-------------------- 1 --------------------
#1. Re: Control arms for '93 325is - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 09:35:21 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Control arms for '93 325is on 8/8/02 2:35 AM, "Carey Probst" <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> wrote: > I just ordered a set of M3 control arms for my son's '93 325is. > Wanted to upgrade them from stock while replacing them. > Received the control arms from an 88-91 E30 M3. > Will they fit? on 8/8/02 2:35 AM, <nabli@earthlink.net> wrote: > Yes these aluminum pieces are a direct replacement. Turner and other > vendors sell these as an upgrade to the E36 and older E30s. Jim's correct about them fitting, but does that mean it's a good idea? The aluminum control arms are known to be fragile on tracked E30 M3s, and regular preventative replacement is recommended. The 6 cylinder E36 carries significantly more load on the front. You do the math...is the slightly reduced weight of the aluminum arm worth it? IMO a better upgrade choice would be the 95 E36 M3 steel control arms, which have heavy duty ball joints. Neil 96 M3
-------------------- 2 --------------------
#2. Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from Matt Henson
Top
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 07:52:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Matt Henson <hensonator@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? --- Boen168@aol.com wrote: > > Gruppe...would sincerely appreciate any > recommendation for an aftermarket OEM > shocks for a stock '95 M3! Dealer wants way too > much for new M3 shocks! > Thanks much in advance! > > Best regards, > David David, I agree that the best choices are Biltstein and Koni. I have had Konis on other cars and they were okay but didn't last very long. By 50K miles they were shot. I have the Bilts on my M3 and I love 'em. I have stock springs and sways. The ride is not harsh at all. It just feels very controlled and does wonderfully around bumpy corners. Koni shocks are a bigger pain to install and adjust. IMO, the adjustability is only useful for dialing in non-stock springs. Otherwise it's a pain, and most people will not be able to adjust them to the ideal setting. Biltstein has a superior overall design with the gas-charged monotube. Realistically, 95% of M3 owners would really be better off just getting the OEM shocks at discount prices. They were good enough for BMW and good enough to win that "best handling" contest from C&D. Given tat the alternative is getting Biltsteins (which may be harsh) or Konis (which you probably won't be able to adjust properly), both at a significant additional cost, it just makes sense to go OEM. I think that this goes for a lot of other things, too. -Matt __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs http://www.hotjobs.com
-------------------- 3 --------------------
#3. Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from Chris Papademetrious
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 11:07:24 -0400 From: Chris Papademetrious <chrispy@ieee.org> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? I've got Bilsteins with H+R OE-style springs. The springs drop the ride height a fraction of an inch from stock, but are progressive. Using this particular combination, I feel the ride in my M3 is now better than with the stock suspension. The car glides over bumpy roads, and corners even more impressively when the turns are bumpy too. Due to the progressive springs, there is slightly more body initial body roll, then the car "bites in" and stiffens up for the rest of the body travel. I really love the setup. I can't tell you how they compare to Konis, but I can tell you that this particular combination has a superior ride to stock, once you get used to the way the progressive springs feel in the turns. I find myself just throwing the car into turns harder for fun, to feel them stiffen up. :) - Chris
-------------------- 4 --------------------
#4. brake caliper dust boot - from RFKoby@aol.com
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 11:47:45 -0400 From: RFKoby@aol.com Subject: brake caliper dust boot here is another suggestion. My E36 M3 is strictly a track car, so I don't mind the rattles, and squeal from the brake pads.... I salvaged the backing plates from an old set of pads by scraping off the pad material. Once my brake pads are worn by 1/3rd, I "shim" the pads in the calipers with these backing plates. Effectively, the caliper "thinks" you have a ban new pad. By doing this, you accomplish 2 things: - since the caliper piston is completely retracted to the home position, you reduce the volume of brake fluid in the caliper, and the brakes are a little firmer. - The main reason for doing this is that you prevent the caliper piston from extending too far and pulling out the dust boot. I have been "shimming" my brake pads for 3 years now. I normally use up the pads to about 2/3rd to 3/4rd worn, and then replace the pads. Since I have been doing this, I have not had to rebuild / replace the dust boots at all. I have seen several people trying to use the brake pad all the way down to the last bit.... Sure they maximize the brake pads, but they end up pulling the dust boots out, and have to rebuild the calipers, and replace the caliper pistons..... Give it a try, and evaluate at you own risk... YMMV Bob K. > -------------------- 10 -------------------- > Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 07:21:03 -0700 (PDT) > From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Dust Boot Won't stay seated on Front Brake > > It depends. The fact that it's a '95M3 doesn't help in terms of the > youthfulness of the rubber seal. You say you're light on the brakes but that's > subjective. When you pulled back into the paddock area, can you feel the heat > radiating from the front wheels? Were the wheels themselves too hot to touch? > You could have melted the seals. I would definitely rebuild the calipers > before lots of crap starts accumulating and start scratching the piston. > > Chester > > --- Noah Paci <npaci@rr.com> wrote: > > What should I do? Does a brake caliper rebuild help with this? Is this > > because these are the stock boots from 95? Solutions? Suggestions? > > Insights? > > > ===== > > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs > http://www.hotjobs.com > > > > ************************************************************** > Digest Commands > UNSUBSCRIBE DIGEST - (in subject line) unsubscribes you from the digest. > 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. > ************************************************************ > ** > > > >
-------------------- 5 --------------------
#5. Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from Rex Tener
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 08:46:54 -0700 From: Rex Tener <rex_tener@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? At 09:55 AM 8/8/2002 -0500, Matt Henson wrote: >Realistically, 95% of M3 owners would really be better >off just getting the OEM shocks at discount prices. >They were good enough for BMW and good enough to win >that "best handling" contest from C&D. My biggest problem with the OE shocks on the M3, and M cars in general, are their extremely short life and their poor damping performance once they have a few thousand miles on them. On my '95 M3 I changed from stock shocks to Bilsteins at 22K miles because the stock shocks were completely dead. They bottomed over small bumps and the car would wallow on freeways. Changing to the Bilsteins with stock springs actually made the ride better while greatly improving the handeling. This is exactly how the car should have come from the factory. I put 60K miles on that car with those shocks, and they were still performing well when I sold the car to a E36M3 list member last year. I also have a 2001 M Coupe and it is about time to change shocks on it. It had good compression, but extremely light rebound damping when brand new. However, now that the car has 7K miles on it, the compression damping has been greatly reduced and the rebound is pretty much gone away completely. Here are my thoughts on shocks for M3's based on the current price/performance levels. At the $600 level there are Koni or Bilstein. If you have stock springs, the Bilstein's will be fine. If you have springs that lower the car, then you will have to cut the bumpstops to get the street ride to be comfortable. The Koni's will do fine with stock or lowering springs and are adjustable. I know many people who are very satisfied with their Konis. The only minor problem with the Konis are the rear shocks are not externally adjustable, which makes it harder to adjust them. At the $2000-$2500 level there are Koni Double Adjustables (DA) and Ground Control's Advance Design shocks. I had Koni DA's and they have external adjustments for compression and rebound and could be adjusted to be softer than stock or to be much harder than the Bilsteins. That external adjustment makes it very easy to make changes between autox runs. They were pretty amazing once I got them valved correctly. I know several people that have won SCCA Solo II National Championships with the Advance Design shocks. The Advance Designs are also externally adjustable for rebound and compression. At the $3500 level and above, there are Penske, JRZ, Koni 28-series, Moton and others. I have no experience at this level, but many national champion autocrossers use these brands and have been very successful. -- Rex Tener rex_tener@yahoo.com 1996 BMW M3, SCCA SFR Solo II Street-Mod #173
-------------------- 6 --------------------
#6. RE: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from andy radin
Top
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 09:11:15 -0700 From: "andy radin" <fourfa@fourfa.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? "Try Shox.com for a benchmark price on Koni or Bilstein shocks. I got a quote from them some time ago, but I have not purchased yet. I would rather pay an extra few bucks and give the business to some of the vendors that participate on this list." I'd strenuously advise NOT to order from Shox.com, in case you consider it. Not only are they not the cheapest around, but they're complete monkeys. They lied to me that products were in stock (actually backordered 3 months nationally), charged me before the product shipped (still backordered!), took them a half hour on the phone just to locate my order, very rude on the phone, and they failed to refund my card when I canceled the order. Overall I spent 1.5 hours on the phone just trying to straighten out their mess. andy r.
-------------------- 7 --------------------
#7. Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from Mdriver13@aol.com
Top
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 12:44:31 EDT From: Mdriver13@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? Well, I've made two decisions on shock/strut replacement. I'm going with Koni's. Koni SA on front and DA on back for the external adjustability. This helps reduce the costs a little too. This setup has been tested by Bob Tunnell on his 330ci with great results! Bob Gill 97 ///M3 coupe Philly Region SCCA AS Champion 1997 & 2000 BSP Champion 2001
-------------------- 8 --------------------
#8. Fontana: Plenty of Room Left - from twisty M3
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 09:43:48 -0700 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: Fontana: Plenty of Room Left Just got word that there is PLENTY of room still available at the BMW CCA DE event at the California Speedway in Fontana on August 17-18. Don't get me wrong, I like as much open track as I can get, but I don't want to see anyone loose any money on this either. Details can be found at: http://www.bmwclubla.org/ A track map can be found at: http//www.californiaspeedway.com It's the full "Auto Competition Course" that the "real" sports cars run on. Cal Speedways description: "This course features a 2.88-mile circuit with 21 turns, utilizing the new infield road course and the existing oval." C'mon! How can you go wrong with *21 turns*? There's bound to be a couple of good ones there. ;) And all the top-speed demons will have a HUGE amount of space to play with on that oval. Don't make me do this alone, folks. ;) Jonathan L. _________________________________________________________________ MSN Photos is the easiest way to share and print your photos: http://photos.msn.com/support/worldwide.aspx
-------------------- 9 --------------------
#9. Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
Top
Date: Thu, 8 Aug 2002 12:05:30 -0500 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? Matt Henson <hensonator@yahoo.com> wrote: > > --- Boen168@aol.com wrote: > > Gruppe...would sincerely appreciate any recommendation > > for an aftermarket OEM shocks for a stock '95 M3! Dealer > > wants way too much for new M3 shocks! > > Thanks much in advance! > > > > Best regards, > > David > > David, > I agree that the best choices are Biltstein and Koni. > I have had Konis on other cars and they were okay but > didn't last very long. By 50K miles they were shot. This may be a good time to point out that both Bilstein and Koni's come with lifetime warranty. > I have the Bilts on my M3 and I love 'em. I have > stock springs and sways. The ride is not harsh at > all. It just feels very controlled and does > wonderfully around bumpy corners. Koni shocks are a > bigger pain to install and adjust. Koni's original install is a little tricker in the sense that you need to cut the old Boge struts out of the strut cartridges and bolt the Koni inserts in place. That procedure is pretty much brain dead simple and any shop or DYI-er can handle it. Adjusting Koni's is only a bigger pain compared to Bilsteins, which are entirely non-adjustable. Bilsteins are rumored to been under-dampened on rebound for stock springs. That engineering omission becomes only more glaring with stiffer after market springs. Front Single Adjustable (SA) Koni's are a snap to adjust. The rears need to be unbolted and compressed to be adjusted. That process can be greatly simplified by converting to Ground-Control type RSMs. > IMO, the adjustability is only useful for dialing in non-stock > springs. Koni's allow one to adjust either the rebound (SA) or rebound and compression (DA) for any spring. > Otherwise it's a pain, and most people will not be able to > adjust them to the ideal setting. Not true. However inconvenient, the ability to adjust Koni's for any spring easily beats the alternative of misadjusted Bilsteins. > Biltstein has a superior overall design with the gas-charged > monotube. That is not a benefit that can be derived in either street or sporadic track use. > Realistically, 95% of M3 owners would really be better off just > getting the OEM shocks at discount prices. I have to vehemently disagree with that recommendation. OEM Boge shocks are overpriced junk. They fail in 20-40K miles. At which point they have to be replaced at owner's parts and labor cost again, and again, and again. > They were good enough for BMW That should have read 'cheap enough' to win the bid... > and good enough to win > that "best handling" contest from C&D. Given tat the > alternative is getting Biltsteins (which may be harsh) > or Konis (which you probably won't be able to adjust > properly), both at a significant additional cost, it > just makes sense to go OEM. Read above. alex f
-------------------- 10 --------------------
#10. Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
Top
Date: Thu, 08 Aug 2002 13:25:19 -0400 From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: What is the best aftermarket OEM shocks? rex_tener@yahoo.com writes: > > My biggest problem with the OE shocks on the M3, and M cars in general, are > their extremely short life and their poor damping performance once they > have a few thousand miles on them. On my '95 M3 I changed from stock > shocks to Bilsteins at 22K miles because the stock shocks were completely > dead. They bottomed over small bumps and the car would wallow on > freeways. AMEN! I'm as critical on the stock BMW shocks as anybody. I say 30K miles and they are junk. Rex couldn't even stand them that long. Lowell