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#1. Re: Parking ticket - from HyperM3@aol.com
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Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 23:50:19 -0400 From: HyperM3@aol.com Subject: Re: Parking ticket In a message dated 10/7/2003 4:53:50 PM Eastern Daylight Time, jeffrey.go@sap.com writes: > My question is: > 1). Do I have a leg to stand on? Be thankful that not only do you have not one, but both legs to stand on and use them in the ultimate driving machine. Pay the fine if just to get out of any future feelings of guilt. $300 for a lifetime of shifting is nothing compared to a lifetime of not getting out of a wheelchair. Alex "HyperM3" Demsky 97 S/C M3 ~ http://hometown.aol.com/hyperm3/Bimmer.html
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#2. E46 steering rack in an E36?? - from Rob
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Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 21:52:53 -0600 From: "Rob" <speedmaster@telus.net> Subject: E46 steering rack in an E36?? Does anyone know if an E46 steering rack could be made to work in an E36? I hate the slow ratio steering in my non-M E36 and I'd love to swap in an E46 M3 rack! Anyone tried this? I think the next best thing is the rack from a '95 M3? TIA,
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Original BMW coolant - Is it special? - from Andrew E. Kalman
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Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 20:49:41 -0700 From: "Andrew E. Kalman" <aek@pumpkininc.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Original BMW coolant - Is it special? Re: > >> Time to flush my cooling system and I am wondering how important it is to >> use O.E BMW anti-freeze? They claim is it something special, but does anyone > > know for a fact that Prestone, etc is less effective in our cars? >> FWIW, just last weekend I overhauled the cooling system on my '95 LWT -- new top and bottom hoses, thermostat, thermostat housing and radiator (bigger S54(?) unit). I already have the metal-impeller pump (did that years ago), and my car has all of 16,000 miles. 8,000 are track miles. There was absolutely no discernable corrosion in any parts of the system that were visible. The old radiator seemed absolutely fine, and there was no sign of any of the plastic necks cracking or other signs of impending doom. Naturally, after this clean bill of health, I re-filled with BMW coolant. -- ______________________________________ Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. aek@pumpkininc.com
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#4. RE: [E36M3] Parking Ticket - from Barrett Nicholas
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Date: Tue, 7 Oct 2003 21:47:53 -0500 From: "Barrett Nicholas" <barrettn@swbell.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Parking Ticket Just think of those cross hatched areas as room so that I can unload my son's wheelchair from the minivan without any danger of scratching your nice M3. I'm not saying that if you're parked too close I'd intentionally scratch your car (I hope I don't have that in me), but while in the process of everything else (making sure he's buckled in right, etc.) your car was dinged, I wouldn't loose too much sleep over it. I once had some folks park in the cross hatching right next to me, I tried explaining to the guy that I needed the space, but since my son was already inside the mall (I'd dropped him off, then parked the van) he didn't believe that I should be parking in a handicapped spot and told me that if I could park there, he could too (despite the fact I have handicap plates, he didn't). No rent-a-cop around, but as luck would have it, I had a valve core tool with me from a track weekend. I felt I was pretty restrained, given that I only pulled one valve core - I could have pulled them all. I taped it to a note on the windshield with the suggestion that next time it would be all four. OK, it was rash and a tiny bit dangerous, but in a case like this where I was 110% sure it was a case where the person not only wasn't handicapped, but had a complete lack of appreciation for what a handicapped person deals with, it sure was sweet. Barrett
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Lotus Elise: Thoughts? - from Jeremy Lucas
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 06:29:24 -0400 From: "Jeremy Lucas" <jlucas@columbus.rr.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Lotus Elise: Thoughts? I personally have not driven one but everyone who has just raves about it. The only downside that I know of is reliability, especially if you plan on taking it to the track. There's a guy somewhere around here with a 190R that I see a lot at MidOhio and I have yet to see him finish a complete weekend without something breaking or have an electrical issue that sidelines the car for some of sessions. That being said, I'd still buy one. Perhaps you can find out from some of the UK lotus guys if the new version does not have the same issues. BTW, I haven't seen much on the US legal version. Where can I find more information? What are they having to do to it to make it legal? Jeremy Lucas 95 M3 ----- Original Message ----- From: "jphillips" <jon@maximumpc.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Tuesday, October 07, 2003 5:03 PM Subject: [E36M3] Lotus Elise: Thoughts? > Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2003 14:04:01 -0700 > From: jphillips <jon@maximumpc.com> > Subject: Lotus Elise: Thoughts? > > Ladies & Gentleman: I'm *this* close to putting down a deposit for a 2004 > Lotus Elise. 190HP in a car under 2000 pounds. Plus the world-reknown Lotus > steering. > > My E36 would remain my daily driver (and be parked on the street), and the > Elise would go in the garage, and probably log about 5000-6000 miles a year. > > Am I completely insane? Is there *any* reason why I shouldn't do it? I'm > longing for a really light car, and the harsher ride quality doesn't scare > me. However, I *am* initimidated by driving the Elise and sharing the road > with know-nothing drivers in SUVs. > > I'm 6 feet tall, and should fit inside the Elise just fine. > > Thoughts? I know the folks on this list will have the best advice on the > net, so please chime in at will. > > > > > > ************************************************* > 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 > ************************************************* > >
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#6. Re: Lotus Elise: Thoughts? - from Neil Maller
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Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2003 08:34:42 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: Lotus Elise: Thoughts? on 10/7/03 5:33 PM, jphillips <jon@maximumpc.com> wrote: > Ladies & Gentleman: I'm *this* close to putting down a deposit for a 2004 > Lotus Elise. 190HP in a car under 2000 pounds. Plus the world-reknown Lotus > steering. <snip> > Thoughts? Con: World-renowned Lotus reliability Pro: Fixed by Toyota engine? Conclusion: Ultimate roadgoing expression of Colin Chapman philosophy: "Simplify and add lightness." Go for it! Neil 96 M3
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#7. Original BMW coolant - Is it special? - from Dorffer, Rich
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 10:53:24 -0400 From: "Dorffer, Rich" <RDORFFER@CleIndians.com> Subject: Original BMW coolant - Is it special? I will agree that it is best to use the BMW anti-freeze and the economics of a complete flush (even at $15 a gallon) is reasonable. BMW's coolant systems need a pH balanced, phosphate free coolant. I believe you can use any low pH, phosphate free coolant but there may be situations where you really have to flush the old coolant out if you are using one of the Dex Cool or similar coolants since they are not always compatible with other coolants. BMW coolant has an 8.2 pH. Orange Dex Cool has an 8.3 pH. MB coolant has a 7.5 to 7.8 pH. Many regular domestic coolants have pH in the 8 - 10 range. Here is a good article on pH: http://www.babcox.com/editorial/us/us60024.htm There is conjecture that the lower pH is more compatible with the plastic bits in the coolant systems (hence, why both BMW and MB use a lower pH coolant). There was a good technical article in the Star magazine in 2001 about coolant and the plastic failure rates. I think it is advisable to use either BMW or MB coolant. Use distilled water to balance the mixture. Regards, Rich
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#8. Re: Lotus Elise: Thoughts? (Postscript) - from jphillips
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Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2003 08:23:08 -0700 From: jphillips <jon@maximumpc.com> Subject: Re: Lotus Elise: Thoughts? (Postscript) Postscript to my posting of yesterday: Well, I've basically worked myself up into a Lotus frenzy during the last 24 hours, and have decided that, yes, I'll be putting down a $2,000 deposit (over the phone) as soon as the dealership opens. In some ways, this is an insurance policy against me doing something even *more* brash and impulsive. To wit: I've been itching for a second car for over a year now; some of this has been expressed in previous list postings, and I was even hot for Zack's E30 m3, which he sold before I could check it out (I've since abandoned all interest in the E30 M3 after seeing my mechanic do a quick tech inspection of one, and finding thousands and thousands of dollars in just normal wear and tear work to be done). Anyhow, by putting down this depsoit, and having to wait anywhere from 6 months to a year to receive the Elise, I will be effectively prevented from buying anything else on impulse until April 04 at the earliest. At that time or thereafter, test drive cars will be begin arriving at dealerships. I'll go for a test drive. If I don't like the Elise, I get the $2,000 back, and my list position opens up. If I do like the Elise, I put down another $2,000 and begin specing out my options. As for info on the US legal version, buzz and information on it is set to explode. The automotive press has loosely been covering the story for the last few months, but it was just announced that the Federalized version will be getting a signficant engine upgrade to a 190HP Toyota engine (NA). Weight is going up as well, but it seems the car is promised to still hit under 2000 lbs. The car is also on the cover of the November Road & Track; my Oct issue just arrived yesterday, and as a magazine editor myself, I know that it takes up to three weeks for any single issue of a magazine to make it accross all 50 states. I've been following the Elise for about two years now. Imagine: a light, naturally aspirated four-banger with incredible steering feel and race-car DNA. Sounds like some other car we know of, now doesn't it!!! I don't give a damn about any of the "luxury" features of my E36, save the thermometer on the OBC. I'm willing to give up luggage space, four seats, eletcric windows, AC, the whole shebang. My only concern is sharing the road with shite-for-brain drivers. Anyhow, thanks all for the encouragement!!! At 06:29 AM 10/8/2003 -0400, you wrote: >I personally have not driven one but everyone who has just raves about >it. The only downside that I know of is reliability, especially if you >plan on taking it to the track. There's a guy somewhere around here >with a 190R that I see a lot at MidOhio and I have yet to see him finish >a complete weekend without something breaking or have an electrical >issue that sidelines the car for some of sessions. That being said, >I'd still buy one. Perhaps you can find out from some of the UK lotus >guys if the new version does not have the same issues. > >BTW, I haven't seen much on the US legal version. Where can I find >more information? What are they having to do to it to make it legal? > >Jeremy Lucas >95 M3
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#9. Re: JC Euro HFM + Track Pipe = Pinging - from James Clay
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 11:38:47 -0400 From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com> Subject: Re: JC Euro HFM + Track Pipe = Pinging The initial intake package with a chip and Euro HFM really put the stock 95 injectors right next to the limit and close to 100% duty cycle. You really need the 24# injectors and chip that I think came out last year. Prior to this we had been using a custom chip we had made for the 24# injectors. If anyone is buying the mass air kit new, you should get the injectors to give a little margin for safety. James James Clay http://www.bimmerworld.com Engineered BMW Performance 540.639.9648
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#10. RE: [E36M3] Lotus Elise: Thoughts? - from Mount, Mike
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Date: Wed, 8 Oct 2003 08:43:27 -0700 From: "Mount, Mike" <JMMn@pge.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Lotus Elise: Thoughts? A Lotus Elise, eh? I saw one tooling down the autobahn heading north on the A5 near Karlsruhe a couple of weeks ago - pretty cool ride but I'd hate to have an off track excursion in one or get hit by another vehicle as they look woefully unprotected. They're awfully tiny, but that's the appeal I suppose. For my money I'd go for one of the Factory Five Cobra repli-racers; 'there ain't no replacement for displacement.' Mike