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#1. Re: [E36M3] Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) - from Zack Steinkamp
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 16:31:39 -0800 (PST) From: Zack Steinkamp <edsarkiss@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) --- Chris Conner <chris@digital7.com> wrote: > second call, the next morning: > they say they will not fix or replace the tranny, he > says this, and I > quote: "there was no fluid in the transmission"=20 > me: "no fluid, in the transmission?"=20 > them: "yes, and it is the wrong kind too"=20 that's my favorite part of the story -- first there's no fluid, then the fluid is the wrong kind!!! which is it? can't be both... anyhow, sorry to hear about this Chris. is there another dealer in the area you can take the car to? i've never had a really great dealer service experience. the element of competition really isn't present for most of them -- i think that may have something to do with the $125/hr shop rate at my local $tealer. i'm kind of glad my car is out of warranty now, so that i can justifiably go to one of the several good indie BMW shops in my area. just hope nothing big breaks anytime soon... zs f*** crooked dealers and moron service depts.
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#2. Wiper blade refills? - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:35:05 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: Wiper blade refills? It is like deja vu all over again.... This just discussion just happened on the UUC Digest which was also discussed here a couple of months ago. I bought eight sets of Bosch refills for my two vehicles back in November. >>>> I posted this to the E36M3 list back in November 2002: I know we had a lot of discussion regarding the availability of Bosch wiper refills. I looked into this and found the same thing, limited availability and no availability locally. One person pointed out Parts America (i.e., Advance Auto Parts) and I found they had them according to their on-line website (none in their local stores at all) but their shipping was exorbitant (like $14 for a few sets of refills). Anyway, I found that World Wide Auto Parts (http://www.nosimport.com) at 800-362-1025 had them and the pricing was as follows per pair of refills: WWAP Parts America Bosch 43321 $7.78 $8.99 Bosch 43320 $6.39 $6.99 Anyway, I spoke to a Jane Campbell at WWAP. It sounds like they have most of the refills in stock (mine shipped the same day) and they had reasonable UPS Ground shipping. I asked why the availability of the Bosch refills was so slim based on the list comments and my personal results. She told me that Bosch is in midst of a running change over and they are converting to a different type of blade/refill where the new refill will have the structural metal piece integrated (rather than separate in the current refill) and they the refill may be wider (she wasn't sure if the new refills would be compatible or not with the old applications, likely not). Currently, Bosch is telling them they will continue to make the old refills available. She had no explanation as to why all the local outlets stopped carrying them and we speculated it may have something to do with how they manage inventory (only wanting to carry one line, the newest line, when it comes out) or they are going away from Bosch for other business reasons, etc. Best regards, Rich
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#3. FS: two 17x8.5" Radial Styling Rims - from NickG
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:43:35 -0500 From: "NickG" <nick@tech-nick.net> Subject: FS: two 17x8.5" Radial Styling Rims For Sale: two OEM BMW 17x8.5" Radial Styling rims for an E36 fitment. The backspacing is listed as 41mm (IS41 cast into them). They are perfectly round and true and virtually flawless. Overall, these are a 9.9 out of 10. A picture of the wheels: http://www.tech-nick.net/pics/P1270001.jpg Price is $550 plus shipping for the pair. Email me with any questions. Thanks, Nick nick@tech-nick.net
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#4. Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:45:22 -0500 From: "Paul Elliott" <elliott.paul@worldnet.att.net> Subject: Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) >>they say they will not fix or replace the tranny, he says this, and I quote: "there was no fluid in the transmission"=20 me: "no fluid, in the transmission?"=20 them: "yes, and it is the wrong kind too"=20 << I concur that your experience was maddening. Just one question. Did I read it wrong, or did you say they told you, '....Theres no transmission fluid in the transmission, and, its the wrong kind!'....How can it be both? Either its got no fluid, or its got the wrong kind of fluid. ..they cant claim both. 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. Thompson BMW Service NIGHTMARE (very long) - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:43:21 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: Thompson BMW Service NIGHTMARE (very long) Chris says > > second call, the next morning: > they say they will not fix or replace the tranny, he says this, and I > quote: "there was no fluid in the transmission"=20 > me: "no fluid, in the transmission?"=20 > them: "yes, and it is the wrong kind too"=20 > me: how did you check the level of fluid in a bmw manual trans? > Them: we used a special tool > Me: what tool did you use? > Them: the technician put his finger in the fill plug and could not feel > oil If there is no fluid in the transmission, then how can it be the wrong fluid?!? I would be looking for a different BMW dealer. You can also use a BMW CCA Ombudsmen to help resolve the issue if you are a BMW CCA member (you are aren't you?). Do you have the original CPO paperwork from BMW when you bought the car? I would also make it known to whoever will listen about your experience at Thompson BMW if they don't resolve these issues ASAP. Lastly, if you did need a new battery (yes, I read that you probably don't need one yet), get an Interstate MT-Plus 91 for just less than $100. Good luck with the rest, I can feel your pain. Later, Rich
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) - from Jon Phillips
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 17:37:20 -0800 From: jon@maximumpc.com (Jon Phillips) Subject: Re: [E36M3] Thompson BMW Sertvice NIGHTMARE (very long) I wouldn't spend another minute with any yahoo other than the actual manager of the service department. I would also simulatenously call BMW or NA, and complain -- I know from experience that they will call the local dealer (C'mon -- what kind of dealer hasn't heard of the CPO program?). Plus, your VIN number will identify the car as a CPO. I would create a time line, as well. Start by listing everything that needed checking and/or servicing when you entered the shop. Next, list everything that was fixed by the shop; everything that stopped working between the time when the car entered the shop and left the shop; and everything that was serviced by the shop, but continues to be a problem. Regarding the tranny fluid: Man, that's a tough one. Whatever you, I would never admit to doing any servicing myself, whatsoever. If they say you did the servicing yourself, plead absolute ignorance: "It's a CPO car and tranny fluid in an inspection item. Why would I do the tranny fluid myself? That's why I brought the car to you -- to inspect the transmission!" Regarding the battery: As long as your car starts, ignore their battery concerns until you can check the matter with a competent shop (or friends, or yourself). For what it's worth, I had a lot of trouble with Weatherford BMW in Berkeley. Amid other problems, my windshield wipers scratched my windshield during my first storm with the car, about 2 weeks after my CPO purchase. The windshield was ruined. They asked, "How did this happen?" I said, "I don't know. I would guess that you put the wipers on background, but I checked and they look fine. So why don't you tell me what happened." They then said, "Then you must have bought the car with the scratched windshield." Then I said, "No, in fact I didn't. Plus, it's a CPO -- You wouldn't have SOLD me a CPO car with a scratched windshield, would you?" That put an end to that conversation. They replaced the windshield under warranty, and chalked up the problem to "California acid rain." >*************************************************
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#7. RE: [E36M3] Electric Fan Conversion (Long) - from Jeremy Warfield
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 21:06:45 -0500 From: "Jeremy Warfield" <jww95@earthlink.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Electric Fan Conversion (Long) >>> As part of my forthcoming PWR aluminum radiator installation, I'm also planning to remove the fan clutch and its engine-driven fan and convert to a 16" SPAL electric cooling fan.... <<< Neil, I was wondering if you know how much current the Spal fan will draw? I looked briefly at summit's site, and most of the fans in the $100 range like the Spal draw over 10amps (Some flex-a-lite's are over 13A), whereas the higher dollar ones are down in the 5-6A range. And I was also curious if you had any preliminary ideas on mounting the fan to the radiator? Is it safe to assume your first step is to toss the included zip ties as far away from the car as possible? ;) Jeremy- '95 w/fan(s)
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Electric Fan Conversion (Long) - from Neil Maller
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 22:20:37 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Electric Fan Conversion (Long) on 1/28/03 9:06 PM, Jeremy Warfield at jww95@earthlink.net wrote: > I was wondering if you know how much current the Spal fan will draw? I > looked briefly at summit's site, and most of the fans in the $100 range like > the Spal draw over 10amps (Some flex-a-lite's are over 13A), whereas the > higher dollar ones are down in the 5-6A range. This SPAL model - there are many, but this is this most powerful they offer - draws about 19A continuous for 2400 cfm. It will be powered on its own dedicated and fused 25A circuit via a relay. > And I was also curious if you had any preliminary ideas on mounting the fan > to the radiator? Is it safe to assume your first step is to toss the > included zip ties as far away from the car as possible? ;) Remains to be seen, and yes, respectively :) I have a mounting pin kit for the SPAL fan, but this seems flimsy for a reasonably hefty fan. I plan tentatively to use angle iron (well, angle aluminum) brackets, but the exact details will have to wait until the parts are out of the car. Neil 96 M3
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#9. Re: Elec fan musings - from Brad Ahrens
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 19:20:44 -0800 (PST) From: Brad Ahrens <txsaggie97@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Elec fan musings I'm in TX and I looked at this long and hard before deciding not to do it. As I understand it if you fan clutch is in good working order it is not engaged at speed anyway so yeah maybe you loose some hp on a hot day from standstill but as I recall guys were having a hard time seeing appreciable gains on the dyno - those who had to add a fan as I would have done for TX summers. There is dynoing issues though as it will depends on the heat/cool state of the fan clutch and how much it is engaging during runs. The extra power you are drawing will reduce your gains somewhat. I dunno it was beat to death. Anyway if you are set on doing this I found some interesting products at Summit Racing - I forget the actual website name but google should help ya out. I was looking at adding a fan in the 10-12 amp range that had its own thermostat and fan relay and inline fuse. Gotta be careful where you are attaching the fan and how many amps you are drawing vs what you can handle fuse wise. I think people were blowing the fuse off the low side of the stock relay. Be careful just adding a higher fuse if you decide to go that route. This thread has more info I think: http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?s=af2f21745b3c328e18bc181c5ff02922&threadid=23520 Also something about increasing the wear on your aux fan vs its replacement cost. No idea as to the truth of that. Good luck. I decided the lack of dyno results WITH added fan + cost + extra wear and tear on stock parts + haveing to watch my amp draw +++ TX death hot summers = not worth it. I am running the lower 80 (I think) thermostat but thats just because it came with the Zygmunt cooling package - no problems running cool but I am in TX. Brad __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
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#10. 95 M3 failed emissions - from Reid Conti
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Date: Tue, 28 Jan 2003 20:01:33 -0800 From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> Subject: 95 M3 failed emissions Well, my '95 M3 failed emissions today in Washington state. When I bought it almost 2 years ago, the owner had it checked.. failed the first time, $15 test. Then he took it to a shop, spent $100, they told him nothing was wrong (oxygen sensor had been replaced a year before). He re-tested it (second test is free I think) and it passed. Unfortunately I am not with my car, so someone is testing it for me. It was well warmed up, but who knows. it failed the idle hydrocarbon test, with 289ppm, which is higher than the 220ppm limit. Here's the thing -- the tech said the idle was too high. BS. That car sits DEAD on 700. not sure if maybe his crappy testing failed it. I do know that the O2 sensor is suspect -- I got an error code for it precisely once in 30k of driving it, and it was the 1 year anniversary of when I bought it. The error never came up again. But I think if you spend $150 in washington state trying to fix it, you get passed automatically. so I see no reason to spend $100 to be told nothing is wrong, only to test it and have it pass. Or fail. I'm thinking of just re-testing, and THEN if it fails, spend the $150 getting the O2 sensor replaced (is this cost about right?) and get a passing grade. Sound good? what can I do to increase the likelihood of it passing the idle hydrocarbon test? The car has mostly sat for the past month, it's been driven once 2 weeks ago, and now again for errands, then a run on the highway before testing.. Any specific advice for pre-test warmup? - reid