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#1. Re: [E36M3] Bilstein disassembly - from Rex Tener
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 08:40:09 -0800 From: Rex Tener <rex_tener@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Bilstein disassembly At 08:53 AM 3/27/2002 -0600, LoweSeaton@aol.com wrote: >If the rachet and bit doesn't work, try an air impact wrench. I had to >use an impact wrench on my Bilsteins. It is a little hard to find an >impact socket screwdriver bit but I found one at Sears. I would suggest that a hand impact wrench should be tried as the first step. They are available at any Sears and they work really well when trying to remove somewhat fragile bolts. I use mine to take out the rotor set screw with ease. Rex Tener rex_tener@yahoo.com _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
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#2. check system problem - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:10:32 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: check system problem James, You did not mention specifically what type of car but I assume you mean E36s (your's and your mother's). This is a common failure and the culprit is most often related to the brake light switch located behind the brake pedal. The other culprit could be a brake light bulb (light out or providing the improper resistance to the very finicky BMW test). See more here (courtesy of Stephen Lafredo and Nathan Davies): http://www.users.fast.net/~slafredo/cars/modifications/clutch_pedal/ http://nathandavies.net/bmw/brake.htm Later, Rich
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#3. check system - solved I think - from James Clay
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:24:37 -0500 From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com> Subject: check system - solved I think Thanks to all who responded so quickly. Looks like it is the brake switch - 4 pole, 2 circuits, the one for the lights works but the check control section fails. James ------------------------------------------------------------------ James Clay http://www.bimmerworld.com Engineered BMW Performance Grand Am Cup / SCCA / BMWCCA Racecar Rental Genuine and OEM BMW Parts (540) 639-9648 ------------------------------------------------------------------
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#4. Re: check system problem - from David Ripton
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:27:01 -0500 From: David Ripton <dripton@wizard.net> Subject: Re: check system problem > We don't usually deal with the check system so I have no experience here. I > am getting a "Brake Light Failure" warning on my check display for my street > car. The brake lights do work and all bulbs are lighting. Now my mother's > car is doing the same thing, making me think this is a common problem. > Anyone have any experience with it? They All Do That. I'd had to replace the brake light switch twice in two years. At least they're cheap. http://home.austin.rr.com/danhermann/brakeCircuitWarningRepair.txt http://member.rivernet.com.au/btaylor/BMWText/technical/E36CommonProblems.html -- David Ripton dripton@wizard.net
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#5. RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations - from Michael Stembera
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 12:15:27 -0600 From: "Michael Stembera" <m_stembera@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations I used the JTD http://www.jt-designs.com RSM's and am very happy w/ them so far. I wonder if I could/should have also used the Z3 Reinforcement Plates along w/ them? Are the Z3 Reinforcement Plates supposed to protect the rear shock towers or what is the reason for using them? -Mike -------------------- Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 10:00:39 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: E36 rear shock mount recommendations Mark says > > I have to replace mine and have seen recommendations to use RSM's from > a convertible and also a rec to use RSM's from an E46. What's the > best? Both...and add M3 to the mix as well. Item Qty Part Number Retail Price Notes E46 Rear Shock Mounts 2 33 52 6 754 096 $18.40/ea Required Self-Locking Collar Nut 4 31 33 1 092 887 0.55/ea Recommended Washer Gasket 2 33 52 1 128 734 0.43/ea Recommended Self-Locking Hex Nut 2 33 52 1 137 360 0.42/ea Recommended Z3 Reinforcement Plates 2 51 71 8 413 359 14.40/ea Optional -------------- Total Cost $36.80-$69.50* * Many BMW dealerships and vendors offer discounts for BMW CCA club members up to 30% off list prices. Best regards, Rich PS - Actually, that Rear Shock Mount above is used on all the E46s, from the 320Ci to the M3 (including the convertible). _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
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#6. Bilstein disassembly - from Ward, Chris
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 13:20:56 -0500 From: "Ward, Chris" <CWard@ContractLumber.com> Subject: Bilstein disassembly Jason wrote: >>Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 07:42:24 -0800 >>From: racebro@santacruzbicycles.com >>Subject: Bilstein disassembly >>WARNING, WARNING-- Uh oh there goes the bump stop thread alarm. Hopefully >>this isn't the start of another Bilstein bump stop thread! :) >>Jason >>'95 E36 M3 >>White/Black I was careful when choosing my wording for this topic. Notice I didn't say anything about bump stops. Thanks to Lowe and John for the input. I managed to do this at lunch time in about 45 minutes. Chris Ward 95 M3 (w/modified bump stops)
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#7. Re: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations - from Andrej Dolenc
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 13:46:29 -0600 From: Andrej Dolenc <adolenc@erols.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations Michael Stembera writes: > I used the JTD http://www.jt-designs.com RSM's and am very happy w/ them > so far. > I wonder if I could/should have also used the Z3 Reinforcement Plates > along w/ them? > Are the Z3 Reinforcement Plates supposed to protect the rear shock > towers or what is the reason for using them? Mike, You can use the Z3 reinforcement plates with the JTD shock mounts. When installing Koni's on my car just recently, we stopped for a bit so we could run out and get the plates. The RSM's come underneath the sheet metal and stick up and thru, the reinforcement plates sit on top of the shock tower. So you get this sandwitch top to bottom reinforcement plate sheet metal RSM The purpose, as I understand it, is to spread the force that the RSM's exert on the sheet metal over a wider area. Helps prevent the shock tower from damage that way. Not an expensive piece, and it can't hurt was my thinking. The fact that the guy who highly recommended them did crack his shock towers also did a pretty good number convincing me. :) Andrej '97 M3
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#8. RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 14:23:09 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations Mike says > > Are the Z3 Reinforcement Plates supposed to protect the rear shock > towers or what is the reason for using them? Personally, I think the Z3 Reinforcement Plates are a bit of overkill for most applications but it certainly can not hurt either, especially as easy and cheap they are to install along with the RSMs. I installed them on my E30 325is when I replaced the RSMs and will also do so on my E36 M3 when it comes time. The plates help to reinforce the area around the top of the shock tower where the RSM is supported and bolted to the RSM. I have heard of a number of rear shock towers in E36s that have had stress cracks in them (remember, the rear shock towers don't truly support the weight of the car and really only receive forces from the movement of the shock itself and the force of the suspension against it). Obviously stiffer shocks can increase the forces placed on the tower so the plates may make a greater difference with stiffer suspensions. Regards, Rich
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#9. hypothetical question - from Michael Stembera
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 13:36:19 -0600 From: "Michael Stembera" <m_stembera@yahoo.com> Subject: hypothetical question If I had a continuous transmission in my car and so could select any gear ratio I wanted how would I figure out what gear ratio to select for optimum fuel economy at some particular speed. As an example, say I want to go 80 mph what engine RPM would give me the best fuel economy at that speed? As a related question, what RPM should be selected to minimize wear on the engine? Is it the RPM at which the engine produces the most torque? Thanks, Mike
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#10. Re: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations - from Chester Wong
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 11:43:18 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations > The plates help to reinforce the area around the top of the shock tower where > the RSM is supported and bolted to the RSM. I have heard of a number of rear > shock towers in E36s that have had stress cracks in them (remember, the rear > shock towers don't truly support the weight of the car and really only > receive forces from the movement of the shock itself and the force of the > suspension against it). Obviously stiffer shocks can increase the forces > placed on the tower so the plates may make a greater difference with stiffer > suspensions. Here's some food for thought: The stock rear shocks (and Konis for that matter) are pretty darn long. The stock bump stops are about a good 4 inches long. I would venture to say that even if you didn't lower your car (so, stock ride height), you will hit the bump stop quite often. So...more force than one would think actually gets transmitted to the rear shock tower. Me? Well, I trimmed the whole friggin bump stop :) Chester ===== __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Movies - coverage of the 74th Academy Awards(r) http://movies.yahoo.com/
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#11. RE: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Wed, 27 Mar 2002 14:49:14 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] RE: E36 rear shock mount recommendations Rich says > > The plates help to reinforce the area around the top of the shock tower where > the RSM is supported and bolted to the RSM. I have heard of a number of rear > shock towers in E36s that have had stress cracks in them (remember, the rear > shock towers don't truly support the weight of the car and really only > receive forces from the movement of the shock itself and the force of the > suspension against it). Obviously stiffer shocks can increase the forces > placed on the tower so the plates may make a greater difference with stiffer > suspensions. Chester says >> >> Here's some food for thought: >> The stock rear shocks (and Konis for that matter) are pretty darn long. The >> stock bump stops are about a good 4 inches long. I would venture to say that >> even if you didn't lower your car (so, stock ride height), you will hit the >> bump stop quite often. So...more force than one would think actually gets >> transmitted to the rear shock tower. >> >> Me? Well, I trimmed the whole friggin bump stop :) Chester, Very good point. I failed to specifically mention how much force can be transmitted to the rear shock tower when the suspension is not allowed to operate the way God (i.e., BMW engineers) intended (they did not intend the bump stop to do all the dampening). Although, my comment on "stiffer shocks" could essentially take into account those that intend or are oblivious to the fact that a bump stop can become part of the suspension and dampening characteristics of certain spring/shock combinations. Later, Rich - Encouraging all to trim those bumpstops ;-)