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#1. Re: [E36M3] Re: rear strut brace questions - from Chris Teague
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 18:51:53 -0800 From: "Chris Teague" <cteague@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: rear strut brace questions I think all 2 door E36 M3's came with fold down seats. On the 4 door (97, 98), the fold down seats were optional. I think most had them. Mine is a 97 4 Door without the fold down seats, and no sunroof. Actually, no options of any kind. I have taken out the rear carpet to have a look, and it has a nice welded in shear panel behind the seats. It certainly looks like it should increase the torsional rigidity. However, all the rear strut braces I have seen are bolted in with hinged connections. I cannot see how that would increase the torsional rigitity *at all*. Now a welded in roll cage, that would help. Chris 97 M3/4 ----- Original Message ----- > so the point is i'm not sure the rear brace is as useless as we all think, > especailly since many of us have the fold-downs... >
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#2. Re:Koni Coilovers - anyone have experience? - from Rob
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 21:27:55 -0700 From: "Rob" <motor@cadvision.com> Subject: Re:Koni Coilovers - anyone have experience? Scott, I have the Koni coil-overs sitting in the box waiting for me to find a spare minute. Since I've already got H&R c/o's in there I'm not in a huge rush but I'll probably have the Koni's installed within two weeks. I'll keep the list posted... Rob
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#3. Bilstein Strut Replacements? - from Tom Tice
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 23:34:21 -0500 From: "Tom Tice" <tetice@triad.rr.com> Subject: Bilstein Strut Replacements? Hi Group, My car has about 36K miles on it and the original struts/shocks are really rock'n and roll'n on the track - makes you really focus on smoothness with the brake and accelerator though! I've heard lots of harshness horror stories about the Bilstein sports for the M3. However, I recently swapped cars for a track session with a friend who has a '95 M3 with Bilsteins (and H&R springs) and it felt great (compared to mine). Not to fan the '95 versus '96+ flames again but he was as jealous of my low end torque as I was his suspension. So I would be very happy on the track but I have no data on satisfaction on the street. I would like hear from anyone who has Bilsteins and is happy with them for a compromise car (street & track) and especially with the stock springs. I would consider new springs if that is critical in keeping the ride tolerable for the street but I really can't lower the car any more. I can hardly get out of my driveway now with anything more than 2 adults in the car! Also keep in mind that I live in the south (NC) we have relatively smooth roads. TIA, Tom Tice '98 M3/4 '99 540/6
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#4. 3.0 vs. 3.2 and sedan vs. coupe - from Seth Frader-Thompson
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 22:13:21 -0700 From: "Seth Frader-Thompson" <fraderth@colorado.edu> Subject: 3.0 vs. 3.2 and sedan vs. coupe Hmm. I've gotten a few responses about this one. The 3.0 vs. 3.2l issue is interesting, but I fear it's an issue that's been beaten to death on this list. If that's the case, is there a FAQ on it somewhere? My basic thought has been that I'd prefer the rather significant torque advantage (at least as I'd been lead to believe) of the 3.2, regardless of mods. But people are telling me the 3.0 may be just as good. Am I mistaken? I'm asking because I found a silver '97 sedan that I'm about to buy. :) Which brings up another issue (which I'm sure has also been covered) - are there any major driveability differences between the 2- and 4-door models? I've read conflicting reports of chassis rigidity, but I haven't read anything subjective about the overall experience. Thanks for tolerating the newbie questions. This looks like an excellent list. Seth
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#5. Re: [E36M3] High Pitch Fan on start up??? - from Chester Wong
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 21:11:23 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] High Pitch Fan on start up??? > sometimes comes on for a few minutes at start up in order to remove some > sort of exhaust gases (I think). I think this may be true for all E36 6 > cylinder cars, because my 97 328i has been doing it for about a month now. > Starting around 68k miles this fan would come on for the first couple of > miles until the car warmed up then shut down. The colder it is outside, the > longer it stays on. Car had Insp II about 20k ago. Questions are: > > What exactly is this fan again? > Why is it coming on now (as opposed to the first 68k miles of > ownership)? and > Will a repair have to be made to something that is causing this > (emissions/exhaust?) issue? This may be the OBDII pump that pumps air into the exhaust manifold to help burn unburned hydrocarbons on startup. On my car ('99 M3), it doesn't stay on too long. Then again, it's been a while since my car sat in freezing whether outside the garage. Why your car just started doing this might be more of a question of whether you noticed it in the past. Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text
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#6. RE: [E36M3] Re: camber bolts and rubbing problems - from =?iso-8859-1?Q?Magnus_Thom=E9?=
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Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 07:17:07 +0200 From: =?iso-8859-1?Q?Magnus_Thom=E9?= <magnus.thome@envox.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: camber bolts and rubbing problems > Be careful here... the camber bolt (BMW part #07 11 99 00 58 > 7 and available through any BMW dealer) will give an E36 roughly > a half-degree more negative camber, but it will also make the > problem of tires/wheels rubbing on the strut *worse*. It is a > smaller diameter than the standard bolt (not eccentric) allowing > for a calculated amount of "slop" between the hub and strut. > > The only ways to mitigate a rubbing problem in front is with > spacers, wheels with less offset, or smaller tires. > > Hope that helps, > > --BT I'll actually accomplish the opposite. I started by doing the strut bearing swap. But this gave me a bit too much negative camber IMO. So I'll be using the eccentric bolts (not crash bolts) to remove some excess camber. This will move the wheel *from* the strut giving me more clearance. Good thing is I'll probably be able to remove the current 3 mm spacer! Second, the eccentric bolts do not give me slop but are truly eccentric. By turning the bolt to different angels I'll be able to fine-tune the camber. It doesn't depend on torque too keep the camber so it should be fine for heave autoX. I'll keep you posted about the results (and origin) of the eccentric bolts when I get them. Cheers, Magnus Thomé
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#7. RE: [E36M3] LTWs and fold down seats - from Chester Wong
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 21:19:37 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] LTWs and fold down seats As far as the sedan have a pillar and the coupe not having one, what is that right in front of the rear window in my car??? I think the race teams using the 4 door chassis has more to do with marketing than real world differences especially considering that all the race cars have extensive rollcage work that stiffens the chassis. If anything, it might be easier to get in and out of the coupe =) my $.02 Chester > But if you will notice, all the race teams are using the 4 door E36 chassis. > I have heard that the reason this is, is that the 4 door's chassis is > stiffer due to the pillar in between the doors. The coupe does not have > this and is said to be weaker. This is just what I have been told by some > good sources but I don't know if they have looked at any numbers on the > cars. Another thing is that I doubt the numbers they quoted as true. > Reason being is that I don't think it is possible for the E36 coupe to be as > stiff as the Mcoupe. Was the Mcoupe not stated as being stiffer than or had > better chassis rigidity than the E36 coupe? I thought I read this > somewhere. ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/?.refer=text
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Re: TMS Fan Clutch Removal Nut, Questions etc. - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
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Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 01:31:57 EST From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: TMS Fan Clutch Removal Nut, Questions etc. Good question. I've seen a Dinan S/C install in progress. I think the mechanic had to move the radiator back and trim the fan shroud. You might very well have to go back to Dinan for replacement parts. Give Dinan a call to make sure. BTW: The mechanic said this was about the hardest part of the job. A bunch of other stuff had to be relocated from the driver's side to the passenger side, e.g., cruise control and charcoal filter. The shop was charging 20 hours labor for the install. Lowell Seaton '95 M3 Ok so now that this question is answered here goes my next one. I noticed on the sticker under my hood that the fan clutch assembly is a modified one from Dinan. Does this include the fan blade itself or just the mechanisms? My question is do i need to contact dinan for a replacement or are they factory parts?
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#9. Re: [E36M3] rear shock tower brace - part 3 - from Joe Dyer
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Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 22:47:20 -0800 From: "Joe Dyer" <joedyer@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] rear shock tower brace - part 3 Sorry, I forgot to read the last line of your sig! =20 Joe ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Mdriver13@aol.com <mailto:Mdriver13@aol.com> =20 To: joedyer@home.com <mailto:joedyer@home.com> ; e36m3@bmw-m.net <mailto:e36m3@bmw-m.net> =20 Sent: Wednesday, March 28, 2001 6:07 PM Subject: Re: [E36M3] rear shock tower brace - part 3 In a message dated 3/28/01 5:50:36 PM Eastern Standard Time, joedyer@home.com <mailto:joedyer@home.com> =20 writes:=20 But Bob --- YOU advertise in your signature that you are AS!!!!!=20 Oh, contrair...read the last line of my signature ;-)) All hardware = has been=20 recently bolted on over the winter/spring for this year's move to BSP. No=20 "real" cheating before...just the X-brace. All my competitors knew = this too.=20 Bob Gill=20 97 ///M3 coupe=20 Philly Region SCCA=20 AS Champion 1997 & 2000=20 #13 BSP 2001=20
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#10. Re: [E36M3] E46 M3 Market Adjustments - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
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Date: Thu, 29 Mar 2001 01:51:20 EST From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] E46 M3 Market Adjustments This might happen. But since it is a totally new body style, the older style loses value fast. I felt the same way with my '95 M3. The '95's didn't lose a lot of resale value for a couple three years since the '95 looked the same as the new models. In fact, some of the early model '95 M3's might have even gone up in value. Remember BMW priced the M3 at $34,800 at first? I don't know if any cars ever sold for this price. Almost immediately the list price went up to $35,800. And by the end of the '95 model year the list price was $37,950. But '95 M3's are dropping in price fast now - I know :( Friday I may stop by the dealer to look at the new M3 and ask what my 50K mile '95 M3 would get for trade in. I expect the dealer to quote me about $14K trade in. Don't think I will be trading. Someday if I get jealous of the new E46M3, I may turbocharge my E36M3. That would give me about the same hp as the E46 for a lot less than the $40K difference between the E46 and my trade in. I still like the body style of the E36. I'll keep her. Lowell Seaton '95 M3 It makes me happy though as once this sinks in I think my 99 M3 (which may be sold to purchase a tow vehicle for my track obsession) will soon have greater value.