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#1. E36 M3 Rear sway bar mounts - from Christopher J. N. Kolaitis
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 13:44:23 -0500 From: "Christopher J. N. Kolaitis" <chrisjnk@ix.netcom.com> Subject: E36 M3 Rear sway bar mounts Hi Neil, I have the Dinan gusset kit or tabs that are welded on an angle. A couple of days ago I installed the UUC tubular sways and had an opportunity to closely inspect my mounts. They still looked pretty good after about 32 months and 32,000 miles of driving. I know Dinan still sells them, I would expect them to be pricey. I think you can easily craft up a set of angle iron for a lot less money. Good luck, Chris, Windy City Chapter 97 M3/4 Dinan daily driver Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 13:10:27 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: 96 M3 Rear Swaybar Mount Fracture Put my car up on stands this weekend to look for the knocking noise at the rear, and found that the passenger side swaybar attachment point has snapped off. This attachment point is a tab that's part of the rear subframe (rear axle carrier in BMW-speak). These tabs are known to be weak, and in fact I have been inspecting them periodically for cracking. Apparently not carefully enough... I also note that the spherical ball joints in the RD links now have some play. The car has had the RD swaybars for a couple of years, and is tracked around 20-25 days/year, so all in all this is a disappointing but not that surprising development. Looks as if it's time to replace the subframe (PITA/$$$), and possibly to reinforce the new mounts while it's off the car. A couple of things I recall: - Starting in 98 BMW redesigned the mounts with an angled butress to strengthen the swaybar mounting tabs. - Dinan used to have a weld-in reinforcement. Anyone BTDT or have general words of wisdom to offer? Suggestions for more durable rear links? Neil 96 M3
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#2. JimC intake foam piece replacement - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 15:56:03 -0400 From: "Paul Elliott" <pelliott@rcn.com> Subject: JimC intake foam piece replacement Hey Ron, Good to hear from you again: >>The JimC intake is my vote for the best mod. Fit and finish are excellent with a little work. You never get sick of the roar at 5500 RPM. 7% measured increase in air flow on my M coupe. << I presume that the stock injectors, which I believe flow somewhere just under 20 pound/hr, are sufficient to support this 7% increase in flow....Does anybody know, at what point, increased air flow requires the use of heavier, ie 24 lb, or perhaps even in some extreme cases 30 lb injectors? I believe in my case, the Dinan sc kit uses 24 lb injectors to support around 6-8 psi boost levels. BTW, while we're talking about best mods, lets not forget the Stygar Short Shift kits. Each comes with that inimitable 'personal' touch, assuring the best fit, finish, and performance around. _____________________________ Paul Elliott '99 Alpine White M3; <20000 mi; Forged M dbl-spokes; Rotex pads; Dinan Stage II Supercharger; Stygar Short Shift Kit and clutch stop; Skaags pedals
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#3. Caliper Lube - from Jeff Lin
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 13:07:52 -0700 From: "Jeff Lin" <JeffreyLin@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Caliper Lube From experience the caliper lube works much beter than brake fluid for caliper rebuild.... I believe the stuff I use is made by Permatex and comes in a shrink rap package with a 'fast food' container (like ketchup at a fast food jt.) JL
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#4. Tires/wheels survey FS Fikses - from MFWM3@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 16:21:47 EDT From: MFWM3@aol.com Subject: Tires/wheels survey FS Fikses I went through the same decision process and finally decided to buy a set of Fikse FM5s, anodized, beautiful, with a set of 245-40/17 Hoosiers R3SO3s. Of course, the day I take delivery my buddy who introduced me to the track offered me his pristine RS America track car (roll cage, seats, 3.8L motor, turbo brakes, 3 sets of wheels, etc.) at a price that I can't pass up. So I have a beautiful set Fikse's with brand new Hoosiers for sale. Asking $2100. Located in central Jersey. I am trying to rationalize keeping the M3 and the P-car, but if someone wants to make me an offer I can't refuse on my 98 M3/4, Cosmos Black, black leather, sunroof, power & heated seats, cruise, Harman-Kardon and forged double spokes please feel free. BMW Certified to 100,000 miles. Michael Walsh (hey david)
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#5. Eibachs/H&r's.. - from ClassiGuy3@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 18:14:13 EDT From: ClassiGuy3@aol.com Subject: Eibachs/H&r's.. I am running bilsteins with Eibachs. I am having a problem wit hthe eibachs, seems to me when I hit dips or bumps the passenger side is bouncing more than the drivers side. can this be because the eibachs are just sagging. I have ordered a set of H and r's. hopefully they will work. I changed all the bushings in the rear suspension but no luck. are eibachs bad quality, many people tell me yes. so i am going to try h and r's. any feed back? LEO
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#6. RE: [E36M3] Eibachs/H&r's.. - from Robert Chay
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 15:25:51 -0700 From: "Robert Chay" <rchay@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Eibachs/H&r's.. There's nothing wrong with your springs. It's your shocks, they're not doing their jobs. Look at getting the Bilsteins rebuilt or replaced first. I have the same setup and Eibachs are perfect for me (ride quality, lowering height, etc) -Bobby '98 M3 > -----Original Message----- > From: ClassiGuy3@aol.com [mailto:ClassiGuy3@aol.com] > Sent: Sunday, October 15, 2000 3:22 PM > To: E36M3 > Subject: [E36M3] Eibachs/H&r's.. > > > > I am running bilsteins with Eibachs. I am having a problem wit > hthe eibachs, > seems to me when I hit dips or bumps the passenger side is > bouncing more than > the drivers side. can this be because the eibachs are just > sagging. I have > ordered a set of H and r's. hopefully they will work. I changed all the > bushings in the rear suspension but no luck. are eibachs bad > quality, many > people tell me yes. so i am going to try h and r's. any feed back? > > LEO > >
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#7. Laguna Seca - from Paul England
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 18:23:06 -0400 From: "Paul England" <ettsn@mindspring.com> Subject: Laguna Seca The PTG #7 takes the GT win at Laguna Seca! Also, Schnitzer takes 3rd and (I think) 5th in LMP. I only got to watch this one on TV, but it was a great race at a great track. -Paul
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#8. What is wrong with the stock M3 suspension? - from Bora Akyol
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 15:29:50 -0700 From: Bora Akyol <akyol@pluris.com> Subject: What is wrong with the stock M3 suspension? I am just curious, I see that a lot of people are running aftermarket springs/shocks, swaybars etc. I have owned my 95 M3 for two months now and autoXed it twice (but I have been autoXing a Porsche 928 for much longer than that). I can see the sway bar change to something larger and beefier with poly bushings, but the springs and the shocks on my 95 are pretty stiff (yes they are factory units) and my car seems to have minimal bounce already. So, the question that I have is: Do the aftermarket spring/shock combos make the car so stiff that you can not drive it over pot-market public freeways? If not, which brand shocks and springs are you using? Did anyone measure lap time differences comparing factory vs aftermarket in the same car? Just curious, Thanks Bora 95 M3
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#9. E-46 review places and locations - from JSDONE@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 19:03:31 EDT From: JSDONE@aol.com Subject: E-46 review places and locations I just read the E-46 review in autoweek and I must say, It's gonna be awesome.. If you have a "Borders" bookstore in your area, that's where I found the mag... It's enclosed in a bag for security but the Borders's people opened it up for my review..
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#10. Re: [E36M3] What is wrong with the stock M3 suspension? - from Rich Gay
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Date: Sun, 15 Oct 2000 19:23:38 -0500 From: "Rich Gay" <rich_gay@linbeck.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] What is wrong with the stock M3 suspension? on 10/15/00 5:32 PM, Bora Akyol at akyol@pluris.com wrote: > I have owned my 95 M3 for two months now and autoXed it twice (but I have been > autoXing a Porsche 928 for much longer than that). I can see the sway bar > change > to something larger and beefier with poly bushings, but the springs and the > shocks on my 95 are pretty stiff (yes they are factory units) and my car seems > to have minimal bounce already. > > So, the question that I have is: Do the aftermarket spring/shock combos make > the > car so stiff that you can not drive it over pot-market public freeways? If > not, > which brand shocks and springs are you using? Did anyone measure lap time > differences comparing factory vs aftermarket in the same car? I think the stock M3 suspension is great for a street car. Pretty good for the track too when you are first getting started. Eventually you may want to get more though. I finally upgraded my suspension early this year (H&R, koni, UUC sways, fixed camber plates), and have been pleased. Lap times are improved a few seconds, car handles much better. On the other hand, it is much stiffer on the street, and my wife hates it... which means I don't have to worry about her wanting to drive it :) - Rich