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#1. Diamond plate floors for the M3, who sells them? - from Dave Spragg
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 14:13:32 -0400 From: "Dave Spragg" <dspragg@attbi.com> Subject: Diamond plate floors for the M3, who sells them? Dave Spragg dave@spragg.com Natick, MA 99 M3 Sharked Garage Queen 92 330is Sharked #330 I Prepared I know I saw some company selling them online and can't find it now. The race car needs one... It's embarrassing and I think I pinched one of the tail light wires under the cheesy plastic cover. ;) Dave Spragg dave@spragg.com Natick, MA 99 M3 Sharked Garage Queen 92 330is Sharked #330 I Prepared ___________________________________________ eMail Privacy Protected by QuarantineMail (http://www.quarantinemail.com) Licensed to: dave@spragg.com
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#2. Re: [E36M3] Help w/ m3 accident - from Matt Henson
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 11:17:52 -0700 (PDT) From: Matt Henson <hensonator@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Help w/ m3 accident --- Mike <mike@worklife.com> wrote: > > When I got home, upon further inspection, it appears > the black molding > around the bumper seems to be mis aligned now - with > a 3 inch gap where > it should be lining up. Anyone have any idea of > what kinda damage I'm > describing here pricewise? What are other common > problems I should be > sure to check out from this kind of smaller rear > impact? > > I'm thinking of taking the car to Irvine bmw to get > an estimate of the > damage and repairs. Anyone have any suggestions? > Do they usually > handle this in house? Or will they suggest somewhere > else to take it? > Do I need an appointment at Irvine bmw to look over > the damage, or can I > just pull in for an inspection? > > Also -- What would be my best bet in terms of > insurance? I'm thinking > of giving them the option to go through insurance or > pay the estimate. > does that sound reasonable? If we do go through > insurance, would my > rates increase? > Let me know! > -Mike > Hi Mike, Having been through this a few times here is my advice: 1) You want to make her or her insurance company pay for the damage. If you call your company then they may raise your rates in the future or it may go on your insurance record and raise your rates if you ever want to switch companies. Your company may go after payment from hers but this won't necessarily help you in the end. 2) If you want to give her the option to pay for the damage, rather than involving her company, you should insist that she place a worst-case deposit with the auto-body shop. This sounds like a $500-$700 fix but it might cost $2K+ if there's more going on than a bumper cover repair. 3) If she balks at the deposit then you should call her insurance company and make a claim. If you are lucky then she won't dispute it. The fact that she admitted fault at the scene makes it more likely that she'll be honest. These things are usually pretty straightforward when you get rear-ended. Once I had a guy back into my Boxster with his boat - at a stoplight. The tiller cut the front bumper. When I flagged him down he claimed that it was my fault because I was in the back. Luckily I was able to convince him to do the right thing and call his company himself; otherwise I probably would have ended up buying him a new outboard motor or something. Good Luck, Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Lowered with 245-40's all around - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 11:30:20 -0700 From: Jim Bassett <jimbassett@attbi.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Lowered with 245-40's all around At 09:58 AM 5/15/02, Chester Wong wrote: >I haven't paid attention to this thread, but yes...different brands of tires >will or will not fit. BFG KDs, for example, will not as the shoulder of the >tire is very square. Michelin Pilot Sports will fit. As will Yokohama AVS Sports and Bridgestone SO-3s, based purely on personal experience :-) Cheers, Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 - had all 3 of those tires, 245/40 all around, no problems 1993 325is #44 KP - needs front spacers for 7.5" wheels (due to big brakes :-))
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#4. Airborne? - from Juan Rico
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 11:53:25 -0700 From: Juan Rico <juan_rico@captionsinc.com> Subject: Airborne? Hi All, Well this might be a somewhat dumb question but, do cars catch air with stiffer suspensions? Ever since I installed Eibachs/Bilsteins, I'll lift one of my wheels occasionally. This happens only when traveling in a straight line or taking turns at low speeds and over wavy pavement-20 to 30 MPH. It has never happened at high speeds, thank God... Is this normal? I also have the x-brace and a strut bar if that matters. I can literally feel the wheel lift and then land. Again, the key word is "occasionally"-it's not like I'm bouncing off the ground all the time.... Reminds me of my 15 years in the Sahara desert, jumping off sand dunes. But that was with Land Rovers and Land Cruisers-not an M3... Juan.
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#5. Super cheap tires - from Ahmad Lutfeali
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 19:33:08 +0000 From: "Ahmad Lutfeali" <m3_racer99@hotmail.com> Subject: Super cheap tires <html><div style='background-color:'><DIV>Mo, <P>I bought a set of 235/40/17 and 245/40/17 Yoko AVS (arrived today) for $67 a piece ($69 for the rears). $305 shipped to my door second day air. Cant beat that. </P> <P><A href="http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Yokohama&model=AVS+Intermediate">http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Sizes.jsp?make=Yokohama&model=AVS+Intermediate</A></P> <DIV></DIV> <P> </P> <DIV></DIV> <P>Its a close out so hurry.</P> <DIV></DIV> <P> </P> <DIV></DIV> <P>A.L., </P></DIV></div><br clear=all><hr>Send and receive Hotmail on your mobile device: <a href='http://g.msn.com/1HM305401/45'>Click Here</a><br></html>
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#6. RE: [E36M3] 4-point roll bar - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 14:44:03 -0500 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] 4-point roll bar "JUSTIN GERRY" <JGERRY@butchers.com> wrote: > > If you only used the Scroth 4-point harness belts and you had a rollbar > (NOT a full cage) would it still be safe to use it on the street? Justin, If your passengers promise not to sue you should their head comes in contact with the bar (same goes for your head), than I guess yes, it's perfectly fine. > It was my understanding that the 4 point rollbar is acceptible if you > use your 4 point harness all the time (street or track). Regardless of the roll bar/cage issues, driving with a 4-6 point harness on the street is highly inconvenient. For one thing you will have to unbuckle each time you want to back up and have to turn around and look though the rear window. Unbuckle again when you want to reach for something in the glove box/rear seat/passenger foot well (like a map or a bottle of water). Last but not least, driving while firmly strapped up with a race harness is pretty tiring on a long trip. You can not move around much in the seat and the straps don't mix very well with jackets, coats or decent cloths of any kind. BTDT, now back to 3-point on the street. > Just curious as to your thoughts on this setup. HTH, alex f
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#7. RE: Suspension tuning questions - from Mike Frank
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 15:24:01 -0500 From: Mike Frank <mfrank28@comcast.net> Subject: RE: Suspension tuning questions Try more negative camber in the front (shims, swap strut hats L-R, camber plates). Does wonders for understeer. How much are you running now? Also, a good alignment afterwards. Mike Frank 97 M3 > -------------------- 3 -------------------- > Date: Mon, 13 May 2002 09:29:57 -0700 (PDT) > From: Joe Tan <mailjtan@yahoo.com> > Subject: Suspension tuning questions > > I have a question for the suspension gurus on the > list. I am running coilovers and stock sway bars on my > M3. I've set the ride height front and rear exactly 1" > lower than stock. With this setup I am experiencing a > lot of understeer in the front. Aside from getting > bigger sway bars. can I tune out some of the > understeer by playing with the ride height a little > bit? Will I get less understeer by raising the rear > suspension a little? Or is it the other way around? > > Thanks, > > Joe. > '98 M3/4
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#8. RE: Yok A520 - from Chip Mitchell
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 16:44:52 -0400 From: "Chip Mitchell" <chipm@arches.uga.edu> Subject: RE: Yok A520 Mo, I have been through two sets of the A520's and I have nothing bad to say about them. Great tires, maybe a bit down on grip if you're trying to be competitive in autocross, but on the track they are extremely predictable. The only complaint would be that they get a bit noisy as they age. I'm currently using a set of Kumho's for a couple of reasons: 1. When I bought them, they were about $25 less than the Yoks and 2. I've heard tons and tons of great things about them. So far the Kumho's seem a bit more responsive than the Yok's were, but to be honest they are both absolutely wonderful tire values. ChipM Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 00:18:17 -0400 From: Mo Karamat <karamatm@optonline.net> Subject: Tire questions.. Dear All, Hello.. I have a question that I would like input on.. I need to buy a set of cheap tires for autox/track use. I am looking at the Yokohama A520's. Does anyone on the list have any experience with these tires? They seem to be good performance tires at a GREAT price($102/ea) To reduce understeer a little, I am also thinking about getting 235/40 17's all around. I will be putting the tires on stock size 7.5" rims in the front, and 8.5" in the rear. Are there any issues with rubbing in the front? How about any issues with using a slightly smaller tire in the rear with the 8.5" rims? I spoke with Yokohama today, and they said that I should be fine... The other interesting thing is that they recommended 31 PSI in the front, and 36 PSI in the rear.. Does this make sense to anyone? I normally run higher pressures in the front (with staggered tire sizes) I was considering the Kumho mx's, but tire rack does not seem to know when they will be getting them.. Thanks Mo
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#9. Re: RE: [E36M3] 4-point roll bar - from JUSTIN GERRY
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 16:46:21 -0400 From: "JUSTIN GERRY" <JGERRY@butchers.com> Subject: Re: RE: [E36M3] 4-point roll bar I've used nothing but Schroth 3 or 4 point harnesses on the street for the past 10 years or so, so I guess I am used to things. >Justin, >If your passengers promise not to sue you should their head comes in >contact with the bar (same goes for your head), than I guess yes, it's >perfectly fine. This part worries me a bit, but you would have to take a _serious_ hit for you to come in contact with the bar with the harness belts on. Assuming you take a hit this hard, you would probably risk hitting the B-pillar even without a bar (I guess thats why they came up with side impact air bags). >Regardless of the roll bar/cage issues, driving with a 4-6 point harness on >the street is highly inconvenient. For one thing you will have to unbuckle >each time you want to back up and have to turn around and look though the >rear window. No, I don't need to unbuckle to back up, thats what mirrors are for. I was forced to use mirrors for backing up when I started driving, I'm glad I learned that way. >Unbuckle again when you want to reach for something in the >glove box/rear seat/passenger foot well (like a map or a bottle of water). I don't leave important stuff on the passenger side floor (ok..ok..it sometimes ends up there but that another story...). >Last but not least, driving while firmly strapped up with a race harness is >pretty tiring on a long trip. I find that actually HELPS my back on long trips as I do not slump/sloach/lean in the seat as 99% of the world does on long trips. >You can not move around much in the seat and >the straps don't mix very well with jackets, coats or decent cloths of any >kind. Yes, but, I have the digital climate control for a reason... and it helps that I am 150lbs and very thin... >BTDT, now back to 3-point on the street. Understandable. > Just curious as to your thoughts on this setup. >HTH, >alex f Thanks for your thoughts.. -Justin -- '76 02 (Whimsical) (scroth 3 point) '97 M3 (Orion) (scroth 4 point) BMW CCA#77056 check out http://users.vei.net/jgerry
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#10. Harnesses: 5 pt vs 4 pt - from Wesley A. Nicolas
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Date: Wed, 15 May 2002 18:24:02 -0400 From: "Wesley A. Nicolas" <wes@nicolas.org> Subject: Harnesses: 5 pt vs 4 pt I would say it's an all or nothing package. Either run 5 point harnesses, cage (or roll bar) with padding, race seats, and seat back brace, with the harnesses properly set up so they don't pull down on your shoulders when you impact. NEVER run 4 point harnesses. For those who have visited OG Racing, they have a nice picture of a fellow who ran Schroth (sp?) 4-point harnesses and because there was no anti-submarining belt, the windshield was in worse shape than the rest of the car (because his noggin hit the windshield. This is the concerned PCA instructor in me speaking. Good luck Wes '95 M3 > Am I correct in saying that it is unsafe to >have a 5-point harness without the extra roll >over protection, since you'll have the extra >anti-submarining effects keeping your head/neck up?