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#1. JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... - from Patrick Goss - PA
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:38:03 -0500 From: Patrick Goss - PA <Patrick_Goss@GMACM.COM> Subject: JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... Question for anybody who is currently using this.... http://store.yahoo.com/jtdesigns/higperrearst.html Can it be removed easily leaving both plates on top of each shock tower? The design from the pics above looks like the pre-load adjuster (threaded rod) appears to be only on one end, and if so you'd have to remove at least the opposing end plate. If the preload threaded rod and sandwich nuts are indeed mirrored on each side, is there enough room to loosen and recess the rod pieces into the center bar so that you can squeeze the entire thing out between the hats while they remain secured to the top of the rear shock? Keeping in mind the versatility of the folding rear seats in the coupe and 4 door, when you put in track tires, or German beer kegs :) Patrick Goss E36M3/4, Brace-less
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#2. Re: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... - from GGray657@aol.com
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:45:24 EST From: GGray657@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:43:01 AM Central Standard Time, Patrick_Goss@GMACM.COM writes: http://store.yahoo.com/jtdesigns/higperrearst.html Wow.. for 279 bucks it should come with some beer....I made my own cost about 50 bucks... Gary Gray Pro Bike/Pro Bike Cycling Team
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#3. RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... - from Patrick Goss - PA
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:51:50 -0500 From: Patrick Goss - PA <Patrick_Goss@GMACM.COM> Subject: RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... Thanks Gary, unfortunately not all of are fabricators however :-) It's the cyclist in you! P.S. maybe the center strut tube holds beer? At the going rate of BMW performance parts, 279 'might' not seem so bad. Some people pay 900 for a schnizter bar....why because its hella cool! -----Original Message----- From: GGray657@aol.com [mailto:GGray657@aol.com] Sent: Wednesday, November 17, 2004 10:45 AM To: Patrick Goss - PA; e36m3@bmw-m.net Subject: Re: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... In a message dated 11/17/2004 9:43:01 AM Central Standard Time, Patrick_Goss@GMACM.COM writes: http://store.yahoo.com/jtdesigns/higperrearst.html Wow.. for 279 bucks it should come with some beer....I made my own cost about 50 bucks... Gary Gray Pro Bike/Pro Bike Cycling Team
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#4. RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... - from Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 11:50:09 -0500 From: Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com Subject: RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... From: Patrick Goss - PA <Patrick_Goss@GMACM.COM> Subject: RE: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... >P.S. maybe the center strut tube holds beer? At the going rate of BMW >performance parts, 279 'might' not seem so bad. Some people pay 900 for a >schnizter bar....why because its hella cool! I think Gary is right, the prices for E36 strut tower bars are ridiculous. They're appealing to the bling factor though, if you pay $700 to $900 for a strut tower bar that is essentially doing nothing for you then you've stepped into the bling world. :-) I know they have *some* advantage I'm sure but compared to the increased performance you get from the $100 x-brace it's ridiculous to spend that much on one. I think the rigid E30 ones go for less than $100 (Sparco front one) and slightly more for the aluminum rear one ($130-150-ish). So who's going to make an affordable one for the budget conscious E36 racer/autoxer!? :-) Carlos 93 325is would like one but not for >$400, looking for a used Motorsport one instead.
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#5. Pricing of E36 parts - from Jim Powell
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 08:50:47 -0800 From: "Jim Powell" <jsp98m3@apexcone.com> Subject: Pricing of E36 parts In reference to the pricing discussion of some E36 parts ,let me chip in as a supplier. Schnitzer prices aside, E36 parts prices are generally starting to rise because of decreasing sales on some items. Others are holding steady. In my own business I have seen a steady slide of 90% market in 2000 for the E36 to 30% or less on many items today. This won't be true for large numbers of parts but is true for some of the less functional items. As sales go down, prices have to rise as parts go out of stock and have to be ordered again. If the order quantity being made is lower then the price per item will rise. If the order made by a vendor stays at the same level but they have to sit on them longer, prices will go up to pay for the cost of the investment made. Blah^3 Of course, you might occassionally find a manufacturer or retailer looking to move remaining inventory at a good price. Jim
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#6. Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... - from the_buch@telus.net
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:09:22 -0800 From: the_buch@telus.net Subject: Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... Jim ... do you have a cause established for carbon build up on your pistons ... having just gone through a substantial rebuild of my '99 M3 at only 90,000mi, I am hoping not to repeat the same again (e.g., mineral vs synthetic, break-in procedures etc.) ... by the way, I am in the middle of a punch-up with the BMW organization in Canada and Germany over responsibility for this sort of a failure, and will have more on this shortly ... regards, Doug Jim B wrote: Here's a couple of pictures I took of the worst of the cam scoring, and of the carbon build up on the pistons: http://www.jimbassett.com/M3valvejob.htm Should be all better by next week :-)
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... - from Chester Wong
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 10:18:44 -0800 (PST) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... When we pulled Dave Ngo's head, there was nasty carbon buildup like that on the pistons and on the valves (exhaust valves being worse). Of course, I spoke to Jay at GC and he said that all their heads always come off clean and the valves are clean too. I have no idea. All I know is when I pull my head, I'll have a solution of chemical ready to remove the carbon as you can't easily get it off. Chester --- the_buch@telus.net wrote: > Jim ... do you have a cause established for carbon build up on your > pistons ... having just gone through a substantial rebuild of my '99 M3 at > only 90,000mi, I am hoping not to repeat the same again (e.g., mineral vs > synthetic, break-in procedures etc.) ... by the way, I am in the middle of a > punch-up with the BMW organization in Canada and Germany over responsibility > for this sort of a failure, and will have more on this shortly ... regards, =====
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 11:52:54 -0700 From: Jim Bassett <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... Quoting the_buch@telus.net: > Jim ... do you have a cause established for carbon build up on your > pistons ... Carbon build up is fairly common, from what I've been told. The amount on my pistons wasn't too unusual according to my mechanic. The last 3 years, the car has seen only commute/stop-n-go driving duty, so I'm sure that has played a part in the build up. Apparently I need to get out and really RUN it on weekends <g>. Maybe I'll have it be semi-retired from the track, and get it out there again on a few occasions <bg>. > I am in the middle of a > punch-up with the BMW organization in Canada and Germany over responsibility > for this sort of a failure, IMO, carbon build-up is not a "failure". Or maybe you're talking about something else? Jim Bassett ---------------------------------------------------------------- This message was sent using IMP, the Internet Messaging Program.
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... - from Jamie Howton
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 13:30:59 -0600 From: Jamie Howton <jhowton@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was Cams ... now Carbon build up ... When I replaced my head gasket a couple of months ago the carbon buildup on the pistons, valves and head chambers was similar to Jim's. I cleaned it off pretty easily with carburetor cleaner and a plastic scrub brush. Regards Jamie Howton
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#10. Re: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... - from GGray657@aol.com
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Date: Wed, 17 Nov 2004 14:36:18 EST From: GGray657@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] JTD Rear Strut Bar a Question... LOL..Maybe it seems bike mechanics tend to like to build stuff... Yeah people pay big $$$ for bikes with Lance on the side too.... Hmm How about an integrated beer keg holding strut bar with a remote tap coming out by the gas tank...you could fill it up, and have a brew at the same time..assuming you had your BMW beer mug with you! Gary Gray Pro Bike/Pro Bike Cycling Team