The BMW UUC Digest Volume 2 : Issue 876 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: <E34> Autobox Inspection Cover? Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts differential drone Re: differential drone Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts <FS> E36 M3 Snow tires and center console with armrest Modern day equivalent to Ferrari 250 SWB?
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:23:01 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: <E34> Autobox Inspection Cover? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Neil, How goes it? On my E23 and E32, that rectangular hole had a white plastic "louver" like cover on it. I believe it is like a vent for the volume between the converter and flex disk. -Kevin ---------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail communication is confidential and is intended only for the individual(s) or entity named above and others who have been specifically authorized to receive it. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose the contents of this communication to others. Please notify the sender that you have received this e-mail in error by replying to the e-mail. Please then delete the e-mail and any copies of it. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 12:02:22 -0800 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Paul A. Garnier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Had the same problem on the '97. Found that from the free Inspection I service two years earlier, the dealer replaced a bulb with a generic instead of the correct Osram. Don't know if the contact metal of Osrams is less prone to causing corrosion than a lower quality bulb, but its possible. While searching for the correct bulb, I found there are 10 watt Osram's available instead of the original 5's, and installed them. Makes the taillight noticeably brighter. Barry Paul A. Garnier wrote: >Dielectric grease, people! Dielectric grease. Then we wouldn't have this >little oxidation problem, now would we? Damn, where is Mike Self when you >need him? > >Paul A. Garnier >FastNetworking >281-827-0725 >-----Original Message----- >From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dennis Liu >Sent: Wednesday, November 23, 2005 10:35 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Re: [UUC] E36 taillights driving me nuts > >FWIW, I had the same problem with my E38 740iL. Drove me nuts; >intermittant. Tried new bulbs, etc. Ended up fixing it by taking a Dremel >tool and scraping away all of the oxidation on the contacts > > ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 13:15:05 -0800 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Paul, If the brake switch checks out OK , Brett and others have pointed out the problem of work hardening of the wire bundle which comes out of the trunk lid. There may be some breaks in the wires in this area. I suppose you could test this also by having a helper move the loom while you step on the brake. -Kevin ---------------------------------------------------------------- This e-mail communication is confidential and is intended only for the individual(s) or entity named above and others who have been specifically authorized to receive it. If you are not the intended recipient, please do not read, copy, use or disclose the contents of this communication to others. Please notify the sender that you have received this e-mail in error by replying to the e-mail. Please then delete the e-mail and any copies of it. Thank you. ---------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 13:59:07 -0800 From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[uucdigest]" <[email protected]>, bmw digest <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: differential drone Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> A mystery drone has started from what sounds like the differential. Its louder with the windows closed. Slightly louder with rear seats flipped down. No change in the frequency or pitch between straight line cruising, accelerating or decellerating, braking, swaying the car gently or hard side to side. Pulling on parking brake while moving has no effect. Also no rubbing from underside rubber sound insulation on the driveshaft. Frequency increases or decreases linearly with road speed. Checked around under the car with the car on stands and front wheels chocked and floor jack under the rear subframe and wheels off. then pressed the gas pedal with a bar up to >100 mph wheel speed. The drone sounds like it comes from inside left of center toward the rear of the differential housing. Dropped heat shield and see no visible points of contact from body or frame to driveshalf or halfshaft, no broken bushings leaving metal on metal contact points between suspension or subframe and trunk floor. Checked the diff oil level, still full. No leaks showing on the outside. Tried lower and higher tire pressures, then different tires. No change. Does not appear to be coming from the center bearing. It hasn't got louder in ~300 miles, but its constant. Only variation is on smooth vs worn pavement and concrete vs asphalt. First noticed the after changing oil and O2 sensors, no possible causal connection there. Car is '97 //M3, 118k miles. Diff always had Redline w/ slip additive, changed every 25k miles. What's inside there that could be doing this? What to do about it. Any ideas? Brett? _S e r i o u s l y stumped and not driving anywhere too far from home, Barry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:31:04 -0500 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, uuc Digest <[email protected]> Subject: Re: differential drone Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 100mph on stands..... sheesh, we are scared at 60 on a lift.. ;-) The one question that you don't appear to have answered is if there is a change on accel, coast, or decel. Any one of those will indicate a gear problem vs a bearing problem. Bearing issues at your mileage are rare. You shouldn't see issues until well beyond 200K, unless the car has been towed at any speed, rear wheels down, on a wheel lift truck for anything more than 20 miles or so. If you are sure it's an internal problem in the diff, ship it on out. We'll completely refresh it, to 40%, for $1450, including 3yr unlimited mile warranty. Brett Anderson KMS-Koala Motorsport www.bmwdiffs.com 9988 Kinsman Rd Novelty, OH 44072 (Near Cleveland) [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > A mystery drone has started from what sounds like the differential. > Its louder with the windows closed. Slightly louder with rear seats > flipped down. > No change in the frequency or pitch between straight line cruising, > accelerating or decellerating, braking, swaying the car gently or hard > side to side. Pulling on parking brake while moving has no effect. > Also no rubbing from underside rubber sound insulation on the > driveshaft. > Frequency increases or decreases linearly with road speed. > Checked around under the car with the car on stands and front wheels > chocked and floor jack under the rear subframe and wheels off. then > pressed the gas pedal with a bar up to >100 mph wheel speed. The drone > sounds like it comes from inside left of center toward the rear of the > differential housing. Dropped heat shield and see no visible points of > contact from body or frame to driveshalf or halfshaft, no broken > bushings leaving metal on metal contact points between suspension or > subframe and trunk floor. > Checked the diff oil level, still full. No leaks showing on the > outside. > Tried lower and higher tire pressures, then different tires. No > change. > Does not appear to be coming from the center bearing. > It hasn't got louder in ~300 miles, but its constant. Only > variation is on smooth vs worn pavement and concrete vs asphalt. > First noticed the after changing oil and O2 sensors, no possible > causal connection there. > Car is '97 //M3, 118k miles. Diff always had Redline w/ slip additive, > changed every 25k miles. > What's inside there that could be doing this? What to do about it. > Any ideas? Brett? > _S e r i o u s l y stumped and not driving anywhere too far from home, > Barry ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 17:05:49 -0600 (CST) From: "Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous)" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ...so the next question would be... how the heck do I reach this in an X5? Seems about impossible (no way to see it or get to it that I can find). - k --- original message --- From: Kazuto Okayasu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain I don't know where it is on a M52, but on a M54, it's on the right side, toward the front, just above the engine mount. On my E46, at least, there isn't a straight-shot down, so coolant got all over the mount and the steering rack below. >Fixin' to flush the coolant from the wife's 3.0l X5. Is there a block drain >similar to what we find in an M52 motor? ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:38:07 -0500 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The coolant drain in the block is essentially for you to drain the block after removing the engine. It's been many years since BMW made it an accessible service item. And if you think BMW is bad about that, try Chevy. Brett Anderson KMS-Koala Motorsport www.bmwdiffs.com 9988 Kinsman Rd Novelty, OH 44072 (Near Cleveland) Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous) wrote: > ...so the next question would be... how the heck do I reach this in an > X5? Seems about impossible (no way to see it or get to it that I can find). > > - k > > --- original message --- > > From: Kazuto Okayasu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain > > I don't know where it is on a M52, but on a M54, it's on the right > side, toward the front, just above the engine mount. On my E46, at > least, there isn't a straight-shot down, so coolant got all over the > mount and the steering rack below. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 21:21:05 -0800 (PST) From: "Kazuto Okayasu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Hmm, maybe there's other stuff in the way on a X5 (the front drive mech stuff?). I drained my E46's a few months ago, and I just used a normal ratchet/socket. Plenty of room. Way more came out of the block drain than the drain under the expansion tank. > The coolant drain in the block is essentially for you to drain the block > after removing the engine. > > It's been many years since BMW made it an accessible service item. And > if you think BMW is bad about that, try Chevy. > > Brett Anderson > KMS-Koala Motorsport > www.bmwdiffs.com > 9988 Kinsman Rd > Novelty, OH 44072 > (Near Cleveland) > > > > Kevin Jay (Mr.Fabulous) wrote: >> ...so the next question would be... how the heck do I reach this in an >> X5? Seems about impossible (no way to see it or get to it that I can >> find). >> >> - k >> >> --- original message --- >> >> From: Kazuto Okayasu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> Subject: Re: <E53> M54 block coolant drain >> >> I don't know where it is on a M52, but on a M54, it's on the right >> side, toward the front, just above the engine mount. On my E46, at >> least, there isn't a straight-shot down, so coolant got all over the >> mount and the steering rack below. > 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 > -- Kazuto Okayasu Administrative Computing Services University of California, Irvine ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Nov 2005 22:56:05 -0500 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: P Kroon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: UUC Digest <[email protected]> Subject: Re: E36 taillights driving me nuts Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> This is one of those situations that needs a question answered. Just like the " I checked BOTH brake lights and they're working" issue. (there are 3 on anythings since 1986) What is the actual message you're seeing. Is it "brake light bulb", or "brake light circuit", or some other variant of either? I don't believe I've ever seen a "brake light out" warning on a BMW, although I do admit I don't know it all (shuddup Gary) Let us know the actual text you are seeing and we can probably send you in the right direction. Brett Anderson KMS-Koala Motorsport www.bmwdiffs.com 9988 Kinsman Rd Novelty, OH 44072 (Near Cleveland) P Kroon wrote: > The taillights on my 1995 M3 refuse to stop tripping > the brake light out message. 2/3 of the time I get > brake light messages (1/2 the time the bulb is working > and 1/2 of the time it is not working), and 1/3 of the > time I don't get any messages about the GD brake > lights. I've replaced the bulb, and the connector > seems to be fine. > > Any suggestions. I'm about to put my foot through it. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 04:53:02 -0800 (PST) From: Matt Weimer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: <FS> E36 M3 Snow tires and center console with armrest Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Group, I have four 225/45/17 Bridgestone WS-50 Blizzaks available in like new condition. They were purchased by the PO of my '95 in Dec. of '03 and used for ~5k miles. See: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Bridgestone&tireModel=Blizzak+WS-50 They were $134 ea new but I would like to get $80ea OBO plus shipping from Southern IN. I also have a mint center console with black leather armrest in perfect condition. Comes with all pieces to retrofit a non-armrest car (will not fit convertible). I would like to get $125 plus shipping from Southern Indiana, email for pics. Have a nice Thanksgiving. Matt Weimer '88 325iS '95 M3 __________________________________ Yahoo! Music Unlimited Access over 1 million songs. Try it free. http://music.yahoo.com/unlimited/ ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Nov 2005 10:41:31 -0500 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'911/993/996'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "BMW List" <[email protected]> Subject: Modern day equivalent to Ferrari 250 SWB? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Happy T-day, for those of us in the US. My friend Dr. Ken posted this thought-provoking piece on the Flist today, and I thought to share my response... An interesting debate indeed! Dr. Ken wrote: >Some years ago I bought a paperback book on Ferraris which I can't put my hands on just now. On the frontleaf was a haunting picture in b&w of a foggy Paris street with bare trees and a park beyond. (This was before the French burnt cars, when they still just drove them.) Casually parked at the curb was a 250 SWB Berlinetta. Obviously it was being used as daily transport. >It was lust at first sight. And so it has remained. For me such a car today is made of unobtainium, but I still long for it. Beautiful, fast, at home on road and track, a true gentleman's carriage. I play WWSJD (What Would Steve Jenkins Drive if he were me?) He would, of course, get rid of those nasty little V8s and get a 250 SWB. >But I am not SJ, so what is the modern equivalent of a 250 SWB? New or old , it has to be affordable by a mere crazed human who is willing to overspend. The new ZO6 comes very close, (except it looks like a Corvette). >What do you think? --------------------------------------------------------------------- GREAT question, Dr. Ken. Nice way to kick off a snowy T-day (for those of us up here in the NE). What are the attributes of the 250 SWB Berlinetta that we're looking for in today's equivalent? Well, Ken started it by mentioning "Beautiful, fast, at home on road and track, a true gentleman's carriage." I would add that the design should be timeless (or, more accurately, what we today think will be timeless in decades to come). The "track" requirment is tough today, as there are no true road/race cars anymore - it's just too divergent today, except perhaps for real "track-day" beasts like the Ultima or Noble or Radical. But these handmade specials aren't really in the spirit of the gentleman's carriage. A Z06 is an interesting choice, as it meets these requirements, but for the fact that "it looks like a Corvette." On the Ferrari side, as Erik pointed out, the equivalent would be the 550/575. I would point out only that it's a bit porky, but it comes damn close. The 430 meets these requirements as well, but, dare I say it, being "only" a V-8 and at the bottom of the Ferrari range, it doesn't quite qualify. Viper? The redesigned one is a pale shadow of the brutality of the original (jeez, stick the new '06 coupe drivetrain, chassis and suspension under the body of the original GTS!). SLR? The automatic automatically disqualifies it, not to mention that it's really just representative of the failure of Mercedes Benz to nuture what McLaren could have really done. The Murcielago is stymied by the fact that it's little brother is 96% as "in-your-face", 97% as quick and fast, but only 66% of the price. The Gallardo faces the same problem as the 430. M6? Too dang ugly. 'Nuff said. Panoz? (All versions are) Even more ugly than the M6, and, let's face it, it's got a crude crude Ford motor and bitsas. Veyron? Way, way, too expensive, not attractive (more peculiar than anything else), and is basically the "factory" equivalent of Hennessey stuffing twin turbos into a Ram R/T-10 and just generating massive horsepower. The new Jaguar? Too soon to tell. Elise/Exige? Fun, fun, fun to drive, but a four-cylinder motor and general crampness just rule these siblings out. There are a whole bunch of attractive Euro-cars, like Pagani, Koenigsegg, TVR, and even an American version, the Saleen (especially the turbo version), but all of these bespoke units are either too impractical, unreliable, expensive, or, dare I say it, ugly. Ford GT? Hmmm... Getting closer. No less impractical than the 250 SWB, damn attractive/aggressive, loads of fun to drive, stunningly fast on road or track, and, relatively speaking, affordable. Yes, it's a "Ford", but face it, if it had a Maserati badge on it, the waiting list would be even longer than for the 430. Aston Martin? Closer yet. Vanquish is on everyone's most-beautiful list, hobbled only by a balky sequential. The DB9 has basically the same relationship to the Vanquish as the Gallardo does to the Murcielago, aggravated by the automatic-only transmission. The new Vantage? 7/8th scale DB9/Vanquish for even less money. If neither the DB9 or Vantage existed, then perhaps the Vanquish, but . . . . Carrera GT? Definitely, but for the price. Beautiful, technologically advanced without being intrusive, and you can even drive it with the top off. Reliable, can be driven daily. If only it were $175k (well, wait a couple of years, it may). Bottom line, Ken, if you're looking for a modern day 250 SWB equivalent for less than $100k, I'd say go with one of three choices: a used BMW Z8 - a modern classic, with 400 hp and lots of fun to drive, BMW practicality; a used DB7 Vantage, just because it's beautiful and cheap, OR a tuned Porsche 996 turbo - easy enough to get 600 hp, dead solid reliable, beautiful with updated traditional 911 lines, the only downside being relatively commonplace. But in term of bang for the buck, it's tough to beat. That's what I'd do. Just my $.02! Vty, --Dennis ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(11 messages) **********
