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#1. Taking an M3 to Amsterdam - from Preston Carey
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 20:05:07 -0500 From: "Preston Carey" <pcarey@babson.edu> Subject: Taking an M3 to Amsterdam I am finishing up my MBA in May and a U.S. company that I have accepted a job with has offered to send me to Amsterdam for a couple of years to work in their European office. What problems/costs am I going to encounter trying to bring my 98 M3/4 over with me? (Besides being mocked by the local Euro M3 population) Is this at all worth it or am I better off buying a used economy something or other over there? Warranty will have expired by then so it is not an issue. Thanks, Preston
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#2. E46 - from Patrick Dargan
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 20:16:49 -0500 From: "Patrick Dargan" <darg01@earthlink.net> Subject: E46 "...just curious, but what is it about miatas that everyone loves so much? is it the 8 second 0-60 or the 16 second 1/4....speed does play some part in being a sports car doesnt it???..." Just as a datapoint, I just attended the SCCA Pro Solos and I'd estimate that Miata's outnumbered all other marques by about three to one.
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#3. Inspections - from Scott G Hemauer
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 17:08:03 -0600 From: "Scott G Hemauer" <Scott.G.Hemauer@aexp.com> Subject: Inspections >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> brake fluid whatever. And you know what? I do this for free (Non inspection services, or whenever the vehicle is in) If a customer goes to the service dept. for an inspection 2 or 36,000 mile check up (which I have never heard) then he will get one... a DAMN GOOD ONE! True that there are butcher mechanics out there and I am not one of them. I have morals. You don't know what its like in the field so you can't say stuff like that. I think its better off if I see power steering fluid leaking, cords showing on tires, or crack belts and not say a single thing to the customer so he can come back with the vehicle towed back to shop and him busting my ass for not telling him. I make a RECOMMENDED list of things that requires attention. If the customer doesn't want to buy it or will come back later.. fine. Thats his/her decision and nothing I can do about it. I can't take another insult like this. If more come, then I'm out. Jonathan Caldito BMW Level 1 T >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Wow - I don't think there needs to be that much offense taken..... I agree that for the actual majority of BMW owners the Inspections are very necessary, but for most of the group that makes up this list the majority of what takes place in the Inspection is a bit silly. None of my vehicles would ever get to the point of having cracked belts, corded tires and such. I mean really - paying someone the BMW shop rate to check the level of my wiper fluid, checking belts, checking tire wear? Those are things that I think I'm capable doing myself. As a tech I'm sure you have seen your share of badly maintained cars. Maybe "disposable" cars that are used by their owners to get from point A to point B. These are the cars that need to be gone over, and the Inspection is well worth it. I was at my service dept a few weeks ago and a car was brought in for Inspection. I was in the waiting room as the tech came in and spoke to the owner about her car. Among other things, her winter tires had been mounted incorrectly - they were directional and rotating backwards. Now this is the owner that should have no problem with paying for the full Inspection! Scott Hemauer
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#4. Re: MORE E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons - from david tow
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 18:46:06 -0800 From: "david tow" <david_tow@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: MORE E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons Those of you who like drag racing and high power over lightness and nimble feel could go ahead and get yourself a muscle car. I enjoy driving a real sports car if I don't need the back seat for the family. The Miata, older Alfas, and some of the classic British cars fit the bill. My favorite is the Porsche 550 Spyder. Our E36 M3 is already too heavy for me (too bad I need some fun and the room for the family though). David ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 16:17:22 -0800 From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: MORE E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons >On a poor note >it is a rattle trap, doens't have great *feel* and when you drive it and on >city streets you are at the edge of being dead at all times.... Way too >small. > >Mark way to go mark! despite the "on a poor note" introduction, you've pretty much provided the perfect definition of "sports car". at least the one that was used then the term "sports car" was coined. ;-) of course, it doesn't really mean that to most people any more. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#5. RE: [E36M3] Insurance question (pertaining to State Farms) - from Tom Tice
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 21:49:10 -0500 From: "Tom Tice" <tetice@triad.rr.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Insurance question (pertaining to State Farms) Hi Chester, Unfortunately, I can't really help you out but I do want to thank you for making me feel better about what I pay for Insurance. Previously it was a sore subject with me. For the record, I pay just a little over half your yearly bill with 3 BMWs ('99 540,'98 M3,'93 525) and its high right now because my wife has a significantly tarnished driving record. Life outside the big city does have some benefits. Thanks Again. Tom Tice > Hi guys...got a question. With a clean record, living in Brooklyn, NY I'm > paying about $4500 per year for insurance...ugh. (The amount > that I've spent > on insurance for the past two years could have bought me a new Hyundai or > something). Anyway, I'm turning 25 in April and I've been told > by the lovely > people at the local insurance company that it will go down $2k > per year...woo > hoo! >
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#6. Re: More E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 21:55:32 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: More E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons on 2/21/01 5:33 PM, Jason Bishop <jason@secondhat.com> wrote: > I'd call it big and heavy as I'm currently lusting after a lotus elise. > I'll reserve the M3 for drives to church on sunday. The elise is for fun! > wish they would import them to US. love those cars... Good news: You can buy an Elise here to special order through Lotus. Bad news: Not for street use. But if you have the budget for a really cool track car, it's around $50K I believe. There are some over here - I sat in one and talked to the owner at a local track. Neil 96 M3
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#7. RE: [E36M3] Re: [Powerdisc's for our M3's - from Tom Tice
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 22:20:01 -0500 From: "Tom Tice" <tetice@triad.rr.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: [Powerdisc's for our M3's > M3's? > > Seems kinda weird. > > They probably dont hold up very well in the M3 application. They are not > that good honostly. I have used 2 sets on my 535i, both sets > warped fairly > easy and did not hold up as well as the stock replacement rotors. Also > about a 3rd of the ones we install in the shop come back due to > warping. We > DO NOT offer them anymore. YMMV. > > Mike Does Seem kinda weird. My mileage did vary. I had quite the opposite experience on my E30 325is. I used to warp stock rotors one set per track weekend. With the Powerdiscs, I could go 3 or 4 events and lots of aggressive street driving in between. While not a statistically significant sample, I had the same results with at least 3 sets of these. My only complaint was that on the street they were a bit noisy in the car when you really got on the brakes hard. I keep hoping ATE will make them available for the M3. The principle behind them is the same as slotted or cross drilled rotors only they are produced at a real factory resulting in less cost to produce. Tom Tice '98 M3/4 '99 540/6
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Re: More E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons - from Sean Hester
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 20:39:18 -0800 From: "Sean Hester" <seanh_race@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: More E46 M3 parts and feature comparisons >Good news: You can buy an Elise here to special order through Lotus. >Bad news: Not for street use. > >But if you have the budget for a really cool track car, it's around $50K I >believe. There are some over here - I sat in one and talked to the owner at >a local track. there's two in seattle that show up at the local tracks, and make apperances on local streets wearing dealer plates or trip permits. they look like lots of fun. though... if you're gonna have a car that you can only use at the track, you can get a real race car, for less money, that goes faster. ;-P _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#9. RE: [E36M3] Smoker's M3 - from Roman
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Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 22:49:57 -0800 From: Roman <roman@arteuro.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Smoker's M3 That is exactly why the US M3 has less HP than the Euro version. BMW knew an American would be drinking coffee, smoking a cigarette, talking on the cell, and shifting somewhere in between while driving his/her M3.. Therefore, they reduced the HP so that there would be less of a chance for this busy person to get into trouble on the road. WHY ARE WE ALL MADE TO SUFFER???!!! BMW, IF YOU ARE LISTENING!!... I promise to never use the cupholder, ashtray, or cellphone in my M3 in exchange for a 340HP engine and a 6 speed gearbox!!!! Roman S. 96 ///M3 Currently only using glove box -----Original Message----- From: Wen Liew To: E36M3 Sent: 2/21/01 4:23 PM Subject: Re: [E36M3] Smoker's M3 Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 00:18:58 From: "Wen Liew" <wwliew@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Smoker's M3 >Date: Wed, 21 Feb 2001 12:29:28 -0800 >From: Juan Rico <juan_rico@captionsinc.com> >Subject: RE: [E36M3] Smoker's M3 > > >I guess the center console with the cupholder and the integrated phone fits >over the ashtray >and covers it? I'll look underneath. Jeez, what to do know? It's either the >cupholder or the ashtray. >But, damn, I like my coffee with a cigarette. Life is so complicated... For a long time, the stubborn German engineers refused to put in cupholders since they believe both hands should be on the steering wheel when driving on the Autobahn. But what do you know, not only did they decided to put them in, but they did coffee-loving and chatty Americans a favor by designing a center console with cupholder and intergrated phone OVER the original useless ashtray! Maybe a cigarette flavored coffee will be Starbucks next flavor du jour, LOL. Either way you look at it, nicotine, caffeine, driving a fast M3 down Malibu Canyon Road to catch some waves can get complicated ;-) 96 M3/2 with 2 cup ejectors and 2 clean ashtrays designed to display BMW's fine burlwood! _________________________________________________________________ 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. *************************************************************
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#10. Re: MORE E46.... - from Rob Norwalk
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Date: Thu, 22 Feb 2001 08:21:04 -0500 From: "Rob Norwalk" <Robert_J_Norwalk@raytheon.com> Subject: Re: MORE E46.... Russel writes... "just curious, but what is it about miatas that everyone loves so much? is it the 8 second 0-60 or the 16 second 1/4....speed does play some part in being a sports car doesn't it??? " I'm qualified to comment here....I never thought much of them either...'til I drove a friends, and then just had to get one. They don't cost much (I got a really nice 94 with 60K on it last year for around $7K) and they're fun (My primary ride/track car is still my E36 325 with a few minor modifications). If you've never driven a miata, you really won't "get it" by looking at the paper specs - acceleration times simply do not describe what is so cool about these cars. 2400 lbs...double wishbone suspension at all four corners, with easily adjustable camber, caster, and toe. Incredible road feel. The power/weight/handling balance is really something you have to try for yourself to appreciate. Make no mistake - My bimmer would kill the miata at most tracks I go to - it has more power, it has more grip. But when people talk about how the E36 chassis masks driver input mistakes, I now know what they're talking about. The lighter miata provides more dynamic feedback than the BMW. Last thing, BMWs aren't really known for their 0-60 or quarter mile times either - that's not why I bought one, anyway. There's simply more to it than that. zoom zoom, Rob Norwalk 93 325 94 miata Both really cool cars