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#1. Re: [E36M3] toe-out up front to cure understeer? - from Ron Katona
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Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 18:54:17 -0400 From: "Ron Katona" <rkatona@bellatlantic.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] toe-out up front to cure understeer? > From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com > Jeremy, > How is toe-out geometrical imbalance any different from that under toe-in? > Under both scenarios, front wheels are directing the car to the opposite > sides of the road. The key is keeping the two in/out angles identical on > both wheels so that the pulls cancel each out. In theory you may be right, but in practice most cars are unstable with front toe out. The E36 in particular toes out a bit while driving straight ahead just from the compliance of the suspension and its positive scrub radius (centerline of the wheel/tire is outboard of a line made where the plane of the steering axis intersects the ground). Under braking the effect is more pronounced. If you start with toe out in an E36, you have more toe out as you drive forward or brake. If you start with toe in, you tend towards 0 toe as you drive forward or brake. A lot of people run 0 toe up front for auto-x in M3s because you gain a slight bit of toe out at as you trail brake which helps turn in, but the car is stable in all other conditions. Then there's Ackerman steering which adds toe out while turning because the inside wheel needs to turn more than the outside. If you start with toe out, once again you have even more toe out as you turn the wheel. Then there's bump steer. I believe the E36 toes out under compression up front. In other words, the car is almost always trying to add toe out on you... so if you start with toe out and you brake and turn, you get a LOT of toe out. If one wheel hits a bump or unloads, you'll really feel the car dart around as the tires fight each other. Starting with some tow in to zero toe means you generally end up with a more moderate amount of toe out under these conditions. > That was my take on the theory. In practice, after installing KMACs and > setting them to maximum negative camber I wound up with massive amounts of > toe out. I was cooking the inside edges of my tires both on the steet and > autoX. But the car continued to track perfectly straight on the road and I > could take my hands off the steering wheel without too much excitement. All > because I had equal amounts of toe-out at both wheels. You're right - toe in or out won't cause the car to pull left or right. Even an imbalance in toe (within reason) won't. This is counter-intuitive, but all an imbalance in toe will do is cause the steering wheel to be crooked when you drive straight down the road. When one wheel is toed in or out more than the other, the car will start to turn, but then you'll correct by rotating the wheel and now both wheels are aligned exactly the same offset from center again. That process is now over and if you let go of the wheel nothing will happen, although the wheel will be crooked. Camber and caster can create thrust in one direction or the other and it's variations in those readings that most often causes an alignment related pull (other than a bad suspension part, dragging brake, or other failure). > I humbly submit that toe-out is as innocent as toe-in, all other things > being equal. I agree, but all else is far from equal when you throw that toe out into a complicated system of forces and geometrys on a real-world car. For the M3, toe out will help turn-in, but also make the car darty, especially under braking from high speed. Not saying that's a bad thing, but just be aware that on uneven pavement or in wet conditions you will have your hands full. -- Ron Katona
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#2. FS: Set of Almost New Dunlop SP5000 245/45/17 Tires!!! - from Geof McLaughlin
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Date: Fri, 03 Aug 2001 19:01:41 -0400 From: Geof McLaughlin <gfmiiilist@usa.net> Subject: FS: Set of Almost New Dunlop SP5000 245/45/17 Tires!!! Only 4,000 miles...still have some of the tire nubs! Removed from extra set of stock 1995 M3 rims (7.5"x17") that came with my recently acquired M3. Originally $500+. Asking $300 + shipping. Located in Mansfield, Massachusetts.
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#3. LTW Parts & Part #s - from Ron Katona
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Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 19:32:57 -0400 From: "Ron Katona" <rkatona@bellatlantic.net> Subject: LTW Parts & Part #s So how does one find LTW P/Ns? I have a few LTW VINs and an ETK, but everything I check that should be different (like doors) has the same P/N as a regular '95 Coupe. There is a place in one of the menus where it has BMW Individual cars and has some E30 M3 Evo-whatever special part numbers, but nothing on the E36 LTW. Any ideas? Anybody have a line on some LTW doors (not that I would try to further lighten my BSP M3 since the LTW will be in the same class next year)? -- Ron Katona
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#4. ETK Online - from Roman
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Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 18:31:29 -0700 From: Roman <roman@arteuro.com> Subject: ETK Online Hi All, I found this site where a fellow M3'er put the ETK online. You can check it out at the URL below. Cheers, Roman http://cc395817-b.strhg1.mi.home.com:8080/index.jsp
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#5. RE: [E36M3] Re: Oil Changing Option - from Mel Silva
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Date: Fri, 3 Aug 2001 21:19:00 -0500 From: "Mel Silva" <mel.silva@pdq.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: Oil Changing Option Oops. Busted. Hey I was tired, it was late and my head was up my ... you get the point. I knew I should have got the damn chemistry book out before I started typing. Anyway, free hydrogen makes hydrochloric acid like compounds, ain't good, 'nuff said. Mel > -----Original Message----- > From: Neil Maller [mailto:neil.maller@gte.net] > Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2001 10:02 AM > To: E36M3 > Subject: [E36M3] Re: Oil Changing Option > > > Date: Thu, 02 Aug 2001 10:00:50 -0500 > From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> > Subject: Re: Oil Changing Option > > on 8/1/01 10:12 PM, "Mel Silva" <mel.silva@pdq.net> wrote: > > > unburnt hydrocarbon materials that can be very alkaline in > nature (acidic). > > Hey Mel, make up your mind! > > Neil > 96 M3 > > > ************************************************************* > 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 to the email address e36m3@bmw-m.net. > ************************************************************* > >
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Bosch O2 sensors and spark plugs - Part numbers and prices - from NickG
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Date: Sat, 4 Aug 2001 09:41:25 -0400 From: "NickG" <nikog@MediaOne.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Bosch O2 sensors and spark plugs - Part numbers and prices I wanted to correct a post I made a few weeks ago. The OBDII oxygen sensors are made by Siemens, just like Jim Nabli said. (I was looking at the wrong sensor when I made my comment, DOH!) Nick > > I thought the O2 sensors were all Siemens for our OBDII cars - at least > according > > to the part numbers. > > Well, the one I have in my hand has NTK stamped on it :) > > Nick
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#7. FS: 18" x 8" Mille Miglia Spider Rims with 225/40/18 Kumho - from Geof McLaughlin
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Date: Sat, 04 Aug 2001 14:16:58 -0400 From: Geof McLaughlin <gfmiiilist@usa.net> Subject: FS: 18" x 8" Mille Miglia Spider Rims with 225/40/18 Kumho Ecsta Tires >18" x 8" Mille Miglia Spider Rims with 225/40/18 Kumho Ecsta Tires in mint >condition for sale. Used for less than 3K miles with barely any tire wear >at all. > >I am selling this set of rims as they came with the 1995 M3 that I just >bought and I have no use for them. > >Original cost was $1200+. Make an offer. > >Located in Mansfield, Massachusetts. > >Geof
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Seat Covers - from Jeremy Lucas
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Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 07:54:16 -0400 From: "Jeremy Lucas" <jlucas@columbus.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Seat Covers I also got my black covers on Friday and then promptly forgot to bring home the box from work..... :( Jeremy Lucas Delaware, OH
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Re: Rear sway bar reinforcing mounts - from Jeremy Lucas
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Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 08:37:04 -0400 From: "Jeremy Lucas" <jlucas@columbus.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Rear sway bar reinforcing mounts I been thinking of adding the reinforcement too, especially since I have stiffer than stock bars (RD Sport). Other than catastrophic bending failure, does anyone know how to check if the rear tabs are in their nominal position before welding in the reinforcements (i.e. what is the nominal position). Is there a certian angle for the rear tab "L" bracket should be at be? For front bar failure, do the weld nuts rip through the subframe or does the semicircle bracket around the bushing break? Jeremy Lucas Delaware, OH
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#10. Sway bar link removal?? HELP!!! - from Michael Turgeon
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Date: Sun, 5 Aug 2001 15:26:20 -0700 (PDT) From: Michael Turgeon <turgeon1@yahoo.com> Subject: Sway bar link removal?? HELP!!! Gruppe: I am trying to replace my strus on the M3 '95. Whe I tried to remove the sway bar links it seems that the nut and bolt are spinning, yet I cannot see anything on the back side to hold the bolt in position. Any suggestions? TIA, Mike Turgeon BMW CCA #166866 95 M3 Avus (I-stock reacer if I can ever get the sway bar links removed!!!) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Make international calls for as low as $.04/minute with Yahoo! Messenger http://phonecard.yahoo.com/