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#1. RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from Michael Gilbert
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 10:56:26 -0400 From: "Michael Gilbert" <mjg2002@attbi.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 FWIW, on my wife's 2001 330xi with steptronic, you pull towards you for a downshift and push away from you to advance to a higher gear (which is opposite from what Josh described). To me this is intuitive, except that for the 2 to 3 shift you're used to grabbing and pulling and with the steptronic you have to push away. You basically get disconnected from what gear you're in, without that feel of the stick where you intuitively konw what gear you're in from where in the gate the stick is. Incidentally, this really messed me up when I autoXed my wife's car once when my Z3 was in the shop... The steptronic does shift a bit on its own (all of a sudden I'd find out I was in 3 instead of 2!) and it's awfully difficult to look down at the dash to figure out what gear you're in while flying through an autoX course!! Cheers, Mike 97 M3 IS #121 01 330xi -----Original Message----- From: Chester Wong [mailto:chester_p_wong@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, April 08, 2003 9:34 AM To: E36M3 Subject: Re: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 07:29:22 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 That's strange. As far as I remember, it used to be the way you wanted it and I found that setup counterintuitive where I wanted to push the stick forward to downshift. I believe since the E46M3 came out with SMG, they changed all models to conform to the push forward to downshift methodology. I think this is how true sequential gearboxes operate, no? Chester --- DocWyte <josh_wyte@yahoo.com> wrote: > The steptronic tranny is pretty neat, but the manual > upshift/downshift is counter intuitive. I wanted to > pull the stick back for downshifts and push it forward > for upshifts and bmw set it up the opposite way. That > made for some bumping of the rev limiter a few times. > I'm sure I'd get used to it, but it just doesn't feel > right. ===== ************************************************* 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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#2. RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 08:01:35 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 Well, I think this was one of the problems with steptronic...it won't let you hold redline and will shift automatically. But yet, the older E46s shift the way your car does, but I agree with Andrew that it should be push forward for the downshift. I seem to remember reading that the forward or backward business in the E46 was computer programmable and that a dealer should be able to set it the other way. Chester --- Michael Gilbert <mjg2002@attbi.com> wrote: > FWIW, on my wife's 2001 330xi with steptronic, you pull towards you for a > downshift and push away from you to advance to a higher > gear (which is opposite from what Josh described). To me this is intuitive, > except that for the 2 to 3 shift you're used to > grabbing and pulling and with the steptronic you have to push away. You > basically get disconnected from what gear you're in, > without that feel of the stick where you intuitively konw what gear you're in > from where in the gate the stick is. Incidentally, > this really messed me up when I autoXed my wife's car once when my Z3 was in > the shop... The steptronic does shift a bit on its own > (all of a sudden I'd find out I was in 3 instead of 2!) and it's awfully > difficult to look down at the dash to figure out what gear > you're in while flying through an autoX course!! =====
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#3. RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from Jamie Howton
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 10:02:30 -0500 From: "Jamie Howton" <jhowton@fotofab.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 > since the E46M3 came out with SMG, they changed all models to > conform to the push forward to downshift methodology. I > think this is how true sequential gearboxes operate, no? They changed it for the 02 model year. When I was test driving cars last year I drove a couple of 02 3 and 5 series cars with Steptronic. I found the "push forward to downshift" to be counterintuitive, but my previous car was an Audi A4 with Tiptronic which was reversed (pull back to downshift). It didn't matter because I ended up ordering a manual tranny car anyway. After putting almost 30,000 miles on my 330i this past year, I must say that I still like this car a lot. Every time I get the urge to modify something I eventually decide against it. The only mod that I have made to the car that I have kept installed is the UUC SSK. I tried the UUC sway barbarians, but the stock sway bars were so well balanced with the sport suspension that I didn't feel that stiffer swaybars helped at all. I may do a lightweight flywheel at some point though. It's tough to compare it to my modded M3. The power delivery is so much more linear on the 330i, it is more comfortable, more roomy in the cabin, quieter, but overall it is not as fast nor is it as fun to drive. My M3 is a more "brutal" driving experience, my 330i is more refined. I drove it all winter (Chicago) with Dunlop Wintersport M2 tires and never had a problem; DSC does work very well. Regards Jamie Howton 2002 330i 5 Spd Steel Blue Metallic SP 1995 M3 5 Spd Arctic Silver 1979 Porsche 928 5 Speed Opalmetallic
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#4. RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from john_stoj@excite.com
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 11:07:03 -0400 (EDT) From: "john_stoj@excite.com" <john_stoj@excite.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 --- On Tue 04/08, DocWyte < josh_wyte@yahoo.com > wrote: "The steptronic tranny is pretty neat, but the manual upshift/downshift is counter intuitive. I wanted to pull the stick back for downshifts and push it forward for upshifts and bmw set it up the opposite way. " I recall a number of recent articles pointing out this "problem" in reviews of the BMW transmissions - including the SMG. I meant to write a letter to at least one of the mags, but never got around to it. To me, it would be "intuitive" to pull back for an upshift based upon the behavior of the "stick" in an airplane (not that I've ever flown an actual plane) or (probably what actually gave me the intution) a video game joystick. I'd like to think BMW was thinking of the planes and not the video games. - John S. _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!
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#5. RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from john_stoj@excite.com
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 11:14:03 -0400 (EDT) From: "john_stoj@excite.com" <john_stoj@excite.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 --- On Tue 04/08, Michael Gilbert < mjg2002@attbi.com > wrote: "The steptronic does shift a bit on its own (all of a sudden I'd find out I was in 3 instead of 2!) and it's awfully difficult to look down at the dash to figure out what gear you're in while flying through an autoX course!!" That's why you need to trade it in on a Corvette with Heads Up Display. 0% financing too. ;-) - John S. _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Battery Options - from cteague@cox.net
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 11:36:29 -0400 From: <cteague@cox.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Battery Options Where can you buy this carrier Kit for the Dyna-Batt and how much is it? Chris 97 M3/4 > Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 07:45:10 -0400 > From: Bob Biggs <parm3@comcast.net> > Subject: Battery Options > >... Russ Wiles makes a slick > carrier for the Dyna-Batt. The carrier has a metal pan that fits perfectly > into the existing space. His carrier kit includes all of the limited > hardware needed for mounting. > > Bob Biggs
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#7. Re: How can I identify a short shift kit? - from Wen Liew
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Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 09:46:16 -0700 From: "Wen Liew" <wwliew@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: How can I identify a short shift kit? >From: DocWyte <josh_wyte@yahoo.com> >Subject: How can I identify a short shift kit? > >Here's the deal, > >Sometime in the past a previous owner installed a >short shifter in my car. (95 M3) It's unfortunately >degraded to the point where it needs replacement, >along with the selector rod to the tranny. Apparently >there are no identifying marks (ie, company stamp) on >it. > >I have no idea how old it is, only that it was old >enough that it got so beat up in the New England >weather that it died. The shifter height was stock, >it had very short shifts and kinda "clicked" into >gear. Josh, Check out Ron Stygar's site below. http://www.unofficialbmw.com/e36/drivetrain/e36_replace_a_shift_lever.html Since there are no identifying marks, you'll have to look at its color or measure it. Since you mentioned that "the shifter height is stock", you may want to measure the length below the pivot ball. According to Ron, stock M3 is 1.7 inches. Wen _________________________________________________________________ Help STOP SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE* http://join.msn.com/?page=features/junkmail
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 - from Rex Tener
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Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 09:44:53 -0700 From: Rex Tener <rex_tener@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Review of '03 330i vs '95 M3 At 08:33 AM 4/8/2003 -0600, Chester Wong wrote: >at's strange. As far as I remember, it used to be the way you wanted it and >I found that setup counterintuitive where I wanted to push the stick >forward to >downshift. I believe since the E46M3 came out with SMG, they changed all >models to conform to the push forward to downshift methodology. I think this >is how true sequential gearboxes operate, no? Correct, and is exactly how motorcycle sequential transmissions work. If BMW had made the E46 M3 SMG with a clutch pedal and a sequential transmission, there probably would be one in my garage right now. Rex
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#9. Rear Wing Removal - from Neil Maller
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Date: Tue, 08 Apr 2003 12:39:01 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Rear Wing Removal My wife and I have recently discovered an important marital/automotive principle: only the person in control of the car should be in charge of the garage door opener. As a result of our field work in the application of this principle, I now need to have the factory rear wing of my car repainted. I'd just as soon remove the wing myself and drop it off at the body shop. There appear to be two fastening screws under each side edge of the trunk lid, and I assume that at some point during removal a wiring harness and connector will become apparent. Anyone have advice or cautions before I do this? Neil 96 M3 - dragged butt
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Rear Wing Removal - from Chester Wong
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Date: Tue, 8 Apr 2003 10:53:40 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Rear Wing Removal That 3M double sided adhesive is a bitch to get off. We used a razor to separate mine, but we didn't really care about the trunklid. You might want to use perhaps fishing line? There is a rubber grommet that the harness goes through that you should be careful not to cut through it. It's on the left side towards the rear hole. Chester --- Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> wrote: > I'd just as soon remove the wing myself and drop it off at the body shop. > There appear to be two fastening screws under each side edge of the trunk > lid, and I assume that at some point during removal a wiring harness and > connector will become apparent. > > Anyone have advice or cautions before I do this? =====