort of
> theft prevention feature
> > caused by a worn key?
> > 
> > Thanks,
> > Dave T
> > 
> > Search the
>
ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
> > 
> > 
> >
>
__________________________________________________________________________
> > 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
> > 
> > 
> > 
> 
> -- 
> Greg Cagle
> Portland, Oregon
> gregc at gregcagle dot com
> Search the
>
ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
> 
> 
>
__________________________________________________________________________
> 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
> 



                
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 15:37:30 -0700
From: "Reed Nicholson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E36 ignition lock question
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

You'll get answers all over the board on that, but mine has been doing that
with regularity for the last 5 years.  It never  has gotten any worse, so I
don't worry about it.

Reed/SEA 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dave Thomas
> Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 12:38 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: [UUC] E36 ignition lock question
> 
> 
> We picked up the E36 M3 we were looking buying last night and 
> I have been going over it all day. So far it seems to be in 
> really exceptional condition...but I did have one strange 
> thing happen to me. I went to start the car and the ignition 
> cylinder just turned freely and did not do anything. It would 
> turn 360 degrees. It was like the lock cylinder was 
> disconnected from the rest of the lock assembly. I removed 
> the key and tried again, and it was OK after that. Is this a 
> sign of a failing ignition lock assembly or was it some sort 
> of theft prevention feature caused by a worn key?
> 
> Thanks,
> Dave T
> 
> Search the 
> ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
> 
> 
> ______________________________________________________________
> ____________
> 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: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 19:02:04 -0400
From: "Woody" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Dave Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E36 ignition lock question
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

My '96 328is has done this occasionally since I bought it in '99.   I just 
pull the key out, put it back in , and all is well for another several 
months.
Woody

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dave Thomas" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, September 29, 2005 4:38 PM
Subject: [UUC] E36 ignition lock question


>
> We picked up the E36 M3 we were looking buying last night and I have
> been going over it all day. So far it seems to be in really exceptional
> condition...but I did have one strange thing happen to me. I went to
> start the car and the ignition cylinder just turned freely and did not
> do anything. It would turn 360 degrees. It was like the lock cylinder
> was disconnected from the rest of the lock assembly. I removed the key
> and tried again, and it was OK after that. Is this a sign of a failing
> ignition lock assembly or was it some sort of theft prevention feature
> caused by a worn key?
>
> Thanks,
> Dave T
>
> Search the ARCHIVES:http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]
>
>
> __________________________________________________________________________
> 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: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 16:51:27 -0700 (PDT)
From: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: <E46> New Purchase.  Work?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Gruppe:

I just bought a 99 328i Sport (manual) with 92k miles.
 Any suggestions on maintenance items apart from the
usual - fluids, filters, etc?

Two complaints.  The wheel yanks if I hit a bump under
braking and there appears to be quite a bit of road
noise from the tires.  Since this is a commuter car,
I'd like to fix both.

Are there any E46-specific sites out there?  FAQ-style
rather than discussion groups.

Thanks!

Neil Deshpande
99 E46 328i
92 E34 M5

------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:58:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: Andre Yew <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E46> New Purchase.  Work?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

On Thu, 29 Sep 2005, Neil Deshpande wrote:
> Two complaints.  The wheel yanks if I hit a bump under
> braking and there appears to be quite a bit of road
> noise from the tires.  Since this is a commuter car,
> I'd like to fix both.

There was a fix from BMW (TSB# 34 01 98 373) for the first item, but it
seems to be a subjective/mysterious thing.  Your control arm bushings
could be worn, too, or some people have conjectured about something askew
in their braking system or road crowning or your worn tires or something
else. Here's a Yahoo group about it:

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/e46TwitchSteer/

Some people don't like the BMW fix, so YMMV.  I'm not sure if I've
experienced this problem, but for the times when I think it's happened, if
I just let the car go where it wants to (relax grip on the wheel), nothing
bad has happened.

Road noise from the tires probably means they're old and hard.  Newer
tires will be quieter.

> Are there any E46-specific sites out there?  FAQ-style
> rather than discussion groups.

There's the E46 FAQ, but it's pretty basic and is geared more towards the 
new-car buyer and owner:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/faq/faq.php

--Andre
00 328Ci


------------------------------

Date: Thu, 29 Sep 2005 17:31:14 -0700 (PDT)
From: Carlos Lopez <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected]
Subject: Re: <E46> New Purchase.  Work?
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

--- Neil Deshpande <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> Two complaints.  The wheel yanks if I hit a bump under
> braking and there appears to be quite a bit of road
> noise from the tires.  Since this is a commuter car,
> I'd like to fix both.

Neil, could it be the control arms, control arm bushings?  Jack and
Karl just did a replacement on a co-worker's 2000 323i.  Apparently
that's a known fault of the E46 (the bushings anyway).  For the second
problem, how about some nice new tires?

Congrats on the new car btw, I'm still stuck with your old E30! ;-)

Carlos.


                
__________________________________ 
Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005 
http://mail.yahoo.com

------------------------------

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