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#1. RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) - from James Clay
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Date: Mon, 3 Feb 2003 13:35:30 -0500 From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors -- stock type needed (Balo or Brembo or Zimmerman?) All will work. We use Zimmerman on our cars with E36 M3 brakes just because my price on them is about $1 cheaper. The best test from us was for the rears in a 24 hour race (fronts were Stoptech) - lasted about 8 hours of testing, practice, and qual, plus the duration of the 24 hours, never needed replacement and our cars USE rear brakes. I have balos on all the ITS racecars because of price, but I am very happy with both. I haven't warped a rotor in about 5 years. For us, last year's setup was Hawk HT-10 all the way around, these rotors, no ducting unless it is about 90 or hotter. A lot of the setup has to do with pad characteristics (especially the cooling). Early this year, Hawk came out with the HT-14 for E36 M3 fronts only and after some testing, we will be running this in the front and HT-10 in the rear in World Challenge - more initial bite, similar other characteristics. For what its worth, I usually tell our H/IS guys to buy these instead of the floating rotors anyway because the cost difference is not made up in rotor life and there is no measurable performance difference. Now onto cryo rotors. It really is impossible to test these extensively and equally without thousands of track miles specifically for that purpose. BUT, from what I have seen, it is worth something, but not a lot - say 25%. So if you can buy frozen fronts from HMS for $195 each (???) or the standard Zimmerman equivalent from us for $54 each that will last at worst 75% as long - it is a no brainer. But if you are dealing with a nice, expensive race rotor where the $$$ paid for the process is made up for in increased life, it is worth it. Most of our customers with Stoptech, Movit, etc buy frozen. Again on this, it is somewhat of a pad issue too - the pads we use are easy on the rotor surface - life is more limited by heat cracks. James James Clay http://www.bimmerworld.com Engineered BMW Performance 540.639.9648
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#2. RE: [E36M3] Opinions on AVS Sport vs. AVS ES-110? - from Robert Puertas
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 12:26:21 -0800 From: "Robert Puertas" <Puertas@cox.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Opinions on AVS Sport vs. AVS ES-110? --I'm going back to RA1's unless someone has something good to say about Kumho MX's? I've only had the e36 M3 for a week, and the MX's for 4 days, but I can tell you they seem to be a pretty good tire. I have a stock '95 with 225/45-17's all the way around. The MX's are much better than the P-zero's that were on the car when I got it. More grip, more feedback, less noise and less money. I come from an auto-x background (Hi Chris) and my previous car was an e30 M3 with BFG KD's. The MX's are close to the KD's in performance, at least as far as I can tell on the street. No idea about lifespan yet obviously, but you can read all kinds of good things about them on the Tire Rack website. On a sidenote, I recently put the new AVS ES-110's on my wife's Saab and they seem like a good tire. Definitely an improvement over the Michelins it came with. Also, I got a chance to drive a friend's e30 M3 at a recent autocross with the new AVS's and I was impressed with their feel and grip. If I was forced to guess, I would say they're better than the old AVS intermediates. Robert Puertas ************************************************* 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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#3. Re: [E36M3] Opinions on AVS Sport vs. AVS ES-110? - from HYPERM3@aol.com
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 15:42:43 EST From: HYPERM3@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Opinions on AVS Sport vs. AVS ES-110? I had the es-110's put on our Acura CL Type-S about 4000 miles ago. This car really rocks to say the least. So I replaced the crappy a/s Michelin rubber that came on the car. Needless to say, I think these tires are garbage. You get what you pay for in this regard. They are great tires to put on if you are at the end of a lease and need something on to turn it in with. Ive driven on all types of tires and currently have pilots on my M3 (They suck too). The Yok's suck in the rain and hop in the dry. Yes, I know its on a front drive car, but the bad Mich rubber was honestly better. A companion of mine on this board actually went directly from AVS INTs to the ES 110's, lets see if he speaks up. All I can say is the absolute best tire I ever drove with were the BFG KD. They drove as competently and superbly as my old R1 auto-x tires. No, they were not good in the rain. My car never sees rain if I can help it so it didn't matter. But they took the M3 to the limits of the car and beyond. I wish wish wish I could find them again. Its very hard to find a whole set of 4. Either way, the way I look at it is don't skimp on the tires. Spend what you need to. THIS is your connection to the road. THIS is what your car depends on when you throw it into a corner and push it that much harder. THIS is what you need to help you be safer. Don't go for cheaper tires hoping they perform like the ones at twice the price. And for those of you who complain about getting only 18k from a set of tires, you drive an M3, not a Camry. Go buy tires from sears with a 60k warranty if that really is what you want. My $.02 Alex "HyperM3" Demsky 97 S/C M3
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#4. RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors - from Grant.Fairweather@abbott.com
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 14:54:48 -0600 From: Grant.Fairweather@abbott.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] Brake rotors James wrote: >The best test from us was for the rears in a 24 hour race (fronts were Stoptech) >- lasted about 8 hours of testing, practice, and qual, plus the duration of the 24 hours, >never needed replacement and our cars USE rear brakes James et all: During high speed and/or endurance events where braking temps can reach 1000+ Deg. have you ever experimented with any of the newer wave, laminated, and/or highly finned rotors? Some of the literature that I've read "proclaims" these new rotors to have a 2-3 fold reduction in rotor temps, as well as reduced mass. All desirable traits, but I wonder how well their claims hold-up in real world applications. Grant Chicago 98 M3/4...powered by Dinan
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#5. Ground Control "Coilover" Suspension - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 16:43:08 -0500 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: Ground Control "Coilover" Suspension Sorry to bother you the list and GC M3 guys again with this, but I wanted to see if anyone had any final comments for my last questions. I am very close to ordering a Ground Control "Coilover" Suspension with the hybrid camber plates and GC RSMs. I have the following questions: - Would you pay an additional $240 for the Double Adjustable Konis in the FRONT, or, do you feel the DA Konis for an additional $240 was worth it if you have them? - Would you pay an additional $428 for the Double Adjustable Konis in the REAR, or, do you feel the DA Konis for an additional $428 was worth it if you have them? I felt that the DAs would provide more flexibility between the street and the track. Discussions with Ground Control (Dale and Jay) weren't particularly convincing that the DAs were necessarily worth it, particularly in the rear, and so know I am not sure whether the additional $$ are worth it. I could imagine some with DAs never bother to take full advantage of them if they have them (my personal fear). But, adjusting the damping seems to make sense if I want to play around with some different spring rates. Any final thoughts guys? Thanks in advance. Best regards, Rich 95 M3 - future GC suspension, used 8-9 months of the year in NE Ohio, 6-10 track days a year. PS - Thanks again for all the help from the Digest as well as Jeff, Doug, Vince, Kit and Keith who have been a huge help...I am thinking these guys may be on the GC payroll... ;-)
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#6. AVS ES-110 now Kumho MX - from Brad Ahrens
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 13:45:06 -0800 (PST) From: Brad Ahrens <txsaggie97@yahoo.com> Subject: AVS ES-110 now Kumho MX I have the MXs in 245/40 17s all around. I am coming from the 712s so I don't have a direct comparison to SO3s or Pilot Sports. That said I like them. Much more grip IMO than the 712s which felt a bit squirrely (not that I think they are a bad tire esp for the $..just be careful if stepping down until you get used to them) even compared to the worn P7000SS that were on before. Could also be a bit more rear neg camber though at -2.0 now and wider size. I was running 235/40s prior in both the 712s and P7000SS. Both on a 8" rim. Sidewall is stiffer than the 712s as well. We'll see about wear. I have about 5000 miles on them and they are doing ok. One thing to remember is that they come at 9/32s vs the usual 10/32s of tread depth (if I got that right) so you are losing some there off the start. Nice agressive blocks. Not alot of experience with them in the rain. Alex - I know you are in Dallas. Shoot me an email if you would like to try them out or take a look. I'll know more after I auto-x them. I'll try to track them as well this year but have no prior comparison there. They are WIDE for their size...much like I hear SO3s are. Also I seem to recall the 245s ES-110s being on the small side (width)? Or was that just comparing them to the MX...not sure. Info is on TR. My ramblings, Brad Dallas, TX __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Ground Control "Coilover" Suspension - from Dave Kelley
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Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 17:12:08 -0500 From: "Dave Kelley" <d.kelley@usa.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Ground Control "Coilover" Suspension Rich, I just installed a new GC suspension with their hybrid front camber plates. I got Koni DA's for the front. I don't know if it was worth it because I have not had the car on the track yet, but from others experience, I am sure that over time, it will be worth it. I do 15-20 track events per year. Now if I can just learn how to tune the DA's! I already had almost new Koni SA's in the rear and I chose to keep them rather than pay more money for the DA's. The advice I received was that the DA's did not make that much difference in the rear anyway. I also have GC RSM's in the rear and their RTAB inserts. My spring rates are 600# front and 700# rear and the ride is obviously firm on the street but not all that bad! I also like the hybrid camber plates. I am able to adjust my front camber from -1.5 degrees for the street to -4 degrees for the track using shims on my lower strut bolts (with longer bolts!). I'm running a pretty good drop but I don't remember exactly what my ride height is. I set it to the GC recommendations. Also, I am going to install Powerflex front lower control arm bushings and swaybar bushings. The only issue I have so far is that my front springs stick and then pop when they release. I spoke with Jay at GC last night and he said it was the bearing in the upper spring perch that was sticking and that I should grease it and then after it breaks in, it should stop. I probably don't even have 100 miles on the car since the install. Dave Kelley 98 M3/4 > Sorry to bother you the list and GC M3 guys again with this, > but I wanted to see if anyone had any final comments for my > last questions. I am very close to ordering a Ground > Control "Coilover" Suspension with the hybrid camber plates > and GC RSMs. I have the following questions: > > - Would you pay an additional $240 for the Double Adjustable > Konis in the FRONT, or, do you feel the DA Konis for an > additional $240 was worth it if you have them? > > - Would you pay an additional $428 for the Double Adjustable > Konis in the REAR, or, do you feel the DA Konis for an > additional $428 was worth it if you have them? > > I felt that the DAs would provide more flexibility between > the street and the track. Discussions with Ground Control > (Dale and Jay) weren't particularly convincing that the DAs > were necessarily worth it, particularly in the rear, and so > know I am not sure whether the additional $$ are worth it. > I could imagine some with DAs never bother to take full > advantage of them if they have them (my personal fear). > But, adjusting the damping seems to make sense if I want to > play around with some different spring rates. > > Any final thoughts guys? Thanks in advance. > > Best regards, > > Rich >
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#8. [E36M3] shark injector price - from Jeff_Wingstrom@jackmorton.com
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 16:32:10 -0600 From: Jeff_Wingstrom@jackmorton.com Subject: [E36M3] shark injector price This may be old news but I noticed that Eurosport has the shark injector for $349 (from $399) on a "limited special". Same deal at uucmotorwerks (and probably others). No clue how long this has been going on; just FYI. I think it's finally time to take the plunge.. -Jeff
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#9. Rrear end noise found - from bmw
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Date: Tue, 4 Feb 2003 15:26:32 -0800 (PST) From: bmw <m3lawdawg@yahoo.com> Subject: Rrear end noise found To recap the noise sounded like what you get when the rear shock mounts are worn out. In this case it was coil spring chatter. I noticed where the springs had been hitting and wrapped rubber hose around them at those points. The noise is now gone. The springs are H&R sports, has anyone heard of this problem before, if so let me know. Mine are less than one year old, and I will be contacting H&R and Turner tomorrow, to see what can be done. Thanks to all who sent in suggestions to help find this, this board is a valuable tool. Tony __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com
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#10. GC Spacer/96+ RTAB Durability - from Ron Katona
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Date: Tue, 04 Feb 2003 18:28:56 -0500 From: Ron Katona <rkatona@cox.net> Subject: GC Spacer/96+ RTAB Durability Just one data point, but... I unbolted the trailing arm bracket on my '95 from the body, and then from the trailing arm itself this weekend to inspect the bushing. This bushing is about two years, 30,000 miles, 50-60 autocrosses, and even one trip to the drag strip old. I used a 96+ part number and also installed the GC spacers when I replaced them two years ago. Bottom line: the bushings are perfect. I cleaned up the surface of the rubber and inspected it very closely and there aren't any signs of deterioration or cracking. I'm quite pleased by this and feel that the GC spacers deserve much of the credit. I believe they really cut down on the stresses applied to this bushing. -- Ron Katona