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#1. E36 M3/4 For Sale - from RayC325@aol.com
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Date: Sat, 7 Oct 2000 19:45:48 EDT From: RayC325@aol.com Subject: E36 M3/4 For Sale 1997 M3, 4-door, 5-speed for sale: Red with black leather interior Garaged, non smoker. Harman Kardon stereo upgrade BMW 6-disc CD changer On-board computer Cruise control Traction control Sunroof Factory rear spoiler with brake light New Kumho tires New brake pads K&N filter, otherwise stock 32,000 miles BMW Certified includes roadside assistance and extra 50k mile warranty. Excellent condition $31,750 obo I can help with financing or lease. The car is located in Louisiana. Thanks. Ray
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#2. O-Fest highlights - from Ron Katona
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Date: Sat, 07 Oct 2000 20:33:40 -0400 From: Ron Katona <rkatona@bellatlantic.net> Subject: O-Fest highlights Well, let's see... stream of consciousness here as I'm still recovering a day or two later... Autocross: Russ Wiles blew everyone away with a 58.5 in a LTW. No one else was under one minute. Mark Sipe and I think one other driver were right around 60 flat. I didn't run, my car never made the trip. I think I had a very good shot at breaking one minute in my car, but I don't think I could have caught Russ based on the times of some of the other NCC guys ran that I frequently run against... coulda been, shoulda been, yada, yada! The course was a surprise for an O-Fest. Remember people in recent years complaining that the O-fest auto-x is too slow, too tight, too easy? This one was 3rd gear, maybe 80 mph in some cars, held on a small road course at the performance center. I chose not to borrow a car to run because I was aware that there was a possibility of rolling a car on this course. My concerns were with running off track and digging a tire into soft earth. As it happened, a 318ti did roll on Tuesday, but not because it went off. It got up on two wheels then hit a dip or a change in camber and just went over on the driver's side. It then hit the grass and rolled three times. Along with the roll and other delays, the event had folks run one heat, then work another heat in somewhat random fashion making for very long days. Probably one of the most exciting O-Fest autocrosses ever though. Michelin Slalom: Gee (blush) where do I begin! <VBG> I WON! Yup, got the overall victory against the aforementioned Russ Wiles with a 29.5 to his 29.8. I think there was one other sub 30 second run. The course started with a long 4-cone slalom (about 100' spacing) followed by a couple offsets and a decreasing radius 180. Then another long 4-coner back to a tight left-right transition to a SHORT stop garage which was also the start garage. BMW provided 330iA's. They felt slow off the line (OK, I'm used to a Street Prepared M3 5-speed) and really didn't get going fast enough to worry about not making the slalom cones. The other gates were super tight, maybe 10'. I think those two factors took most of finding the right line out of it and it became an exercise of not getting the DSC to kick in and kill your time. We were forbidden to turn off the DSC. Surprisingly, I didn't find it nearly as intrusive as the ASC+T in my 318ti. This new system is actually pretty impressive. I met Russ at the Motorsports dinner Wednesday night. Rafael Garces of the NCC came over and said "Russ Wiles wants to meet you." Well, if you autocross a BMW, that's like getting an audience with the Pope! I felt like kissing his ring, but we just shook hands instead. Russ is a great guy and gave me the "I'm not worthy" salute when I picked my trophy for the slalom... big thrill for me. A little insider's news for those who follow SCCA Solo-II. I hope I don't give anything away. You _might_ see a certain former national champ back in serious competition again in a certain M car in a certain class next year. That's all you're getting from me! Drivers' school: Obviously, I didn't drive. I did get a ride with one of the NCC's instructors in his 635. Great track. Turn 12 is insanely fast. Love the elevation changes and the blind entries/exits. Club Race: Big news was that I kept hearing this story of Don Panoz taking Tom Milner out for a scenic tour of Road Atlanta _during_ one of the races! It reportedly effected one of the races and people weren't happy. One for the ages there. Motorsport Day: Fun watching Auberlen, Said, and Cunningham give 3 people at a time wild, tire burning, 4-wheel drifting, rides around the performance center test track in new M5s! They were raffling off the rides and I didn't get one. ;-( I think _I_ should have been giving the rides though since I heard Hans Stuck tried the slalom and didn't beat my time either ! ;-) Lots of great static displays of various BMW racing machines out there also. Got some cool posters too. At the dinner that night, other than meeting Russ, there was much discussion of the future of M. I'm not convinced Tom S., the new M manager, really gets it, but the new M3 is reportedly so good that Boris Said stated that the M5 is "nothing" in comparison. Sure. David Hobbs and Brian Reddman spoke at length and although they both have probably take too many blows to the head, they were very funny! Misc: Hung out at a little brew pub one night and met Don Salama from the TMS team. Another great guy with tons of wonderful racing stories... oh, If I only had a couple mil lying around. I'm really liking these TMS guys though, very grass roots BMW enthusiasts team. Don is also a former autocrosser and was happy to talk autocross with me over a stout or two. Raffle: As far as I know, I didn't win; neither did you. :-( Lastly, a Toyota Corolla will get 35 mpg at 75-80 mph all day. It'll even maintain 70 mph up hills. As appliances go, I rate this one somewhere between my blender and the refrigerator. That's about all for now... -- Ron Katona
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#3. Bilstein vs. Koni: Ride Quality - from Marc Plante
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 00:32:05 -0400 From: "Marc Plante" <marc@bellatlantic.net> Subject: Bilstein vs. Koni: Ride Quality > I currently drive an E36 325 with H&R OEM sport springs and Koni > single adjustable shocks. When I was shopping for suspensions a > few years back, I tried a friend's E36 325 with the Bilstein > Sport/H&R Sport setup, and it seemed a bit too firm. I went with > Koni/H&R OEM at that time as a compromise to ride quality since > Washington DC can have less than smooth roads. > > I'm considering a Bilstein/H&R sport suspension on another E36 > (an M3, so I'm on topic for Suzy's list), and wondering how it's > going to differ, since I've been really pleased with the tradeoff > of comfort and control that I've gotten with Koni/H&R OEM on both > street and track. > > 1) Could someone who's run both Koni and Bilstein shocks provide > some insight as to how different the damping is, and how that > would affect ride quality? > > 2) Would ride quality also be affected by using sport vs. OEM > springs? I know they're supposed to be the same weight, but does > their relative height drive different compression in practice? > > I'll get in touch with Roland at H&R, but figured I'd ask the > digests for their opinions. > > Thanks, > > Marc Plante > E36 325i, 160k > Alexandria, VA > (shopping)
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#4. winter wheels - from Ariel Jimenez
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 02:04:01 -0500 From: "Ariel Jimenez" <ariel@megapathdsl.net> Subject: winter wheels Now that the snow has started falling here in Chicago, I have to begin thinking about winter wheel and tire packages. I was looking through Tirerack and their most popular package are Mille Miglia 16" wheels w/Bridgestone Blizzak LM-22s. Does anyone have experience with the LM-22s, good or bad? How about the Michelin Pilot Alpins? Also, does it matter that the wheels are 16", or should I get 17"? TIA, any help is appreciated. Ariel Jimenez 99 Silver M3 Coupe
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#5.Air intake & Euro HFM - from Rob
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 01:11:10 -0600 From: "Rob" <motor@cadvision.com> Subject: <WTB> Air intake & Euro HFM I'm looking for a good (used) intake and Euro HFM for my '95 3.0L M3. Anyone have these for sale or know where to look? TIA, Rob
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#6. Question For/About Jim C. - from David Hogg
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 08:21:15 -0700 From: "David Hogg" <springwood@blazenet.net> Subject: Question For/About Jim C. Yes, Jim does custom programming through certain tuners like TC and Turner for their racing customers. But it does take some major $$$. No surprise. Dave Hogg
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#7. Check Coolant Level - from F. Graziano
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 12:45:37 -0400 From: "F. Graziano" <fgraziano@monmouth.com> Subject: Check Coolant Level Well i turned on my car today after months of flawless use and the coolant level check came on. I find this totally ironic because i just did a total car check a few days ago and the coolant level was only a smidge under the line. It seems to be very low now. Anyway, which brand should i get. Also, should i be filling it to the line in between Kalt and Cold? A quick response would be very appreciated. Thanks, Frank
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#8. Re: [E36M3] How about Best Mail Order Companies. - from Carey Probst
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Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2000 13:16:49 -0400 From: Carey Probst <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] How about Best Mail Order Companies. I'd also like to add praise for Excellent service, quality products, excellent customer relations. My idea of how to run a mail order or e-business: My experience over multiple purchases 1. Bavarian Auto - very knowledgable. Also a great toy store to visit. 2. HMS - very knowledgable 3. OG Racing - very knowledgable and helpful. Visit the shop for great service also. Also excellent but only 1 purchase 3. Rockey Mountain Motorworks - Will go back. 4. Griot's Garage - Will go back Good quality products but didn't seem to have their act together 1. EasternMotorwerks - once order finally arrived I was very happy but they had me wondering for a while if I'd been had. Kept sending e-mail that they were missing parts of the gauge kit and when the missing part arrived, something else was missing. When it finally came I was happy. clip > I am only speaking for my self on this one but i must compliment both > Turner Motorsports and Bekkers Imports on their service. I order springs > from Turner in the morning and they were on my doorstep the next day. > Bekkers also delivered as promised. Your stories?? > Frank -- Carey Probst Technical Director Business Intelligence and Warehouse Service Line Phone: (518) 584-4388 Fax: (518) 584-8037 E-Mail: Carey.Probst@oracle.com Member, M.I.T. Educational Council Perm: hcprobst@alum.mit.edu A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
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#9. Re: [E36M3] RE: Worst Mail Order vendors - from Carey Probst
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Date: Sun, 08 Oct 2000 13:19:30 -0400 From: Carey Probst <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RE: Worst Mail Order vendors UPS may be open late in major cities but it you live in the hinterlands, don't count on picking things. My closest UPS is 20 miles away and open for pickups from 3:30 to 5:30 daily. If you have a choice, pick FedEx ground or air. They have Saturday pick up hours. dbruce wrote: > > You can then pick it up at your leisure since UPS closes as late as > 8:00 in some areas. > -- Carey Probst Technical Director Business Intelligence and Warehouse Service Line Phone: (518) 584-4388 Fax: (518) 584-8037 E-Mail: Carey.Probst@oracle.com Member, M.I.T. Educational Council Perm: hcprobst@alum.mit.edu A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
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#10. IFG A5 Wheels - from AVUSM3@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 8 Oct 2000 14:30:09 EDT From: AVUSM3@aol.com Subject: IFG A5 Wheels Has anyone out there bent an IFG A5 wheel?? The reason I ask is that I am looking to replace the stock wheels on my '95 M3 which are as soft as butter! I just bent my fourth wheel (in 10k miles) coming back from Ofest and I have decided enough is enough. Are those IFGs really as strong as they say? Thanks for the input, John '95 M3 - Sharked, X-B, PF90s, etc...