The BMW UUC Digest 
Volume 3 : Issue 257 : "text" Format

Messages in this Issue:
  E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 steering wheels
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Re: E34 "education" needed
  Stoptech

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

Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 18:49:32 -0700
From: Harvey Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [email protected]
Subject: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

#1 daughter is looking at a 95 525i w/3 sp auto.  I'm not familiar  
with the E34 - I skipped that model went from E28 to E39.

The Odometer window on the dash - looks like a small rectangular  
window left of center along the bottom of the dash, about an inch  
high and perhaps 1.5" wide and appears to have total cumulative  
milage on top and trip milage on bottom.  Problem is, the numbers,  
while present and apparently "counting up" as miles are driven, are  
not illuminated.  If I look at it in the right light, or shine a  
flashlight on it from the right angle, the numbers can b read - is  
this display simply "back lit" by a regular bulb in the instrument  
cluster that simply burned out and would be relatively simple/cheap  
to fix or does this car have an "instrument cluster" issue   
(translating to $$$$$$) to fix?

If fixable, any suggestions on how to go about it?  Presumably I'd  
have to pull the instrument cluster?  How?  and all those kind of  
related questions

Also - couldn't find a dipstick for the auto tranny (did  see a  
sticker on it that started GM xxx)  is this one of those "lifetime  
filled " trannys?  Car is 11 years and 148K miles old, 2nd owner has  
never serviced the tranny and service records form the 1st owner are  
unavailable, best guess is the tranny has never been serviced - and  
am starting to think that as it is working well, changing the fluid  
and filter may, at this point, do more harm than good???  (Brett any  
recommendations?)

Thanks
Harvey

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

Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 23:42:16 -0400
From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Harvey Chao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

The auto is a 4 speed.  Its a GM 4L30E and shared with the Cadillac Catera 
and Isuzu Rodeo.  There is no dip stick, but there is a fill plug and drain 
plug in the pan.  The odo is backlighted.  The bulbs are easy to change from 
the back of the cluster.  It pulls out from the front, two small screws at 
the top and pull.  Remove the steering wheel first.  Take the normal airbag 
precautions.

Gary Derian

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Harvey Chao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 9:49 PM
Subject: [UUC] E34 "education" needed


> #1 daughter is looking at a 95 525i w/3 sp auto.  I'm not familiar  with 
> the E34 - I skipped that model went from E28 to E39.
>
> The Odometer window on the dash - looks like a small rectangular  window 
> left of center along the bottom of the dash, about an inch  high and 
> perhaps 1.5" wide and appears to have total cumulative  milage on top and 
> trip milage on bottom.  Problem is, the numbers,  while present and 
> apparently "counting up" as miles are driven, are  not illuminated.  If I 
> look at it in the right light, or shine a  flashlight on it from the right 
> angle, the numbers can b read - is  this display simply "back lit" by a 
> regular bulb in the instrument  cluster that simply burned out and would 
> be relatively simple/cheap  to fix or does this car have an "instrument 
> cluster" issue   (translating to $$$$$$) to fix?
>
> If fixable, any suggestions on how to go about it?  Presumably I'd  have 
> to pull the instrument cluster?  How?  and all those kind of  related 
> questions
>
> Also - couldn't find a dipstick for the auto tranny (did  see a  sticker 
> on it that started GM xxx)  is this one of those "lifetime  filled " 
> trannys?  Car is 11 years and 148K miles old, 2nd owner has  never 
> serviced the tranny and service records form the 1st owner are 
> unavailable, best guess is the tranny has never been serviced - and  am 
> starting to think that as it is working well, changing the fluid  and 
> filter may, at this point, do more harm than good???  (Brett any 
> recommendations?)
>
> Thanks
> Harvey
> 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: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 02:57:27 -0400
From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Harvey Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
        uuc Digest <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Backlight bulb is about $4 for Odo.

No dipstick.  Factory fluid change interval is about 30K miles.  Every 
Inspection II service.

The chances of it actually having been done at a dealer, during an 
Inspection II service are about 10,000 to 1.   It takes ATF, do the 
filter and pan gaskets at the same time.


Brett Anderson
KMS-Koala Motorsport
www.bmwdiffs.com
(440) 564 7574
9988 Kinsman Rd
Novelty, OH 44072
(Near Cleveland)


Harvey Chao wrote:
> #1 daughter is looking at a 95 525i w/3 sp auto.  I'm not familiar with 
> the E34 - I skipped that model went from E28 to E39.
> 
> The Odometer window on the dash - looks like a small rectangular window 
> left of center along the bottom of the dash, about an inch high and 
> perhaps 1.5" wide and appears to have total cumulative milage on top and 
> trip milage on bottom.  Problem is, the numbers, while present and 
> apparently "counting up" as miles are driven, are not illuminated.  If I 
> look at it in the right light, or shine a flashlight on it from the 
> right angle, the numbers can b read - is this display simply "back lit" 
> by a regular bulb in the instrument cluster that simply burned out and 
> would be relatively simple/cheap to fix or does this car have an 
> "instrument cluster" issue  (translating to $$$$$$) to fix?
> 
> If fixable, any suggestions on how to go about it?  Presumably I'd have 
> to pull the instrument cluster?  How?  and all those kind of related 
> questions
> 
> Also - couldn't find a dipstick for the auto tranny (did  see a sticker 
> on it that started GM xxx)  is this one of those "lifetime filled " 
> trannys?  Car is 11 years and 148K miles old, 2nd owner has never 
> serviced the tranny and service records form the 1st owner are 
> unavailable, best guess is the tranny has never been serviced - and am 
> starting to think that as it is working well, changing the fluid and 
> filter may, at this point, do more harm than good???  (Brett any 
> recommendations?)
> 
> Thanks
> Harvey
> 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: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 9:35:08 -0400
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: Harvey Chao <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected]
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Have a look here:

http://www.lehrmangroup.com/rickard/airBagAndBulbs.html

Tom Carr

---- Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: 
> The auto is a 4 speed.  Its a GM 4L30E and shared with the Cadillac Catera 
> and Isuzu Rodeo.  There is no dip stick, but there is a fill plug and drain 
> plug in the pan.  The odo is backlighted.  The bulbs are easy to change from 
> the back of the cluster.  It pulls out from the front, two small screws at 
> the top and pull.  Remove the steering wheel first.  Take the normal airbag 
> precautions.
> 
> Gary Derian
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Harvey Chao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
> Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 9:49 PM
> Subject: [UUC] E34 "education" needed
> 
> 
> > #1 daughter is looking at a 95 525i w/3 sp auto.  I'm not familiar  with 
> > the E34 - I skipped that model went from E28 to E39.
> >
> > The Odometer window on the dash - looks like a small rectangular  window 
> > left of center along the bottom of the dash, about an inch  high and 
> > perhaps 1.5" wide and appears to have total cumulative  milage on top and 
> > trip milage on bottom.  Problem is, the numbers,  while present and 
> > apparently "counting up" as miles are driven, are  not illuminated.  If I 
> > look at it in the right light, or shine a  flashlight on it from the right 
> > angle, the numbers can b read - is  this display simply "back lit" by a 
> > regular bulb in the instrument  cluster that simply burned out and would 
> > be relatively simple/cheap  to fix or does this car have an "instrument 
> > cluster" issue   (translating to $$$$$$) to fix?
> >
> > If fixable, any suggestions on how to go about it?  Presumably I'd  have 
> > to pull the instrument cluster?  How?  and all those kind of  related 
> > questions
> >
> > Also - couldn't find a dipstick for the auto tranny (did  see a  sticker 
> > on it that started GM xxx)  is this one of those "lifetime  filled " 
> > trannys?  Car is 11 years and 148K miles old, 2nd owner has  never 
> > serviced the tranny and service records form the 1st owner are 
> > unavailable, best guess is the tranny has never been serviced - and  am 
> > starting to think that as it is working well, changing the fluid  and 
> > filter may, at this point, do more harm than good???  (Brett any 
> > recommendations?)
> >
> > Thanks
> > Harvey
> > 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

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

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:50:29 -0400
From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, "Harvey Chao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
        <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

That is an early E34, later ones are slightly different, but those are great 
photos.
Gary Derian


> Have a look here:
>
> http://www.lehrmangroup.com/rickard/airBagAndBulbs.html
>
> Tom Carr
>
> ---- Gary Derian <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>> The auto is a 4 speed.  Its a GM 4L30E and shared with the Cadillac 
>> Catera
>> and Isuzu Rodeo.  There is no dip stick, but there is a fill plug and 
>> drain
>> plug in the pan.  The odo is backlighted.  The bulbs are easy to change 
>> from
>> the back of the cluster.  It pulls out from the front, two small screws 
>> at
>> the top and pull.  Remove the steering wheel first.  Take the normal 
>> airbag
>> precautions.
>>
>> Gary Derian
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Harvey Chao" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
>> Sent: Saturday, September 09, 2006 9:49 PM
>> Subject: [UUC] E34 "education" needed
>>
>>
>> > #1 daughter is looking at a 95 525i w/3 sp auto.  I'm not familiar 
>> > with
>> > the E34 - I skipped that model went from E28 to E39.
>> >
>> > The Odometer window on the dash - looks like a small rectangular 
>> > window
>> > left of center along the bottom of the dash, about an inch  high and
>> > perhaps 1.5" wide and appears to have total cumulative  milage on top 
>> > and
>> > trip milage on bottom.  Problem is, the numbers,  while present and
>> > apparently "counting up" as miles are driven, are  not illuminated.  If 
>> > I
>> > look at it in the right light, or shine a  flashlight on it from the 
>> > right
>> > angle, the numbers can b read - is  this display simply "back lit" by a
>> > regular bulb in the instrument  cluster that simply burned out and 
>> > would
>> > be relatively simple/cheap  to fix or does this car have an "instrument
>> > cluster" issue   (translating to $$$$$$) to fix?
>> >
>> > If fixable, any suggestions on how to go about it?  Presumably I'd 
>> > have
>> > to pull the instrument cluster?  How?  and all those kind of  related
>> > questions
>> >
>> > Also - couldn't find a dipstick for the auto tranny (did  see a 
>> > sticker
>> > on it that started GM xxx)  is this one of those "lifetime  filled "
>> > trannys?  Car is 11 years and 148K miles old, 2nd owner has  never
>> > serviced the tranny and service records form the 1st owner are
>> > unavailable, best guess is the tranny has never been serviced - and  am
>> > starting to think that as it is working well, changing the fluid  and
>> > filter may, at this point, do more harm than good???  (Brett any
>> > recommendations?)
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> > Harvey
>> > 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
> 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: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:59:40 -0500
From: "Alex Cagann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Nice write-up!  Thanks. 

OK, so let's say you have a 90 and up E34 and you want the three spoke E28is
wheel or, even better, the E28M5 wheel. Can you disconnect the airbag stuff,
remove the SRS bulb since it is no longer relevant, and retrofit?  I never
liked the bubbly steering wheels in the E34's. I know it's not as safe and
all that rot, but, just wondering. I assume this would mess up the passenger
airbag?

Alex

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:bmwuucdigest-
> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:35 AM
> To: Harvey Chao; [email protected]
> Subject: Re: [UUC] E34 "education" needed
> 
> Have a look here:
> 
> http://www.lehrmangroup.com/rickard/airBagAndBulbs.html
> 
> Tom Carr




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

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 09:36:13 -0500
From: "John Bunda" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 steering wheels
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

> OK, so let's say you have a 90 and up E34 and you want the three spoke E28is
> wheel or, even better, the E28M5 wheel. Can you disconnect the airbag stuff,
> remove the SRS bulb since it is no longer relevant, and retrofit?  I never
> liked the bubbly steering wheels in the E34's. I know it's not as safe and
> all that rot, but, just wondering. I assume this would mess up the passenger
> airbag?

The answer is - maybe.    It depends on the steering column in the later E34s.  
  This has been done with airbag E30s, but it is not 
as simple as just pulling the wheel and replacing with the other.    Some guys 
have gotten this to work and have installed the very 
cool 3-spoke MTechnic 2 wheel instead - but the wheel ends up being slightly 
closer to the instrument panel, so you need to bend the 
control stalks away from you so you don't hit them with your fingers while 
steering. You need to put some washers behind the big nut 
as the threads don't go far enough.    There is also some fooling around you 
need to do to get the turn signals to cancel properly 
and horn slip ring to work.    I tried to install an ACS wheel in an airbag 
E30, and never got it to work properly, so I gave up, 
and went to a Momo instead, which turned out to be a far easier swap.       
Supposedly, if you disconnect the orange connectors - 
there is another one somewhere under the panel -you can keep the SRS fault 
light from coming on, but I have no idea about that. 
No idea what this does to the pax airbag.

John 



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

Date: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 11:02:35 -0400
From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Alex Cagann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

The columns were changed beginning with 7/90 production.  The later columns 
have a bolt retaining the wheel and the wheels interchange with E36 wheels. 
The early columns have a nut that holds the wheels which are interchangable 
with E30s.

Disabling the driver airbag will disable the passenger bag.

Fit a sport wheel with an airbag to get looks and safety.

Gary Derian



> Nice write-up!  Thanks.
>
> OK, so let's say you have a 90 and up E34 and you want the three spoke 
> E28is
> wheel or, even better, the E28M5 wheel. Can you disconnect the airbag 
> stuff,
> remove the SRS bulb since it is no longer relevant, and retrofit?  I never
> liked the bubbly steering wheels in the E34's. I know it's not as safe and
> all that rot, but, just wondering. I assume this would mess up the 
> passenger
> airbag?
>
> Alex
>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:bmwuucdigest-
>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>> Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:35 AM
>> To: Harvey Chao;
>> Subject: Re: [UUC] E34 "education" needed
>>
>> Have a look here:
>>
>> http://www.lehrmangroup.com/rickard/airBagAndBulbs.html
>>
>> Tom Carr
>
>
>
> 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: Sun, 10 Sep 2006 08:37:46 -0700
From: "JS Nord" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
        "Alex Cagann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
        <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: E34 "education" needed
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Anyone know what model sport wheels with airbag fit the early model E34 
column?

Seen lots of non-airbag models.  Once saw on german ebay a euro M5 (?) wheel 
with airbag that had thumb rests and, I think, a slightly smaller diameter. 
Seems like the US M5's didn't get that same wheel.

BTW, I've seen the Mtech non-airbag on an E34.  It's nice but it also blocks 
the top part of the cluster due to the much smaller diameter.  I found this 
a bit annoying.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Alex Cagann" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[email protected]>
Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:02 AM
Subject: Re: [UUC] E34 "education" needed


> The columns were changed beginning with 7/90 production.  The later 
> columns have a bolt retaining the wheel and the wheels interchange with 
> E36 wheels. The early columns have a nut that holds the wheels which are 
> interchangable with E30s.
>
> Disabling the driver airbag will disable the passenger bag.
>
> Fit a sport wheel with an airbag to get looks and safety.
>
> Gary Derian
>
>
>
>> Nice write-up!  Thanks.
>>
>> OK, so let's say you have a 90 and up E34 and you want the three spoke 
>> E28is
>> wheel or, even better, the E28M5 wheel. Can you disconnect the airbag 
>> stuff,
>> remove the SRS bulb since it is no longer relevant, and retrofit?  I 
>> never
>> liked the bubbly steering wheels in the E34's. I know it's not as safe 
>> and
>> all that rot, but, just wondering. I assume this would mess up the 
>> passenger
>> airbag?
>>
>> Alex
>>
>>> -----Original Message-----
>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:bmwuucdigest-
>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>> Sent: Sunday, September 10, 2006 8:35 AM
>>> To: Harvey Chao;
>>> Subject: Re: [UUC] E34 "education" needed
>>>
>>> Have a look here:
>>>
>>> http://www.lehrmangroup.com/rickard/airBagAndBulbs.html
>>>
>>> Tom Carr
>>
>>
>>
>> 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
> 


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

Date: Sat, 9 Sep 2006 22:29:51 -0700
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: [email protected]
Subject: Stoptech
Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>


Was reading BMW CAR this weekend and saw this little snippet about StopTech
being bought by Centric Parts. The Centric site says it happened way back
in March.

-Kevin



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