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#1. E36 interior and engine queries - from alex.fadeev@verizon.com
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 14:02:20 -0600 From: alex.fadeev@verizon.com Subject: E36 interior and engine queries Folks, I have two (hopefully both) minor annoyances on my 72K mile '95 M3 and three more on my wife's '98 328i that I would like to fix. Your insights and BTDT's would be most appreciated: 1. The upper vent air temp dial is getting very difficult to turn. Has anyone dealt with that problem? What's the least destructive way to remove the upper dash vent grill that hides/houses the temp dial? 2. The engine has started making a gurgling rattly sound between 1700-1900 RPMs. My best guess is that the chain tensioner is starting to slack off and needs to be replaced. Any other guesstimates? Any BTDT reports or 'while you are in there' suggestions? 3. On my wife's 4-door 328i E36, the plastic piece at the top of the B-pillar (above the seat belt sliding anchor) is starting to rattle. Any suggestions other than brake the old one out and buy a replacement? 4. My wife's rear seat bottom cushion is rubbing and squeak against the passenger side seat belt latch. I had tried everything from wrapping the latch in tape, wedging things between the latch and the seat and applying talk. The last one helped, but only for a few days. 5. Wife's '98 car again. Her HVAC fan intermittently produces a high pitch squeal. This is not repeatable (yet) and happens only once every other month. Turning the fan on and off does not help. The next time you start the car the sound is gone. Where is the HVAC fan motor and is it serviceable? TIA, alex f
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#2. Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 15:08:36 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? on 1/8/03 2:46 PM, "Dave Lehmann" <bmwracefan@hotmail.com> wrote: >> I have a 97 coupe, with the Dinan/chip/exhaust package, and I'm thinking of >> getting a throttle-body upgrade, but would like some input first. >> BTW: I don't care if your experience is with Dinan parts or other parts. >> I'm just interested in hearing opinions from people who've done the same >> type of upgrades in the order described above. Thanks in advance! > > I had a 1996 Dinan Signature Series 328i (serial number D36-328-003) with > the Dinan throttle body. There was a definite improvement in throttle > response. It was WELL worth the money. It was an add on to my package as > it did not come with the initial Dinan Signature equipment for 1996. Get it > along with the Dinan DME upgrade. However I don't see any reason to believe that what works with a 328i is applicable in any way to the M3 motor. As I recall (and correct me if my recollector is misfiring), conventional wisdom based on past info from Jim Conforti, has it that: - The Euro HFM benefits the 95 M3 but not the 96+ M3; - The enlarged throttle body benefits neither of them. Dinan, according to their web site, claims otherwise. Neil 96 M3
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#3. Re: [E36M3] E36 interior and engine queries - from Chester Wong
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 12:10:57 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] E36 interior and engine queries Remove the head unit and HVAC unit and push (actually pull) from behind. To get it back in, there is a screw holding the vent in place. You need to remove the screw so you can move the vent a little to get it to match up with the plastic piece for installation. There is a hole in the HVAC/head unit mounting tray to access this screw...them Germans sure are smart. =) Chester --- alex.fadeev@verizon.com wrote: > 1. The upper vent air temp dial is getting very difficult to turn. Has > anyone dealt with that problem? What's the least destructive way to remove > the upper dash vent grill that hides/houses the temp dial? =====
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#4. Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:29:02 -0500 From: "Paul Elliott" <elliott.paul@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? >>The Dinan throttle enlarged throttle body is just the throttle body, correct? If so, then it will be completely worthless if you have a car with traction control. Unless you enlarge the traction control throttle body, you're still breathing through that small opening<< As it has always seemed to me. I was speaking to a Dinan tech mgr a few wks ago about their Stage IV (V?) SC upgrade kit which includes Euro HFM, Shrick Manifold, TB, and Software to be added to their base SC kits. The conversation got around to their TB 'upgrade', and I asked him the simple question of how can the bored out TB provide any performance enhancement when the restricted (relative to the regular TB) ASC TB is sitting right in front of it, and, the use of the bored out TB doesnt replace or eliminate the use of the ASC TB. And all he could/would tell me is that it doesnt! Is there some kind of physical property that allows a larger vessel to flow better when a smaller vessel is placed in front of it? This I never hoid! I just dont get it.. Paul Elliott --------------------------------------------------------- '99 White M3; 45K miles; Dinan stage II SC kit with 6" RMS crank pulley: 11 psi; AA Aquamist Water/Methanol Injection; Fikse FM-10s; X-Brace; Dinan Koni Suspension; Stygar SS and Clutch Stop; Sound by Polk, Excelon, JLAudio
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#5. Re: [E36M3] E36 interior and engine queries - from Jon Phillips
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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 12:39:31 -0800 From: jon@maximumpc.com (Jon Phillips) Subject: Re: [E36M3] E36 interior and engine queries Excuse me for piggybacking on Alex's posting, but I have questions about these issues as well... >1. The upper vent air temp dial is getting very difficult to turn. Has >anyone dealt with that problem? What's the least destructive way to remove >the upper dash vent grill that hides/houses the temp dial? My "upper dash vent grille" rattles and resonates like mad. I want to replace it ASAP, and will order the part next time I swing by the dealer. But I'm with Alex: Has anyone ever worked with this part of the dash before? How easy is it to replace? And does anyone have a part number? (I'm talking about the center grille from which air blows; it has a up/down/left/right directional controls... looks like it pops in and out). >3. On my wife's 4-door 328i E36, the plastic piece at the top of the >B-pillar (above the seat belt sliding anchor) is starting to rattle. Any >suggestions other than brake the old one out and buy a replacement? I have the same problem on both B-pillars. I have simply stuffed some paper in strategic places. I will be replacing these parts myself, and hoping for the best. But at BMW of SF, they don't have the damn plastic trims in their parts database! Does anyone have these pieces out already? The parts numbers are on the reverse side.
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Jon Phillips
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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 12:48:51 -0800 From: jon@maximumpc.com (Jon Phillips) Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? Hah! Interesting story, Paul! For what it's worth, I already decided to eschew the throttle-body upgrade, as well as all other upgrades. With what I've done so far, my car is plenty fast and grippy enough. Just maintenance and driving schools for me--it's time to buy a house. >As it has always seemed to me. I was speaking to a Dinan tech mgr a few wks >ago about their Stage IV (V?) SC upgrade kit which includes Euro HFM, Shrick >Manifold, TB, and Software to be added to their base SC kits. The >conversation got around to their TB 'upgrade', and I asked him the simple >question of how can the bored out TB provide any performance enhancement >when the restricted (relative to the regular TB) ASC TB is sitting right in >front of it, and, the use of the bored out TB doesnt replace or eliminate >the use of the ASC TB. And all he could/would tell me is that it doesnt! >Is there some kind of physical property that allows a larger vessel to flow >better when a smaller vessel is placed in front of it? This I never hoid! >I just dont get it.. > >Paul Elliott >--------------------------------------------------------- >'99 White M3; 45K miles; Dinan stage II SC kit with 6" RMS crank pulley: 11 >psi; AA Aquamist Water/Methanol Injection; Fikse FM-10s; X-Brace; Dinan >Koni Suspension; Stygar SS and Clutch Stop; Sound by Polk, Excelon, JLAudio > > > > >************************************************* >Please help support the E36M3 list be visiting our sponsors: >Taylor Autosport http://www.taylorautosport.com > >DIGEST INFORMATION: >http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm >*************************************************
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Michael
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 15:58:47 -0500 From: "Michael" <95m3ltw@charter.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Maller" <neil.maller@gte.net> >>on 1/8/03 2:46 PM, "Dave Lehmann" <bmwracefan@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> I have a 97 coupe, > > I had a 1996 Dinan Signature Series 328i > > However I don't see any reason to believe that what works with a 328i is > applicable in any way to the M3 motor. Can you explain the reason or logic as in why not??? The intake on the 96 328i is the exact same as the 97 M3, save for the TC crap, so any improvement on the 96 would also apply to the 97 with the exact same intake system. but, I aswell dont believe a TB will do any good on a E-36. I know of a few folks who have dynoed every and ALL combinations of intake and exhaust upgrades, very little actually works. Mike
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 16:27:49 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? I wrote: >> However I don't see any reason to believe that what works with a 328i is >> applicable in any way to the M3 motor. on 1/8/03 3:58 PM, Michael at 95m3ltw@charter.net wrote: > Can you explain the reason or logic as in why not??? The intake on the 96 > 328i is the exact same as the 97 M3, save for the TC crap, so any > improvement on the 96 would also apply to the 97 with the exact same intake > system. I should have worded that better: I don't see any reason to believe that what works with a 328i is *or is not* applicable to the M3 motor *until objectively demonstrated*. There are many differences between the 328 and the M3, only some of which I know or understand the significance of. In theory it might be relatively easier to get additional power out of the 325/328, simply because they're initially in a somewhat lower state of tune than the M3. > but, I as well dont believe a TB will do any good on a E-36. I know of a > few folks who have dynoed every and ALL combinations of intake and exhaust > upgrades, very little actually works. As far as I know, the logical and cost effective mods to increase gross engine power for a naturally aspirated OBD-II M3 are, progressively: - Software (I've timed the benefit on my car) - Cold air intake/air filter/software (also timed on my car) - Eurosport/Conforti OBD-II Cam System (alas not tested on my car...). Then there are a few possible things to reduce parasitic losses and improve net engine power, such as fan removal, underdrive pulleys etc. And of course one can always do that complete heart/lung transplant thing from a Euro M3! Neil 96 M3
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Jon Phillips
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Date: Wed, 08 Jan 2003 13:35:54 -0800 From: jon@maximumpc.com (Jon Phillips) Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? > >"but, I aswell dont believe a TB will do any good on a E-36. I know of a >few folks who have dynoed every and ALL combinations of intake and exhaust >upgrades, very little actually works." But can't one have better throttle response without actually getting more torque and HP? I'm not saying a wider bore helps at all (that's why I started this whole mess by asking my orginal question), but I do think there are other gains to be had other than sheer HP. Also, wouldn't you agree that a more aggresive intake offers tangible benefits? I know my chip/CAI upgrade made a difference for sure -- at least on my butt dyno. As for actual dyno runs: Dynoing is such an inexact science, I would disregard all but the most carefully controlled testing scenarios.
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? - from Michael
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Date: Wed, 8 Jan 2003 17:41:53 -0500 From: "Michael" <95m3ltw@charter.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Re: Throttle-Body Dividends? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Neil Maller" <neil.maller@gte.net> > I should have worded that better: > I don't see any reason to believe that what works with a 328i is *or is not* > applicable to the M3 motor *until objectively demonstrated*. Ok, that makes sense, but I would also add. For all intents and purposes, you can assume the motors are about identical except for actual displacement and cams. Beyond that, almost identical. The HP difference is due solely to cams and the displacement increase. It speaks volumes about how good the stock 325i motor is and makes you wonder how long it took them to develop our(US) motor. Probably an afternoon. "hmm, bump up the size to 3.0L for some torque, put some cams in it and tune it for premuim". Presto, 40-50hp. A chipped, 325i with cams will give most M3s a good run. I was shocked when I drove one and have been equally impressed with the 230+hp numbers that the front runners in ITS are getting out of their cars with stock cams. As to ODBII cars, I think the ODBI conversion is a must before any upgrades IMO. Mike