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#1. RE: [E36M3] Track Tires/Trailer Hitch - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:12:24 -0700 From: "Jim Bassett" <jbassett@mayannetworks.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Track Tires/Trailer Hitch > I'm new to this list having just purchased a '98 M3/4 (reference Hunter > Johnson's previous note on his cost of ownership). I'll be picking up > the depreciation from here on out. I'm not too worried about that but > more concerned about having fun with the car. You'll be amazed at how much fun you can have with it! I am every freaking day :-) (Maybe a bit too much fun lately - gotta watch it :-)) > The first question is regarding a trailer hitch. > > 1) Has anyone had any experience with a trailer hitch on an M3? This > would be used for a small trailer to transport track wheels/tires etc. > Dylan makes one for the E36 cars and I have the installation > instructions (I can forward a .pdf file of this to anyone interested). > If you have experience with this, I would really appreciate some close > up photos of the installation. The instructions mention a need to trim > the rear bumper fascia on the M3 and this concerns me - otherwise it > looks to be a fairly straightforward and neat installation. I don't have any direct experience with this hitch, but a freind of mine does. I'll contact him and see if he can give you some feedback (I'm not sure if he's on this list - JimO, you here? Yes, another damn "Jim" :-)). > The second area of question involves track tires and wheels. > > 2) What recommendations do others have regarding track tire sizes > (assuming 17" wheels and stock suspension - for now)? Anybody using a > 16" wheel (will it clear the brakes) - I know this is going the wrong > direction but you could possibly save some $$ on wheels/tires and with > the right choice of tires not loose much? Based upon the listings at > the Tire Rack, the choices seem quite limited but I am interested in > whether most people are having better results with same size front and > rear or with a setup like the later years stock configuration of wider > in the rear. I don't think 16" wheels will clear the brakes (there may be one type/style that does?? I'm not really sure). FYI, I'm using a set of 17x8 wheels all around (bought used from a list-member; BBS Moda Sport) and run Toyo RA-1 235/45/17 (the only 17" size they make). Hope that helps, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4
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#2. Re: [E36M3] HELP ME!!!!!! - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:13:30 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] HELP ME!!!!!! >I swapped my strut bearing a few months ago, my tires cupped. I just had >my new AVS Sports mounted and had an alignment done as well, guess what >my tires are cupping again..... What is causing me this frustration? >Should I just swap the bearings back? I really like the crisp turn that >I get with the hats swapped, but I am getting tired of a constant >vibration due to the tires cupping... having lots of negative camber (which is what you get with swapped bearings) DOES make for uneven tire wear. on my car it wore the inside edge a little more then the outside edge. nothing as severe as cupping. but you ARE trading tire life for the crisp turn in. if your tires are cupping it's probably because of tire pressures (i run a bit higher with the negative camber) or too much toe in. (toe WILL change when you change the camber) ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#3. RE: [E36M3] Rear pads and rotors - how difficult to DIY? - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:19:51 -0700 From: "Jim Bassett" <jbassett@mayannetworks.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Rear pads and rotors - how difficult to DIY? > How difficult is it to change the rear rotors and pads on my 98 > M3? I've already done the fronts, but my rear rotors and pads > need some attention and I just wanted to ask the group if there's > any tricks or things to watch out for. I'm hoping it'll be as > simple as the fronts, but it never hurts to ask! Thanks in advance! Pretty much the same - just make sure the parking brake is OFF (You'll look pretty silly POUNDING on the rear rotor to get it off the hub because the parking brake is set - ask me how I know :-)). Also, a stubby 7mm hex bit makes removing the rear caliper guide bolts a little easier. The rear shock gets in the way of a "standard" size one. I think Snap-On has a stubby one - that's what I use, IIRC. A standard length one will work, it just gets tight in there and may require hand loosening if the ratchet head won't fit. YMMV. Cheers, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4
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#4. Re: [E36M3] BFG G-Force R1A - 2nd Gen tires - results? - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 11:20:24 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] BFG G-Force R1A - 2nd Gen tires - results? >Has anyone tried the "new" generation of G-Force tires? My A032R's won't >last for too much longer and I'm looking at the new G-Force R1A's as an >option. I had the old G-Forces last year but I hated them - I had all of >the problems that the Tire Rack describes in their article (difficult to >properly set up, not forgiving, "on-the-edge" feeling, etc.) The Yok's on >the other hand, feel like a nice, friendly sticky street tire, but I'd like >more grip than they offer. the new g-forces are a LITTLE (let me say that again, LITTLE) bit more friendly. so LITTLE in fact that compared to the friendly a032rs, you'd probably not notice the difference between new and old. let me try numbers. on a 1-100 scale (with 100 beinf friendly) ao32rs - 95 old gforces - 2 new gforces - 3 it's that bad. i'd never tell someone looking for driver school tires to use g forces. i don't even use them for racing. the tiny bit of performance gain you get is not worth all the hassles for my ametur racing. maybe if you're a pro racer... maybe... if you want a bit more grip then a023rs (why i don't know, it's jsut lapping) you can try kumos, hoosiers, or goodyear gscs. ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#5. Re: [E36M3] HELP ME!!!!!! - from Joe Dyer
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:04:36 -0700 From: "Joe Dyer" <joedyer@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] HELP ME!!!!!! Bill you should NEVER change suspension geometry without changing alignment! Joe Dyer ----- Original Message ----- From: B Horlacher <Horlacher@carrindustries.net> To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmwmpower.com> Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2000 7:39 AM Subject: [E36M3] HELP ME!!!!!! > Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 10:38:56 -0400 > From: "B Horlacher" <Horlacher@carrindustries.net> > Subject: HELP ME!!!!!! > > I swapped my strut bearing a few months ago, my tires cupped. I just had > my new AVS Sports mounted and had an alignment done as well, guess what > my tires are cupping again..... What is causing me this frustration? > Should I just swap the bearings back? I really like the crisp turn that > I get with the hats swapped, but I am getting tired of a constant > vibration due to the tires cupping... > > > Please email me with your comments and opinions, > Sincerely, > Bill Horlacher > > > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. > ************************************************************* > >
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#6. total cost of tracking my M3 - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:01:51 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: total cost of tracking my M3 i just added up all the costs of tracking my 95 M3 for the last 2.5 years. included is tires, brakes, maintence, devauluation of my car because of tracking, entry fees, gas, and hotels. total cost? $31,567.84 more then $10,000 a year. (10-15 days a year). or roughly $1000-$1200 per day. and... that's NOT including the money i spent on "upgrades" (intake, shocks, strut tower bars, xbraces, brake lines, brake ducts, floating rotors, and on and on and on. apparently M3s are expensive cars to run. i pay less then that to actually race the cars i race. (old rx7s) ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#7. [E36M3] bike racks - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:03:44 PDT From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: [E36M3] bike racks about 9 months ago (long after i didn't care about my M3) i bought one of those bike racks that attaches to the trunk with pads and hooks. of course it left marks in the paint of the trunk. now that i have a shiny new(er) M3 i DO care about my paint. how can i attach a bike rack to my M3? or how can i use the one i have without hurting the paint? (rags unter the rubber pads, etc.) thanks! ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#8. M3 hitch reply - from Steve Grigory
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:04:37 -0700 From: "Steve Grigory" <sgrigory@alchemedia.com> Subject: M3 hitch reply Tom, I have a 95 M3 and had the Da'Lan (I think that's how you spell it) installed right after I bought the car about 2 1/2 years ago. I did it primarily for attaching a bike rack. I had it installed and to be honest it was only about a month ago that I even bothered to take the spare tire out of the trunk and look at the "bike rack reinforcement" the shop installed. And I only did that for a buddy in Denver who is installing the same hitch for the same reason. So far, it's been great. If they had to do any modifications to the rear fascia, then it's all underneath since the external view is unchanged. I have a pic of the trunk reinforcement if you'd like to see it. I had been told by both Da'Lan and the shop that did the install that it was needed for bike racks since bike racks put a greater vertical load on the hitch than a trailer does and this would cause the hitch to basically tear the trunk apart over time. Ouch! I also plan to get a small trailer in the somewhat near future. Although I could get everything to fit inside the car, it's a complete pain and you'll eventually either pull some muscle or scar the interior and end up all pissed off at yourself. Plus it's just very handy to attach the trailer and take off for the track. Very nice. steve -------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 20 Jun 2000 21:54:18 -0400 From: "Thomas E. Tice" <tetice@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Track Tires/Trailer Hitch Hi Gang, I'm new to this list having just purchased a '98 M3/4 (reference Hunter Johnson's previous note on his cost of ownership). I'll be picking up the depreciation from here on out. I'm not too worried about that but more concerned about having fun with the car. I have lots of questions and hope to sponge off of others' experience with these particular cars but for now will start with questions aimed in 2 general areas. The first question is regarding a trailer hitch. 1) Has anyone had any experience with a trailer hitch on an M3? This would be used for a small trailer to transport track wheels/tires etc. Dylan makes one for the E36 cars and I have the installation instructions (I can forward a .pdf file of this to anyone interested). If you have experience with this, I would really appreciate some close up photos of the installation. The instructions mention a need to trim the rear bumper fascia on the M3 and this concerns me - otherwise it looks to be a fairly straightforward and neat installation. The second area of question involves track tires and wheels. 2) What recommendations do others have regarding track tire sizes (assuming 17" wheels and stock suspension - for now)? Anybody using a 16" wheel (will it clear the brakes) - I know this is going the wrong direction but you could possibly save some $$ on wheels/tires and with the right choice of tires not loose much? Based upon the listings at the Tire Rack, the choices seem quite limited but I am interested in whether most people are having better results with same size front and rear or with a setup like the later years stock configuration of wider in the rear. As background for the tire question, I am a reasonably experienced CCA instructor type (but not extremely hard core). I value having FUN more than attaining absolute maximum speed (I've mellowed over the years). FUN can be defined as driving a less capable car close to or at its limits - yes in the past I have had TOO much fun and that results in the need to clean the dirt and debris from the interior of the car the next time in the pits. My previous track cars were a highly modified '74 2002 (a handful but great learning tool) and a '90 325iS with suspension mods but stock engine. The 325iS was a very neutral (but anemic compared to the M3) handling car that I had a lot of fun with and I hope to have even more with the M3. Cheers, Tom Tice '98 M3/4 '99 540/6
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#9. Re: [E36M3] bike racks - from Ken Robb
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:24:57 -0700 From: Ken Robb <kenrobb@willisallen.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] bike racks make sure the surface is clean and waxed where the pads touch it or you grind dirt into the paint causing the scratches. A removable film[Saran Wrap?] on the paint under the pads might be a good idea though I haven't tried it. Sean Hester wrote: > Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:03:44 PDT > From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> > Subject: [E36M3] bike racks > > about 9 months ago (long after i didn't care about my M3) i bought one of > those bike racks that attaches to the trunk with pads and hooks. > > of course it left marks in the paint of the trunk. > > now that i have a shiny new(er) M3 i DO care about my paint. how can i > attach a bike rack to my M3? or how can i use the one i have without > hurting the paint? (rags unter the rubber pads, etc.) > > thanks! > ________________________________________________________________________ > Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com > > ************************************************************* > List Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. > ************************************************************* -- ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/
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#10. stop scratches - from Ken Robb
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Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 12:28:22 -0700 From: Ken Robb <kenrobb@willisallen.com> Subject: stop scratches I just thought that the flexible magnet pads stuck to my refrigerator door would go under the bike rack pads and solve this one easily. Ken Robb -- ----------------------------------------------------- Click here for Free Video!! http://www.gohip.com/freevideo/