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#1. repost in non-HTML format - from Jonathan Evans
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 19:48:36 From: "Jonathan Evans" <jonathanevans@hotmail.com> Subject: repost in non-HTML format Hotmail was trying to sneak some new features by me. Sorry for the garbled email. If you were wondering: Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 13:42:18 From: "Jonathan Evans" <jonathanevans@hotmail.com> Subject: door molding Poor man's method: If the clips aren't broken behind the molding, carefully remove the molding and clips and slide a penny between the molding and the clip. Once you take it off it will become obvious where to put the penny. It merely pushes the clip arms out a little bit more and holds the molding more firmly in place. my 2 cents (har har) Jonathan Evans 95 m3 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#2. another repost (suspension ramblings) - from Jonathan Evans
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 19:52:11 From: "Jonathan Evans" <jonathanevans@hotmail.com> Subject: another repost (suspension ramblings) Howdy All, I've finally had time to catch my breath and take time to consider how mar car is driving, not just if there's any gas/oil in it. All this talk about the Bilsteins has convinced me not to go that route when the stock shocks putz out. I didn't realize the ride was that much harsher than stock. Although the best price i've found was $550 from shox.com, FYI. I'll explain my current setup and see if there is any input into ways i can have a better driving DAILY driver that may see 2 or 3 autocrosses a year and hopefully its first track event sometime this spring. Details: 95 M3 with 60k miles Staggered LTW wheels (apparently an option) with, get this: 235/45 in front and 245/40 in rear. I know the car came with 235 (or was it 225?) all around when new, but the previous owner tracked it and felt 235 was optimal on the front. Maybe he just didn't know any better. Any ideas? Reduced understeer? Should i go back to 235 all around or the 96+ setup of 225 front and 245 rear? Questions, questions. Replaced rear toe bushings (control arm?) Wow, car is much more stable. Rear end is now longer steering the car. Rear strut mounts are popping, clunking, bonking. Putting in stock ones this weekend. Overpaid at the dealer for those. So, do I keep with stock shocks when it's time to replace? Ride comfort is perfect right now. I was kinda hoping to reduce body roll (although i've learned it's not necessarily a bad thing) and understeer. The car does plow a bit through tight turns at the autocross. So I'm thinking swaybars or xbrace/strut tower braces? What brands and styles of sway bars are out there for the M3? I've heard talk of Eibach and Dinan. What I would love to do is ride in a few M's with different setups and compare them. Any suggestions welcome. Thanks Jonathan Evans "The List Lurker" Raleigh, NC _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Am I destined to hate my car? [long] - from Ron Buchalski
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 20:38:56 From: "Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Am I destined to hate my car? [long] LoweSeaton writes: > >Date: Wed, 3 Jan 2001 02:42:57 EST >From: LoweSeaton@aol.com >Subject: Re: [E36M3] Am I destined to hate my car? [long] > <snip> > >I wonder if Bilstein recently changed the valving to make it stiffer? I've >ridden in other M3's with Bilstein and H&R springs. Those M3's were MUCH >softer than my M3. I almost think I have the wrong part numbers. On these >other Bilstein equipped M3's, you can push up and down on the front bumper >and move the car up and down. Not mine. You can bust a blood vessel >trying but you won't move my bumper up and down more than 1/4 inch. Who >needs sway bars with Bilstein's? There is NO body roll with my M3 and I >have stock sway bars. Lowell, It sounds like your Bilsteins are running on the bump stops. JimC and others have said that when you use Bilsteins and shorter springs, you need to trim the bump stops. Of course, this immediately voids your Bilstein warranty. If you go to http://www.bilstein.com/index2.html you'll see where the bump stop is located (at the bottom). The shorter your spring is, the closer the tube will be to the bump stop. I had this same issue with the Eibach/Bilstein combo that I put on my E30 318i. The handling was great, but when the front of the car hit ANY bump, the force of the impact travelled throughout the car. -rb _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#4. 95 M3 For Sale - from Wentz, Don
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Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 12:49:19 -0800 From: "Wentz, Don" <don.wentz@intel.com> Subject: 95 M3 For Sale I'm thinking of selling my M3, thought I'd float it here first. Feel free to comment (privately if appropriate) on the price or whatever, you people have a lot of experience. 95 M3, Dakar Yellow 18,000 original miles, car in 'almost' perfect condition, Nov 94 build date. No damage history, a few paint chips (touched-up), minimized by front protective film. Interior like new, black leather manual sport seats, no Lux items or sunroof (low weight). Car has spent 6 days on track. 5,000 miles of the 18K were last summer on a drive from Portland OR to Topeka for 3 days at Heartland Park. 5K miles in 8 days! Mods to car: X-Brace, Strut Tower brace, Bilstein Sport shocks/struts, Eibach Springs, Conforti chip, rear Spoiler. I have all of the original parts with <10K miles on them. Car can be purchased in stock form including original wheels, or with any of the above parts on it. I also have a set of the H&R OEM Sport Springs (stock ride height but more level cornering) that I would like to sell. Less than 6K miles on the springs, $150 delivered. Asking $28,000. Photos available on request. dw
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#5. flywheel rattle - from Kit Wetzler
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 14:15:49 -0800 From: Kit Wetzler <kitwetzler@mindspring.com> Subject: flywheel rattle Hi guys, I posted about getting a lightweight flywheel installed into my M3 a couple of weeks ago. I'm getting a rattle when I'm sitting still in neutral, when I have my foot off the clutch. It goes away when I depress the clutch. Is that normal flywheel noise? or is it something like the throwout or pilot bearing? thanks! -kit 97 m3/4
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#6. Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle - from Ben Liaw
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Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 17:37:33 -0500 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle that noise you here is normal. ben ------------------------------------------- ben liaw - ben@shortshifter.com http://www.uucmotorwerks.com ----- Original Message ----- From: "Kit Wetzler" <kitwetzler@mindspring.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2001 5:22 PM Subject: [E36M3] flywheel rattle | Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 14:15:49 -0800 | From: Kit Wetzler <kitwetzler@mindspring.com> | Subject: flywheel rattle | | | Hi guys, | | I posted about getting a lightweight flywheel installed into my M3 a | couple of weeks ago. I'm getting a rattle when I'm sitting still in | neutral, when I have my foot off the clutch. It goes away when I | depress the clutch. | | Is that normal flywheel noise? or is it something like the throwout or | pilot bearing? | | thanks! | | -kit | 97 m3/4 | | | ************************************************************* | List Commands | UNSUBSCRIBE - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the mailing list. | DIR - sends a listing of files available in the list's GET directory. | GET filename1.ext,filename2.ext - sends the requested file(s). | | To issue a command/request to the server: | Send a message with the command you wish executed as the | subject of the message. | ************************************************************* | |
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#7. Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle - from Sean Hester
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 16:17:17 -0800 From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle >Hi guys, > >I posted about getting a lightweight flywheel installed into my M3 a >couple of weeks ago. I'm getting a rattle when I'm sitting still in >neutral, when I have my foot off the clutch. It goes away when I >depress the clutch. > >Is that normal flywheel noise? or is it something like the throwout or >pilot bearing? > >thanks! normal... for a lightweight flywheel... why do you suppose bmw uses heavy, dual mass, flywheels? not to torture us, and make an aftermarket market for flywheels. it's to make the thing quiet, and also easier to engage. they still think BMW buyers want luxury (quiet and soft) as opposed to sporty. what are they thinking???!!!??? _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Kmac Camber/Caster plates - from Sean Hester
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 16:25:19 -0800 From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Kmac Camber/Caster plates >Oh they aren't THAT bad. > >I'm picky. And I don't pry against the towers either. Either one will >work >fine. Buy on price, including tax and/or shipping. Anybody think my car >looks >jacked in front? Anybody? Bueller? > >Jim i had kmacs on my car. noone ever told me they raised the car. and i never noticed it. either from looks or driving feel. in fact... everyone who saw my M3 asked me how much it was LOWERED. when in fact, it had the stock suspension and ride height (except for the plates). hmmmmm..... how much do kmacs supposedly raise your car anyway? the only gripe(s) i had with the kmacs were the lack of motion (i couldn't get more then -1.9 degrees while others allow up to -3.0) and the fact that the more neg camber you dialed in, the more caster you lost. both of these are minor if you only want -1.5 to -2.0 degrees. if you need/want more, get another brand. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Am I destined to hate my car? [long] - from Sean Hester
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Date: Thu, 04 Jan 2001 16:48:48 -0800 From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Am I destined to hate my car? [long] >Setup #8 - >???????????? >--------------------- >I am trying to figure out what to do next. My options are: > >1. Set the sway bars to Stiff/Stiff. I hope this will do the trick, but I >doubt it. >2. Re-valve the Billsteins >3. Put either Euro M3 or the H&R springs back on the car. >4. Give up and wait for the 2002 M3, 2002 M5, or a 996. > >Does anyone have any other ideas that might help me achieve car Zen? > >Thanks for listening and any input, > >Rob Hatrak >95 M3 with way too many mods >Sin City Chapter, BMW CCA i don't think you can get where you want to go. "comfortable" is inversly proportional to "sticks to the road". sorry, that's just the way physics is. anyone who tells you "my part makes the car handle better but retains the comfortable ride" is LYING and just trying to sell you their part(s). i'd say the ONLY way to make a car handle better without it being "stiffer and less comfortable" is to remove about 500 pounds. i'm sorry for saying the P (physics) word again, but mass is mass. in order to keep 3500 pounds from leaning in a corner at 80 miles per hour you need springs and shocks so stiff that they'll be "stiff as boards" at slow speeds and gentle corners, and a lowered center of gravity such that you'll drag when you drive over a baseball... you're gonna have to choose. do you want a comfortable car that's in the top 1% in handling of all cars in the road (a stock M3) or do you want something that handles better at the expense of comfort? you could, of course, do what i did (and most track people do). have two cars. an new exensive one (e36 m3, M5, S4, 996, etc...) for comfortable duty, and an old cheap light, gutted one (miata, e30, 2002, even a stripped e36 M3) for track duty (or spirited mountain driving) P.S. about your list. both the new M3 and new M5 are going to lean more and understeer more then the e36 M3 in stick form. (because they are heavier) the 996 doesn't understeer as much because of the mid engine, but it doesn't really handle that much better. and it's definetly less "comfortable". good luck! _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#10. Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle - from Ben Liaw
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Date: Thu, 4 Jan 2001 19:23:56 -0500 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] flywheel rattle | why do you suppose bmw uses heavy, dual mass, flywheels? not to torture us, | and make an aftermarket market for flywheels. it's to make the thing quiet, | and also easier to engage. they still think BMW buyers want luxury (quiet | and soft) as opposed to sporty. what are they thinking???!!!??? not entirely true. i have been speaking to one of our mfg. and a quiet, lightweight, aluminum flywheel is possible. wouldn't take much to do it, either. the only down side is that is this flywheel would only be capable of handling power up to 480hp (at the crank). ben ------------------------------------------- ben liaw - ben@shortshifter.com http://www.uucmotorwerks.com