The BMW UUC Digest Volume 3 : Issue 581 : "text" Format Messages in this Issue: Re: <E36> Engine Durability? Re: Sight unseen Re: <E36> Engine Durability? BMW Wheels & Tires in SF Cheap Shop recommendation in Pittsburgh area? Re: Shop recommendation in Pittsburgh area? What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? replacement keys Re: replacement keys Re: replacement keys [Fwd: RE: KMS parts order] Re: [Fwd: RE: KMS parts order]
---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:19:51 -0400 From: johngrills <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, [email protected] Subject: Re: <E36> Engine Durability? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Marc, I think the M42 is a wonderful buzzy lump. Steer clear of any slushbox cars. IMHO, you cannot enjoy this motor with w/o a 5spd. Mileage is good, close to 30mpg hwy. I have a Mark D'Sylva 93 octane chip which is a real nice piece of kit. Mileage suffers a bit, but that more cause of my right foot than anything. This engine loves to rev...(e30 318is), has hydraulic valves, so no adjusting, and generates enough HP/Torque to have fun with the revs up. Lightening the flywheel is a big performance booster. The stock one is a boat anchor, designed to NEVER allow a dip in RPM at idle/decel with full A/C...I hate A/C anyway... The e36 318ti is a great package...has some leftover e30 bits to it as well! (rear suspension). The M42 is very sensitive to overheating. Make sure the cooling system has been maintained. I had a failed thermostat crack a head on me....because I did not shut it down immediately when it hit the red. You already know of the profile gasket, which is a cooling system failure point. Use of proper coolant is important here, cause that profile gasket seat area on the from cover is a sealing nightmare and AL corrosion can really hurt in this area. The M10 was a MUCH cleaner design on the front manifolding...sheesh. As you know, the M50 is rugged. If you require a slushbox, I'd recommend any 6 cyl variant over any M42...oh, one last thing, the earlier M42 (1.8L vice 1.9L) has all forged internals and is a bit more rugged (better for Supercharging!) cheers! John Grills National Capital Chapter BMWCCA 98 M3/4 91 318is 88 M3 [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > As I mentione before, I'm shopping for a used E36 for my father in- > law. There seem to be enough local specimens in the $5k-$7k range on > cars.com, that I can find something. > > I'm wondering about whether to get him a 318i or a 325i/328i. He > doesn't need the power, and the fuel economy would be better with the > 318. OTOH, I know from personal experience (My 325i, RIP) that the > M50 > is a bomb proof motor that will take him to 200k+. > > Any comments on the M42 and its durability? I know the earlier > models > had profile gasket problems, but I'd be looking at one of the later > models (~1996). > > TIA, > > Marc Plante > E36 M3/4 80k > Vienna, VA > > 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: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 11:18:28 -0400 From: Dana Earl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Sight unseen Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I purchased a car sight unseen about 4 years ago from a fellow BMWCCA member. I checked him and the car out fairly thoroughly before agreeing to the purchase. I still wanted an option to back out if even if after my due diligence his representation was inaccurate. So I showed up about 1000 miles away from home with cash, alot of it. Figured it provided most flexibility and potential bargaining leverage. Car was everything he said it was and we completed the transaction. Went to a local UPS store to find a notary to do the title transfer. Thought her eyes were going to pop out of her head when she saw that stack of $ bills. BTW, yes I was packing. Dana Earl ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 10:34:03 -0500 From: "Paul Garnier" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, <[email protected]> Subject: Re: <E36> Engine Durability? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> M44's are getting snapped up by the people who let their M42's overheat due to the profile gasket issue. The demand is driving the price of the M44 up the M50 levels. Driven gently the difference in MPG is negligible enough to where the ease of use of the 6 is worth the difference in economy, especially when driving an automatic. Paul Garnier FastNetworking.com 281.827.0725 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 8:12 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [UUC] <E36> Engine Durability? As I mentione before, I'm shopping for a used E36 for my father in- law. There seem to be enough local specimens in the $5k-$7k range on cars.com, that I can find something. I'm wondering about whether to get him a 318i or a 325i/328i. He doesn't need the power, and the fuel economy would be better with the 318. OTOH, I know from personal experience (My 325i, RIP) that the M50 is a bomb proof motor that will take him to 200k+. Any comments on the M42 and its durability? I know the earlier models had profile gasket problems, but I'd be looking at one of the later models (~1996). TIA, Marc Plante E36 M3/4 80k Vienna, VA 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: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 16:44:55 -0400 (EDT) From: Kevin Kelly <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: BMW Wheels & Tires in SF Cheap Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I just put a couple BMW Wheels (one is bent) and decent (well over 50% left) 16" ContiTouring tires on Craig's List to get them out of my garage in San Francisco. I don't want to ship these, but I work in Marin and I'm down on the Peninsula quite a bit. Kevin Kelly BMW CCA 50039 BWW 16" OEM Wheels & ContiTouring Tires Two BMW 16x7 inch OEM Alloy wheels (20 SLOT, STYLE #33)and 225/55R 16 ContiTouring Contact Tires. The wheels and tires came new on 1998 540i and will fit most 1997-2000 5 Series BMWs. Both tires are in great shape with well over 50% of the tread left. One wheel was a spare for most of the time and is in almost perfect condition and has a center cap. The other wheel does not have a center cap and is so bent that it is just worth the price of the scrap metal. Click below for photos: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/pts/431911323.html ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:10:10 -0400 From: John Morrissey <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: Shop recommendation in Pittsburgh area? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I'm in western New York state and have my eye on a 318ti (my first Bimmer) for sale in the Pittsburgh area. Any recommendations for a shop to do a pre-purchase inspection? The BIMRS web site lists Bill Ballon Automotive on 39th Street; any experiences, good or bad? The car is actually in Cecil, PA, but the owner works in Pittsburgh. thanks! john -- John Morrissey _o /\ ---- __o [EMAIL PROTECTED] _-< \_ / \ ---- < \, www.horde.net/ __(_)/_(_)________/ \_______(_) /_(_)__ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:16:28 -0400 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: uuc Digest <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Shop recommendation in Pittsburgh area? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Bill is the best of the best. John Morrissey wrote: > I'm in western New York state and have my eye on a 318ti (my first Bimmer) > for sale in the Pittsburgh area. Any recommendations for a shop to do a > pre-purchase inspection? The BIMRS web site lists Bill Ballon Automotive on > 39th Street; any experiences, good or bad? The car is actually in Cecil, PA, > but the owner works in Pittsburgh. > > thanks! > john -- Brett Anderson KMS - Koala Motorsport LLC (440) 564 7574 www.koalamotorsport.com www.bmwdiffs.com 9988 Kinsman Rd Novelty OH 44072 (Cleveland Area) OSS committee member ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 25 Sep 2007 23:47:40 -0700 From: Peter Loron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> I need help diagnosing a problem (or problems) with my 98 M3/4. Several months ago, the head developed a crack in the #3 plug well. I tore the engine down and had the head welded up. After putting things back together, the engine ran fine for a few weeks, except for having a rough idle. When putting the head back on, I also replaced the radiator, the main rad hoses, thermostat, and the expansion tank. After a few weeks, I had a problem with the car overheating twice. It never did it badly...I was watching the temp gauge closely, and never let it get very far above the midline. After swapping the original thermostat back in, the overheating problem went away. At roughly the same time, I began having problems. They have grown slightly worse over the last 1K miles: - Loosing coolant. Sometimes it will need an inch in the expansion tank every day. Sometimes less. - Cooling system is significantly pressurized even after sitting overnight. - A tiny amount of oil in the expansion tank. Just a light haze of oil. No big drops or emulsion. - More white exhaust when the car is cold than I recall from before the problems started. - Sometime the car is very hard to start...doesn't want to catch. I need to give it a lot of extra gas to keep it running until things clear out in a few seconds. - Some thick wet gunk on the underside of the oil filler cap. - Still have the rough idle - multiple CEL (misfire on #6). Once the car warms up, power is good. I see no evidence of serious coolant contamination in the oil when I check the dipstick. I talked with a few people, and we all came to the conclusion that either the head had failed again, or the headgasket had failed. Last weekend we pulled the motor apart again. We found: - the oil (M1 15w50, ~2500mi on it) was dark and had a distinct fuel odor, but otherwise looked fine. - the headgasket looked great - the head was inspected and pressure tested. No issues found. - the valve cover had some caked on milkshake muck (but not everywhere) as did the rigid breather hose. - the plugs and valves are whitish (see pics linked below). Burned coolant? Running lean? - the hose clamp on the boot leading into the throttle body was not tight, although the boot itself felt snug - the small coolant hose that comes off the middle of the intake side of the head was leaking a bit where it connected to the head - the small coolant hose that comes off the bottom of the throttle body (outermost) was leaking a bit where it connected to the throttle body I don't think those coolant leaks I saw were enough to account for the volume of coolant I was continuously replacing. We're stumped. What could cause the coolant system pressurization, coolant loss, hard starts, rough idle, etc, that isn't a blown head gasket or failed head? Multiple unrelated issues? Please help! http://picasaweb.google.com/peterloron/M3Head -Pete ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:42:00 -0400 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: Peter Loron <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> The photos of the head are not good enough to help determine anything. Rough idle - How did you set up the cams/vanos? Cylinder head - was it crack tested at operating temperature? Who did the initial repair? These heads only have a 25%, at best, chance of being saved when they crack. Brett Anderson KMS Peter Loron wrote: > I need help diagnosing a problem (or problems) with my 98 M3/4. ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:49:48 -0400 From: "Andy Messer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > These heads only have a 25%, at best, chance of being saved when they >crack. > >Brett Anderson >KMS It sounds like Gary D's lake test is in order. Andy 01 525iT ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 07:52:50 -0400 From: "Gary Derian" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]>, "Peter Loron" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: What acts like a blown headgasket, but isn't? Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sometimes head cracks can't be detected when the head is cold, then open up under the stress of engine operation. Gary Derian > > We're stumped. What could cause the coolant system pressurization, > coolant loss, hard starts, rough idle, etc, that isn't a blown head > gasket or failed head? Multiple unrelated issues? > > Please help! > > http://picasaweb.google.com/peterloron/M3Head > > -Pete ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 12:27:13 +0000 (UTC) From: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected] Subject: replacement keys Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> friend lost one of his 2004 x4 keys. dealer wants $280. I know they have chips and are laser etched, but does anyone know of a cheaper source? Will they even sell keys online given security issues. He's in the Sierra foothills outside of SAC if that provides access to a local dealer with good pricing. Marc Plante E36m3/4/5 80k (in garage today, I'm being green) Cervelo R3 Vienna, VA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:36:45 -0400 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: [email protected] Subject: Re: replacement keys Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> That key lists for $160.50 and can be purchased, in person, from any dealership. What the dealer choses to charge is a whole 'nuther question. For security reasons, the customer is supposed to pick the key up in person and supply a copy of his driver's license and registration (matching names) in order to get one. Brett Anderson KMS [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > friend lost one of his 2004 x4 keys. dealer wants $280. I know they > have chips and are laser etched, but does anyone know of a cheaper > source? Will they even sell keys online given security issues. He's in > the Sierra foothills outside of SAC if that provides access to a local > dealer with good pricing. > > Marc Plante ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:31:29 -0400 From: Ed MacVaugh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [email protected], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: replacement keys Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> About $118 at Russel in Baltimore, with CCA discount, just at $150 list. And they do overnight FedEx from BMW NA to Russel if you're off the road at no extra. California must be a different planet . . . . Ed [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > friend lost one of his 2004 x4 keys. dealer wants $280. I know they > have chips and are laser etched, but does anyone know of a cheaper > source? Will they even sell keys online given security issues. He's in > the Sierra foothills outside of SAC if that provides access to a local > dealer with good pricing. > > Marc Plante > E36m3/4/5 80k (in garage today, I'm being green) > Cervelo R3 > Vienna, VA ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 08:38:38 -0400 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: UUC Digest <[email protected]> Subject: [Fwd: RE: KMS parts order] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Jayson, did the key ordered below come in? Thanks Brett -------- Original Message -------- Subject: RE: KMS parts order Date: Mon, 10 Sep 2007 10:05:04 -0400 From: bmwparts <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Received. Thanks, Jayson -----Original Message----- From: KMS- Brett Anderson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, September 10, 2007 9:12 AM To: bmwparts Subject: KMS parts order 64 21 8 367 179 (10) 51 21 8 372 844 VIN DD73340 31 31 1 091 569 31 31 1 091 570 In stock, please give to Donna 07 51 0 017 866(48) 82 14 1 467 704 (6) 61 31 8 360 855 Thanks Brett -- Brett Anderson KMS - Koala Motorsport LLC (440) 564 7574 www.koalamotorsport.com www.bmwdiffs.com 9988 Kinsman Rd Novelty OH 44072 (Cleveland Area) OSS committee member ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Sep 2007 09:29:37 -0400 From: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: KMS- Brett Anderson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Cc: UUC Digest <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [Fwd: RE: KMS parts order] Message-ID: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Crap. Did it again. Ignore the WOB, sorry. KMS- Brett Anderson wrote: > > Jayson, did the key ordered below come in? ------------------------------ End of [bmwuucdigest] digest(15 messages) **********
