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#1. Re: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves - from Skip Bogard
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 15:22:08 -0500 From: Skip Bogard <skip.bogard@alumni.duke.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves > the hole that the valve stem fits into is pretty small. > I did not think the nut for the BMW metal valve stem would fit. > Am I wrong? It looks like the BMW metal stems won't work, but they will. (did you know that historically most all BMW sport sedan's came with metal stems? Then their accountants made them stop) There is a trick that BMW techs know to get them on. It requires leaning the valve while the nut is put on. BTW, this is the nut that goes on from the outside. I agree that it looks like it is going to bind against the perpendicular dished part of the rim because the hole is so close to the inside. But, it won't. If you take your rims to a non-dealer shop though, beware because they may try to take a grinder to your rim to make it fit. I bought my first set of PP-SO2's through Korman's and they sent them out for mounting. I had three metal stems installed already and just needed a fourth, and the heat discoloration from the grinder gave their sub's blunder away. When I showed the shop manager what their sub- did, (they didn't know "the leaning trick" and used a grinder) Korman bought me a new rim, no questions asked (but they were really embarrassed about it) BMW rims have a nice design point in that the stems are nestled way into the dish...I suspect so that a flying rock won't have as much chance of hitting the spinning stem and snapping it off. ...most all you know the "put duct tape over your wheel weights" trick for the track right? While I'm thinking about it...it's a "rocks hitting the weights at 130 MPH thing". - Skip LoweSeaton@aol.com wrote: > > Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2001 22:52:25 EST > From: LoweSeaton@aol.com > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves > > JimP writes: > > > There are two different items that we are talking about. Metal valve > > stems get tightened on with a nut and lockwasher from the inside <snip> > > Anybody use the BMW metal valve stems? - part number 36 12 1 119 332 > > I wondered if they would work with stock M3 rims. If I remember right, if > you look at the stock M3 rim from the inside (tire off), the hole that the > valve stem fits into is pretty small. I did not think the nut for the BMW > metal valve stem would fit. Am I wrong? > > Lowell Seaton > '95 M3 - with shiny steel sleeved valved stems > Dallas, Texas
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#2. Re: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 12:39:28 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves > There is a trick that BMW techs know to get them on. It requires > leaning the valve while the nut is put on. BTW, this is the nut > that goes on from the outside. I agree that it looks like it is > going to bind against the perpendicular dished part of the rim > because the hole is so close to the inside. But, it won't. I was also thinking that since the back of the BMW metal valve stem is slotted, why couldn't someone just hold the nut with a wrench and use a flathead screwdriver to turn the metal valve stem... Just a thought.... Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Wheels & Tahrs, Tyres, Tires - from Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 16:24:06 -0500 From: Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks <rob@shortshifter.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Wheels & Tahrs, Tyres, Tires That's an interesting implication that borders on offensive. It strikes me as a "telling point" that of the many, many people I have sent to Freedman Tire over the years (and many of them in turn publicly recommend Freedman on all the lists) that it has been just _you_ that has been chronically dissatisfied. I know to what lengths they went to fix the tiny marks on your wheels and I personally saw the results... I have seen brand new wheels that had worse finishes. Mistakes happen anywhere and they bent over backwards to make you happy, an apparently impossible task. Let's just make sure we don't spread slander where slander is not due. Trust me, I don't get "special treatment" there either. I pay for every oil change, tire swap, etc., and have to wait when they are busy just like everyone else. There are always high-line BMWs, Mercedes, and anything else at Freedman Tire, but they treat everyone like a valued customer regardless of car. I still heartily recommend Freedman Tire in Edison, NJ - 732-985-2211. - Rob Levinson > From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Wheels & Tahrs, Tyres, Tires <snip> > ... It's just that when someone like Rob Levinson recommends a > shop in NJ, you expect them to be careful. Of course, knowing what I do now, > I can undestand why my wheels were gouged and his are never. <snip> > Chester
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#4. Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) - from Scott .
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 15:37:57 -0600 From: "Scott ." <whosez@hotmail.com> Subject: Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) Has anyone on the list tried any of the now-a-few-months-old Kuhmo ECSTA Supra tires yet?? Tirerack still has very low low low prices for these shoes. For an M3, are they worth buying at half the price of the more well known tires? (or are they more like a Sumitomo's with a different name?) -Scott 98 M3/2 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Torque & Horsepower - from Joe Tan
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 13:46:38 -0800 (PST) From: Joe Tan <mailjtan@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Torque & Horsepower Correct me if I am wrong. But I was under the impression that MB's suspension setup is not unlike their Detroit counterpart. They just throw in stiffer shocks and springs and call it sports tuned suspension. While BMW tune their suspension so that it performs well and still have a compliant ride. I remember reading some magazine comparison that the M5 actually absorb the street bumps better than the E55 and yes it still give you more road feedback thru the steering. Joe T. ------------------ One of my colleagues at work has an E55 that I get to ride in often. Very very nice and lots of power. I drove it once and it felt pretty solid both on and off the freeway. The only complaint is that it isolates you from the road a lot. Not like my M3 where you can feel what is going on pretty easily through your rear or body. Bora __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) - from Mark Radelow
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 21:46:54 -0000 From: "Mark Radelow" <radelow@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) I have them for the occasional time I drive my GTI on the street (until this weekend when I blew the bottom end up...whoopie). Let me say they are good tires but I would NOT put them on my M3. Go spend the extra $30 or so and get the Bridgestone RE730's. Those are incredible tires for the money IMHO. Mark 95 ///M3 - Runs great! 91 GTi 16v - Blew the bottom end (don't drive the full length of the straighaway with no oil pressure) 88 Chevy Fullsize - Runs great! From: "Scott ." <whosez@hotmail.com> Reply-To: "Scott ." <whosez@hotmail.com> To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Subject: [E36M3] Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 15:41:22 -0600 Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 15:37:57 -0600 From: "Scott ." <whosez@hotmail.com> Subject: Speaking of tires... (Kuhmo) Has anyone on the list tried any of the now-a-few-months-old Kuhmo ECSTA Supra tires yet?? Tirerack still has very low low low prices for these shoes. For an M3, are they worth buying at half the price of the more well known tires? (or are they more like a Sumitomo's with a different name?) -Scott 98 M3/2 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com ************************************************************* 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. ************************************************************* _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#7. RE: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves - from MDadgar@handspring.com
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 13:47:33 -0800 From: MDadgar@handspring.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Crappy tire valves Skip wrote: > ...most all you know the "put duct tape over your wheel weights" > trick for the track right? While I'm thinking about it...it's a > "rocks hitting the weights at 130 MPH thing". > Actually, don't use duct tape. Go get the high-temp metallic heating duct tape from a hardware store. The adhesive on duct tape will loosen up with on-track temperatures, and the high-temp tape will not. - Mark '95 M3 '97 528i 5-spd '88 M3, Hennarot ---- Mark Dadgar - Product Manager, Peripherals (650) 230-5037 voice - (650) 230-2100 fax mdadgar@handspring.com - Handspring, Inc Check out Visor at www.handspring.com!
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#8. Shop Recommendation - from Jim Powell
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 13:57:36 -0800 From: Jim Powell <jsp98m3@apexcone.com> Subject: Shop Recommendation I need a new clutch for my M3. The turbo wore the stock one out in no-time. Clutch recommendations have always been confusing with very, very few hard facts around. After trying to do some careful research, I was still unsure of the best choice. I was leaning toward the AA clutch since that is what my friend Jason L. has in his 450+ horsepower monster. But everyone knows I shop carefully and try to get the best product for my money. Another friend recommended that I speak to Don Field of Autosport Performance in Englewood, NJ who has lots of ///M experience. I gave Don a call and he was very gracious in taking the time to speak to me, call several other places on his own time and money and then call me back in San Diego to say that with my setup I had made an intelligent choice. This all cost Don money with no hope of a sale. That sounds like a good vendor. So if you are in the NYC/NJ area, you might want to give them a look. Please don't take this as an endorsement of one clutch over another. I have a special set of circumstances. Other products may work fine for you. Autosport Performance, Inc. 27 W Forest Ave. Englewood NJ 07631 Phone: (201) 816-0911 Fax: (201) 816-7337 E-Mail: autosportperf@worldnet.att.net Jim
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Wheels & Tahrs, Tyres, Tires [long] - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 14:31:00 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Wheels & Tahrs, Tyres, Tires [long] --- Rob Levinson * UUC Motorwerks <rob@shortshifter.com> wrote: > It strikes me as a "telling point" that of the many, many people I have sent > to Freedman Tire over the years (and many of them in turn publicly recommend > Freedman on all the lists) that it has been just _you_ that has been > chronically dissatisfied. > > I know to what lengths they went to fix the tiny marks on your wheels and I > personally saw the results... I have seen brand new wheels that had worse > finishes. Mistakes happen anywhere and they bent over backwards to make you > happy, an apparently impossible task. > > Let's just make sure we don't spread slander where slander is not due. > > Trust me, I don't get "special treatment" there either. I pay for every oil > change, tire swap, etc., and have to wait when they are busy just like > everyone else. Oh really, you don't get special treatment? Does not Jake personally take the time out to dismount your wheels, dismount the tires and remount new ones? He even told me he does that for you. I agree, if Jake does all the work, then you can rest assured that your wheel weights will not have a screwdriver applied to them to remove them. About the finish, you're entirely missing the point and trying to mask the real problem here. Who cares if you've seen brand new wheels with worse finishes? Who cares if the marks were tiny or not? Those points that you pointed out have no relevance with my reservations about recommending them. If the tech dropped the socket while removing the wheel or something that happens *by accident*, it wouldn't bother me. In that situation, the defect would only happen to one wheel. But when an ignorant tech proceeds to use a nasty screwdriver with a wrangled tip (something that was on the tire balancing station....gee, you think they used that tool for the same purpose in the past before?) to blindly (he had the face of the wheel pointing away from him and didn't want to bend too much to see the weight up close) seek the weight and pry it off on all four wheels, I take offense. To me, repeated use of such a screwdriver to remove a weight does not qualify as a mistake. Hey, did you ever find out who used his or her finger to scribble a message on your hood after all the water spots dried from that recent rain shower? I agree 100% with you that Jake is a good guy as well as a good business man. He did try to repair the wheels by sending it to his guy who would use a mechanical buffer to remove the clear coat from my forged wheels in the immediate vicinity of the gouge, attempt to "smooth" the scratch" and then recoat the immedate vicinity with clear coat. I had my doubts and sure enough, when I got my wheels back, I would argue that the imperfections actually looked worse. I then contacted wheelcollision.com and asked for an estimate. Hmmm...they'd have to remove the clear coat from the whole wheel by (bead?) blasting it, machine down the surface, polish the whole wheel, anodize it (yes, those polished forged wheels are anodized...go figure), then clear coat it. What was the estimate per wheel? $175. I nearly fell out of my chair. I ended up getting some compensation back, but it was most certainly not $175 x 4. This is still why I think Jake is a fine gentleman and a fine business man. It's his techs (with the exception of Al since I think he takes his time and does it right) that I'm a little worried about. And just who touches us mere mortals' cars? Jake or the techs? Oh, and here's the real kicker: the person who attempted to fix my wheels needed the wheels with the tires dismounted. So someone had the brilliant idea to use a wax pencil to mark where each tire goes on with respect to the tire valve. When they got the wheels back, they simply tried to align the marks on the tires with the wax pencil and didn't rebalance the wheel+tire. This would, of course, ensure a good balance for a high performance car, right? Luckily, I saw one of the rear wheels with a weight dangling from the rim. Of course, Jake just pressed the weight back into place. I figured that wasn't an exact science so I asked him to rebalance, which he agreed to. So....the 1.25oz weight was removed from the wheel, the wheel was mounted back onto their latest and greatest Hunter wheel balancer, and guess what...the Hunter machine indicated that a weight of 1.5oz needed to be placed on the exact opposite side of the wheel. Do you think this made me happy? Jake tried to explain it as even the best balancing machine out there does not get an accurate indication point repeatedly. Maybe I don't know much about balancing tires, but 1.5oz on the exact oppposite side (which equates to a shift of almost 3 oz from one section of the wheel to the exact opposite side)? You seem to question why I was *chronically* dissatisfied. Lessee....I took a day off the reward myself for all the hard work I was doing at the time. I decided to drive almost 40 miles each way ($11 worth in tolls) to a place where (IMO, at the time) a well respected list member specifically recommended to change my tires. I then have my wheels gouged, proceed to still pay $65 for the service and ruin the "day with my car" mood. Now, in order to fix the wheels I have to leave work early, drive out there again and drop off my wheels. It was a good thing that I had an extra set of wheels at the time. I then take off early again, drive out there again, to pick up the wheels that went through a process I already had doubts about. I then return once again to rebalance all wheels that someone took a shortcut to remount the tires (I was getting a bad shimmy in the steering wheel; subsequently, all wheels were out of balance...one of them really badly) and finally settle up. 320 miles, $44 worth in tolls, $65 for the initial service, 16 gallons of gas, early time off work twice...all to change a set of tires? I hope someone found this informative, Chester I consider this thread closed and I would be happy to take it offline, but last time I checked, Rob has an auto-bounce set whenever I send him an e-mail after I sold my UUC shifter. ....maybe Rob could learn a little from Jake when it comes to dealing with customers.... ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Shop Recommendation - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 16 Jan 2001 14:37:49 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Shop Recommendation I agree 100% with Jim. Don's shop is where Steve D hosted the dyno session last Winter. The only quib I have with him is that he's an E30 kinda guy =) But he is an avid BMW enthusiast and knows his stuff. He had a hunch about the whole HFM thing when dyno testing the cars and asked for my permission to entirely disconnect the flexible tubing (from the throttle body) from the HFM. I agreed. He did it and then we dynoed my car again. So with no HFM, no airbox, no nothing (I know...double negative, but I'm from Brooklyn, ya know?), my car pumped out more power (equivalent to the JimC intake on Wayne Miller's car). He was truly pleased to see the results and cheered. He'll get my business when my warranty expires. Chester > product for my money. Another friend recommended that I speak to Don > Field of Autosport Performance in Englewood, NJ who has lots of ///M > experience. > > I gave Don a call and he was very gracious in taking the time to speak > to me, call several other places on his own time and money and then call > me back in San Diego to say that with my setup I had made an intelligent > choice. This all cost Don money with no hope of a sale. That sounds > like a good vendor. So if you are in the NYC/NJ area, you might want to > give them a look. > > Please don't take this as an endorsement of one clutch over another. I > have a special set of circumstances. Other products may work fine for > you. > > Autosport Performance, Inc. > 27 W Forest Ave. > Englewood NJ 07631 > Phone: (201) 816-0911 > Fax: (201) 816-7337 > E-Mail: autosportperf@worldnet.att.net ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/