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#1. Head gassket update - from dhogg
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:45:57 -0400 From: "dhogg" <dhogg@suscom.net> Subject: Head gassket update Well, turns out that the reason I went through three head gaskets in the past 12 months is that the local shop that rebuilt the engine for me ignorantly and against my instructions used pistons that were gonzo compression (something over 12:1). The car ran and sounded great but would never last more than 3 track hours - that was the record. In practice at the Glen I drafted a CM car out of the esses and hung with him to the bus stop. Now I know why. Power is fun. I'm very appreciative that Club Racing officials allowed me to start the Glen race at the back of the field to strain out a race lap before retiring, since they knew from practice that the car would overheat in short order. I was running water only for coolant, FWIW. At least that way I got credit for showing up. I didn't actually pass anybody, so does anyone want to pistongate protest me? Scott Blazey and I had a leisurely cruise back there, so I could help him with the line. It's now at Stickley's having a STOCK profile piston installed to run reliably with the stock 3.0 injectors. It has to be custom ordered to fit the slight overbore my shop did due to wear. Sheesh! I chose stock class so I wouldn't have to spend much on it. Maybe after this that will hold true for a few years. It may not be fast so I'll get dusted by any cheaters, but least I'll know I'm legal and I won't have to worry about the engine anymore. A word of advice: if you're contemplating an engine rebuild, take it to the best first, so you only have to do it once. Dave Hogg #20 IS
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#2. Head gassket update - from dhogg
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:44:11 -0400 From: "dhogg" <dhogg@suscom.net> Subject: Head gassket update Well, turns out that the reason I went through three head gaskets in the past 12 months is that the local shop that rebuilt the engine for me ignorantly and against my instructions used pistons that were gonzo compression (something over 12:1). The car ran and sounded great but would never last more than 3 track hours - that was the record. In practice at the Glen I drafted a CM car out of the esses and hung with him to the bus stop. Now I know why. Power is fun. I'm very appreciative that Club Racing officials allowed me to start the Glen race at the back of the field to strain out a race lap before retiring, since they knew from practice that the car would overheat in short order. I was running water only for coolant, FWIW. At least that way I got credit for showing up. I didn't actually pass anybody, so does anyone want to pistongate protest me? Scott Blazey and I had a leisurely cruise back there, so I could help him with the line. It's now at Stickley's having a STOCK profile piston installed to run reliably with the stock 3.0 injectors. It has to be custom ordered to fit the slight overbore my shop did due to wear. Sheesh! I chose stock class so I wouldn't have to spend much on it. Maybe after this that will hold true for a few years. It may not be fast so I'll get dusted by any cheaters, but least I'll know I'm legal and I won't have to worry about the engine anymore. A word of advice: if you're contemplating an engine rebuild, take it to the best first, so you only have to do it once. Dave Hogg #20 IS
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#3. Radiator, which one???? - from Mo Karamat
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:57:24 -0400 From: Mo Karamat <karamatm@optonline.net> Subject: Radiator, which one???? Bill, Hello.. On the prices, I would try FCP Grotton (ask for Scott), 877-634-0063, or Eurasian (Dave) 800-824-814 for the parts. I have bought parts from both companies for a while now.. Their prices tend to be very good. Mo PS.. I may be doing this soon, so please post us on what you find out.. Thanks! -------------------- 4 -------------------- Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:17:34 -0400 From: "Townsend, William" <wtownsen@enterasys.com> Subject: Radiator, which one???? So now my radiator is getting on with 82K miles and 20 track days. I am now trying to decide which one to go with. I would like more function than bling since the car is tracked and I have limited funds this season after the head gasket/vanos, suspension and tires!!! So the options I know of are: +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ There is the oem at $139 including shipping. No extra cooling and another 60K-80K miles. There is the aluminum (PWR(40MM), zionsville, and fluidyne(38MM)) all which are north of $450 and no extra cooling. They actually have smaller cores than stock. They hold more coolant but with smaller core I don't know if they dissipate more heat. One viable aluminum option is the PWR(55MM) which will cool more effectively but the fitting is tough especially with a CAI. (also north of $450) Is there any data on the aluminum models that show they are more effective at cooling over stock? I know they hold more coolant and that is about it... There is also the M3 Euro radiator which is about $300 and has more cooling capacity. This is also the same radiator in the S54 M coupe. (p/n 17-11-2-227-281) No doubt it has the 60K-80K life span like the other plastic models.... I track the car in the north east and we hit temps in the mid 90's. I get about 15 track days in a season.... Any experience with the above options would be great. Esp if there is any information on the cooling effectiveness of the aluminum guys and/or the M3 euro radiator. --Bill 96 M3 red
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#4. Re: [E36M3] Radiator, which one???? - from GGray657@aol.com
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:13:23 EDT From: GGray657@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Radiator, which one???? I have a fluidyne in my car simple because I plan on keeping it until it gets balled up, or wiped out...Cost was about as much a two factory plastic units and I no longer have to even think about the thing breaking. Zionville also makes a very nice aluminum one that is less than the cost of two replacement factory units. They both hold more water and cool more efficiently. Gary Gray Pro Bike/Pro Bike Cycling Team
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#5. Re: Radiator, which one???? - from Stan Shaw
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:19:24 -0400 From: "Stan Shaw" <Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net> Subject: Re: Radiator, which one???? Hi Bill, In my case, I swapped my radiator last year, but stayed with a stock unit. I haven't had any problems, but am tracking my M3 less than yours. As a datapoint, when I pulled my radiator at 150k+ miles, it was still functioning fine.... so now I have a spare. Regards, Stan Shaw Stan.Shaw@Excell.Net Phone: (413) 599-0399 Fax: (413) 599-0421 Excell.Net Owner/Operator http://www.Excell.Net/ 928 Owners Club President http://www.928OC.org/ 928Racing.net Team Member http://www.928Racing.net/ "Liberty once lost is lost forever." - John Adams
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Radiator, which one???? - from Jay W. Hudson
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 06:33:04 -0700 From: "Jay W. Hudson" <jwhud@budget.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Radiator, which one???? I recently installed the Zionsville. Nice piece, easy fit. They told me that it does provide additional cooling. $480, shipped. I'll be doing several DEs in Norcal this summer. Expect very hot weather. Peace of mind. Jay > > Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 17:17:34 -0400 > From: "Townsend, William" <wtownsen@enterasys.com> > Subject: Radiator, which one???? > > > So now my radiator is getting on with 82K miles and 20 track days. I am > now trying to decide which one to go with. I would like more function > than bling since the car is tracked and I have limited funds this season > after the head gasket/vanos, suspension and tires!!! > > So the options I know of are: > +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ > There is the oem at $139 including shipping. No extra cooling and > another 60K-80K miles. > > There is the aluminum (PWR(40MM), zionsville, and fluidyne(38MM)) all > which are north of $450 and no extra cooling. They actually have smaller > cores than stock. They hold more coolant but with smaller core I don't > know if they dissipate more heat. One viable aluminum option is the > PWR(55MM) which will cool more effectively but the fitting is tough > especially with a CAI. (also north of $450) > > Is there any data on the aluminum models that show they are more > effective at cooling over stock? I know they hold more coolant and that > is about it... > > There is also the M3 Euro radiator which is about $300 and has more > cooling capacity. This is also the same radiator in the S54 M coupe. > (p/n 17-11-2-227-281) No doubt it has the 60K-80K life span like the > other plastic models.... > > I track the car in the north east and we hit temps in the mid 90's. I > get about 15 track days in a season.... > > Any experience with the above options would be great. Esp if there is > any information on the cooling effectiveness of the aluminum guys and/or > the M3 euro radiator. > > --Bill > 96 M3 red
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Re: Muffler choices - from GGray657@aol.com
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:34:22 EDT From: GGray657@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Muffler choices I have a Super Sprint muffler....I bought one for a 325i race version....the pipe diameter is slightly larger than the stock M3 pipe and it has their "race muffler" which is smaller than the street unit. I bought it from BMP. I ordered the one that has the slip on fitting and my buddy at his muffler shop made an adapter and we slide it on and tightened it down like the extension pipes they sell for 200+ works great no leaks! If you compare the part numbers for the racing resonator and header they are the same for the 325, and M3 the rear muffler is different for the race 325, lighter higher flow... BMP catalog page 57, part #022 043 406 Cost $539.00 No connector pipe needed! Sounds nice, a little loud but not as loud as the AA or rouge units. Gary Gray Pro Bike/Pro Bike Cycling Team
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#8. Re: 95 Vaders - from Neil Maller
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 08:47:00 -0500 From: Neil Maller <neil.maller@gte.net> Subject: Re: 95 Vaders on 6/30/05 5:27 AM, kim.burgess@att.net wrote: > I recently picked up a 97 328IS and have located a set of Vaders from a 95M3. > Can I make these work in a 97, how much work involved? Does the 'occupant' > sensor wiring plug right in or do I need to adapt the plug? Don't know, but if it doesn't that should be trivial. Note that the sensor mat plugs into an interface box mounted to the seat bottom; the box then plugs into the car's harness. > Can I swap seat belt tensioners from the 97 to the 95 Vaders? Here's where this gets murky. Cars produced prior to (allegedly) 3/97 used mechanical front seatbelt pretensioners. These have an internal spring that's triggered via a Bowden cable by an inertial device built into the seat. After that time BMW went to pyrotechnic pretensioners fired electrically by the SRS system. The 95 Vader seats have the mechanical system. If your 97 is early production and also has this (black Bowden cable from the front of the pretensioner) you can just drop the M3 seats in, end of story. However if your 97 has the pyrotechnic units (orange/red connector on the pretensioner assembly) you have a couple of choices. One is to move them over to the Vaders if they'll fit physically, plug them into you car and you'd be OK. I don't know if they fit or not, but I suspect they will. If they don't fit you can simply keep the Vader mechanical pretensioners, but now you'll get an SRS fault light since the system will sense the open circuit where the electrical units used to be. This fault can probably be defeated by putting an appropriate value resistor across the connector. Maybe someone will know the correct value to use, I don't. If not you can measure using a digital (i.e. very low current) ohmeter. 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!
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#9. Re: Radiator, which one???? - from Don Eilenberger
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 09:56:32 -0400 From: Don Eilenberger <deilenberger@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: Radiator, which one???? At 06:27 AM 6/30/2005, Bill wrote: >So now my radiator is getting on with 82K miles and 20 track days. I am >now trying to decide which one to go with. I would like more function >than bling since the car is tracked and I have limited funds this season >after the head gasket/vanos, suspension and tires!!! > >So the options I know of are: >+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ >There is the oem at $139 including shipping. No extra cooling and >another 60K-80K miles. I went this route last weekend. It's a Nissens, looks and fits exactly like the original. Only difference I can see is smooth hose fittings on it vs the ribbed ones on the stock radiator. I suspect the smooth ones are to make them stronger (and they are thicker wall). Went in fine. Seems to be working fine. No brainer for me.. I won't own this car at 160k miles. Big Snip.. >I track the car in the north east and we hit temps in the mid 90's. I >get about 15 track days in a season.... > >Any experience with the above options would be great. Esp if there is >any information on the cooling effectiveness of the aluminum guys and/or >the M3 euro radiator. If the current factory radiator is working OK for you under your use conditions - then I see no reason - unless you're going to keep the car forever - to go with anything more than the $139/Nissens. But - that's just my opinion. I really feel the aluminum radiators are more about bling than performance.. again, my opinion. The E46 one may perform better, but have you ever needed more? >--Bill >96 M3 red Best, _______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
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Re: Radiator, which one???? - from Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com
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Date: Thu, 30 Jun 2005 10:18:28 -0400 From: Carlos.F.Lopez@jci.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Radiator, which one???? >But - that's just my opinion. I really feel the aluminum radiators >are more about bling than performance.. again, my opinion. I would say it's not about performance (well sort of) I would say it's about reliability. I would venture that most of us that bought them was because we don't want the neck failures that the stock ones suffer. There's no bling factor IMO, they are barely visible if you have all the shrouds and fans and such. Carlos.