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#1. RE: [E36M3] Re: Z06 comments even longer - from Mel Silva
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 11:09:27 -0600 From: "Mel Silva" <melsilva@mindspring.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: Z06 comments even longer I have driven a Z06 as well as first production run C5, a highly modified '90 Porsche Carrera (996?) and my then unmodified M3/4 within the span of about 2 weeks time. A colleague that I work with has the C5 mentioned and the friend with the '90 Carrera has since purchased a Cosmos Black M3. Anyway, my impressions are as follows: If I won the lottery (lootery?) I would own one of each of these cars, they are all excellent at what they do best. The C5 and Z06 are similar, except the Z06 is quicker to go as it is quicker to stop. I didn't get a handling comparison (it was raining that day). C5 Quality and long Term issues: The C5 has some issues with build quality in the transmission. My friend has had several problems with case warpage that has causes fluid leaks. Nothing catastrophic, just annoying. one other stupid thing that GM did was to put the battery tray directly above the ECU, BCU and a series of relays. Somewhere within the span of 5 years the battery excretions have corroded the contacts on the BCU, causing the head and taillights, as well as the wipers to fail intermittently. A similar problem has caused the ECU to report a TCS (Traction Control) failure which put the car into "limp home" mode. Overall the car feels "GM Like", with all of the squeaks and rattles one expects from a GM car. Although the exhaust note quickly drowns those noises out. C5 overall impressions: The C5 has just tons of power compared to the M3 and the Carrera. This may not even be true on the dynojet, but when you mash the loud pedal, the car makes you believe it is the most powerful thing on earth. This is probably by design (an ego thing). The sound the acceleration the low intense vibration all tell you that you have harnessed "the beast" and you are its master. If we could mimic these sensations in Home Theatre, I would never leave the house. Overall handling of the car feels very good, but as a supplement to John's comments, the car felt wide and heavy to me, requiring "muscle" to toss it into corners and finesse with the throttle to get out of them. Carrera Quality and long term issues: Mechanically this car performed flawlessly even after severe hackery and abuse. The interior is Spartan and the seats not all the comfortable for me, but that contributed to the overall "this is a Porsche built for speed not luxury" impression. This particular car had been heavily modified with supercharger, split second tuning computer, H&R lowering springs and Bilstein shocks. Carrera overall impressions: Go-Kart on steroids. Easily tossable from one direction to the next, plenty of power to get you into trouble and enough brakes to get you back out. Stereo equipment is wasted on this car, since the engine makes music of its own. M3 Quality and long term issues: My car has a few rattles and squeaks, most are the drivers seat complaining about the fat a$$ squishing the life out of it. I think some of this is from the PO (it was that way when I bought it) The others are the seat belts. The passenger's seat belt rattles against the B-pillar when nobody is sitting there and the driver's seat belt height adjustment rattles inside the B-pillar. M3 overall impressions: To me this is the perfect melding of a sports-luxury car. The comfort of luxury car with the sportiness of a sports car in one car. After installing the Shark Software and a CAI kit, the car woke up and felt like it had some power. Before that it felt really heavy. I now have a UUC DMS exhaust and the midband torque is impressive. It's no Z06, but if I put the car and myself on a diet... Those are my impressions. I offer the Carrera and M3 impressions as comparison to the C5 so that you may judge how my impressions compare with yours. Mel > > Anyways, I was just looking for opinions from those that own one (Z06) or > have driven one, and what they thought. > > I'm a bit worried about quality, durability, GM service... > > (If anyone could run a VIN on carfax, that would be great too.) > > Thanks, > Colin > '98 M3 (JC intake + software, X-brace, Dinan suspension, Euro rotors...) > '80 Turbo Trans Am (4.9L bored 0.030" over, 14 psi of boost, big brakes, > full suspension...) > '01 Z06 ???? > > > >
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#2. Any of you guys into high-end audio? - from Sue Kraft
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2003 11:51:00 -0600 From: Sue Kraft <suekraft@new.rr.com> Subject: Any of you guys into high-end audio? Even if you're not, stop by and visit my audio message board anyway. Talk about cars if you want. Hell, talk about anything.......the place is like a ghost town. http://www.audioinsiders.com/forum/general/index.html Suzy
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#3. floppy,sloppy loose shifter - from Paul Elliott
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 13:15:58 -0500 From: "Paul Elliott" <elliott.paul@worldnet.att.net> Subject: floppy,sloppy loose shifter Chuck, Bobby, et al, I was bitten by this with just over 40K miles on the '99 M3. I was lucky to still be under warranty, and the dealer replaced the tranny at no charge. But its amazing how many '98 and '99 M3 owners seem to be afflicted by this problem. I guess its more cost effective for bmw and their dealers to simply replace the tranny with a remanned unit, than to go through the fix. I guess BMW takes the returned trannies, does the fix on them, and then offers them up as remanned units to replace those new ones being afflicted. Unfortunately, I received the issue of Roundel, and as I am wont to do, I promptly loaned it to a friend of mine, and we dont know where it is now. Does anybody know if this article on page 83 is available on line anywhere, or a capsule summary of it? Is it essentially the same as the proposed fix offered up on the bimmerforums thread? If anybody knows where a reprint of the article is available for viewing please advise. 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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#4. Car update - from Chester Wong
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 12:34:12 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Car update Well, I finally washed the car today....first since it's been repainted. Car still needs some work :( I was afraid to wash the car because that's when I would see things that I normally wouldn't see. Overall, I didn't see too many things, so that was good. Can you tell me what'd different (from a regular stocker)? +) http://www.geocities.com/chester_p_wong/side.jpg http://www.geocities.com/chester_p_wong/quarter.jpg Chester =====
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#5. Roundel Article - Balky Box Blues - from Jeremy Conners
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2003 15:30:39 -0500 From: Jeremy Conners <jeremy.conners@comcast.net> Subject: Roundel Article - Balky Box Blues Group, If anyone wants a copy of the Roundel article about the E36 transmiss= ion, private me and I=92ll send it to you. Jeremy
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#6. Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) - from KLchmn@aol.com
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 16:34:21 EST From: KLchmn@aol.com Subject: Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) Group, I need to acquire some new front rotors for the M3 I-stock club race car. Unfortunately, stock rules don't allow me to use the Euro floating rotors (which I have never warped or had any problems with). The last time I used stock rotors in a race they warped, although it was a short, nasty track in hot weather at altitude. They were Zimmerman rotors. Yes, I have ducting to the brakes (the very nice Bimmerworld Backing plates w/3 inch hose going to the hub area). I was wondering if others have had better luck with Zimmerman, Balo, or Brembo rotors and where you get them. Thanks, Kirk Lachman Sin City Chapter '95 M3 #21 I-stock
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#7. RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) - from Michael Gilbert
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 17:03:17 -0500 From: "Michael Gilbert" <mgilbert1@attbi.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) Try cryogenically treated Frozen Rotors from HMS Motorsport. These are BMW OE stock rotors which have been treated and last a heck of a lot longer than stock rotors. They're more expensive than the stock part but last and last. Part #cr 112227171F and cr 112227172F http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/newstore.php?m=4&sub=859 or go for the slightly cheaper Part #cr 112227171A and cr 112227172A which are OE spec but have not come from the BMW factory http://www.hmsmotorsport.com/newstore.php?m=4&sub=860 -Mike -----Original Message----- From: KLchmn@aol.com [mailto:KLchmn@aol.com] Sent: Sunday, February 02, 2003 4:44 PM To: E36M3 Subject: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 16:34:21 EST From: KLchmn@aol.com Subject: Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) Group, I need to acquire some new front rotors for the M3 I-stock club race car. Unfortunately, stock rules don't allow me to use the Euro floating rotors (which I have never warped or had any problems with). The last time I used stock rotors in a race they warped, although it was a short, nasty track in hot weather at altitude. They were Zimmerman rotors. Yes, I have ducting to the brakes (the very nice Bimmerworld Backing plates w/3 inch hose going to the hub area). I was wondering if others have had better luck with Zimmerman, Balo, or Brembo rotors and where you get them. Thanks, Kirk Lachman Sin City Chapter '95 M3 #21 I-stock ************************************************* Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: Taylor Autosport http://www.taylorautosport.com Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com BMW M3 Specialties http://www.jt-designs.com Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com DIGEST INFORMATION: http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm *************************************************
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo - from Geof McLaughlin
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Date: Sun, 02 Feb 2003 18:24:13 -0500 From: Geof McLaughlin <gfmiiilist@attbi.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) At 03:43 PM 2/2/2003 -0600, KLchmn@aol.com wrote: >The last time I used stock rotors in a race they warped, although it was a >short, nasty track in hot weather at altitude. They were Zimmerman rotors. >Yes, I have ducting to the brakes (the very nice Bimmerworld Backing plates >w/3 inch hose going to the hub area). Maybe it's your braking technique, Kirk. ;-) >I was wondering if others have had better luck with Zimmerman, Balo, or >Brembo rotors and where you get them. I just use the cheap Brembo replacements and have never warped a rotor...ever (no brake ducting either!). Geof
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Car update - from Jeremy Lucas
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 19:33:40 -0500 From: "Jeremy Lucas" <jlucas@columbus.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Car update Besides the stuff that missing: 1) Clear corners & euro headlights 2) Side marker; which type is that? 3) Motorsport Door Handles; BTW, where did you get them? 4) Painted nozzles and door handles 5).... Jeremy Lucas 95 M3 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chester Wong" <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> > Can you tell me what'd different (from a regular stocker)? +) > > http://www.geocities.com/chester_p_wong/side.jpg > http://www.geocities.com/chester_p_wong/quarter.jpg > > Chester
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#10. Fuel Filter ???'s - from Andrew Joseph
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Date: Sun, 2 Feb 2003 20:56:46 -0600 From: "Andrew Joseph" <ajoseph1981@earthlink.net> Subject: Fuel Filter ???'s Gruppe: Does anyone here know the micron rating of the fuel filter for a '95 M3? Also the flow requirements? The reason I ask is this: I am tired of the accursed location on the inner driver's side fender for this filter. I have been looking at the Fram high pressure/flow remote mount filters in Pegasus Racing Supplies thinking that there has to be a better way than what the factory did in this case. Any info appreciated. Accurate info _really_ appreciated. ;^) Thanks. Andrew Joseph ajoseph1981@earthlink.net