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#1. Re: [E36M3] Re: Laguna Seca noise limits - from twisty M3
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Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 08:42:38 -0800 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Laguna Seca noise limits I think that's about right. Don't know what these folks' realtors told them when they were looking to build property there, but it does suck (for lack of a better term). I guess those limits don't count on the ALMS weekend though? It was actually pretty hilarious when I was up there for the ALMS series with a few friends not so long ago. I was driving along, admiring the scenery and thinking that it would be the perfect place to live when one of my friends decided to speak up. He's normally a calm and collected guy, but can be a bit opinionated. He completely lost it when he saw the houses built up on hills around there though. He wouldn't shut up about all the reasons they didn't deserve to live there. It was quite funny seeing someday get that upset. Ah, good times. Jonathan L. >From: Carl Stern <carl.stern@xilinx.com> > >Did people build houses right next door and then >try to get the place shut down? > >Carl Stern > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
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#2. Re: 18's vs. 17's - from Chad Armstrong
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Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 08:50:31 -0800 From: Chad Armstrong <caarmstrong@epicor.com> Subject: Re: 18's vs. 17's Mike, I run a Hot Lap system for in-car analysis but it is not totally reliable in my eyes. POC uses a transponder system(pretty sure it is AMB) and that's what I am basing my findings on. Also, I used to run AO32'r and they were a full 3 sec a lap slower. I have since put Hoosiers on the 17's and have brought the gap down to 1 sec. But let me state this again that my 17"s are almost 10lbs per wheel/tire heavier than the BBS Motorsports. I think this has as much to do with the speed as the wheel size. Oh yeah I run the same width tire on both sets of wheels(245F; 275R). Of' course this is all down at a track that I have run numerous times and was testing the wheel set-up's on the same day, same conditions and I have replicated it at both Willow Springs and Buttonwillow. Chad Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 23:20:36 -0800 From: "Michael Lawrence" <95m3ltw@home.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] 18" vs. 17's Is this by a verified Timed lap system like a hot lap or AMB system? Mike
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision - from Steven Tom
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Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 09:38:16 -0700 From: Steven Tom <stom@qualcomm.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision Hi Jonathan, Do you find that the SO3's grip as good as the KD's? How's the sidewall on the SO3? Does it wallow very much? The stiff sidewall is one thing that I like about the KD's. They don't squirm and wallow as much in the corners. I finally put my V700 Ecsta (235/40/17) on my RC's. They actually are a lot more quiet and smoother than my KD's. So much so I might just roll on the Kumho's R tire considering that they grip so well. Right now my KD's last 8k miles at $225-$245/tire. I figure that I could probably get 4-5k from a Kumho at $132/tire steve At 10:22 AM 11/1/01 -0600, twisty M3 wrote: >Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 08:15:06 -0800 >From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> >Subject: Re: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision > >I've had the Dunlop 8080E, BFG g-Force KD, Mich. Pilot MXX3, Bridgestone >S02 PP, Yoko A032R and currently run the new Bridgestone S03 PP (not bad >for 28 month old car). Overall, the S03 PP is easily my number on choice >for an all-around tire right now. Monday will be the first time I get to >try the S03s at the track, so I might have different feedback on Tuesday, >but for now I think it's money well spent. Thus far, they seem to be the >perfect combination of everything I liked in all the other tires combined >(minus the 8080Es which had no good qualities that I can think of). ;) > >Jonathan L.
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#4. Help, I need a body shop! - from Patrick Mallon
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Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 12:35:52 -0500 From: "Patrick Mallon" <zez413@home.com> Subject: Help, I need a body shop! I came around a bend and had to stop due to traffic - The Lady behind me was not paying as much attention to the road as I was. The damage is minimal but my first concern is that car receives the highest quality work. I live in Richboro, PA (Bucks county) and I am looking for a GOOD body shop. If anyone has any suggestions, I would appreciate it if you would pass them along. My dealer does their own body work and while I have never used this particular dealers repair facilities, in my experience this has not been a good option. PLEASE HELP! Patrick Mallon 98 E36 M3/2
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#5. RE: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
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Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 11:53:34 -0600 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision Rob Jackowitz [mailto:rjme@msn.com] wrote: > > A032s are fun to practice with on the street. I've used them > as summer tires/track tires for the past two seasons and they're > great once you get used to the noise. And if you do NOT want to get used to the jet engine noise, consider Toyo RA1's. A quieter, grippier, similarly long lasting R/summer tires that is available in 235/40/17 size! The only downside to running long lasting R tires on the steet is the incessant marble rattle in your wheel wells. The stickier the tires the more evident it becomes how much crap is floating on our public roads. > >Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> wrote: > > > >I have had the Pilot Sports for two seasons. While they are > >good, I don't like the cupping this tire seems to exhibit. I > >think these ridges also make the tire loud as it gets old. The > >sidewalls also seem to be softer so steering response isn't as > >instant as say the old MXX3s. If money were no object, I'd > >probably go with S03s for my next set. But I can't justify > >spending that much and burning them away at driver schools =( > >So I'm considering the Kumho cheapo street tire for like $100 > >a pop and a set of Yok A032Rs for the track. Heck, at that > >price point, that combo is only slightly more expensive than a > >$250 Pilot Sport. Though I'm also thinking about buying $100/per Ecstas for the TX winter steet tires, the choice has just been complicated by a new round of price cuts on Pilot Sports and S03PPs. As of today, TireRack lists Pilot Sports at $183/per and S03PP's at $192/tire. alex f > >--- Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR > <Christopher.Darling@scott.af.mil> > >wrote: > > > Ok, it's time for a new pair of tires. I was planning on > > > another set of Pilot Sports, but TireRack reviews of the > > > Bridgestone S-03s are pretty convincing so I'm thinking of > > > giving them a try. What's the consensus of the group? Thanks,
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#6. Re: Laguna Seca noise limits - from Roger Baker
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Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 10:35:03 -0800 From: Roger Baker <rbaker@velodyne.com> Subject: Re: Laguna Seca noise limits You've pretty much hit the nail on the head... Laguna is owned by the county of Monterey Parks & Rec Department and of course they want to be politically correct & preserve the environment from all us noisy, environmentally polluting racers that disturb the poor neighbors who built homes right next to a racetrack that was already there. The sound check lady (Ethel? Ester?) actually told me they notice an increase in phone calls on 92 dB days vs. 90 dB days. She has also admitted the county gets complaints from neighbors even when nobody is even running at the track!!! I remember the same thing happened to Riverside Raceway when I lived about 10 miles from there. They developed the nothing town of Sunnymead into Moreno Valley & built tons of homes right next to the track and the old March Field Air Force Base (think big B52's). TONS of people had the nerve to complain about the noise! Sometimes people should just be shot for a lack of common sense. -- Roger Baker Carl Stern <carl.stern@xilinx.com> wrote: > So, what is the point of this sound check anyway? > After all this is a bona fide race track right? > It's not a road course through downtown or anything. > It can't be for the fans, they like the noise. > Did people build houses right next door and then > try to get the place shut down? > > Carl Stern
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#7. Re: Help! My M3's not as reliable as I thought... - from Ron Buchalski
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Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 19:11:45 From: "Ron Buchalski" <rbuchals@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: Help! My M3's not as reliable as I thought... Chris, How many miles are on your car? As far as the diagnosis, it sounds like it could be the VANOS system making the noise. It normally makes the "marbles in a can" noise. The VANOS on my E34 525iT makes a slight rattle (car has 125k miles), but it's nothing objectionable. Sounds like yours is louder. How loud is the noise? I've read (on the list) that the VANOS can be disassembled, rotated 120 degrees, and reassembled, and the noise may stop. I don't know if VANOS repair is something that the home mechanic can accomplish. I've done many repairs on my car, but I don't know if I'd mess around with something that can damage my engine or cylinder head if I screw it up. In any case, it sounds like your mechanic made a quick diagnosis, and padded the labor charge to cover his ass in case it's something else. I'd take it to another shop, or a BMW dealer, for a second opinion. -rb >Date: Wed, 31 Oct 2001 23:06:46 -0500 >From: Chris Papademetrious <chrispitude@yahoo.com> >Subject: Help! My M3's not as reliable as I thought... > >I'd like to seek a little perspective from the group. > >Back in 1997, I bought a used 1995 M3 for $30k. I was just out of college >and this was a great deal of money, but I justified it - hey, BMWs are >reliable cars with top-notch engineering. It would run like clockwork for >200k miles and beyond! Or at least, that's how I justified the purchase to >myself. :) Just to be safe, I purchased an aftermarket warranty with the >car, which finally ran out last month. > >Earlier this week I heard a noise from the engine when it was at a cold >idle, so I popped the hood. As I revved the motor a bit at the throttle >body, I heard a horrendous marbles-in-the-can sound. I took it to the shop >I typically frequent (Bavarian Specialties in King of Prussia, PA) for a >quick diagnosis. Mike Yaskin, the shop owner, had a listen and told me >within 10 seconds that I needed to replace both timing chains, tensioners, >and the valve cover gasket. He wrote me up a quote of $1431 to do this - >$1061 in labor (at $68/hr), and $290 in parts. > >My questions are: > >1. Does this quote sound reasonable? Mike's done all the service on my car >to date. >2. Given that labor is so much of the job, is this a job I can easily do >myself? I'd rather hear from someone who's been there! >3. Any specific recommendations for shops in the eastern PA/NJ area for >this sort of work that might be competitive? > >Thanks everyone! I really thought these cars were bulletproof until >now. I guess it's a little humbling, given how much I've been bragging >about German engineering to my friends. Now they're the ones who are >having the last laugh (aside from my wallet). > >I guess nothing lasts forever, eh? > > - Chris _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp
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#8. Re: Laguna Seca noise limits - from Daniel Snyder
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Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 11:50:48 -0800 From: "Daniel Snyder" <m3ltw@msn.com> Subject: Re: Laguna Seca noise limits > From: Carl Stern <carl.stern@xilinx.com> > Subject: Re: Laguna Seca noise limits > > So, what is the point of this sound check anyway? Almost all tracks have a noise limit, just some (LS) are much lower than others. > After all this is a bona fide race track right? One of the best. > It's not a road course through downtown or anything. > It can't be for the fans, they like the noise. > Did people build houses right next door and then > try to get the place shut down? LS is in the middle of a recreation area with camp grounds all around. Hence, no noise at all be fore 9am or after 5pm. There are also many very expensive homes on the surrounding hillsides. They came long after the track, but that has never stopped them (at any track) from complaining. It's just like people who move in next to an airport, because the house is so much cheaper. They then complain about the noise to elected officials (and VOTE for those that listen). The rest of us can't vote, so we have no say (and the tracks have limited power). LS is owned by the Monterey County, so it is very political and has some of the lowest noise limits in the country. At least they haven't closed the track, yet. Dan
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#9. RE: [E36M3] Re: Laguna Seca noise limits - NO M3 CONTENT! - from Wayne Miller
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Date: Thu, 1 Nov 2001 15:13:25 -0500 From: "Wayne Miller" <m3@waynemiller.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: Laguna Seca noise limits - NO M3 CONTENT! In a previous life of mine, I used to design highway noise barriers for roadways all over the country, concentrating mostly on NJ, where we were based. The barriers' approval was based on a cost/benefit analysis of how many homes would benefit vs. the installed cost. For the NJ Turnpike, they supplied us with aerial photos of the area of the Turnpike from BEFORE they built the turnpike and recent aerials. Someone had to go up and down the entire length and determine which came first - the house or the Turnpike. If the Turnpike came first, the house was disqualified as it should be. Of course, in other areas (I-287), politics had a lot more to do with the barrier placement and even some new homes got covered. -Wayne
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision - from twisty M3
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Date: Thu, 01 Nov 2001 12:17:46 -0800 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Max Performance Street Tires Decision As I told another lister, it's a tough call actually. I had the KDs as my second set of tires... after the 8080Es, so they were great in comparison. I did track them, but that was my first on track experience, so I didn't have much to compare. My suspension/allignment are also different now, and I might be a tiny bit smoother behind the wheel. Overall, however, I'd still have to say that, on public roads and twisties, the S03s are darn close to, if not as as sticky as, the KDs. Probably a very slight edge to the KDs, but it's very close. I think I'll have a much better opinion after I get the S03s up to track temps. On the street, they can't be beat though. Much better than the S02s IMHO. I haven't had the tail out once, unless I was trying. ;) I don't think the sidewall is as stiff as the KDs or MXX3s, but I've been running about 37 psi (cold) all around on the S03s, as I think they feel better that high. If memory serves, I think I ran the KDs at about 34 or so. Vague memory though. My only complaint about the S02s was that they didn't have very crisp turn in. The S03s seem to have very good turn in, possibly due to less tread squirm, they seem to have even more lateral grip, are good under heavy braking and are as competant in the wet (only one minor rain day so far though). Again, I have different susp. components now, and a slightly more aggressive allignment which could make my opinion a bit biased. Either way, I'm quite happy with them. Hope that helps, Jonathan L. (Anyone here going to Buttonwillow on Monday??) >From: Steven Tom <stom@qualcomm.com> > >Hi Jonathan, > >Do you find that the SO3's grip as good as the KD's? How's the sidewall on >the SO3? Does it wallow very much? The stiff sidewall is one thing that I >like about the KD's. They don't squirm and wallow as much in the corners. > > >steve > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp