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#1. Re: [E36M3] quick tire question - from Dave Swingle
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Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 22:43:03 -0500 From: "Dave Swingle" <swingle@dmcnews.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] quick tire question How do they compare with the old Pilot Sports? Specifically are they any quieter? The Pilots on my 99 M3 are the noisiest tire I've ever had on any car. Dave S. -------------------- 4 -------------------- Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 14:40:04 -0700 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] quick tire question For what it's worth, the new Pilot Sport 2s are a great summer tire. After a few sets of the S03s, the PS2s are my new favorite street tire. Not as harsh-feeling as the S03s, absolutely phenomenal in the wet and they perform incredibly well (with correct air pressure) on track when you're too lazy to change to your track wheels. ;) My personal take is that they out perform the S03s in every aspect. Of course, YMMV. =) Jonathan L.
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#2. Anyone have - from Don Eilenberger
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 00:50:28 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> Subject: Anyone have a bad clutch master cylinder? I need a piece off it.. Please ping me directly if you happen to have one in your junk box. TIA! _______D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ NJ SHore BMW Riders - http://www.njsbmwr.org/ E39 Enthusiasts Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmwe39/ '03 525iT, '98 M3C/5, '87 K75S
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#3. Re: [E36M3] Notchy shifter - from Don Eilenberger
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 00:54:35 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Notchy shifter >Jerry, > >It doesn't work for everyone, but I switched from RedLine to Royal Purple >Syncromax fluid on my 97, and the notchy first gear went away. Some have >success with RedLine, some like me with Royal Purple. It's a finicky tranny >for sure. Give it a shot and let us know how it works. > >Chris I can also report a large improvement in shift quality when I went from the factory "lifetime" fill to Royal Purple Syncromax. Can't do the comparison to RedLine since I haven't tried it. _______D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ NJ SHore BMW Riders - http://www.njsbmwr.org/ E39 Enthusiasts Group - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bmwe39/ '03 525iT, '98 M3C/5, '87 K75S
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#4. Notchy shifter - from Rich Dorffer
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Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 22:39:26 -0700 (PDT) From: Rich Dorffer <e36m3digest@ameritech.net> Subject: Notchy shifter > I know a lot of people have complained about the > notchy shifter problem in M3s in the past, but I have > never seen a resolution of the problem. Does anyone > know how to fix this? I have tried changing to > Redline and putting in a short shift kit, but > sometimes I have to really force my '97 M3 into first > from neutral. Any suggestions? Along with what Gerry and Chris suggested, I would only want to note that a "short shift kit" will likely only exacerbate the issue, not make it better. This would also depend on which kit you used. If you have a clutch stop installed, make sure it isn't too far out. Regards, Rich
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Notchy shifter - from Jim Powell
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Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2005 22:53:23 -0700 From: "Jim Powell" <jsp98m3@apexcone.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Notchy shifter Does double clutching generally solve the problem? That would be one clue to the problem. Jim
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#6. RA-1 Pressures? - from dhogg
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:13:49 -0400 From: "dhogg" <dhogg@suscom.net> Subject: RA-1 Pressures? Well, I have my new, shaved RA-1's mounted and ready for Trackmasters on Monday but I'm not sure about pressures. Anyone with RA-1 experience please help! Thanks, Dave Hogg
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#7. Flex disk tech question - from Lee Piccione
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 08:15:18 -0400 From: Lee Piccione <leepic@smart.net> Subject: Flex disk tech question Gruppe, Does anyone think it matters if the bolts for the flex disk are put in from the tranny side, and the nuts for the bolts are on the driveshaft side of the disk? I would make them much easier to torque to the proper specs... Thanks, Lee '95 M3 Violet (STILL trying to complete a 3.2 motor swap)
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#8. Re: [E36M3] RA-1 Pressures? - from Gerry
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 9:21:45 -0400 From: Gerry <gerry@parallel-mkt.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RA-1 Pressures? Dave, Given ambient temps of 60 to 80 degrees, start with 34 front and 30 rear. Be patient and work the tire up to its operating temperature, unless you have F1 tire warmers. I have never shaved my RA-1's. In Toronto, we like our tires hairy. With hairy tires, the first 2 half hour sessions are greasy feeling. So if you don't think that the grip is what you expected, again be patient and wait for that 3rd half hour session. Does shaving eliminate the greasy feeling of new tires? Gerry > Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:13:49 -0400 > From: "dhogg" <dhogg@suscom.net> > Subject: RA-1 Pressures? > > Well, I have my new, shaved RA-1's mounted and ready for Trackmasters on > Monday but I'm not sure about pressures. Anyone with RA-1 experience please > help!
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Soft steering... - from Jay W. Hudson
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 06:58:57 -0700 From: "Jay W. Hudson" <jwhud@budget.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Soft steering... Yes. There's a restrictor valve in the return hose from the trombone. It's held in place by a clamp around the rubber hose. I suppose if the clamp failed the restrictor valve could be loose in the hose and allowing more fluid to pass. Not sure what effect this may have. FYI - if you ever replace the rubber hose from the trombone to reslove a broken hose, make sure to move the restrictor valve to the new hose and have the new hose made a little longer to allow for more play. The shortness of the factory hose is what causes it to fail at the connection to the trombone. Too much flex from tracking the cars. Jay > Date: Fri, 15 Apr 2005 16:42:18 -0400 > From: "Avedis, Alexander (US SSA)" <alexander.avedis@baesystems.com> > Subject: [E36M3] Soft steering... > > Som, > > > > Something that has not been mentioned yet is the Power Steering pump > output. Seems to me I recall some sort of pressure relief/regulation > built into the system that usually fails by not giving enough Power > Steering effort. Perhaps yours is sticking in the over Power Steering > mode. > > > > Just a thought.... > > > > Alex > > 98 M3/4 74k > > NJ Chapter > > BMW CCA > > > > -------------------- 6 -------------------- > > Date: Thu, 14 Apr 2005 14:52:30 -0800 > > From: "Som Naderi" <som@dimensionracing.com> > > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Soft steering... > > > > Jay, > > > > My castor is in the 6 degree range... I just don't remember exactly > where. I > > want to say around the 6.2-6.3 area. If 6.6 degrees isn't causing you > > problems, then I can't imagine 0.4 degrees less would cause this overly > > squishy feel. > > > > What else could it be??? > > > > * Not power steering fluid... > > * Not the tie rods... > > * Not the castor... > > > > I checked the steering rack bolts and they were quite tight. Also (as I > > > mentioned in the other post) there wasn't any freeplay between the > > rack/pinion, so... > > > > * Not (likely) the steering rack... > > > > I thought *maybe* it was the ride height on the coilovers. I had them > set to > > practically the lowest setting up until a couple days ago. I thought > maybe > > the struts didn't have enough travel and maybe the car was riding the > springs > > too much (which would explain the sloppy feel of the car... which I'm > > attributing to whatever this problem is with the steering). I raised > the > > front height about 5/8" and the problem hasn't changed. So... > > > > * Not the ride height... > > > > What else affects the steering?? > > > > As for Thunderhill, my car is white and it'll be number "00". I'll be > > working on the safety truck when I'm not driving, and we usually stage > around > > the med-building... so look for me there. :) > > > > I REALLY hope to have this problem fixed by then... > > > > - Som - Wants his steering back! > > > > > > On Thu, 14 Apr 2005 05:17:37 -0700, Jay W. Hudson wrote > > > Som- > > > > > > Less castor will make the steering easier. IMO, the GC plates are > > > worth the $$$. Although you still may not be able to get to a > > > factory castor number. I have mine maxed at 6.6 degrees. Doesn't > > > cause me any problems. > > > > > > I'll be out there Sat, 5/14. Gunna visit with some of the CR guys. > > > Maybe I'll get to meet you. Car color and number? > > > > > > Jay > > > > > > > I've got the K-Mac plates, which I really don't like. With these > plates I > > > can only get the castor to about 6-something degrees (with the > > > camber in spec) -- about a full degree (I believe) short of spec. > > > Could that 1 degree make *that* much of a difference? Should I have > > > just spent the extra 100 on the GC plates? > > > > > > > > I seem to remember the steering was very stiff when I first put the > > > suspension on. Then after a couple weeks it started going soft, > > > which is when I finally went to get it aligned, hoping that was the > > > problem -- I don't think it was. > > > > > > > > Any other possibilities? Can anyone else confirm that PS bubbles > are a > > > non-issue? > > > > > > > > I'll actually be up for the NASA event that weekend (14/15) -- I'll > be > > > *just* missing you. :-/ > > > > > > > > - Som - Still Squishy Steering M3 > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ________________ Reply Header ________________ > > > > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Soft steering... > > > > Author: "Jay W. Hudson" <jwhud@budget.net> > > > > Date: 13th April 2005 5:43:12 am > > > > > > > > Som- > > > > > > > > Do you have adjustable castor/camber plates? A change in castor > will make > > > > the steering feel easier or harder, depending on the change. > > > > > > > > Other alignment changes may also affect the steering feel. > > > > > > > > Did the changes occur right after you installed the c/os? > > > > > > > > I'm not sure, but I think air in the PS system would resolve itself > > > because > > > > it's a circulating, non-sealed system. > > > > > > > > Are you attending the TrackMasters event on 5/13? I'll be there. > > > > > > > > Jay > > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2005 22:14:03 -0800 > > > > > From: "Som Naderi" <som@dimensionracing.com> > > > > > Subject: Soft steering... > > > > > > > > > > Group, > > > > > > > > > > I'm having a problem with my steering feeling excessively "light". > I > > > > > installed H&R coilovers a few k miles ago, had an alignment done, > same > > > > > feeling. Installed new tie rods (had it aligned again), which > fixed > > > some > > > > > other problems I was having, but still the soft steering. > > > > > > > > > > I'm curious... could air bubbles in the power steering fluid cause > this > > > > > problem? It kind of feels like the squishy feeling that brakes > get when > > > > the > > > > > are air bubbles in the break line. Is it possible a PS flush > would fix > > > > this > > > > > problem? If so, what special equipment would I need to do it > myself? > > > > I've > > > > > replaced the trombone-to-reservoir hose, so I would imagine all > I'd have > > > > to > > > > > do is disconnect the hose (I replaced the factory crimp with a > worm > > > > clamp), > > > > > turn the steering wheel lock-to-lock, reattach the clamp, fill, > > > > lock-to-lock, > > > > > fill, etc. Anything else? > > > > > > > > > > What would be the other likely culprits? I thought maybe a worn > > > > rack/pinion > > > > > would cause the "light" steering... but without the car moving, > even > > > > *tiny* > > > > > steering movement moves the tires. > > > > > > > > > > Thanks for the help! I'm planning on driving up to Thunderhill > mid-May > > > > > (which will be my first track event with the new suspension) and I > want > > > to > > > > > get rid of this "squishy" steering feel! > > > > > > > > > > - Som > > > > > > > > > > > > >
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#10. Re: [E36M3] RA-1 Pressures? - from Jay W. Hudson
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Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:20:54 -0700 From: "Jay W. Hudson" <jwhud@budget.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RA-1 Pressures? Dave- I just got back from a DE with TrackMasters (left coast) on Friday. I found that 40f/38r were the best hot pressures for me. I have shaved 255/40-17 RA-1s on 8.5" wheels. This was their 3rd track day and temps were taken with a probe type pyrometer. Jay > Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2005 07:13:49 -0400 > From: "dhogg" <dhogg@suscom.net> > Subject: RA-1 Pressures? > > Well, I have my new, shaved RA-1's mounted and ready for Trackmasters on > Monday but I'm not sure about pressures. Anyone with RA-1 experience please > help! > > > > Thanks, > > > > Dave Hogg