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#1. Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System - from Chris Papademetrious
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 16:49:36 -0400 From: Chris Papademetrious <chrispy@ieee.org> Subject: Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System At 03:32 PM 6/4/2003 -0500, Reid Conti wrote: >of course they ended up blowing the head gasket eventually, but this was >apparently "expected." What worried me was watching Osh do repeated dyno >runs where you can HEAR that the car is leaning out. I guess this is part >of tuning, but lots of full-throttle runs in a less-than-perfect state of >tune is scary. My experience with forced induction cars has ALWAYS been to start rich and lean it to perfection. On my other car (not a BMW), I did this personally every time something in the car was upgraded. I set the fuel pressure rich, and leaned it down until the air-fuel was where I wanted it. My friend had a similar turbo car, and I was in the car when he accidentally leaned it out with a boost controller. He wasn't at full boost for even two seconds before he put quarter-size holes in his pistons. Exhaust gas temps went well past 2000F. This is the entire reason that knock sensors on turbo cars are mandatory, and that the timing retard parameters are so aggressive that you should never actually hear knock. The rule of thumb in turbo circles is, if you hear knock under wide open throttle, damage is likely already being done. Even if you only hear the slightest bit of ping, chances are you are "salting and peppering" your pistons. This is the term used to describe very tiny little bits of molten combustion chamber deposited on the piston faces. - Chris
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#2. Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System - from HyperM3@aol.com
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 17:07:29 -0400 From: HyperM3@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System WoW! Not like I didnt know before, but now I'm really afraid to drive my car. Sometimes it feels like my car runs thin at around 5500rpm even though the A/F meter states its running full rich. Ugh, what do I do? Alex "HyperM3" Demsky 97 S/C M3 ~ http://hometown.aol.com/hyperm3/Bimmer.html
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#3. Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
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Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 17:24:32 EDT From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3]Race Mark System Did we ever get a reply re: who Leif is? Leif - are you one of the BMW CCA tech advisors? That sure was not an endorsement for RMS supercharger kits. Lowell Seaton BMW CCA #131505
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#4. Re: Race Mark System - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 16:35:05 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Race Mark System on 6/4/03 3:42 PM, "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> wrote: > I have yet to hear one forced induction set-up that has worked great...this > only reinforces my goal to maximize my car normally aspirated. Didn't the erstwhile M3 of our esteemed list Mistress once have a supercharger? And didn't it fail ever to work right? And didn't it get taken off the car? Was it from RMS? Or am I a maroon baboon? (These are not mutually exclusive possibilities...) The only supercharger I'd even consider, if I were considering such things, would be from Dinan. Two reasons: 1) Stevie D is a good engineer and generally knows what he's doing; 2) Dinan sells enough product and charges enough money for it to cover the costs of proper product engineering and development. You know, I muse that the E36 M3 isn't the best candidate for forced induction. It has a high compression ratio, impenetrable (certainly to me, and apparently to all but an elite few tuners) OBD-II system, and the engine is relatively big and heavy. Forced induction seems to me to be much more attractive to give a giant goat-gland transfusion to a smaller, lighter 4 banger engine. Think Subie WRX, or Lancer Evo MCMLXIII (or whatever number they're up to now). Trouble is, the M3 gets purchased by speed-crazed idiots. You know, guys like us. So no sooner have we taken delivery of a car that has more capability than we have driving talent than we start conspiring to bolt on more horsepower. "Oh honey, my stock cams are plumb worn out at only 75K miles, who'da thunk it? Think I'd better order up some new ones from those nice Mormon boys out in Utah." Neil 96 M3, love those cams
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#5. Octane Rebirth - from Steve Klein
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Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 16:42:03 -0700 From: Steve Klein <klein@robinsonad.com> Subject: Octane Rebirth Howdy, Groupe- Just a report for data points. Last night I installed the Rogue Octane SSK, removed the aluminum cups from the UUC Tranny enforcers, replaced the front sway links with one standard and one adjustable from Turner (on stock sway bar) and re-wrapped one turn each on my front springs with 1/2" high pressure rubber hose. Four hours have made the car feel incredible. Firstly, the Rogue SSK is fantastic. Any kudos that have already been mentioned, I'll second. One of the best shifter feels I've felt. I keep catching myself with an odd grin and muttering "Snick. Snick." The play is minimal in neutral and once the car is in gear, there is almost no play at all. Removal of the Al cups on the tranny mounts has left the trans/shifter feeling solid, but without all the extra noise (esp. with the Lt. Wt. flywheel) coming into the cockpit. They're a nice option to have, and very effective, but a bit much for the street, methinks. The sway bar links were definitely ready for replacement, and having one adjustable (turnbuckle style, in a BMW box even!) allowed me to start at the original length and add some preload. That coupled with using hose to wrap the spring coils to take up some of the progressive nature (I believe it was James Clay who recommended that, thanks again!) has the front end feeling very planted and responsive. The off-side lurch I had written about a few weeks ago is nearly gone and rapid transitions are crisp and stable. I think I'll try wrapping just a bit of the rear coils, too, and see if that helps. Thanks for listening and again for all the great help on this list. Steve
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#6. Re: Stainless Steel Brake Lines - from Michael, Dave
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Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 15:50:13 -0600 From: "Michael, Dave" <Dave_Michael@maxtor.com> Subject: Re: Stainless Steel Brake Lines I am 95% sure its 11mm. I can check tonight. But not any old flare nut wrench will do. At least not if you live where they salt the roads. From a post I made a while back: "The important part is what I learned is about removing the hard lines from the old rubber lines. In short, buy the BEST flare nut wrench you can. Craftsman is NOT good enough. After rounding a fitting with a craftsman, I ordered a Snap-On (from the factory web-site). It made all the difference in world (along with lots of penetrating oil). The rounded nut? I loosened it with the very slick 3-point vice-grip that clamps on 3 nut flats. There are 3 sizes - I used the smallest one." Dave Michael 98 m3/4
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System - from LoweSeaton@aol.com
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Date: Wed, 4 Jun 2003 18:01:34 EDT From: LoweSeaton@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System Neil, No, it wasn't RMS. It was a Mechtech turbo. I believe Jim Powell has had success with his Mechtech turbo though. Albeit after mucho $$$ I am sure. Lowell Seaton '95 M3 - OBD I -------------------------------------- neil.maller@gte.net writes: > Didn't the erstwhile M3 of our esteemed list Mistress once have a > supercharger? And didn't it fail ever to work right? And didn't it get taken > off the car? Was it from RMS? >
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System - from Sue Kraft
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 18:07:11 -0500 From: Sue Kraft <suekraft@new.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System Neil Maller wrote: > Didn't the erstwhile M3 of our esteemed list Mistress once have a > supercharger? And didn't it fail ever to work right? And didn't it get taken > off the car? Was it from RMS? It was a MechTech turbo, and it got taken off (and subsequently re-installed) twice before I finally gave up. If I had thrown enough money at the car, perhaps I could have made it work. But telling me I could make that turbo kit work on an OBD II M3 with no software modifications (as MechTech originally promised me it world) was a joke. What I don't understand about this M3 with the RMS supercharger that melted the pistons, didn't the owner of the car know when the motor was running too lean? I could always tell right away with my M3. Or can things really go that bad that fast? I can't help but think if the owner of the car had been more aware there was a problem, he (or she) could have minimized the damages somehow. Suzy
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 18:22:46 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Race Mark System on 6/4/03 5:01 PM, LoweSeaton@aol.com at LoweSeaton@aol.com wrote: > No, it wasn't RMS. It was a Mechtech turbo. Ah yes: Lowell jump-starts my memory. Still, the principle applies: it ain't easy to bolt on a puffer and make it all work right. > I believe Jim Powell has had success with his Mechtech turbo though. > Albeit after mucho $$$ I am sure. Yeah, Jim completely re-engineered the whole thing. And Katerina has progressed rather a long way from being a daily driver. Enquiring minds can go to www.apexcone.com to find out more. Neil 96 M3
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#10. E36 M3 HELP: Clock Display on OBC Malfunctioning - from R. Kao
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Date: Wed, 04 Jun 2003 19:16:03 -0400 From: "R. Kao" <bimmerphile@hotmail.com> Subject: E36 M3 HELP: Clock Display on OBC Malfunctioning The clock on my OBC is malfunctioning and is no longer lit. I can still see the time and date very faintly but it is basically a black screen. Does any one know of an easy fix or is my only recourse to get a new unit? The car is a '99. Thanx in advance for your help. Roy '99 M3/2 _________________________________________________________________ Add photos to your messages with MSN 8. Get 2 months FREE*. http://join.msn.com/?page=features/featuredemail