-------------------- 1 --------------------
#1. RE: [E36M3] Amp installation, stock amp crossover points - from Seth Thomas
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 00:41:16 -0500 From: "Seth Thomas" <porsche993@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Amp installation, stock amp crossover points Seth, Don't do it. Buy an amp. I can tell you that it will make a huge difference. I had two Pioneer Premier amps once with Infinity mids and highs. Guess what. It sounded good and it was loud. But I wasn't satisfied as I had distortion at high volumes. So I traded those in on a McIntosh 6-channel. I will never go back. The Mac made a huge difference in both low level listening and high level. From what I have seen is that a good amp can make shitty speakers sounds good. I mean the speakers are only as good as what is sending them a signal. Seth Thomas www.m3ltw.com -----Original Message----- From: Seth Frader-Thompson [mailto:fraderth@colorado.edu] Sent: Friday, January 11, 2002 12:26 AM To: E36M3 Subject: [E36M3] Amp installation, stock amp crossover points Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 22:21:33 -0700 From: "Seth Frader-Thompson" <fraderth@colorado.edu> Subject: Amp installation, stock amp crossover points Hi folks, Two issues: The first is in regards to using aftermarket components - specifically, Infinity Kappa 60.3cs 6.5" separates - with the stock amp. Anyone done it? How are the front crossovers set from the factory? Is the woofer run full range, low pass, or bandpass? Are the stock mids and tweeters run high pass? My hope is that the woofer is run full range (which is how Infinity's crossover does it) and that the tweeter is high passed at roughly the same spot as in Infinity's crossover so that I can do a direct plug and play installation while disconnecting the factory midrange. Note: I'm only doing this to see if a non-audiophile like me can tell the difference between the supposedly horrible factory amp and a good aftermarket one. That's why I want to know the specific crossover frequencies. The second seems to have been discussed a bunch, but I can't find a definitive answer. I'm going to replace the stock amplifier in my car with a 4-channel JBL (P80.4), but retain the factory head unit. A lot of what I've read says to put RCAs (not line level converters) on the stock head unit outputs and plug those into the new amp, because the head unit puts out line level signals already. Some people say to use line level converters after all, and others say to run the wires directly into the speaker level inputs on the new amp. Finally, some people have said that the signals are balance or difference level outputs, and I'm not sure what to do in that case. Can anyone set me straight on this? The reason I'm asking the second question is because I was quoted $250 for installation alone on the new amp today, and I'd like to either do this myself or at least tell someone with a little more skill than me how to do it. I will put this info up on the web so we won't have to read these questions quite so often. Thanks, Seth ************************************************************* 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. *************************************************************
-------------------- 2 --------------------
#2. Airbag removal - from VT
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 00:52:36 -0800 (PST) From: VT <fstbmwm3@yahoo.com> Subject: Airbag removal Another factor in this minor airbag issue is that US airbags are too large in terms of size and amount of explosives. The US aibags in the early nineties where designed with the US driver in mind (no seatbelts). The Euro airbags are much much smaller. On a current hi tech multi airbag car I would touch them, but on the 95+ models with the dual 1 megaton airbags, I would take em out in a sec. I have friends with 95 models that after a minor collision at 60mph with the guardrail the airbags went off and the driver lost control of steering. Thats a really bad situation to get into... Regards, Vlasis __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/
-------------------- 3 --------------------
#3. Subject: Best source for BBS RC's? - from RacerxJLing@aol.com
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 04:32:04 EST From: RacerxJLing@aol.com Subject: Subject: Best source for BBS RC's? Try Eric @ www.supremepowerparts.com He can usually beat Tire Rack's prices. Tell him Jeff with the SC M3 sent ya' Good luck Jeff > I'm going to buy a set of RC's for my 98 M3. I've seen the 18x8's on Tire Rack and was wondering if anyone else had a better source? I am currently running 17x8's on all 4's. Is the 18x8 setup the way to go as far as performance and look? I've auto x'd only twice at Sebring and see myself as a 2x a year guy until I find another project racer. I think i'll keep my MOMO Sports for auto X. Suggestions? TIA. Shel Hart 1998 M3 >>
-------------------- 4 --------------------
#4. Re: Control Arm Replacement (was Powerflex bushings) - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 09:59:40 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Control Arm Replacement (was Powerflex bushings) on 1/9/02 9:55 PM, "The Abels" <aAbel@austin.rr.com> wrote: > As for the front control arm bushings, several folks have recommended > regular replacement of control arms anyway for cars that see regular track > duty. . . I see this as a regular 'wear item'. The only reason - other than accident damage - to replace E36 M3 front control arms is if the ball joints wear out. However those ball joints seem to be pretty durable. It is recommended to replace the aluminum version of the E30 M3 control arms periodically, since that metal is subject to fatigue. However the E36 arm is ferrous and won't fatigue. Note that E46 control arms are also aluminum. Neil 96 M3
-------------------- 5 --------------------
#5. Re: Heated seats don't work - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:03:10 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Heated seats don't work on 1/8/02 10:45 PM, "Robert Chay" <rchay@mindspring.com> wrote: > Hey guys. This is on a 98 M3. After moving back to the east coast (and the > wonderful weather here), I find myself looking for the heated seat button and > realized that the driver side doesn't work. I haven't checked under the seat > yet but the button works and the timer puts it on low setting after whatever > the timer is set for. Could it be as easy as a disconnected plug or is there > more to it than that? Any tips or suggestions welcome. The heating elements in the seat tend to break. Various of mine have been replaced two or three times. Fixing requires removing the seat's leather cover and replacing the element. Neil 96 M3
-------------------- 6 --------------------
#6. Re: Suspension Alternatives - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:09:17 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Suspension Alternatives >From: Bob Stommel <rstommel@iquest.net> >> >> If you install stiffer aftermarket swaybars in conjunction with stock springs >> and shocks, the swaybars then do most of the work resisting roll. This >> increases the stress on swaybar linkages, swaybar bushing brackets, etc. on 1/8/02 10:45 PM, "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> wrote: > The car will feel darn good with just the swaybars and stock suspension, but > the bars absolutely do too much work. I went through so many front brackets > it wasn't funny. Also ended up tearing one of the rear tabs off. A reasonable point. However I know of cases where those very parts have broken on cars with stiffer springs and shocks too. Moral of the story: those parts are weak on the E36, should be inspected regularly on tracked cars, and reinforced if necessary. Neil 96 M3
-------------------- 7 --------------------
#7. Street/Track combo allignment - from Ahmad Lutfeali
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:34:09 -0500 From: "Ahmad Lutfeali" <m3_racer99@hotmail.com> Subject: Street/Track combo allignment Hi guys, =20 I wanted to get some .02 cents on having the maxxed out allignment. In short, something that is barely streetable but does not burn up the tires. I was previously running=20 =20 -3 camber front 1/16 toe out front caster was maxed out with KMACS =20 -2.5 camber rear 0 toe rear =20 Car was fantastic on the track (with H&R Sport/Bilstein, RD sways and KMACS) but was BURNING through tires every 4K miles. Any decent suggestions? Thank you. =20 Ahmad A. Lutfeali =20 =20 =20 =20
-------------------- 8 --------------------
#8. Re: [E36M3] Re: Airbag removal procedure - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:07:52 -0600 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Airbag removal procedure Carl, I bet your friend was not in a German car when he had his accident. I seam to recall reading that all E36s ('92+) have 2-stage airbags. Getting a mouth full of a dash board with an airbag desert sounds suspiciously Detroit-ish/South Korean. How did he manage to reach the passenger side dashboard anyway? Not wearing a seat belt? alex f |---------+---------------------------> | | Carl Stern | | | <carl.stern@xili| | | nx.com> | | | | | | 01/10/02 06:55 | | | PM | | | Please respond | | | to Carl Stern | | | | |---------+---------------------------> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | | | To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmw-m.net> | | cc: | | Subject: [E36M3] Re: Airbag removal procedure | >---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| Date: Thu, 10 Jan 2002 17:52:32 -0700 From: Carl Stern <carl.stern@xilinx.com> Subject: Re: Airbag removal procedure Forget everything I wrote about airbags. An hour after I sent that, my coworker comes in with a cut, bruised and burned face still healing. He was in an auto crash 3 weeks ago. After he smashed his face into the dashboard (passenger side) causing the bruises, the airbag then discharged causing serious skin abrasion and burns. He had to have a plastic surgeon work on his skin just from the airbag damage. They may be good in theory, but obviously having them work correctly in practice is not guaranteed. I think I answered my own questions. Carl Stern
-------------------- 9 --------------------
#9. Re: [E36M3] Re: Airbag removal procedure - from Reid Conti
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 10:18:41 -0800 (PST) From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Airbag removal procedure I think the Jeep Liberty has been found to have this problem (late deploying airbags). Maybe some other jeep vehicles. I'm thinking it would be hard to hit the dash with your face while wearing a seatbelt. Frankly, I have no problem with automakers designing car safety systems with the assumption you'll be wearing a seatbelt in mind. If you don't want to wear a seatbelt, not my problem. - reid > Carl, > I bet your friend was not in a German car when he had his accident. I seam > to recall reading that all E36s ('92+) have 2-stage airbags. > Getting a mouth full of a dash board with an airbag desert sounds > suspiciously Detroit-ish/South Korean. > How did he manage to reach the passenger side dashboard anyway? Not wearing > a seat belt? > > alex f
-------------------- 10 --------------------
#10. Question: Rebuilding calipers - from Chester Wong
Top
Date: Fri, 11 Jan 2002 12:08:59 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Question: Rebuilding calipers Going to rebuild my calipers after melting the seals at the last DE event. Wondering what the general consensus is about reassembly.. Does anyone use assembly lube/grease? Or just plain brake fluid? Thanks, Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Send FREE video emails in Yahoo! Mail! http://promo.yahoo.com/videomail/