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#1. Re: [E36M3] Buttonwillow weekend and Thanks to BMW of Bakersfield, EuroTech, - from Mark Radelow
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Date: Wed, 13 Mar 2002 00:04:27 +0000 From: "Mark Radelow" <radelow@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Buttonwillow weekend and Thanks to BMW of Bakersfield, EuroTech, and the guys at That's just the BMW crowd. I was working start/finish when your radiator went...Too bad. I have a spare radiator that I normally take with me, but only when I tow my car... Didn't do that this weekend since I was staff. :( But it's great that everyone pulled together for you to get what needed to be done...done. :) Mark Radelow From: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> Reply-To: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Subject: [E36M3] Buttonwillow weekend and Thanks to BMW of Bakersfield, EuroTech, and the guys at Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 17:56:29 -0600 Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 15:37:49 -0800 From: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> Subject: Buttonwillow weekend and Thanks to BMW of Bakersfield, EuroTech, and the guys at I would like to take a minute to tell about my Buttonwillow weekend and thank everyone that helped out. Last week I had my M3 in Dinan's shop in Mountain View to do the tech inspection for the track, replace the high pressure lines on the power steering, the spark plugs, the fuel filter, diff and trany oil and the valve cover gasket. I had intended to do much of this myself but things got crazy at work and the whole wheel lock saga took allot of time. I picked it up on Thursday and thought I was ready for the weekend. Friday afternoon while packing for the track I noticed that my KMAC camber plates did not appear to be in the correct alignment (too little caster and negative camber). I then realized that they probably had to remove the strut tower brace and to change the valve cover gasket and the plates must have fell out of alignment when they were doing so. I could not get a hold of the Mountain View shop but luckily I could get ahold of the shop in Morgan Hill which is on the way down to Buttonwillow anyway. I made it through Friday afternoon traffic to Morgan Hill several minutes before 5pm. A team of guys put my camber and caster into alignment in no time. Meanwhile, my friends milled around the shop looking at all the cool race cars and customer cars. The new shop is definitely pretty cool. With the alignment fixed we set off for Buttonwillow. Saturday morning I'm running on the track when the check engine light goes on. In the pits I read the fault code and its 1221 (oxygen sensor). The car also appeared to be running rich since the tailpipes and rear end were very sooty. After talking it over with a few people we decide that it should be safe running rich until I can get it back to the shop next week. With my eye on the temperature gauge and ears listening for any sign of pinging should it swing the other way I go out for the next session. Halfway though the session the temperature gauge is slightly higher than normal on the front straight . By the back straight its on 3/4 and I smell coolant. I pull off line, inside the track and wait for a tow back to the pits in between sessions. With the system cooler its apparent that the neck on the radiator is broken. Typical. I guess I should have been driving around with a spare radiator in the trunk. So its Saturday afternoon and I need a radiator to get home much less back on the track. The Bakersfield BMW parts department is closed. I try calling my girlfriend and getting her to get me a radiator in the Bay Area and drive it down. She laughs. I call around to dealers in LA but the parts departments are either closed or they will not take credit card orders over the phone for pick up later. Its not looking good. I give BMW of Bakersfield a call back to see if their is anything they can do or at least get it towed there to be fixed Monday morning. I get through to the sales manager Lance Hilderbrand. He was great. He called the parts manager at home, who came me down to the dealer to pull the parts and sell them over the phone. They even gave me a great deal; factory radiator and coolant for just over $250. When I went to pick it up they offered to let me use the shop and even asked if I needed a loaner car! I was stunned. I have never received service like this at a BMW dealer. With much gratitude I took Lance's card and offered to pass along his contact information (661) 396-4040. If you need parts near Buttonwillow or are looking to buy a BMW give him call. My next thanks go out to Kenney at EuroTech in Mission Viejo. He was there helping people all weekend at the track. I have never replaced a radiator in a an E36 so I asked his advice. Instead of advising he just said no problem, I'll do it for you. 45 minutes later he had replaced the radiator and bled the system in time for my first run session. He refused to take any money for the service. It worked great and I did not miss a session all Sunday. Many things went wrong last weekend but it all worked out in the end. Thanks, Juan Bruce BMW CCA GGC '85 M635CSi '95 M3 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp. ************************************************************* 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. ************************************************************* _________________________________________________________________ Join the world's largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com
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#2. Camber plate replacement - from Juan Bruce
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 16:14:47 -0800 From: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> Subject: Camber plate replacement As I mentioned in my earlier post my camber plates fell out of alignment last week when the strut tower brace was removed during the valve cover gasket replacement. While we were trying to realign them we noticed the tops of the KMAC plates have started to bend and dome. The slots for adjustment are also mangled. So, I'm thinking it time to replace them. They are an early set and I thought I remembered someone saying the latest ones are better. Alternatively I could go with fixed Dinan plates, TC Kline or Ground Control plates. For those of you that don't remember, my suspension set up consists H&R coilovers, LTW strut brace, X brace, and TC Kline control arm bushings and the KMACS set to 2-2.5deg negative camber. Aside from the plates bending and being hard to align I'm happy with the setup. My car shares daily driver and track duty (until I can find the right 325is club racer). I am afraid the solid mounts in the TC Kline/ Ground Control plates will further compromise the ride and road noise. With all the recent talk of strut towers cracking I'm also afraid these solid mounts will increase the stress on the strut towers. Too bad the KMACS aren't made better. Maybe the Dinan Plates are the answer. I never adjust the camber once its aligned anyway. Juan Bruce BMW CCA GGC '85 M635CSi '95 M3 _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp.
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Valentine One Programming - from andy radin
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 16:17:29 -0800 From: "andy radin" <fourfa@mindspring.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Valentine One Programming I've had the X-band turned off for a while, *much* nicer. In CA it's OK, but I bet there are places in Tennessee etc using X-band, so it might be wise to enable it on road trips. now if only they'd make it so you could deactivate the annoying audible self-test on power-up...
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#4. RE:Valentine One Programming - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 19:23:29 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: RE:Valentine One Programming Here it is on the Valentine1 website: http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp Regards, Rich Valentine 1 - X still active since our 'friendly' patrol in these parts still use it.
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Camber plate replacement - from twisty M3
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 16:50:37 -0800 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Camber plate replacement I'm running the TC Kline plates and I'm happy with them. I did start getting some minor dimpling in the shock towers, but putting the factory reinforcement plates back in, along with the plates, has cleared up any issues. Others on the list probably have the P/N for you, but I still had my factory ones. As for road noise, harshness... I dunno. My car is obviously a bit stiffer now with the suspension, but the plates "seemed" to get rid of a bit of the harshness... It wasn't terrible either way. I recommend the plates... They are priced rather high though. Jonathan L. >From: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> >Reply-To: "Juan Bruce" <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> >To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmw-m.net> >Subject: [E36M3] Camber plate replacement >Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 18:16:36 -0600 > > I am afraid the solid mounts in the TC Kline/ Ground Control >plates will further compromise the ride and road noise. With all the >recent >talk of strut towers cracking I'm also afraid these solid mounts will >increase the stress on the strut towers. Too bad the KMACS aren't made >better. Maybe the Dinan Plates are the answer. I never adjust the camber >once its aligned anyway. > >Juan Bruce >BMW CCA GGC >'85 M635CSi >'95 M3 _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
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#6. I am sure this is right for someone. - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 19:59:36 -0500 From: "Paul Elliott" <elliott.paul@worldnet.att.net> Subject: I am sure this is right for someone. Rob, >>. JUST a drive-by, I can't actually be seen examining that car up close.<< Yea....Bad for the old image! Paul Elliott --------------------------------------------------------- '99 White M3; < 40K miles; Dinan stage II SC kit with 6" RMS crank pulley: 11 psi; AA Water Injection; Rotex pads;X-Brace; Dinan Koni Suspension; Stygar SS and Clutch Stop; Sound by Polk, Excelon, JLAudio
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#7. Re: Valentine One Programming - from Steve Grigory
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 17:45:58 -0800 From: Steve Grigory <sgrigory@pacbell.net> Subject: Re: Valentine One Programming Mike, Go to Valentine's webpage at: http://www.valentine1.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp It tells you how to turn off X-band, among other things. I did this to mine about a year ago...huge difference! Removed about 95% of the "I don't care about that" alarms. I now kick around town with the detector in the most sensitive mode and it works great! steve
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Camber plate replacement - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 17:59:11 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Camber plate replacement Unless your car is bent somewhere, why not consider '96M3 bearing plates swapped? I have the '95M3 bearing plates and with H&R OE Sport springs that lower the car a bit, you get -2.0 deg of camber. Not sure how low your front is, but you should easily be able to get -2.5 up front with the '96 plates. Chester --- Juan Bruce <jbrucebmw@hotmail.com> wrote: > My car shares daily driver and track duty (until I can find the right 325is > club racer). I am afraid the solid mounts in the TC Kline/ Ground Control > plates will further compromise the ride and road noise. With all the recent > talk of strut towers cracking I'm also afraid these solid mounts will > increase the stress on the strut towers. Too bad the KMACS aren't made > better. Maybe the Dinan Plates are the answer. I never adjust the camber > once its aligned anyway. ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Try FREE Yahoo! Mail - the world's greatest free email! http://mail.yahoo.com/
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#9. Re: Track/Suspension Impressions - from Neil Maller
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 22:06:47 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Track/Suspension Impressions on 3/12/02 4:02 PM, "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> wrote: > I finally got a chance to swap pads (can't believe I've been *paying* someone > to do this... it really IS very easy) Heh heh - welcome to our world. The only thing I'd point out is that once you start doing this yourself, you also need to inspect the hoses, the dust boots, etc. periodically since nobody else will be doing it. Neil 96 M3
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#10. Taillight Glitch - from Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 21:08:53 -0600 From: "Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR" <Christopher.Darling-02@scott.af.mil> Subject: Taillight Glitch Here's a riddle for some of you old heads--now that I think about it, I think I remember seeing something about this a couple years ago . . . I replaced my cracked taillight assembly on my 95 M3 and screwed everything together. Fit perfect, looked great. Tested all the light functions and they all worked as advertised. The problem is the diagnostic message center: "TAILLIGHT FAILURE". Hmmm. I check the wiring harness plug, and it's all secure. Then I pulled the plug off again and compared the socket in the old taillight to the socket in the new taillight. The old plug socket has 7 pins, but the plug socket on the new light has only 6. WTF? What is the fix for this? I talked to Steve D, and he was as surprised as I was. He's going to research the issue in the morning. BTW, my production date is 10/94, if that matters . . . TIA, Cod Major Chris Darling HQ AMC/CEXR DSN 779-0698, Comm (618) 229-0698
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#11. Re: New Strut Hats - from Neil Maller
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 22:11:54 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: New Strut Hats on 3/12/02 7:06 PM, "Darling Christopher Maj AMC/CEXR" <Christopher.Darling-02@scott.af.mil> wrote: > This is the data I got from Nick > Alexander when I ordered "96+ strut bearings": > > Guide Support (left) 31 33 2 227 897 > Guide Support (right) 31 33 2 227 898 > > Can someone verify these are the right parts? Price is about $75 each. Yep, that's them. Neil 96 M3
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#12. Re: Valentine One Programming - from Michael Kelley
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Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 22:24:37 -0800 From: "Michael Kelley" <mkelley@nc.rr.com> Subject: Re: Valentine One Programming Here's the link to the programming info on the Valentine site: http://www.valentineone.com/lab/MikesLabRpt3.asp Mike 98M3C > Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 16:02:35 -0800 (PST) > From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Valentine One Programming > > I'm sure it will work. > > This works on basically all V1's. I've been running sans x-band > "protection" for a couple of years. I first found it on a Porsche site > back in the day; Valentine didn't talk about it. However, now they even > have this same information on their own website! > > - reid > > > Date: Tue, 12 Mar 2002 15:35:44 -0800 (PST) > > From: Mike Cornwell <mcornwell@yahoo.com> > > Subject: Valentine One Programming > > > > I haven't had a chance to read the list for a few months, so perhaps this has > > been posted before. > > > > Ever since I bought my Valentine One RADAR detector, the only thing that I > > thought I would change on it would be the ability to disable X-Band alerts, > > since I don't think any departments use those ancient guns anymore, but most > > supermarkets still do! > > > > Anyways, I was looking for something on the web, and stumbled onto a C5 site, > > which had the following link, which describes how to do this, and alot more > > with your Valentine: > > > > http://www.albertpenello.com/vette/v1program.html > > > > I haven't been out to my car yet, so I don't know what version of the software > > I have, but I'm hoping it works. > > > > -Mike