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#1. Re: [E36M3] power loss - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 03:08:18 EDT From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] power loss Lee, I don't mean to rain on your parade but your M3 sounds just fine. You've only had it 2 weeks? You know an M3 is not a high HP car? Your '98 M3 has about 250 hp. And you know you have a 137 mph governor? that explains why you top out at about 135 mph. Plus running the A/C can cost you up to 30 hp at full throttle. Believe me. I've dyno'd my M3 with and without the A/C. I lost 22 hp at the rear wheels. However, you should be able to spin your tires easily without ASC+T. Dumping the clutch at 3 grand is pretty brutal. Only thing I can think of is maybe your clutch is slipping. If anything, take your M3 to a shop to check the clutch but the engine sounds about right. Good luck! Lowell Seaton '95 M3 Dallas, Texas BMWCCA # 131505
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#2. Re: [E36M3] power loss - from Luis Veras
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 03:44:25 -0400 From: "Luis Veras" <veras@tricom.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] power loss Lee, Are you sure your car is completely stock? Any stock E36 M3 should get at least to 60 right at the end of 2nd gear, not beginning of 3rd. Specially if you can reach 7000 RPM, your car is probably sharked, which means you should be able to reach 62-64 MPH in second gear (even with your A/C on). It is possible your car has a different differential, maybe 3.46, instead of the stock 3.23, meaning that you get shorter MPH in each gear (which is why you are getting 60 in third, not in second), BUT the car should have a faster acceleration than a stock M3 (but a lower top speed). Of course, 0-60 takes longer than stock because of having to shift a second time, but like 0-100 and 1/4 mile should be faster (if my assumption that your car has a different ratio like 3.46 or higher is correct). In my experience, I consistenly do 0-60 in about 6.0-6.4, having to go only as far as second gear. I have a sharked, otherwise stock '96. I don't think that your clutch is slipping like Lowell suggested, because if it was you couldn't even start quickly dropping it from 3000 rpm. However, regarding your comments about the car not feeling as fast as it was when you first got it, well, that's the way it is. I felt just like you did like 3 weeks after I got mine. I was all like "this car isn't as fast anymore". But it's all because you got used to it. Your car seems about right in the 80-90 and 95-110 ranges you were talking about. Try driving your aunt's minivan, or your brother's camry, and you'll really see the difference. The only thing I would be concerned is you not being able to hit 60 in second gear. Did you check your engine's compression? If that turns out to be OK, then ask the previous owner if he had his stock 3.23 differential changed to a larger one. If your car has the stock 3.23 ratio, it should give you this: 37 MPH in 1st, 63 MPH in 2nd, 95 MPH in 3rd, 120 MPH in 4th, and whatever the car will let you in 5th. If your car still has the factory limit, it shouldn't surpass 137 MPH, but I've heard of cars with the factory limit hit 142 MPH. If you remove the limit, you could reach 155ish. Good luck! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lee Conte" <leeconte@home.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 1:44 AM Subject: [E36M3] power loss > Date: Sat, 19 May 2001 22:33:01 -0700 > From: "Lee Conte" <leeconte@home.com> > Subject: power loss > > I hope some of you can give me a bit of advice. > > I have a stock 98 M3 coupe. For the past few days, I haven't been driving > it very hard, but I've been noticing it just hasn't felt "right", just not > as much of a blast to drive as usual. This is my 1st M3, I've only had the > car for 2 weeks, so I've been telling myself that I'm just getting "used to > it". I got new tires (Pilots Sports) yesterday and today I had some time to > go driving and check out the tires. > > I spent a while cruising around town, not going too fast, maybe 80-90, and > then I headed out for some less populated areas. I got out onto the open > road and for some reason I just didn't feel like opening it all the way up, > just a funny feeling. I spent a good 1/2 hour or more just cruising along > around the 95-110 range. At one point, a big open stretch unfolded and I > hit the throttle. The car slowly climbed to 135, and then I braked back > down to around 90. Again it just didn't feel right, as if there was a huge > headwind. > > I got on a different road heading back, and decided to try some 0-60s to see > what it would do. My friend and I were in the car, which accounts for about > 400lbs worth of people, and the a/c was on lightly, and I was consistently > doing 0-60s in the range of 7.2 - 7.7sec. I could not chirp the tires even > when dropping the clutch from 3k (ASC was off, the ASC light on) . I am > flooring it until about 7k and yes I can shift quickly. I am hitting 60 > early into 3rd gear. > > The engine sounds fine to me except that it may have sounded a bit "fuzzy" > at 7k. It idles fine, and I am 99% sure I haven't overrevved it. The > clutch, flywheel etc were just replaced with new stock parts, and I just had > an Inspection II. > > I assume this is way off normal, even considering the passenger weight and > a/c, and that my feelings have been more or less correct. I don't know > whether or not I should drive the car except to a garage to have it looked > at. Any thoughts, suggestions, experiences like this, etc? > > Depressed, > > Lee Conte > Spring Valley CA US > NIA#6917 > > > ************************************************************* > 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. Re: [E36M3] power loss - from Carey Probst
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 06:12:02 -0400 From: "Carey Probst" <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] power loss Maybe I've lived in the crowded Northeast too long, but where to y'all find places you can SAFELY cruise for miles in the 100mph range? Carey Probst, '99 M3/2, BMW CCA Patroon and Genesee Valley Chapters Sharked, Stressed, Schrothed, Gauged Soon to be Hitched and Braced A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Lee Conte" <leeconte@home.com> > To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> > Sent: Sunday, May 20, 2001 1:44 AM > Subject: [E36M3] power loss >I spent a good 1/2 hour or more just cruising along > around the 95-110 range. At one point, a big open stretch unfolded and I > hit the throttle. The car slowly climbed to 135, and then I braked back > down to around 90. Again it just didn't feel right, as if there was a > huge headwind.
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#4. RE: [E36M3] [Fwd: information if possible could you help me?] - from Ron Katona
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 07:50:23 -0400 From: "Ron Katona" <rkatona@bellatlantic.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] [Fwd: information if possible could you help me?] > From: "RONNIE WILSON" <bigunit02@hotmail.com> > > the description of his car sounds a lot like the 1994 325is Mtechnic > package. I thought the M-tech 325's were a US only thing by BMW NA to test the marketing waters of a more expensive M 3-series over here. The original question came from the UK. Anyone know for sure? In any case, if he doesn't want to give out a VIN, just get the third letter. If it's an "S" as opposed to an "A", then he's got a real M car. In the UK in 1993 that should be the 3.0 286 hp motor... right? -- Ron Katona
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#5. Thank you Chester Wong and Mike Tse! - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 07:54:23 -0400 From: "Wayne Miller" <M3@waynemiller.com> Subject: Thank you Chester Wong and Mike Tse! I have to start this post with a big thank you to those two. Without them, I would NEVER have finished my 2 projects today. I will post about the two projects in a minute. M3 Content: We were working on my M3 today for 14 hours! (Okay, Chester was here for about 12.5 hours and Mike for about 10 but I had to finish and then clean up) -Wayne P.S. This was originally written at midnight, yesterday but the E-mail got bounced.
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#6. Power Rear Vent Windows and Auto-Dimming Mirror - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 07:55:12 -0400 From: "Wayne Miller" <M3@waynemiller.com> Subject: Power Rear Vent Windows and Auto-Dimming Mirror I would like to shake the hand of the person that is able to install the power rear vent window kit for an E36M3 in the estimated 2 hours that it says on the instructions. It took three of us almost 10 hours to do the job. Now, yes we did accidentally drop a few things into never, never land and had to take apart more than we planned but it is impossible to do it in 2 hours. The BMW instructions stink but we eventually figured them out and you have to take apart most of the interior to run the wires. I took some digital pictures and will post them tomorrow to scare off any of you that are actually considering this. To put this in perspective, the fuse box, driver's seat, entire glove compartment, driver's side under dash, rear side pieces, carpet and a few more things all have to come out. Even worse, they all have to go back in too. I will have to place a minor parts order on Monday for the missing screws, nuts, etc. but at least it is 99% done. The best part was when we finally put everything back together and the power rear vent windows worked but my normal windows were stuck in the down position and wouldn't go up! We just looked at each other in disbelief. After turning on and off the ignition a few times, they started to work and we breathed a collective sigh of relief. I would estimate that we could do the whole thing again in about 3-4 hours next time but there is no way to make 2. The auto-dimming mirror was much easier but it was dark by the time that we started this. How do they work? Well, after 14 hours of working on the car, I was just plain too tired to take it for a ride. I will report back tomorrow with the results. Thanks again to Chester Wong and Mike Tse and I owe you guys a beer or something. -Wayne P.S. Chester had no injuries during the whole day but I managed to put my leg on a hot soldering iron and then make a nasty cut in my thumb when stripping wires. P.P.S. This was written at about 12:15am today but it failed too.
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#7. Garage sale: wheels, snows, exhaust - from Scott F.
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 08:05:16 -0700 (PDT) From: "Scott F." <sf944@yahoo.com> Subject: Garage sale: wheels, snows, exhaust Hi all -- Time to clean out some stuff that's taking up space. MOTORSPORT WHEELS -- ('95 M3) 17 x 7.5" set of 4. one has a small amount of curb rash, otherwise near perfect cosmetically. Currently have snow tires mounted (they balance out and roll fine), but will separate. $500.00 PIRELLI WINTER 210 SNOW TIRES -- 215/45R17 set of 4. all in excellent condition, still have rubber "whiskers" on them. used 3 seasons but not on daily driver. Amazing performance for a snow tire. Asking $180/bo or take the set mounted (PLEASE!) for $600.00/bro. 10-DOUBLE SPOKE WHEELS -- ('97 M3) 17 x 7.5 -- 3 available, you choose but leave me one for a spare. one has a small flat spot but balances out O.K. Very minor cosmetic blems. Asking $90 each, will sell separately. 17 x 8.5 -- 2 available, prefer to sell together. Perfectly round, balance out fine, significant curb rash on both but limited to outer lip. Would be great for track if you need an extra set of 8.5's for the front. Asking $150 each. Would sell (2) 7.5's and (2) 8.5's for $400. All wheels include center caps. STOCK E36M3 EXHAUST -- cat-back, roughly 35K miles, excellent condition. Make reasonable offer. Prefer to sell all locally (S.E. Massachusetts), can deliver if you're not too far away, otherwise buyer pays shipping. Sorry, I don't have pics but will try to get some shortly. Email me privately or call and leave message: 508-678-1992. --Scott '97 M3/2
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#8. leeconte@home.com - from RogRacer@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 12:29:17 EDT From: RogRacer@aol.com Subject: leeconte@home.com Hi Lee, Since you had your clutch, I wonder if the install was done correctly. Perhaps the clutch is slipping. Have you done some full-throttle 4 or 5th gear pulls from low rpm while watching the tach? If that's not it, maybe the Vanos is not advancing the cam at low-mid rpms...that will cost you a lot of torque (but no high-end HP) ....Vanos failure is pretty common. You might want to consider a Dyno test to see if your torque curve is doing something funny. Last, be aware the M3s are pretty heat sensitive. If you are doing these tests on hot, humid days, the engines definately are down on power..... -Roger
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#9. RE: [E36M3] power loss - from Lee Conte
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 09:39:03 -0700 From: "Lee Conte" <leeconte@home.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] power loss <Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 06:12:02 -0400 <From: "Carey Probst" <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> <Subject: Re: [E36M3] power loss < <Maybe I've lived in the crowded Northeast too long, but where to y'all find <places you can SAFELY cruise for miles in the 100mph range? I know exactly where you're coming from. I just moved here from NJ a few months ago. But I'm telling you ... I live in east San Diego county now. Go east from here on the 8 and traffic thins to nothing about 5-10 miles out. Beyond that, it's just a car here and there, and they're usually all going around 80. BTW, anyone else from around here ... is 94 out to Campo a favorite drive or what? And thanks to everyone for the other replies. I'm going to have to try some 0-60s again driving solo and a/c off. I don't mind if it's just that I *am* getting used to it .. maybe I'm reading too much about people's performance with major mods or something. I still completely love the car of course. Lee Conte Spring Valley CA US NIA#6917
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#10. RE: [E36M3] leeconte@home.com - from Lee Conte
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Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 09:51:21 -0700 From: "Lee Conte" <leeconte@home.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] leeconte@home.com <Date: Sun, 20 May 2001 12:29:17 EDT <From: RogRacer@aol.com <Subject: leeconte@home.com < <Hi Lee, <Since you had your clutch, I wonder if the install was done correctly. <Perhaps the clutch is slipping. Have you done some full-throttle 4 or 5th <gear pulls from low rpm while watching the tach? If that's not <it, maybe the <Vanos is not advancing the cam at low-mid rpms...that will cost <you a lot of <torque (but no high-end HP) ....Vanos failure is pretty common. < <You might want to consider a Dyno test to see if your torque curve <is doing <something funny. Last, be aware the M3s are pretty heat <sensitive. If you <are doing these tests on hot, humid days, the engines definately <are down on power..... I like the dyno test suggestion, I will see if I can find a place around here that can do that without charging a lot. I had the clutch installed at the local dealership (which supposedly gets high accolades from BMW). The old clutch slipped badly, so I know exactly what that's like. It wasn't very hot yesterday (about 73F) and it's pretty dry around here. I might have been a few 1000 feet above sea level out there though, maybe that contributed to it. If the VANOS is failing wouldn't that throw a warning code of some sort to the computer? Lee Conte Spring Valley CA US NIA#6917