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#1. RE: Question regarding understeer..how to fix/improve.. - from Bob Stommel
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 18:29:18 -0500 From: Bob Stommel <rstommel@iquest.net> Subject: RE: Question regarding understeer..how to fix/improve.. Jesse: In addition to increasing negative camber in the front, you might try either stiffening the rear swaybar or, if the rear is already on the stiffest setting, softening the front one. You didn't say what springs you are using, but if the swaybar adjustments and the increase negative camber in the front don't solve the problem, you need to work on your spring selection next. If you're using the UUC swaybars with stock M3 springs, I can tell you right now that the car has too much swaybar and not enough spring stiffness. The springs should be doing most of the work. HTH, Bob Stommel SPG Motorsports >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> > My question is, how can I reduce understeer on my car? Going into one > of the > turns (the Toe of the boot at the Glen) I had to back off the throttle > a bit > because my car was understeering, and basically wasn't turning enough. More negative camber in the front. E36 chassis are desperate for more negative camber. This is a street car? Go with fixed camber plates for two degrees or so. That'll alleviate some of the understeer without destroying your tires on the street. As for needing to back off the throttle to correct the understeer, I've never been to the Glen so I can't comment on that corner, but sometimes you just cannot rush the throttle. Turn 2 at Thunderhill is like that. Patience, grasshopper. - Mark E36 325is, JP/A5 #117, first races last weekend at Buttonwillow ----- mark@pdc-racing.net
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#2. Re: Question regarding understeer..how to fix/improve - from KLchmn@aol.com
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 21:01:18 EDT From: KLchmn@aol.com Subject: Re: Question regarding understeer..how to fix/improve There are many things you can adjust: tire pressures, shocks?, sway bars, camber, etc. If you have '96+ strut bearings, you can gain cheap camber by swapping them left to right. If you don't want to disassemble the springs/struts, then a fixed camber plate is very easy to install instead. Just remember that sometimes increasing the front roll stiffness also reduces understeer (especially in an M3). Don't crank up the rear bar and expect great handling. Expect throttle on exit oversteer. Start with moving the front bar up a notch. Then look at tire pressures. The front camber is also a good idea, but more time consuming if you haven't done front suspension work before. Cheers, Kirk Lachman Sin City Chapter '95 M3 #21 I-stock
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#3. Re: [E36M3] RX8 Vs. E36 M3 - from Reid Conti
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 18:49:59 -0700 From: Reid Conti <reid@conti.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RX8 Vs. E36 M3 >> BTW, those suicide doors are pretty impressive. When shut, not only >> does >> it reduces chassis flex but the frame is quite solid (hence safe). >> Check >> it out for yourself. Plus the car has the same dimension as the >> Porsche >> 911; however the Porsche is a full 200 lbs fatter. > > And has another 70HP and much, much wider tires. > and costs 2x as much... - reid
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#4. Wiring harness part wanted - from John Hovell
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 19:19:21 -0700 (PDT) From: John Hovell <jhovell@stanford.edu> Subject: Wiring harness part wanted Gruppe -- I'm looking for the white connector off the back of an E36 OBC (On Board Computer) which is part of the main wiring harness to the car. Junkyards I've talked to will only sell me the wiring harness as a whole for around $400. Dealership is same story (only lots more money). I was hoping someone on this list might have or know of a race car which has been stripped of the OBC (or a junked car) and they might be willing to clip that part of the harness for me. Any even remotely reasonable offer accepted. I really only need the white 18-pin connector, but if possible I'd take the white and black connector, for comparison purposes. The white connector only comes on a car with the full 18-button OBC. Any leads as to who might sell me one at a reasonable price would also be much appreciated :). Regards, John
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#5. Re: [E36M3] RX8 Vs. E36 M3 - from Jeremy Lucas
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 22:52:48 -0400 From: "Jeremy Lucas" <jlucas@columbus.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RX8 Vs. E36 M3 ----- Original Message ----- From: "Reid Conti" <reid@conti.net> > >> 911; however the Porsche is a full 200 lbs fatter. > > > > And has another 70HP and much, much wider tires. > > and costs 2x as much... At least the Porsche actually makes it's advertised horsepower..... Sorry couldn't let that one go >;) Jeremy Lucas 95 M3
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#6. WTB: Factory Alpine 6 Disc Changer - from FAS302@aol.com
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Date: Tue, 30 Sep 2003 23:14:22 EDT From: FAS302@aol.com Subject: WTB: Factory Alpine 6 Disc Changer My CD Changer went recently on my 95 M3, so I'm looking for the stock replacement. For those of you that upgraded and have your old stuff laying around, I'm looking for a specific model that came out of early-to-mid 90's E36's. The model is TR 1003 and part# is 82 11 1 468 014. Please contact me at <A HREF="fas302@aol.com"> fas302@aol.com</A>. TIA, Evan
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#7. Re: [E36M3]understeering - from marc@plante.com
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Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 08:49:41 -0400 (EDT) From: marc@plante.com Subject: Re: [E36M3]understeering You need to spend more time with your car. I've driven a stock 325i for a little while now and can rotate it in pretty much any direction I want to. Your understeering is probably coming from overdriving into the corner. A bit less entry speed and smoother application of power will let your frint tires grab better. Also, If I remember the toe of the boot at the Glen (It's been a couple years), you need to run up a little bit onto the hill on the left before turning in. This gives you some banking that helps the car turn in better. That corner is miserable in a 325i, esp if you've got an M on your butt. You just won't have the power to climb out of that valley to 8 with the higher powered cars, the tendancy is to rush onto the power to keep up, and the car will just plow. Yes, you can mess with the suspension to make the back looser, but I strongly advise that you work with what you've got for at least a half dozen schools before you start to change the car. Suspension components are fairly expensive to buy and install unless you're going to do it yourself, and it takes a while to understand what your personal preferences are. In the short term. You can play with tire pressures, and tire types (i.e. going to performance tires from 4 season tires will make a huge difference). Marc Plante E36 325i, 214k Vienna, VA
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#8. RE: [E36M3]understeering - from Chamberlain, Jesse
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Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 09:08:27 -0400 From: "Chamberlain, Jesse" <jchamb06@harris.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3]understeering Marc, I agree with everything you just said! :) I do need to spend more time with my car at the track, and understand how to really drive it. I now know that I am the weakest link when it comes to my car and its performance and that I will not even come close to reaching the full potential of my car any time soon. The main reason I asked that question was to better understand the components I have on my car, and how they are causing my car to understeer. I have done all the suspension upgrades myself, so upgrading and replacing parts isn't a huge deal (except for the money part of it). The Toe of the Boot has a large incline right as you enter the corner, and as it was my first school, I'm SURE I wasn't taking the corner correctly. I drove with my instructor during her track time and she had an M3 engine in her 325i, and slicks, and what a difference it was getting up that hill. I would love to use the excuse that my 325i doesn't have enough power, and that I need to go out and do an M3 engine swap, but I have not yet reached the limits of my 325i yet. Once I do, an M3 or an M3 engine swap would be my next option. The only thing that upsets me is that its already October, and there's no more driving schools this year! I can't get back out onto the track and get some more experience until next years driving schools. Thanks for all the information! Jesse Chamberlain jchamb06@harris.com -----Original Message----- From: marc@plante.com [mailto:marc@plante.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 8:50 AM To: e36m3@bmw-m.net; jchamb06@harris.com Subject: Re: [E36M3]understeering You need to spend more time with your car. I've driven a stock 325i for a little while now and can rotate it in pretty much any direction I want to. Your understeering is probably coming from overdriving into the corner. A bit less entry speed and smoother application of power will let your frint tires grab better. Also, If I remember the toe of the boot at the Glen (It's been a couple years), you need to run up a little bit onto the hill on the left before turning in. This gives you some banking that helps the car turn in better. That corner is miserable in a 325i, esp if you've got an M on your butt. You just won't have the power to climb out of that valley to 8 with the higher powered cars, the tendancy is to rush onto the power to keep up, and the car will just plow. Yes, you can mess with the suspension to make the back looser, but I strongly advise that you work with what you've got for at least a half dozen schools before you start to change the car. Suspension components are fairly expensive to buy and install unless you're going to do it yourself, and it takes a while to understand what your personal preferences are. In the short term. You can play with tire pressures, and tire types (i.e. going to performance tires from 4 season tires will make a huge difference). Marc Plante E36 325i, 214k Vienna, VA
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#9. Front Bumper Support - from geoff atkinson
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Date: Wed, 01 Oct 2003 09:56:42 -0400 From: "geoff atkinson" <pskalc@hotmail.com> Subject: Front Bumper Support Group, I was just wondering if someone can detail for me the exact difference between the LTW/GT front bumper support and the "normal" one. I have one here with the LTW/GT part number on it... but it appears to be the same as a damaged one I have from a "stock" Sept. '95 build car. what exactly should I be looking for to make sure here? -Geoff Atkinson _________________________________________________________________ Instant message in style with MSN Messenger 6.0. Download it now FREE! http://msnmessenger-download.com
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#10. RE: [E36M3]understeering - from Patrick Buthmann
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Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 10:09:22 -0400 From: "Patrick Buthmann" <patrick@teutonic.ca> Subject: RE: [E36M3]understeering Hey, there's always the Oct 25/26 school at Mosport. Still have room left for that one. Pat -----Original Message----- From: Chamberlain, Jesse [mailto:jchamb06@harris.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 9:34 AM To: E36M3 Subject: RE: [E36M3]understeering Date: Wed, 1 Oct 2003 09:08:27 -0400 From: "Chamberlain, Jesse" <jchamb06@harris.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3]understeering Marc, I agree with everything you just said! :) I do need to spend more time with my car at the track, and understand how to really drive it. I now know that I am the weakest link when it comes to my car and its performance and that I will not even come close to reaching the full potential of my car any time soon. The main reason I asked that question was to better understand the components I have on my car, and how they are causing my car to understeer. I have done all the suspension upgrades myself, so upgrading and replacing parts isn't a huge deal (except for the money part of it). The Toe of the Boot has a large incline right as you enter the corner, and as it was my first school, I'm SURE I wasn't taking the corner correctly. I drove with my instructor during her track time and she had an M3 engine in her 325i, and slicks, and what a difference it was getting up that hill. I would love to use the excuse that my 325i doesn't have enough power, and that I need to go out and do an M3 engine swap, but I have not yet reached the limits of my 325i yet. Once I do, an M3 or an M3 engine swap would be my next option. The only thing that upsets me is that its already October, and there's no more driving schools this year! I can't get back out onto the track and get some more experience until next years driving schools. Thanks for all the information! Jesse Chamberlain jchamb06@harris.com -----Original Message----- From: marc@plante.com [mailto:marc@plante.com] Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2003 8:50 AM To: e36m3@bmw-m.net; jchamb06@harris.com Subject: Re: [E36M3]understeering You need to spend more time with your car. I've driven a stock 325i for a little while now and can rotate it in pretty much any direction I want to. Your understeering is probably coming from overdriving into the corner. A bit less entry speed and smoother application of power will let your frint tires grab better. Also, If I remember the toe of the boot at the Glen (It's been a couple years), you need to run up a little bit onto the hill on the left before turning in. This gives you some banking that helps the car turn in better. That corner is miserable in a 325i, esp if you've got an M on your butt. You just won't have the power to climb out of that valley to 8 with the higher powered cars, the tendancy is to rush onto the power to keep up, and the car will just plow. Yes, you can mess with the suspension to make the back looser, but I strongly advise that you work with what you've got for at least a half dozen schools before you start to change the car. Suspension components are fairly expensive to buy and install unless you're going to do it yourself, and it takes a while to understand what your personal preferences are. In the short term. You can play with tire pressures, and tire types (i.e. going to performance tires from 4 season tires will make a huge difference). Marc Plante E36 325i, 214k Vienna, VA ************************************************* 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 Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com DIGEST INFORMATION: http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm *************************************************