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#1. Re: Ben Liaw's review of E46 M3 - from Jeremy.Thissell@USPTO.GOV
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 10:54:30 -0400 From: Jeremy.Thissell@USPTO.GOV Subject: Re: Ben Liaw's review of E46 M3 And we expected you to say......? Jeremy Thissell Patent Examiner Art Unit 3763 US Patent Office > - shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. > notchey, > difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy. > > ben liaw > > > >
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#2. Re: [E36M3] Re: Ben Liaw's review of E46 M3 - from Ben Liaw
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 11:01:01 -0700 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Ben Liaw's review of E46 M3 true, true...so i'm a little baised about shifters. :-) the throw is ok, nowhere near as terrible as a stock E36 M3. it just need some tweeking to get it to "feel" like it belongs in the car. at the moment, it's missing the precision and attention to detail which the rest of the car already has... ben liaw > Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 10:54:30 -0400 > From: Jeremy.Thissell@USPTO.GOV > Subject: Re: Ben Liaw's review of E46 M3 > > And we expected you to say......? > > Jeremy Thissell > Patent Examiner > Art Unit 3763 > US Patent Office > > > > - shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. > > notchey, > > difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy. > > > > ben liaw > > > > > > > > > > > ************************************************************* > 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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#3. ben's e36 M3-GT - from Barry Luke
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 11:53:58 -0400 From: "Barry Luke" <LukeB@alxn.com> Subject: ben's e36 M3-GT ben, please share with us all the "current" details and evolutionary changes you have wrought on your outstanding e36 M3-GT .... inquiring minds want to know .... barry ... 97 e36 M3/2 "touched" by rob and ben !!! -------------------- 6 -------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 08:00:19 -0700 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: E46 M3 test drive i'm sure many more will post as they have their experience, but i thought i'd throw in my $0.02. in no particular order... - car is too quiet, like the E39 M5. - for real fun, the DSC, ASC need to be turned off and the "sport" button needs to be turned on. - 3.64 gear in diff is fun...i may have to do this in the GT. - having 6-speeds still takes getting used to. - car is comfortable, yet reponsive when pushed. i couldn't experience first hand the "understeer" which the journalists spoke about since they were probably beating on the press cars. i have more respect for property than that. - laguna seca blue is interesting. paint the roof white and you have a rolling smurf. - grey interior sucks. seats are so-so, black trim looks cheap. E46 330 Cis have better looking interiors. - shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. notchey, difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy. - engine bay is a work of art...in plastic. - steering wheel is nice. - motor? likes to rev, thanks in part to many factory built-in items (like a already lightened pulley from the factory) and other small details. makes it's most power over 4000 when it really kicks. is it fast? yes. is it nice? yes. is it worth $52k? perhaps. the big question...should you sell the E36 M3 for the E46 M3? unless you need the new body style and need the extra 100 hp, no. with proven and simple mods, you can make your E36 M3 close in "feel" to the new E46 M3. i'm glad i have my E36 M3 GT. i wouldn't trade it for an E46 M3 even if it were for an even swap. ben liaw
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#4. Re: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT - from Ben Liaw
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:02:15 -0700 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT actually, most of the information is posted on my website. www.benliaw.com current details? it's currently at an EPA testing facility getting it's emissions certification (it's very different from standard state-run emissions tests). DOT paperwork has been submitted for it's approval. once i'm issued a US title, i'll start adding the fun stuff. ben ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barry Luke" <LukeB@alxn.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 8:58 AM Subject: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 11:53:58 -0400 From: "Barry Luke" <LukeB@alxn.com> Subject: ben's e36 M3-GT ben, please share with us all the "current" details and evolutionary changes you have wrought on your outstanding e36 M3-GT .... inquiring minds want to know .... barry ... 97 e36 M3/2 "touched" by rob and ben !!! -------------------- 6 -------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 08:00:19 -0700 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: E46 M3 test drive i'm sure many more will post as they have their experience, but i thought i'd throw in my $0.02. in no particular order... - car is too quiet, like the E39 M5. - for real fun, the DSC, ASC need to be turned off and the "sport" button needs to be turned on. - 3.64 gear in diff is fun...i may have to do this in the GT. - having 6-speeds still takes getting used to. - car is comfortable, yet reponsive when pushed. i couldn't experience first hand the "understeer" which the journalists spoke about since they were probably beating on the press cars. i have more respect for property than that. - laguna seca blue is interesting. paint the roof white and you have a rolling smurf. - grey interior sucks. seats are so-so, black trim looks cheap. E46 330 Cis have better looking interiors. - shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. notchey, difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy. - engine bay is a work of art...in plastic. - steering wheel is nice. - motor? likes to rev, thanks in part to many factory built-in items (like a already lightened pulley from the factory) and other small details. makes it's most power over 4000 when it really kicks. is it fast? yes. is it nice? yes. is it worth $52k? perhaps. the big question...should you sell the E36 M3 for the E46 M3? unless you need the new body style and need the extra 100 hp, no. with proven and simple mods, you can make your E36 M3 close in "feel" to the new E46 M3. i'm glad i have my E36 M3 GT. i wouldn't trade it for an E46 M3 even if it were for an even swap. ben liaw ************************************************************* 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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#5. RE: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT - from Seth Thomas
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:19:57 -0400 From: "Seth Thomas" <porsche993@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT Go to www.benliaw.com and check out all the information on the car. Very nice site. Seth Thomas www.m3ltw.com -----Original Message----- From: Barry Luke [mailto:LukeB@alxn.com] Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2001 11:59 AM To: E36M3 Subject: [E36M3] ben's e36 M3-GT Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 11:53:58 -0400 From: "Barry Luke" <LukeB@alxn.com> Subject: ben's e36 M3-GT ben, please share with us all the "current" details and evolutionary changes you have wrought on your outstanding e36 M3-GT .... inquiring minds want to know .... barry ... 97 e36 M3/2 "touched" by rob and ben !!! -------------------- 6 -------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 08:00:19 -0700 From: "Ben Liaw" <ben@shortshifter.com> Subject: E46 M3 test drive i'm sure many more will post as they have their experience, but i thought i'd throw in my $0.02. in no particular order... - car is too quiet, like the E39 M5. - for real fun, the DSC, ASC need to be turned off and the "sport" button needs to be turned on. - 3.64 gear in diff is fun...i may have to do this in the GT. - having 6-speeds still takes getting used to. - car is comfortable, yet reponsive when pushed. i couldn't experience first hand the "understeer" which the journalists spoke about since they were probably beating on the press cars. i have more respect for property than that. - laguna seca blue is interesting. paint the roof white and you have a rolling smurf. - grey interior sucks. seats are so-so, black trim looks cheap. E46 330 Cis have better looking interiors. - shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. notchey, difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy. - engine bay is a work of art...in plastic. - steering wheel is nice. - motor? likes to rev, thanks in part to many factory built-in items (like a already lightened pulley from the factory) and other small details. makes it's most power over 4000 when it really kicks. is it fast? yes. is it nice? yes. is it worth $52k? perhaps. the big question...should you sell the E36 M3 for the E46 M3? unless you need the new body style and need the extra 100 hp, no. with proven and simple mods, you can make your E36 M3 close in "feel" to the new E46 M3. i'm glad i have my E36 M3 GT. i wouldn't trade it for an E46 M3 even if it were for an even swap. ben liaw ************************************************************* 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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#6. Re: [E36M3] E46 M3 test drive - from Wen Liew
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 17:06:55 From: "Wen Liew" <wwliew@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] E46 M3 test drive >it's most power over 4000 when it really kicks. > >is it fast? yes. is it nice? yes. is it worth $52k? perhaps. > >the big question...should you sell the E36 M3 for the E46 M3? unless you >need the new body style and need the extra 100 hp, no. with proven and >simple mods, you can make your E36 M3 close in "feel" to the new E46 M3. Has anyone compared or come across articles that compared the Euro E36 M3 Evo with the E46 M3? With the Euro at US$0.85, transplanting a 3.2l, 6 speed and 3.64 rear diff into a US E36 M3 4 door, sudddenly seem very attractive. Hmm.... I know of a place that has a 3.2l engine with 6 speed and another with SMG for sale ;-) Wen _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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#7. R4 vs PF90 - price delta... or lack thereof ... - from George M. Kofman
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 12:29:09 -0500 From: "George M. Kofman" <sdg2@execpc.com> Subject: R4 vs PF90 - price delta... or lack thereof ... Okay. So I figure I;ll save a few bucks and go for R4 pads from porterfield. I called, as apparently did a bunch of you all at the same time. Paula was saying that "you all have been calling alot today." Apparently, someone else is doing their brakes. Start fessing up <g> ! So, with the 20% list discount, the front/rear prices are 135.2/95.20 for the R4, and 136.40/136.40 for the PF90. I *really* thought that R4 were supposed to be "cheap." Did they have a price increase or what ? Anyhow, what's a comparable PAGID pad run for ? GMK '97 M3/4; ordered Floating Euros and new OEM rears from Hendricks. Very reasonable. And in stock ! Will be installing Steve D's Fischer lines in the next few weeks.
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#8. Buttonwillow THIS weekend the 14th; Supersprint Impressions - from Chad Armstrong
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 10:35:02 -0700 From: Chad Armstrong <caarmstrong@epicor.com> Subject: Buttonwillow THIS weekend the 14th; Supersprint Impressions Hey All, Since were talking about Buttonwillow, will anyone out there be at the Vortech,Hotchkis,Baer Brakes,Yokohama Event this Saturday? If so please e-mail me. Oh Yeah Mandatory M3 Content: I have had the Supersprint DTM exhaust on my car for about 18Months and I really like it. Not to loud yet louder than stock. Very good craftsmanship and yes it is much lighter than the stock piece. Best Regards, Chad Armstrong 99 M3 85 911 #192
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#9. Re: Supersprint feedback - thanks! - from Chris Casey
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 10:58:15 -0700 (PDT) From: Chris Casey <ccasey1@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Supersprint feedback - thanks! Thanks everyone for the excellent information! It sounds like this is a good one. -Chris > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 19:22:49 -0700 (PDT) > From: Chris Casey <ccasey1@yahoo.com> > Subject: Supersprint exhaust feedback wanted > > Hi Folks, > > I'm wondering if anyone has any experiences > (positive > or negative) with Supersprint exhausts to share. > I've > found a used one for $400. > > Any installation / quality / volume concerns? > > Thanks, > Chris > soon to be louder - 99 M3 > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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#10. FW: Re: E46 M3 Test Drive (long) - from Petro, John D (CORP)
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 14:12:41 -0400 From: "Petro, John D (CORP)" <John.Petro@Corporate.GE.com> Subject: FW: Re: E46 M3 Test Drive (long) > Just thought I'd add another data point from my impromptu 15 mile, 35 min. > e46 m3 test drive yesterday. I'll just amplify Ben's comments (in quotes) > since he's again hit the mark.... > > "car is too quiet, like the E39 M5." Yep, though I was surprised > with the drivetrain & overall noise at idle, which didn't improve after > 5-6 mins. of warm-up. And when much of the noise cut off sharply when the > headlights were turned on, I was not impressed. Should we watch for > elect. gremlins and later prod. fixes? > "for real fun, the DSC, ASC need to be turned off and the "sport" > button > needs to be turned on." Absolutely! > "3.64 gear in diff is fun...i may have to do this in the GT." Ditto > "having 6-speeds takes getting used to." For whatever reason, I > didn't notice this as much. > "car is comfortable, yet responsive when pushed..." The suspension > tune & comfort/handling balance was what impressed me most (and the > steering wheel-see below). Car felt tighter, more workable, and solidly > comfortable than my stock-susp. 98 m3 sedan w/ 38K on the clock. I'd > figure for those of you w/ dinan stage II or III susp., the improvement > might be subtle to non-existent. "laguna seca blue is interesting..." > Very P.C. & gently sarcastic, Ben-- I'll be more curt--that blue is sh*t > a** ugly. > "grey interior sucks. seats are so-so, black trim looks cheap. E46 > 330 > Cis have better looking interiors." Amen! E36 "cockpit"-feel is WAY > better. Seats look better in pics. Interior felt cramped- that I didn't > expect. > "shifter (while shorter than other BMWs) has WAY too much play. > notchey, > difficult to engage into gear (car had 240 miles), sloppy." > Shifter/tranny/clutch was a huge disappointment. Shifter is as bad as Ben > says and then some. My orig. bent BL/SS w/ERK + D4 ATF + "clint huff" > clutch stop is FAR, FAR better. Overall, I could only be smooth rowing > gears when I got on it-- 1/2 throttle, around-town driving was rough & way > too much of a chore. Throttle blips in downshifts were a PITA too, but > that's probably just a "get used to it" thing. YMMV, but my 15 miles with > this drivetrain wasn't pleasant except when I got on it. > "engine bay is a work of art...in plastic." Yessir. > "steering wheel is nice." Ben, you damn with faint praise-- the > wheel is GREAT! > "motor? likes to rev, thanks in part to many factory built-in items > (like > a already lightened pulley from the factory) and other small details. > makes > it's most power over 4000 when it really kicks." My impression, compared > to my sharked '98 (w/ conforti intake off for winter) below 4K-4500 rpm, > the motor ain't much different than ours-- it's the 3.46 rear that gives > the E46 more launch, not the motor. But over 4500, the thing spools up > like a 993 turbo and it feels like it builds power forever (I had to lift > at 6000 in 5th for a 45 mph zone, and it was definitely "coitus > interrruptus"!) Kinda what I'd expect from the euro E36--right, Ben? But > w/ the CAI back on, and maybe a ltw flywheel & spring clutch, I'd expect > that below 5K, e36M3s only suffer at launch. Put a 3.46 ring & pinion w/ > QUAIFFE on, and you've squeezed down the gap even more... As above, YMMV. > "is it fast? yes. is it nice? yes. is it worth $52k? perhaps." > FAST, solid, & tight it is. For me, the motor, suspension & steering wheel > are certainly worthy of a 50K+ car, but the interior, clutch/shifter & > seats are not. > "the big question...should you sell the E36 M3 for the E46 M3? > unless you > need the new body style and need the extra 100 hp, no. with proven and > simple mods, you can make your E36 M3 close in "feel" to the new E46 M3." > ABSOLUTELY. W/ things like a shark intake & code, UUC or Stygar shifter, > 3.46/quaiffe, 12 lb. flywheel/spring clutch, and Dinan stage III susp. or > equiv. (7-8.5K investment, right?) you ought to be able to bring a 96-98 > E36 M3 damn close to the E46 for everywhere except the faster road tracks. > > Just an opinion gang--drive it and see what you think. Maybe a > second drive would show me so much more of the new car's virtues, don't > know. For now, I'd be surprised if you see it as head & shoulders above > our M3s for spirited street driving. Shows how much they got right in our > car. John
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#11. FS: Last Chance - Modena Mats - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2001 14:15:31 -0400 From: "Wayne Miller" <m3@waynemiller.com> Subject: FS: Last Chance - Modena Mats I received my "damaged" set of Modena mats back today from Nick Alexander Imports and looked at them. They are 100% perfect - no damage period. I am selling them to the highest bidder, currently $25, so if you want a set of brand new M3 Modena mats for under the discounted cost of $85 or so from a dealer, make me an offer. Please reply privately. -Wayne