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#1. Re: Commuter car suggestions... - from Thissell, Jeremy
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 11:23:55 -0400 From: "Thissell, Jeremy" <Jeremy.Thissell@USPTO.GOV> Subject: Re: Commuter car suggestions... Somebody beat me to it. My wife and I have a 97 328i with automatic, sport pkg, cruise, black leather, sunroof, and split folding rear seat. I think this car is perhaps one of the most versatile vehicles around. The seats are more comfortable than the dearth vader seats in the M3/2, and of course the exhaust was more tame especially on the highway. The automatic is silky smooth and a godsend in this DC traffic. The sport suspension is adequately sporty and the steering response is nice but not high maintenance as some might consider the M3's steering (i.e. tramlining). The sport pkg wheels in the E36's were 16" so we don't worry too much about bending rims, and the tires are much quieter (we've stuck with OEM Dunlop SP 2000's which are known to be one of the quietest). The 4 doors and split folding rear seat make cargo hauling MUCH easier. While I was having service done on the M3, the dealer gave us a loaner (rental) Toyota Camry which is the cookie cutter commuter car for the masses (along with the civic). Let's just say I was significantly UNimpressed. I think once you've driven a BMW on a regular basis, nothing else gives you the same feel. First off, the car felt nowhere near as solid, which is not exactly conducive to feeling safe. Secondly the interior was significantly subpar (again once you've driven a BMW...). The steering was very detached, and the funniest thing was that the car idled at around 1200 rpm, so if you took your foot off the brake it took off like a shot. This was a 4 cylinder model so it wasn't their best. I've ridden in my uncle's V6 Camry with leather and premium stereo and remember it being very nice, but that car was like $30k. I'll take a 323 for that kind of dough. My point is, you can't go wrong with a BMW with an automatic, as long as it doesn't have M suspension or exhaust. It'll be smooth, safe, comfortable, and reliable. All the things you want in a commuter, right? Jeremy Thissell Patent Examiner Art Unit 3762 US Patent Office > -----Original Message----- > > -------------------- 10 -------------------- > Date: Tue, 13 Jun 2000 22:28:10 -0700 (PDT) > From: Miki Haraguchi <mharaguchi@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] heresy? > > Sean, > > If it's ease of driving you want, I think the E36 328is fits the bill > nicely as a daily commuter (but I'm very biased in my opinion :^). It has > all the amenities you are pining after, except the $5000 stereo system > <g>. > I know of an impeccably maintained one (lux pkg black) that is coming up > for sale right in our neighborhood, if you'd like to consider it. The > 328is > is a great track car too. > > > Miki > 1997 328is > LTW > >
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#2. Re: Floating Rotors and Crash Testing - from Jones, John
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 11:27:04 -0400 From: "Jones, John" <JJones@INTERGEN.com> Subject: Re: Floating Rotors and Crash Testing Roy wrote: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ .... The issue surrounds the two-piece floating rotors that many of us have installed on our E36 M3s. Apparently, the rotors did not pass the front-end impact test coming to North America because the discs actually broke during a front-end collision. ... I can't believe that BMW would let an important part like the brake discs be prone to breakage during a front-end impact in the rest of the world and that NA authorities are the only ones to discover this fact? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It seems to me that if you are in a front-end collision: 1 - your brakes needed a little work to begin with 2 - the concrete barrier you are hitting will provide more than enough deceleration, and the brakes, at that point, are redundant. I would be more worried if they let go right BEFORE a frontal impact. J
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#3. trunk question - from Holeman, David
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:35:14 -0500 From: "Holeman, David" <david.holeman@viaticus.com> Subject: trunk question Hi, I need a sanity check. Is the trunk lid the exact same size on both the 2 door and 4 door E36? David
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#4. RE: [E36M3] Floating Rotors and Crash Testing - from MDadgar@handspring.com
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 08:43:09 -0700 From: MDadgar@handspring.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Floating Rotors and Crash Testing Sean wrot: > lotus elises don't pass, mclaren F1s don't pass, the > old vw bugs still made don't pass, that porsche bill gates > wanted to bring here didn't pass. some companies (renault) > don't even bother trying to make cars that pass US regs anymore. The McLaren passes just fine. There are a number of them here in the US. The Porsche 959 and McLaren were not tested because the cars were built in such limited numbers. If you were Porsche, and you were building 250 VERY EXPENSIVE 959's, would you waste 2 of them on US Gov'ment crash testing? How about McLaren, who built half as many cars? (yeah, I know I said McLarens pass - several McLaren owners got together to buy a car to crash test to get it certified. It's the Larry Ellison-effect) - Mark, wants a Lotus Elise REAL BAD '95 M3 '97 528i 5-spd '88 M3, Hennarot ---- Mark Dadgar - Product Manager, Accessories (650) 230-5037 voice - (650) 230-2100 fax mdadgar@handspring.com - Handspring, Inc. "wide awake on the edge of the world" - Marillion Check out Visor at www.handspring.com!
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#5. Re: [E36M3] T.C. Kline Racing Catalogues..Get Yours Today - from Gerry Miranda
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 08:52:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Gerry Miranda <gerry_miranda@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] T.C. Kline Racing Catalogues..Get Yours Today I want one... Gerry Miranda 1121 s. cambria ln lombard, il 60148 How do we pay ??? --- BL5194@aol.com wrote: > Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:23:06 EDT > From: BL5194@aol.com > Subject: T.C. Kline Racing Catalogues..Get Yours > Today > > Hey Gang, > > The NEW, 26 page, full color, T.C. Kline Racing BMW > catalogue is back from > the printers and is ready to ship. The cost is $3.00 > each to cover the cost > of shipping. As usual, it is free with an order. > It will go out the same > day your order is received. To order simply email > me, call, or send your > info snail mail. I will check my email a few times > a day to write down > orders, but may not write back right away to confirm > your order. I know > everyone will love the catalogue. Thanks again and > I'll look forward to > hearing from you. > > Brian M. Leib > t.c.kline racing ProParts > www.ProPartsUSA.net > 614.771.7744 > > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you > from the mailing list. > ************************************************************* > > ===== Gerry 97 M3/4 __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Photos -- now, 100 FREE prints! http://photos.yahoo.com
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#6. Re: [E36M3] trunk question - from nabli@attglobal.net
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:14:16 -0400 From: nabli@attglobal.net Subject: Re: [E36M3] trunk question NO. Almost every body panel is different. Jim "Holeman, David" wrote: > Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:35:14 -0500 > From: "Holeman, David" <david.holeman@viaticus.com> > Subject: trunk question > > Hi, > > I need a sanity check. Is the trunk lid the exact same size on both the 2 > door and 4 door E36? > > David > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. > *************************************************************
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#7. RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear shock mount - from John Payne
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:28:19 -0600 From: "John Payne" <jpayne@peakss.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear shock mount Just installed the JTD shock mounts with the softer street bushings. Aside from being beautifully machined little pieces, they went in easily, and I have not noticed any aditional noise. Had the car out to the track, and it handled very well even with the street bushings. A nice upgrade. > -----Original Message----- > From: Junaidi Irwan [mailto:junaidi.irwan@usa.net] > Sent: Tuesday, June 13, 2000 9:23 PM > To: E36M3 > Subject: [E36M3] JTD Rear shock mount > > > Date: 13 Jun 00 22:19:07 CDT > From: Junaidi Irwan <junaidi.irwan@usa.net> > Subject: JTD Rear shock mount > > M3ers, > > I am sorry if this topic has been beaten to death, however I am > at the point > that I need to change the rear shock mount of my car. My car is using the > H&R/Bilstein combo. It is making the infamous thumping/clunking > noise when I > make a turn. > > I ordered the JTD rear shock mounts from Turner Motorsport. It is > supposed to > come with 2 different kind of bushings: one for the street and one for the > track. > > My question is, has anyone installed these mounts? What is the > thing that I > need to be aware of before installing the mounts? Will it affect the ride > significantly? Will the shock mounts be making any noises? > > Thanks a lot beforehand for any responses > > - Junaidi - > 95 M3 > > ____________________________________________________________________ > Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1 > > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. > ************************************************************* >
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#8. Suspension Version 3.0 and Other cars - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:43:22 -0400 From: "Wayne Miller" <m3@waynemiller.com> Subject: Suspension Version 3.0 and Other cars First, a little M3 news. I now have suspension Version 3.0 on my car but I haven't had a chance to drive it yet so I can't comment. Version 1 was the stock '99 suspension. Version 2.0 was the RD Sport sway bars, H&R springs, Bilstein shocks and Ground Control rear shock mounts. Version 3.0 is the Euro springs, UUC sway bars, stock shocks, TC Kline adjustable camber plates and Ground Control rear shock mounts. My car is mostly a street car with some drivers schools and autocrosses thrown in but it was just too harsh with version 2.0 on the NJ/NYC streets. Anyway, while the subject of other daily drivers is up, I drove the new Lexus IS300 on Sunday at a Lexus sponsored event in NJ. They even brought 2 328's and 2 A4 2.8s for comparison. Let me just say that if you guys like the 328, you will LOVE the IS300 (maybe not for its looks though). That car handles GREAT. If/when it comes in a stick shift, I would seriously consider it. We were allowed to take in on "hot" (untimed) autocross-type laps unsupervised for a short time and then were taken around with professional drivers. There is little body roll and the suspension and handling are wonderful, especially when compared with the 328 and the A4. The interior is nice and I was very impressed overall. -Wayne
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#9. JTD rear shock mounts - from Junaidi Irwan
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Date: 14 Jun 00 11:54:09 CDT From: Junaidi Irwan <junaidi.irwan@usa.net> Subject: JTD rear shock mounts Thanks to those who have answered my query about the JTD rear shock mounts. However I still have one question left. David Holeman said that the firmer bushing will transfer more force to the shock tower. This got me thinking, Will they damage the shock towers in the long run since they are supposedly pretty firm/solid? Thanks again! -Junaidi- 95 M3 Windy City Chapter ____________________________________________________________________ Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Re: Crash Testing - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:05:51 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Crash Testing >Ooooh, please don't say that we're the strictest for safety >reasons....that's >just not true. This is good ol' fashioned protectionism. of course it's not safety... but still the strictest (as far as i know) >I'm sure the Renault Spider, Lotus Elise, and [E30?] M3 Convertible would >also >pass if tested. it was the E36 M3 convertible that didn't pass at first. BMW had to modify it to meet US standards. it's one of the reasons it was so late in coming. and almost didn't end up here. it was for some wierd reason. something like when the car was put through the front impact test, the roller that moved the machine over the car (like in a car wash) caught the convertible top and ripped it off. so the car was deemed "unsafe". i think BMW just lowered the car a bit to clear the roller. (this story is from memory, so it might not be exactly right) ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#11. Re: [E36M3] JTD rear shock mounts - from Jim Powell
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:06:46 -0700 From: Jim Powell <jsp98m3@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] JTD rear shock mounts Mine hasn't been damaged yet. Of course they are a fairly new part and I only have about 3-4K miles on them. Its almost all track time though. If you go with the softer bushings, you shouldn't have an issue. Jim Junaidi Irwan wrote: > Date: 14 Jun 00 11:54:09 CDT > From: Junaidi Irwan <junaidi.irwan@usa.net> > Subject: JTD rear shock mounts > > Thanks to those who have answered my query about the JTD rear shock mounts. > However I still have one question left. David Holeman said that > the firmer bushing will transfer more force to the shock tower. This got me > thinking, Will they damage the shock towers in the long run since they are > supposedly pretty firm/solid? > > Thanks again! > > -Junaidi- > 95 M3 > Windy City Chapter > > ____________________________________________________________________ > Get free email and a permanent address at http://www.amexmail.com/?A=1 > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. > *************************************************************
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#12. Re: [E36M3] Alignment questions - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2000 10:11:30 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Alignment questions >I took my 95 M3/2 to the dealer this past Monday to have an alignment >done. Well after two hours they come and told me that they can't do an >alignment due to the fact I have a stage 3 Dinan suspension. Is that a >bunch of crap or is there some truth to it? I'm also skeptical about >this dealership because the tech told me he thought I had a bent rim, >after he looked at my tire wear. Well of course the inside edge of the >tire is going to wear funny, I have -2.5 degrees of camber in the >front. I think I have to find the other dealer here in town as they are >a Dinan reseller, or can I bring it into a small reputable place and >have them actually do it? it IS possible that their machine doens't work with your suspension. some machines have clearence issues with my car and it's not even lowered (it just has camber plates) just go somewhere better. they don't sound like someone i'd want to align my car anyway. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com