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#1. Re: [E36M3] 2 Electrical Problems - from Aswtguy2c@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 21:58:26 EDT From: Aswtguy2c@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] 2 Electrical Problems Mr. Graziano, I agree with Nick's diagnosis of the reverse brake light switch on the side of the transmission. Look for any damage that has been done. You can also check the condition of the reverse light bulbs as well. Hopefully the connector of the rear light assemblies has a reverse light pin. As for your auxiliary fan question, do you have any problems with your A/C not blowing cold air? Here's a test you can do... come home from work with A/C on full blast. When you get to your driveway, park the car and keep it running with the A/C on, walk in front of the car and checked to see if the aux. fan is running. If I can remember correctly from a trouble shooting manual, the aux. fan is controlled by pressure switches from the radiator and the reciever/drier on the A/C system. Once it gets to a determined pressure and/or temp., the aux. fan is activated. Hope this helps. Jonathan Caldito BMW Tech (Trainee for now)
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#2. Re: worth modifying my 91 318is? - from Carlos Lopez
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 20:26:47 -0700 (PDT) From: Carlos Lopez <clopez95m3@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: worth modifying my 91 318is? >Anyone familiar with Firehawk racing series? I've heard >they raced a few modified 318's. TIA. As much as I dislike the place, call Korman. They (he) used to run in the Firehawk series. I'm considering buying a used race exhaust for my M3 that was run in the Firehawk series. Carlos 4 banging M3 :-) PS gotta go "Bullitt" is on and I hear tires screeching. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/
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#3. Great Article in this month's Road and Track - from GRCouture@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:33:14 EDT From: GRCouture@aol.com Subject: Great Article in this month's Road and Track Hey Guys and Gals, There's a great article in this month's Road and Track about the E36 M3. Talks a bit about the history, how it is one of very few cars to hardly depreciate, and what to look out for if you're interested in one. A pretty cool read - I reccommend picking up a copy if you haven't already! Just thought i'd share. Gregg '99 M3
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#4. Inspection II - from Michael Ting
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:07:39 -0500 From: "Michael Ting" <lupin@purdue.edu> Subject: Inspection II Is Inspection II a manageable thing to do by yourself?? I have a '95 M3, and am thinking of saving some labor $$. I wonder if a Bentley Manual will be helpful enough for me. Michael Ting --------------------
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#5. Re: [E36M3] re: M3 handling - from Ron Buchalski
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Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 04:21:37 GMT From: "Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] re: M3 handling Sean, I think that you're doing a great job of describing this. I also think that Ken Robb hit the issue directly when he said: "The courts have decided that if a car goes off nose-first the driver was going too fast for conditions, but if it goes off ass first it was a design flaw so try and find a stock car that oversteers." and "But if you are trying to force a car designed for understeer to drive loose you are not going to be very successful." BMW engineers who dialed in the understeer probably didn't consider the dynamics of the car when attempting to drive outside it's performance envelope. From personal experience, I think that the E36 M3, on street tires, is easier to "read" near the limits than the same car on R-compound tires. In June I attended my first school on R-compound tires, and was fortunate to have my first session on the wet skidpad. I learned alot during that session. I'm glad that I learned it in the safe environment of a wet skidpad, rather than on the track. It was my first _ever_ driving experience on R-compound tires. I also agree with your excellent description of how the E36 M3 has a much narrower range of operation near the limit, and how it "corrects" or "masks" driver errors. On the same turn where my E36 M3 would be passing at 60 mph and "understeering like a pig", my E34 525iT would have been off in the weeds. Does it mean that the M3 is a better car? No, it means that I was performing a stupid driving maneuver, and was damn lucky (and wealthy) enough to be driving a "guardian angel". :-) Prior to getting my M3, I drove an E30 318i. The car had no power, but handled well due to suspension upgrades done as I reached the limits of the stock suspension. I learned to drive the car very well. In fact, during my last school in the 318i (1997), I was surprised to be able to outrun a stock '95 M3 through the turns on the Jefferson circuit at Summit Point. Granted, the M3's owner was new and inexperienced, but it was entertaining. The following year (1998), I attended a school on the the same track, in my brand new (to me) '95 M3. I was being cautious because it was a new car, and I knew that the car had much higher limits than I did, but it was DAMN FRUSTRATING to see Ron Katona outrun me in his 318ti! But, by taking the smart approach, and first raising my driving limits, before approaching the car's limits, and then approaching the car's limits gradually, I've learned quite a bit about my abilities and the M3's abilities. And, I'll repeat it again: "SPEND YOUR MONEY TO IMPROVE THE DRIVER, NOT THE CAR." After giving more thought to those owners who upgrade suspensions and wheels/tires only for the "look", I'm no longer concerned that they'll kill themselves because they don't understand their car's limits. In most cases, their limits are so damned low that they shit a twinkie driving the car at 5/10ths, so they'll never get to the upper limits anyway. (Well, with the exception of pushing the pedal to the medal on the freeways, but then, any mullet head in an IROC can do that, too.) ;-) -rb PS: For those of you who are wondering what a "Mullet Head" is, check out: http://www.mulletsgalore.com/ -rb >Date: Sat, 22 Jul 2000 20:17:42 PDT >From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> >Subject: Re: [E36M3] re: M3 handling > > >Really, why? I had a 88 5.0 LX and it was atrocious! Live rear >axle, >lots of torque, short wheelbase... these things really go >from understeer >to oversteer in a hurry. The M3 is way easier to >drive fast and far more >forgiving. > >i think i must not be describing the "attribute" of the car i'm saying M3s >don't have alot of correctly. <snip> ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Inspection II - from Donna Seeley
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 22:02:48 -0700 From: Donna Seeley <dseeley@infoasis.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Inspection II Michael, Bassett and I have been doing Insp. II on my daily-driver '95 M3 for, oh, three weeks now. We're working it in among the track car work in the evenings. I have a better appreciation for why it costs so much, but I still wouldn't pay for the whole thing. Most of it is...inspection (go figure! <g>) of belts, hoses, suspension parts; check lights, horn, etc. We don't have a lift so haven't inspected the underside yet. Parts to buy are: microfilter (PITA), fuel filter (not done yet), spark plugs (easy), air filter (easy), and fluids (oil, tranny, diff). Might be a couple more little things. You'll need the Bentley for torque specs. One thing to note is that both of us found items grossly overtorqued by our dealers. His was the oil drain plug, supposed to be ~25 ft-lbs. My auto tranny fill plug, supposed to be 30 ft-lbs, needed an impact wrench, and we still haven't gotten the drain plug (12 ft-lbs) out (!). Because of that, we're procrastinating on the diff. Donna ------- 88 M3, track car 95 330isA, super-commuter http://www.stopyoucold.com > > Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 23:07:39 -0500 > From: "Michael Ting" <lupin@purdue.edu> > Subject: Inspection II > > Is Inspection II a manageable thing to do by yourself?? > > I have a '95 M3, and am thinking of saving some labor $$. > > I wonder if a Bentley Manual will be helpful enough for me. > > Michael Ting > --------------------
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#7. Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... - from Chester Wong
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Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 22:11:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... Hey guys. While backing out of my driveway on Saturday, I noticed a very different sound coming from the engine compartment. It was more apparent since it reflected (sp?) against the adjacent walls back through my open windows. It sounds like a loud rattle coming from the valve train...more apparent when you blip the throttle and the revs are on the way down. At first, I thought it might be bad gas, but even today after draining down to about a gallon and then filling up, it was the same. When I was waiting around for the autox and started 'er up with the hood open, you could definitely hear a cluck, cluck, cluck coming from the front of the engine near the valve cover. Everyone I asked said that it was most likely the VANOS gear. DOH! The car has 20,500 miles. Does it sound like it's the VANOS system? Am I doing any harm driving it around while it's in this condition? I will probably try to bring it in for service sometime this week. Bummer. Oh, btw, if it is the VANOS gear, then for the people who are concerned about their cars, don't worry...you can definitely tell the difference once the problem surfaces. TIA, Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail – Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... - from Adam Fila
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Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 01:39:19 -0400 From: "Adam Fila" <ylf@mindless.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... Chester, I had this sound coming from the VANOS ever since I got the car 2 years ago (at 25k miles). I assume this is the famous VANOS "marbles" sound that a lot of the M3's make. Mine sort of sounds like a loud rattle, most pronounced as the revs are dropping down to idle. At first I tried to get the dealer to look at it, but they said it's "normal" I have learned to live with it. Doesn't seem to have any negative effect on anything. In fact I have kinda started to like it after some time - it's violent and loud - I pretend I drive a race car to work :) -Adam Fila '95 M3 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chester Wong" <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmwmpower.com> Sent: Monday, July 24, 2000 1:13 AM Subject: [E36M3] Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... Date: Sun, 23 Jul 2000 22:11:51 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Uh oh....my VANOS gear looks like it went.... Hey guys. While backing out of my driveway on Saturday, I noticed a very different sound coming from the engine compartment. It was more apparent since it reflected (sp?) against the adjacent walls back through my open windows. It sounds like a loud rattle coming from the valve train...more apparent when you blip the throttle and the revs are on the way down. At first, I thought it might be bad gas, but even today after draining down to about a gallon and then filling up, it was the same. When I was waiting around for the autox and started 'er up with the hood open, you could definitely hear a cluck, cluck, cluck coming from the front of the engine near the valve cover. Everyone I asked said that it was most likely the VANOS gear. DOH! The car has 20,500 miles. Does it sound like it's the VANOS system? Am I doing any harm driving it around while it's in this condition? I will probably try to bring it in for service sometime this week. Bummer. Oh, btw, if it is the VANOS gear, then for the people who are concerned about their cars, don't worry...you can definitely tell the difference once the problem surfaces. TIA, Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere! http://mail.yahoo.com/ ************************************************************* List Commands UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. *************************************************************
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#9. Short Shifter install - from Robert_Manger@mastercard.com
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Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 09:20:46 -0400 From: Robert_Manger@mastercard.com Subject: Short Shifter install Well Folks, I have again had the pleasure of wrenching on my beloved car with the guiding hand of Ron Stygar. This time I installed a short shifter into the car, used derilin AF bushings which my car had stock, too weird the variations that production years have 5/94 in case you were wondering. It took some time to find the circlips and "bitch clip" for the front of the selector rod. Since I was there and underneath might as well change the bushings. Now I can't go into how it is done but the shifter is 3/4" lower and exactly at the stock position. Ron has some voo doo magic to make it all happen. OH da feel of it. I went on a long drive up to Boston and was able to get used to it right away. the increased effort is nominal in my opinion and the positive feedback you get is great while shifting. All in all a great upgrade. Once again, just describing a positive encounter with a very knowledgeable man, I have no stake in his business or in the promotion there of. Rob
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#10. Jon Caldito, are you out there? ABS question. - from Eric.C.Dotson@travelers.com
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Date: Mon, 24 Jul 2000 09:43:33 -0400 From: Eric.C.Dotson@travelers.com Subject: Jon Caldito, are you out there? ABS question. If you're out there, Jon: My ABS stopped working recently on my 95 M3 with 90k. Checked all of the wheel sensors and cleaned the gunk off them to no effect. None were visibly damaged. This may be over my head. My question is, if I take the car to the dealer, can they plug in the MODIC and tell me whats wrong? I mean, will it say "sensor not working" or "sensor at right rear wheel not working?" I figured you're the man to ask. TIA, Eric 95 M3 - no ABS, O2 sensor shot, trailing arm bushings need replaced, apparently decided to fall apart :) 95 325i - runnin' fine, probably 'cause wife won't let me touch it