The BMW UUC Digest Volume 3 : Issue 240 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: Decisions, decisions Re: Decisions, decisions Re: Decisions, decisions Re: Decisions, decisions Re: Decisions, decisions Re: Decisions, decisions Re: E36 Brake Question Re: E36 Brake Question Re: E36 Brake Question Re: Decisions, decisions does strut mounts need to be replaced in E34 535i? Fw: FS: E39 M5, E36 328i E36 Brake Question Re: E36 Brake set screw
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:40:09 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Andrew wrote: >Volvo turbo charged station wagon - V70R. Actually looks cool, especially with the dark windows, has 300hp, very luxurious inside, $40k (could always buy a slighty used one off lease) and a lot of room inside for the family. ============ Hah! I've NEVER been a fan of Volvo, dunno why. I'm a true car nut, and I can basically reel off every model every manufacturer sells, even ones like Kia and Hyundai and GM (though I'm a bit lost on the various minivan nameplates GM keeps slapping on their silly, worst-in-market minivans). But if you held a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you what Volvo sells. I was current right up through the 740 and 850 (the Volvo versions, not the BMW versions!), and then Volvo went all "V" and . . . Well, I forget, or never knew. But you get my point.... :-) Actually, I drove a friend's Volvo last week. Dunno the name, but it was turbocharged and AWD, and about the size of a big 3 or a small 5 series, and it was actually quite nice.... Vty, --Dennis ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:02:35 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "[uucdigest]" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The Volvo wagons put some big smiles on my face getting to lap Laguna Seca for a few hours driving the lead car in a bicycle race this spring where Volvo was the event's car sponsor. Like having the track to myself, and instructions like, when you see the bikes getting to the top of the hill, get to them bottom as fast as you can. Barry Dennis Liu wrote: >Andrew wrote: > > >>Volvo turbo charged station wagon - V70R. Actually looks cool, especially >> >> >with the dark windows, has 300hp, very luxurious inside, $40k (could always >buy a slighty used one off lease) and a lot of room inside for the family. >============ >Hah! I've NEVER been a fan of Volvo, dunno why. I'm a true car nut, and I >can basically reel off every model every manufacturer sells, even ones like >Kia and Hyundai and GM (though I'm a bit lost on the various minivan >nameplates GM keeps slapping on their silly, worst-in-market minivans). But >if you held a gun to my head, I couldn't tell you what Volvo sells. > > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:42:09 -0400 From: Matt Murray <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The second gen MR-2 sold 360 cars in 1995. It makes it real tough to support with parts, service info, etc. The Spyder suffered similar demand issues. Not enough car geeks to buy 'em. Toyota used to have $24 billion in liquid assets. I bet that number has grown in the past few years. Matt Murray ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Matt wrote: > >>The MR-2 and MR Spyder are less pillowy. Actually quite fun cars. I owned > second gen turbos. For early nineties technology they offered some > interesting innovations. > > ============ > > Yeah, which is why Toyota no longer sells them (or the Celica, for that > matter)! :-) > > Given how much cubic yen Toyota pumps into its F1 team, it's fairly > amazing > that they don't sell any sports or even sporty cars. I know they're > planning on releasing a Lexus-branded quasi-super car, but I'm thinking > it's > more of an M6 or XKR competitor, rather than a 911/turbo competitor. > Toyota > should, IMHO, not only offer a real exotic - its NSX equivalent, with a > big > V-8 and lots of revs putting out, oh, 450 hp or so - but also a true > M3-type > sports coupe/sedan, and maybe even a Lotus Elise like car (heck, buy Lotus > lock stock and barrel! They're already using a Toyota motor!). > > Vty, > > --Dennis ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:49:55 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Matt wrote: >The second gen MR-2 sold 360 cars in 1995. It makes it real tough to support with parts, service info, etc. The Spyder suffered similar demand issues. Not enough car geeks to buy 'em. >Toyota used to have $24 billion in liquid assets. I bet that number has grown in the past few years. ============= Yes, yes it has. It's probably got about as much cash on hand as Microsoft. :-) The reason the Spyder was difficult to sell was perhaps, without much exaggeration, it had enough room for two people and just ONE toothbrush. Without any exaggeration, it make a Ferrari 355 the "practical" car (aside from reliability issues, of course). Let's be honest with ourselves. We're all BMW enthusiasts out here. But if Toyota (or Lexus) offered a __TRUE__ BMW competitor (yeah, the IS350 is pretty lame, IMHO), at either an equivalent price or even with a 25% discount (Toyota badge v Lexus badge), and it performed and handled as well as our beloved Bimmers, would YOU buy one? Assuming that the quality, both initial and long-term, would be better? In other words, no worries about radiator failures, etc.? Vty, --Dennis ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:01:06 -0700 (PDT) From: P Kroon <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Although it sounds like you've made up your mind, I'm am curious about the comments regarding the M35/45 because I was considering getting one of these in a couple of years. Granted, I haven't been in a new M35/45, but it is bigger than a G35 which I am familar with. The G35 sedan is feels significantly bigger inside than a 3 series, and seems to me to be pretty close to the interior size of a 5 series. Based on this, I would have thought that the M35/45 is bigger than a 5 series, though smaller than a 7 series. Anyone have any direct comparisons? -Paul 95 M3 --- Dennis Liu <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Matt wrote: > > >The second gen MR-2 sold 360 cars in 1995. It makes > it real tough to > support with parts, service info, etc. The Spyder > suffered similar demand > issues. > Not enough car geeks to buy 'em. > > >Toyota used to have $24 billion in liquid assets. I > bet that number has > grown in the past few years. > > ============= > > Yes, yes it has. It's probably got about as much > cash on hand as Microsoft. > :-) > > The reason the Spyder was difficult to sell was > perhaps, without much > exaggeration, it had enough room for two people and > just ONE toothbrush. > Without any exaggeration, it make a Ferrari 355 the > "practical" car (aside > from reliability issues, of course). > > Let's be honest with ourselves. We're all BMW > enthusiasts out here. But if > Toyota (or Lexus) offered a __TRUE__ BMW competitor > (yeah, the IS350 is > pretty lame, IMHO), at either an equivalent price or > even with a 25% > discount (Toyota badge v Lexus badge), and it > performed and handled as well > as our beloved Bimmers, would YOU buy one? Assuming > that the quality, both > initial and long-term, would be better? In other > words, no worries about > radiator failures, etc.? > > Vty, > > --Dennis > > 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 > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:45:38 -0400 From: "Dennis Liu" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "'Clarence'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Clarence wrote: >I don't have any experience w/all the cars you or others have mentioned, but it seems to me that keeping the 740iL may be the best option. $1500 of cosmetic damage is nothing at all. And, you have stated in this, and other posts, how much you enjoy the car. Then why replace it? The only thing I don't quite understand is your comment about its time drawing near. With only 163K and all the usual problems addressed, what's to happen? The next round of 'everything's breaking again?' This will be w/any used car, and maybe that's what you want to avoid. Don't know. I think we all get an itch for something new or different, regardless how much we like our present ride. But when I take a moment to think things through, I'm still happy w/my '87 325 w/251K and the '93 525iT w/284K. =================== Bingo, Clarence. You're exactly right. My current beast is probably good for another 30-40k miles with no real issues, and given that it'd be mostly for my 60 mile, all highway commute, it's exactly the right car. I'm just posing the question out there because, as you say, we do all get the itch every once in awhile. Which is why I've spent (wasted!) so much time (and bandwidth) on this topic this morning - because it's a lot of fun to go "bench shopping" for a replacement. :-) Vty, --Dennis Feeling guilty now in Greater Boston about potentially abandoning my beloved E38.... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:45:26 -0400 From: Neil Maller <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Subject: Re: E36 Brake Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 8/24/06 10:27 AM, "DUNLAP, LARRY" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Silly question... How important is that set screw on the front rotors? Its only purpose is to secure the rotor while the wheel is off. With a mounted wheel the disk brake hat is securely sandwiched between the wheel centre and the hub. You might want to check that there's no foreign matter behind the rotor preventing it from seating cleanly. You didn't say why you were removing the rotor, which leaves open the possibility that something else got screwed up in the process. Neil Fort Wayne, IN 96 M3 - Bastard child 03 525iT - Sterling Grey Metallic 05 Mini - Cooper S with LSD ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:59:07 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Subject: Re: E36 Brake Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Larry, what kind of rotors did you buy? If ATE, did you have them surfaced before you put them on? If un-surfaced ATE rotors, take them off and have then lighty turned. They're known to come from the factory slightly pre-warped, so to speak. I try to buy Balo rotors to avoid this problem. The missing set screw is not the problem. It only holds the rotor on until you bolt on the wheels. Scott Miller GGC BMW CCA >Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:34:07 -0400 >From: "DUNLAP, LARRY" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >To: <[email protected]> >Subject: Re: E36 Brake Question >Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > >I only drilled off the head of the screw, just big enough to get the >rotor off. In the last 10k or so miles, the control arms and ball >joints were replaced (as well as the bearing on the driver side), the >rotors are new, I replaced the control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, >struts, strut hats... basically the entire front end. Coming back from >a golf outing last weekend, coming down a hill I had to get on the >brakes moderately hard and thought the damn car was going to shake >apart... It had been fine. I am thinking it has to be a warped rotor >or bent rim... Just making sure it's not something small. ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:46:54 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "DUNLAP, LARRY" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: E36 Brake Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Try spraying PBBlaster around the remains and torch on and around it. That should soften the grip enough for an extractor to turn it out. Barry DUNLAP, LARRY wrote: >I drilled the head off, but still couldn't get the rest of if out. It's >rusted in there pretty good Either going to need to drill the rest of it >out and and retap it, or replace that hub... > ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 08:48:53 -0700 (PDT) From: Tammer Farid <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Decisions, decisions Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I second Clarence's post. Actually, I tried to 1st it but my browser crashed at home this a.m. and I had to get to work, then meeting with my advisor (once every 3 months or so, so I don't mind) took up the morning. Anyway ... $1500 in cosmetics leaves you with a known quantity, likely in great shape based on other cars of yours I've seen, that you love. Subtract that from the price of a new Toyo--Toyot--<yaaaaaaawn>--sorry, just can't get that word out, and you have quite a kitty for repairs/upgrades down the road. It's the only option that costs you so little out of pocket and lets you retain the utility you need. A daily-driver 911 just isn't gonna cut it with more than one child, or any child over the age of 8. The other way to go is fix/sell your E38 and try to find a low-mileage example you like, but that will cost more up front and in maintenance down the road, as you'll have to do work that's already been done to yours. -tammer Old car 1 (E28 535is, lots of work done, reliable) Old car 2 (E28 ///M5, ditto, ditto, and also fast) Old car 3 (A2 GTI, unreliable but then relatively unloved ... virtually no money in it) --- Clarence <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > After reading all the other posts (on the UUC list only), > I went back > and read your original query. > > I don't have any experience w/all the cars you or others > have mentioned, > but it seems to me that keeping the 740iL may be the best > option. $1500 > of cosmetic damage is nothing at all. And, you have > stated in this, and > other posts, how much you enjoy the car. Then why > replace it? > > The only thing I don't quite understand is your comment > about its time > drawing near. With only 163K and all the usual problems > addressed, > what's to happen? The next round of 'everything's > breaking again?' > This will be w/any used car, and maybe that's what you > want to avoid. > Don't know. > > I think we all get an itch for something new or > different, regardless > how much we like our present ride. But when I take a > moment to think > things through, I'm still happy w/my '87 325 w/251K and > the '93 525iT > w/284K. > > Just another free opinion. > > Clarence > West Bend, WI > > Dennis Liu wrote: > > So... Sigh. Need some input from the boys (and girls) > on this one. > > > > My "daily driver" for the last, oh, 6 years or so has > been an E38 BMW 740iL, > > 1995. I've gotten it up to 163k miles, mostly > reliable. The usual E38 > > problems, all addressed. Runs great, but its time is > drawing near, > > especially as someone (not moi) managed to rear end a > truck yesterday with > > it. Cosmetic damage, but probably $1500 worth. Dang, > too bad, as I > > loooooooove(d) this car. So, what do I do? > > > > 1. Fix it and keep driving it until it blows up. > > > > 2. Dump it for whatever it'll fetch (any ideas?), and > buy one of the > > following. For a "daily driver", I would like a > "biggish" sedan, as I'd > > much prefer to go on trips in it with my two young > daughters and all their > > stuff in a sedan (or wagon) than the big SUV or the > minivan. > > > > > > > > 2A. 1999-2001 E38 BMW 740i SPORT. Asking prices seem > to range between > > $10k-$24k, with mileage between 75k-133k miles. Upside > - I love the 740i > > sport. I'd make sure that all of the known problem > areas are addressed, or > > else take a reserve for it. Downside is that these are > getting a bit old, > > and miles are getting higher. > > > > 2B. E39 M5. Between $23k-$40k, mileage all over. > Upside - hey, it's an > > M5! Downside - wow, potential maintenance and repair > costs are scary. I've > > already spent way too much on those friggin' Eyetaliano > beasts, so really > > not interested in adding another delicate beast to the > fleet. > > > > 2C. Brand new Dodge Magnum R/T. $28k-ish. Upside - > hey, 340 hp Hemi! > > Possibly the Charger instead, but why not get the added > utility of a wagon > > too? (no, not the 350 hp Charger Daytona package, a > little too garish for > > my taste, methinks). Decent fuel economy. Fair bit of > interior room (not > > quite 740iL, but close to 740i I think), lots of room > in the back, great > > performance, new car warranty. Downside - not much, > aside from the cost > > and, well, it's a Dodge. How dependable is it? > Depreciation is gonna hurt? > > > > 2D. Brand new Dodge Magnum SRT-8. $35k-ish. Upside - > hey, 425 hp Hemi! > > REAL performance. Warranty, room, looks pretty cool > too. Downside - fairly > > horrendous fuel economy (no variable displacement in > SRT version, so big > > mileage hit, grrr). And what will probably be a deal > killer for me: the > > $2100 gas guzzler tax. YOWWWWWWWWWWWZA!!!!!!! > > > > 2E. Brand new Toyota Avalon. $27k-ish. Upside - > relatively fast, fairly > > luxurious, and will run 200k miles with nothing but oil > changes. Bullet > > proof. Downside - FWD, and, well, it's a Toyota sedan. > If only they (or > > Honda) made a RWD equivalent, like a competitor to the > Charger/300C/Magnum, > > and I'd be the first in line. > > > > > > > > 3. Get rid of the Bimmer, and just use the wife's 996 > as a daily driver. > > No room for kids, but way cool ride. Could put snow > tires on the spare set > > of rims (currently running slicks for track outings), > and take out PFC-97 > > race pads and install OEM pads. Kinda shame to put the > mileage on it (only > > 43k miles right now), but the thing has been > BULLETPROOF to date, and also a > > shame to just let it sit in the garage. Upside - no > money outta pocket, > > baby! > > > > > > > > 4. Anyone have another good suggestion? I've never > been attracted to > > Mercedes-Benz. The Bangle-ized 745/750 is wwwwaaayyy > ugly. Blech. The > > Audi A8 is pretty sweet, but I like RWD, and it's too > pricey for my needs. > > The Infiniti M45 sounds about right, but too expensive > for my purposes right > > now too (why oh why doesn't Nissan have a version of > the M45? Or make the > > Maxima in RWD??). Had an E39 BMW 528iT wagon, and > loooooved it, but just > > too small for this purpose (hence another strike > against the M5, and why the > > Infiniti G35 isn't on the list). The older I get, the > less I care about > > "prestige", and the more I like "no hassle". Though I > still like to drive > > vehicles I enjoy (hence, no Lexus LS on the list). > > > > Anyway, that's where I stand. Any thoughts would be > appreciated! > > > > Vty, > > > > --Dennis > 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 > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:11:07 -0700 (PDT) From: kjk <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: does strut mounts need to be replaced in E34 535i? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I have compared the 750i (my failed ones) and an E34 M5 bushing side by side. The rubber portion that extends from the center to the wall of the bushing is MUCH thicker on the E34 M5 bushing. I have shredded several 750i bushings under track use. I put urethane in at one point which I liked but ride quality suffers and I had to used a big flat washer to prevent the thing from sliding out of the sleeve on the M5. I had a huge shake on one track weekend and assumed it was the urethane bushings but it turned out to be rotors (whether it is warped, brake pad crud or runout, I don't care, it shook like crazy). So, I replaced the urethane with M5 bushings and put on new rotors. However, if I get any more failures I may go back to urethane. Kevin Kelly '91 M5 (345mm floating rotors) P.S. I have given even those rotors a slight little grind to smooth them out in the past as long as there is sufficient thickness. It does work, even on BMW's. Usually, I will thereafter just run that rotor on the street. At $200/rotor it is worth it to get a few more miles out of them. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:27:07 -0700 From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Subject: Fw: FS: E39 M5, E36 328i Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Scott, consider it done. If anyone is interested, please contact Mr. Staewen at his gmail address. Scott >>>>>> scott, would you be so kind as to post this to uucdigest for me? i've tried a couple times and for some reason my posts do not seem to be going through. thanks, scott staewen at gmaildotcom '01 M5: titanium silver, black sport leather (aluminum trim), sunshade, pdc, m-audio. 33,000 mi. original owner, nonsmoker. excellent condition. maintained well beyond bmwna standards. bmw extended warranty through 4-07. uuc ssk, functional brake ducts. o/w stock. $38,000 '97 328i: auto trans. black on grey leather. 96,000 mi. excellent mechanical condition. cosmetic condition very good. $9,000 ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 13:04:30 -0400 From: Mo Karamat <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: E36 Brake Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Larry, Hello. the set screw is only there to hold the rotor in place when you take the wheel off. As long as you have the wheel correctly torqued, this will not cause any issues. What kind of pads are you using? This may be an issue of pad material transfer.. Take the car out and do some HARD stops to eliminate that issue. After that, I would check the rim.. Good luck Mo Karamat Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 09:17:09 -0400 From: "DUNLAP, LARRY" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: E36 Brake Question Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Silly question... How important is that set screw on the front rotors? I had to drill one out on side of the car, now I've got a wobble under moderate braking that I can't seem to find... Trying to figure out if I've warped a rotor, bent a rim, if it's that set screw missing, or if I have something else going on... ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 12:10:53 -0500 From: "Marc Plante" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: E36 Brake set screw Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Try some WD-40 then grab the nub of the set screw very carefully with vice grips and rotate. If not. try an easy out kit. they work, but work slowly since you're going to use a narrow easy out that may snap easily. Marc > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "DUNLAP, LARRY" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [UUC] E36 Brake Question > Date: Thu, 24 Aug 2006 11:15:07 -0400 > > > > > I drilled the head off, but still couldn't get the rest of if out. It's > rusted in there pretty good Either going to need to drill the rest of it > out and and retap it, or replace that hub... > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Stan Jackson Jr. > Sent: Thursday, August 24, 2006 11:12 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: [UUC] E36 Brake Question > > Not important. They simply "set" the rotor in place until the wheel and > wheel bolts fasten everything together. Of course, now you have to make > sure the rotor is mounted flush and proper without the aid of that > screw. > > BTW, if you drilled out the old one, why didn't you put a new on in? > > Stan > > > > Silly question... How important is that set screw on the front > rotors? > > I had to drill one out on side of the car, now I've got a wobble under > > > moderate braking that I can't seem to find... Trying to figure out if > > > I've warped a rotor, bent a rim, if it's that set screw missing, or if > > > I have something else going on... > > 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 > > > 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 > ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(14 messages) **********
