-------------------- 1 --------------------
#1. Koni's - again.. - from Don Eilenberger
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 15:39:20 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> Subject: Koni's - again.. I'm giving some thought (again) to putting a set of single-adjustable koni yellows on the rear of the M3C.. I'm hoping to reduce the harshness, and the resulting shudder and various noises that the convertible is prone to. It's great when the top is down (which it was for the past week or so) - but really annoying when the top is up (like today and the rest of this week.) Any comments? Good/bad/indifferent? They'd be used with stock springs and eventually probably Koni's up front. _______D_o_n__________S_p_r_i_n_g__L_a_k_e__H_t_s____________©1946________ Don Eilenberger, Spring Lk Hts, NJ - http://www.njsbmwr.org/ '98 M3c/5, '03 525iT, '87 K75S
-------------------- 2 --------------------
#2. Re: [E36M3] Radiator replacement.. - from Chester Wong
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 12:42:31 -0700 (PDT) From: Chester Wong <chester_p_wong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Radiator replacement.. --- Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> wrote: > The old radiator, at 83,900 miles - looked PERFECT. No sign inside > or out of any hint of cracking at the neck. The potential cracking > was why I replaced it. It had a 1998 date sticker on it, so I'd > have to guess it was original (and the service records don't have > it ever being replaced..) Good work, Don. Glad you had sense to replace this item...see below. > One thing I noticed - the new Nissens doesn't have the ribs > on the hose fittings. They are smooth except for a small partial > rib right at the outer end to keep the hose clamp/hose from > sliding off. Hmmm....I guess it depends where you buy the radiator. Bimmerparts sells the Behr one which I believe is the factory one, but I could be wrong. Man, it seems that bimmerparts prices have gone up and are no longer competitive. O well...*shrug* So...I'm so glad you brought this up. I was at the track this past weekend with the National Capital Chapter at Summit Point. I had the pleasure of being two cars behind someone who felt that he didn't have to replace his radiator until it failed....right on turn 4. The guy in front of me wasn't as stiffly sprung and knew the track better than I. As it were for me, I was getting reacquainted with the track and forgot if I did a confidence brake before turn 4 to get on the power and power through the turn or if I just lifted. Well, I was going faster than the guy in front when I see him do a wiggle but managed to save it. Way too late for me....rear end snapped and I went off on the right side of the track spinning around...thought I was going to roll, flew over the curbing, went airborne, slid across the track and went off again on the left side of the track. Luckily, I didn't hit anything. but the impact of coming down on the left front corner in the dirt damaged the bumper and caused it to come off. So because someone didn't replace his radiator, I have a cracked bumper cover, a bulge in the fender, a wrecked steering rack and a bunch of dirt in the car. So...if your radiator has over 70k miles on it, I would replace it!!! If your head gasket as over 100k miles on it, replace that as well!!!! I can't tell you how little sympathy I have for those who post here and say, "Well, geee...my head gasket failed while on the track and I don't understand why....I mean, it had 120k miles on it..." Or, "Gee...my water pump failed...yeah, it was the plastic impeller one, but I thought I could squeeze out a few more months out of it." Man, if you were in front of me, I'd whack you over the head with a 2x4. Chester
-------------------- 3 --------------------
#3. the search is over - from Scott McClung
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 12:55:06 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott McClung <smlists@pacbell.net> Subject: the search is over I have asked this list from time to time for input to help me make a decision on what car to get, and I have made a decision and purchased a car. It is not an M3, but is a BMW. http://para.noid.org/~c4racer/330/index.html 2002 330i with sport package, 5-speed, xenon, premium package - pretty much every option available. In my search I looked at and considered the following cars: E36 M3 coupe or sedan 330i sedan (incl ZHP) E46 M3 E90 330i G35 Subaru Legacy GT Audi S4 CTS-V I am giving up my 2004 Z06 which is now for sale - it is a great performance car, but is not as practical as I needed for both business and personal use - cannot carry a bike or my 2 kids, etc. so I was driving the full sized SUV almost all the time, which is not my thing.... I decided that I was the type of person who likes to drive a fun car every day, not keep the fun car in the garage and drive it once a week.... Not my thing - I do, however have a really fun weekend toy - full-on 1991 Corvette road race car w/ 475hp motor in build now..... What I realized through this process was that I really wanted to go with a sedan so I could use the car as my daily driver almost all the time - I am in outside sales. The problem I had with my previous M3/4 for business was the back seat was really too small for adults - even for short trips. The E46 is just enough bigger to make it reasonable for adults for short trips - G35 was even better, but lacks the connection to the driver that BMW's give you. I also wanted a car with the accelleration of the E39 M5 (which I also owned for 1 year) and the handling prowess of the M3. The S4 was the closest, but at 3800lbs is a bit heavy to be "tossable" and the steering feel does not match BMW, so I decided it wasn't worth $50K+ on that car - it was almost, but not quite.... So after some research I decided the car I really wanted was the E90 M3 sedan. 400hp AL V8 that weighs what the current 6 does, ~3400-3500lbs, rwd, M3 steering feel and handling, big enough back seat for adults and fold down rear seats for the bike. Wow - sounds about like the perfect car. I just need to wait 2-3 years for it. So I looked at various options for 3 year leases but came to the conclusion I'd rather drive a BMW than a Subaru or Infiniti so I found this sweet 3 year old just off lease 330i with 35K miles for $1500 under wholesale, so I bought it over the weekend. I will treat the car like a lease, which means no mods - this is strictly a nice temporary driver until I can order the "right" car - which will be an E90 M3 sedan, with fold down rear seats, sunroof, Xenons and that is about it - keep it simple. Scott 2004 Z06 - for sale http://para.noid.org/~c4racer/Z06/sale/index.html 2004 Nissan Armada 2002 330i 1991 Corvette - road racer
-------------------- 4 --------------------
#4. Re: [E36M3] Koni's - again.. - from Jamie Howton
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 15:06:36 -0500 From: Jamie Howton <jhowton@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Koni's - again.. Don, I have the Koni S/A on my M3 and they seem to work just fine. The springs are the TC Kline "trackline" kit. The only PITA thing about installing them was the cut and gut routine on the front struts, but since you are only doing the rears for now that shouldn't be an issue for you. They work a whole lot better than the worn out stockers, that's for sure. -- Jamie Howton 2000 M5 1995 M3 Hampshire, IL
-------------------- 5 --------------------
#5. ABS Unit - from Neil Maller
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 15:56:35 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: ABS Unit Has anyone personally replaced the central ABS hydraulic unit located under the master cylinder? Other than the fact that it's not especially accessible, I'm interested in knowing if there are any particular gotchas. This isn't covered in Bentley and my TIS isn't up and running at present. Clearly the master cylinder has to come off first (I'm familiar with this procedure) and maybe the throttle body and intake back to the airbox plus a few other odds and ends for access. Anything else before I rush in where angels fear to tread? Neil Fort Wayne, IN 96 M3 - Bastard child 03 525iT - Sterling Grey Metallic 77 MGB - Original owner, need to sell 05 Mini - Cooper S with LSD!
-------------------- 6 --------------------
#6. Tire fitment - from Graeme Weston-Lewis
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 17:06:30 -0600 From: "Graeme Weston-Lewis" <gweston@lsil.com> Subject: Tire fitment I'm thinking of trying the new Falken Azenis 615's in the SCCA STU class. Tire size selection is not great for the M3. The sizes I'm considering are 245/45-17 or 255/40-17. I'll be buying new wheels to fit these to and would get 8.5's for the 245's or 9's for the 255's. I'm currently running Michelin Pliot Sport PS2 245/35-18's on 9" wheels with no issues (other than crappy tire selection and high price). Is anyone succefully running the 615's and did they fit without modification? TIA, Graeme
-------------------- 7 --------------------
#7. Re: [E36M3] Tire fitment - from Rex Tener
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 16:36:06 -0700 From: Rex Tener <rex_tener@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Tire fitment At 06:07 PM 6/27/2005 -0500, Graeme Weston-Lewis wrote: >I'm thinking of trying the new Falken Azenis 615's in the SCCA STU class. Hi Graeme, The short answer is the Falken RT-615 255/40-17's on 17 x 9 wheels will fit with some minor rolling of the rear fenders and the correct wheel offset and spacer combination. Here is are a couple of digests from a few weeks ago with all the particulars: <http://www.bmw-m.net/digest/digest4325.htm> <http://www.bmw-m.net/digest/digest4326.htm> -- Rex Tener rex_tener@yahoo.com 1996 BMW M3, SCCA SFR Solo STU #73
-------------------- 8 --------------------
#8. RE: M3/328 Clutch - from James Clay
Top
Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 21:49:37 -0400 From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com> Subject: RE: M3/328 Clutch M3 is a 240mm setup, 328 uses a 228mm, same as 325. Odd because it shares the M3 transmission. Same throw-out bearing. If you were inclined, the M3 flywheel fits the 328 (318, 323, 325) if you wanted to swap the assembly. James Clay http://www.bimmerworld.com <http://www.bimmerworld.com/> http://www.bimmerworldracing.com <http://www.bimmerworldracing.com/> Engineered BMW Performance 540.639.9648
-------------------- 9 --------------------
#9. Question on Remote - from mtzenz@excite.com
Top
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 08:17:09 -0400 (EDT) From: "mtzenz@excite.com" <mtzenz@excite.com> Subject: Question on Remote I noticed last night when I pushed the "lock" button on the remote, all the doors locked as normal. However, the trunk did not lock. When I opened the trunk, the alarm went off so it was armed, but did not lock. Is this normal? I am embarrased to say I never checked before. Is there something I can do to have the trunk lock also when the remote lock button is pressed? Thanks Mark Z1997 M3/2 _______________________________________________ Join Excite! - http://www.excite.com The most personalized portal on the Web!
-------------------- 10 --------------------
#10. More 3.0L Cams needed - from James Clay
Top
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:00:34 -0400 From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com> Subject: More 3.0L Cams needed Paying $300/set, needs to be in good used condition, no scoring. Please let me know if interested. Thanks. James James Clay http://www.bimmerworld.com <http://www.bimmerworld.com/> http://www.bimmerworldracing.com <http://www.bimmerworldracing.com/> Engineered BMW Performance 540.639.9648