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#1. BMP tools for Cam Placement - from Blair Hartsfield
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 08:17:54 -0600 From: Blair Hartsfield <res04ans@gte.net> Subject: BMP tools for Cam Placement Anyone have experience on the quality, etc. of the 'Cam timing tool kit' listed in the current BMP catalog #13 on page 12 (part number 138002)? I'm about to start a rebuild of a 95 M3 motor, and was considering this setup instead of the BMW tools (it is 1/3 the price). Thanks, Blair
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#2. stiffer engine mounts - from dHoleman@spooze.com
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Date: 26 Mar 2001 07:12:05 -0800 From: dHoleman@spooze.com Subject: stiffer engine mounts Rob was looking for suggestions on stiffer motormounts. I don't know about using ones from other models but BMW did make a Group N motorsport mount that was about 20% firmer than stock. David www.racepad.com
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#3. Car won't start!! - from Simon Birkoff
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 15:17:46 From: "Simon Birkoff" <humaduma@hotmail.com> Subject: Car won't start!! <html><DIV> <DIV> <P><FONT face="verdana, arial, helvetica" size=2>I just replaced my battery and now the car won't start. It is a BMW battery just like the one that came in the car from the factory. I have tried putting the old battery in the car and it still won't start!! My car is a '95 M3 <BR>Scott</FONT></P></DIV></DIV><br clear=all><hr>Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at <a href="http://explorer.msn.com">http://explorer.msn.com</a><br></p></html>
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#4. [E36M3] RE: ODBII Error Code. - from Jeff Kumler
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 09:33:12 -0600 From: "Jeff Kumler" <jdkumler@comdisco.com> Subject: [E36M3] RE: ODBII Error Code. Thanks to the list for all of the responses to my problems (Codes 65 and 222). Now, I just need to get it fixed. Jeff BMWCCA "Windy City Chapter" '96 M3 - IL "M PWRD 3", Conforti intake, Sharked, B&B, UUC STB & CS, Skaggs HT Pedals, X-Brace. Waiting for spring to install JTD Underpanel, JTD ODB and VDO gauge kit. '94 Izusu Trooper - Bone stock and usually dirty
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#5. '97 M3/4 possible mods... - from George M. Kofman
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 10:17:37 -0600 From: "George M. Kofman" <sdg2@execpc.com> Subject: '97 M3/4 possible mods... Hey folks; I am sort of on the fence about doing some mods to my '97 M3/4 w/ 56K miles. I was thinking of trading it in on something more fun (Boxster S or a 996), but the trade in being offered is just obscene. So, I am *thinking* of keeping it. If I do keep it, then I may want to do some mods. These will include suspension and airdynamics. I was thinking of a Dinan Stage III suspension upgrade, and a LTW-style rear wing (w/ ext) and a front splitter. I will use these mods on the track (Road America, Blackhawk) for lapping/de events. The car will not see wheel-to-wheel racing - I do Skippy events, so lapping will be it for the ///M. Also, if I do decide to go with the Dinan Stage III, what's a good source of getting it ? I was quoted $2,700 at Knauz for it, install included. Dinan shows 1.6K on their web site w./o install. Any suggestions ? Please CC:sdg2@execpc.com when replying to the digest. TIA GMK (www.motorsports-exchange.com) '97 M3/4 PS Boxster S didn;'t do it for me, but an '00 996 did. Felt like a much sportier E36M3 that went like stink..... And yes, it cornered like it was on rails. And yes, everyone, including soccer moms, wanted to race. especially the little boy in a firebird.
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#6. Buttonwillow caravan from NoCal? - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 09:06:38 -0800 From: Jim Bassett <jimbassett@home.com> Subject: Buttonwillow caravan from NoCal? Anyone else heading down on Thursday PM from the SF Bay Area and want to caravan? Contact me directly. Cheers, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4
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#7. Passenger Seat Removal - from Andy Korczynski
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 11:28:24 -0600 From: "Andy Korczynski" <andy@casskor.com> Subject: Passenger Seat Removal I should be getting my Autopower rollbar in the next couple weeks and since I'll be doing the majority of the install at work I wanted to at least take the passenger and rear seat out of the car beforehand. Will turning the car on with the passenger or rear seat out screw anything up as far as any sensors go?? Andy K.
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#8. K&N dead... ITG sought - from Dave Spragg
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:34:02 -0500 From: "Dave Spragg" <dspragg@mediaone.net> Subject: K&N dead... ITG sought Hi All, The K&N on my car is dead. It's a part that was from an ERT Supercharger kit early on. It's a 7 3/4" long unit that has a 3 5/8" in opening to slide the intake pipe into. It is a Universal Round Straight Air Filter (in K&N terminology from their web site) and has the numbers F035A4 on the flat edge near the hose clamp. It's a tight fit for length inside the car but it's max outside girth (about 4 1/2") is not bad. I am looking to either have my shop order a replacement, buy one myself, or even better replace it with an ITG that will fit on there. Anyone know where/who the ITG source is? Dave Spragg dave@spragg.com Natick, MA 99 M3 Sharked 92 330is Sharked and Supercharged (undergoing surgery)
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#9. E46 M3 Test Drive - from Robert S. Hatrak II
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 09:39:10 -0800 From: "Robert S. Hatrak II" <hatrak@ix.netcom.com> Subject: E46 M3 Test Drive After just putting 20 miles on the new M3 I thought I'd share with the group. I'll describe the test drive as I took it. The car was the LS blue. It is one awesome color to put on aftermarket swaybars or something. But a car? Ah, no. It looks terrible. After getting into the car, all mirrors, etc were set and we were on our way. This car seems BIG. The interior has lost the cockpit feeling of the E36 M3. I felt like I was driving an E39. This can be a good thing or bad thing, depending on your personal taste. After the first gear change, I noticed how much smoother the shifter felt than the E36. The throws were very long, but I'm sure a shift lever from a 72 2002 or the like would fix that. <G> We round the corner and I gave it medium throttle. The exhaust reported back to me with a very light snarl. The car was very smooth and friendly. Coasting down to 5 mph in third, I held it at that speed to see if the engine would surge or stumble. Nope. Foot to the floor and it pulled back up to sped without any drama. Very nice. We arrive at a stop light and some dude's Honda Accord was calling us out. Not the driver, but his car. I could hear it. The gauntlet had been thrown down. Time to let him hear the engine sing. Rev the engine a bit. Wow that exhaust sounds awesome. The Honda wanted more. We rev it all the way to 7000 rpm a couple times. Holy cow. That is one sexy sound! The engine is all but drowned out by the exhaust, however. I never really heard anything but a very light hum from the engine bay. After driving my car with an open intake for so long, I was really missing a loud engine. Ok the light turns green. I lightly slip the clutch at 3500 rpm and we are off. Oh wait - what the hell is wrong with this car? First gear stumbles badly and second gear does the same. The traction control stepped in and ruined our fun. The Honda was still beaten badly off the line, but it wasn't a pretty display. Off goes the traction control for the rest of the drive. Ok, we're cruising again and I decide to hit the sport button. Unlike previous reports, the car did not take off like it was on Nitrous. The revs cam up a bit, as if I had dropped down a half gear. What did happen though is that the throttle became very touchy. Merely flex your toes, and the car lurches forward. Very cool. This should be the default mode for the car. The car feels really great. There is power everywhere, but nothing that makes you scream "I gotta have it." The next stop light presents itself and again another car mocks us. This time, it is an excited kid in a Toyota MR2 that drops his windows to hear the car. He's smiling like crazy, but to the M3 it looks like he is bearing his teeth. Oh yeah. It's hammer time. The light turns green, and I again quickly slip the clutch at 3500 rpm and floor it. The car friggin SMOKES the tires and we go through the intersection SIDEWAYS like a big snake. WHOA! This thing can launch in a big way. The Continental tires were completely helpless to keep the car from spinning them. This led us to a long 1 mile long 45 mph sweeping S-turn. The car (now about 50 carlengths in front of the pack. Partially due to the speed of the car, and partially due to the waiting for my James Bond smokescreen to clear) handles the turn well at 90 as does my M3. The car felt really light, though. Not very confidence inspiring. This felt exactly like a stock E36. Throw some sway bars on the car and it would rock. It is just way too soft in stock form. A freeway on-ramp is coming up. This is one of my favorite turns in the city. It is a long, decreasing radius that is banked mildly. Again the car seemed to want to slide out front under me. It handled very well, but just not as well as a modded E36. The freeway unfolds in front of us without a car for a mile or so. Full throttle gears 2 - 4. We are hauling some serious ass at 125 mph. Time to slow down. The car gets up to speed effortlessly. This is where the car really shined. Passing power is simply amazing. Traveling 70mph and want to go 120? No problem. Shift down a gear for absolutely insane power, or stay where your are for just plain old insane power. It's up to you. The rest of the drive was taken slowly so that I could enjoy the car and smile at all the "you da man" glances and thumbs up the car was getting. Everyone noticed the car. ENGINE & POWER -------------------------- It feels not much faster than an E36 M3 around town. A big let down actually. Jumping back into the E36 for the drive home, I couldn't tell much of a difference. My car (95 with JC chip, JC intake, euro HFM, exhaust, stock struts, H&R EO sport springs, eibach sway bars) felt just as fast until we found a freeway. I can't wait to race an E46 at a stop light and see what happens. On the freeway however, bye bye E36. This thing will spank the current M3 at speed, no question. If the E36 M3 could rev to 8000 rpm, it would be interesting to see what happens. As I said, my car feels like it pulls just as hard as the E46. I know the butt-dyno isn't accurate, though. But it feels like the E46 was faster simply because when the E36 would run our of legs and require a shift, the E46 would just keep pulling away util 8000rpm. I loved how this engine would just keep going and going. EXHAUST SOUND -------------------------- Snarls in a very nice high-pitched raspy way. Somewhat like the mother of all street bikes. SUSPENSION ------------------ Very soft. The car floats over bumps and unfortunately in turns as well. The car also leans in the corners more than I like as well. I am spoiled by a modded suspension, though. Don't get me wrong. The suspension is going to be great for 98% of the world. The hardcore 2% that are harder to please will immediately want to change it. Also, the rear end does not let the tires hop when they are spinning. The rears will just spin gradually hook up. This is really nice. My E36 has really aweful axle hop when traction is lost. TRANSMISSION ----------------------- Sweet. Having a sixth gear is awesome. Shifts are smooth and precise as well. Very little shift effort. HANDLING ---------------- Very nice, but if you live with an M3 with a modified suspension, you'll be unimpressed. Stock versus stock they should feel similar. Also, as reported by the magazines, the steering was light. This could be simply because they not only put crappy tires on the car, but they also put only 225's in the front. A wider tire up front would be on my upgrade list. Was the steering too light? I don't know. The car was still awesome to drive. You'll be smiling way too much to notice much of a difference. BRAKES ------------ Exaclty what we are already used to. They stop the car NOW. The same as the E36. INTERIOR -------------- Nice and big interior. Lots of room for people. The rearview mirror is terrible. The oval shape drive me nuts. Nice quality leather. Build quality looked good as well. Standard E46 quality. Big improvements over the E36. Cup holders? I didn't look. HEADLIGHTS ------------------- They were Xenon and were ok. If you are used to halogens, you'll love them. If you are used to an aftermarket HID kit in Euro headlights, you'll be wondering if the lights are even on. So, that's it. After only 20 miles, I can't offer much else. Did I love the car. Yes. Would I buy the car if I didn't own an E36 M3? Hell yes! Would I spend more that $5k to "upgrade" from the E36? Absolutely not. It is not that big an improvement from what I observed. My car (slightly modded) out-handled the new one, was able to brake just as well, and *felt* just as fast on the street (I'm sure the E46 is faster....it just doesn't feel like it). I'm going to supercharge my E36 and invest the extra money for the E46 M3 with a V8. Anyway....another dealership is going to get a demo car in the next two weeks. I'll drive that one as well and report any new findings. Rob
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#10. Re: [E36M3] K&N dead... ITG sought - from Robert S. Hatrak II
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Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 09:41:42 -0800 From: "Robert S. Hatrak II" <hatrak@ix.netcom.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] K&N dead... ITG sought Josh at Eurosport sells them. He is a great guy to do business with. He's taken very good care of me in the past with advice, installation help, and he even took a return that initially didn't come from him. He's the man in my book. Rob ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dave Spragg" <dspragg@mediaone.net> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Monday, March 26, 2001 9:37 AM Subject: [E36M3] K&N dead... ITG sought > Date: Mon, 26 Mar 2001 12:34:02 -0500 > From: "Dave Spragg" <dspragg@mediaone.net> > Subject: K&N dead... ITG sought > > Hi All, > > The K&N on my car is dead. It's a part that was from an ERT Supercharger > kit early on. It's a 7 3/4" long unit that has a 3 5/8" in opening to slide > the intake pipe into. It is a Universal Round Straight Air Filter (in K&N > terminology from their web site) and has the numbers F035A4 on the flat edge > near the hose clamp. It's a tight fit for length inside the car but it's > max outside girth (about 4 1/2") is not bad. I am looking to either have my > shop order a replacement, buy one myself, or even better replace it with an > ITG that will fit on there. Anyone know where/who the ITG source is?