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#1. Diff change - from tim ng
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:49:22 -0500 From: "tim ng" <s14realm3@hotmail.com> Subject: Diff change Tom: all our e36 M3 are stock :))) First: is your car a 95, 95 M3 have a 3:15 diff for a 5 spd, automatic have 3:38 96 and later M3 has a 3:23 I have a 3:23 in my 95 now, its gr8, I love the extra accell. the rpm is just right, not too high or low. gas mileage is only slightly lower, maybe 1 mpg BUT thats most likely from my heavier right foot. a 3:23 will set you back about $300 or so If you can find a 3:38 from automatic, thats even better accel, BUT I thibk its getting on the higher side, still acceptable for street and highway use. My friend has a 3:73 BUT thats really for track use. 80 mph in 5th gear is like 4000 rpm and he has the TSE exhaust, you can't hear yourself think and he gets less than 20 mpg on the highway!!!!!. Top speed is about 140 at redline. Its fast off the line but not really for street use. my opinion Tim Ng BMWCCA # 36497 95 BUZZNM3 92 325ic M-Technic 91 M3 street car 88 M3/2.5 DM race car 87 325is D.E. car ------------------ CAR FOR SALE 90 535ia ------------------ Pace shadow 26 ft enclosed trailer my web page: http://groups.msn.com/M3stuff/pictures
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#2. RE: clutch kit for street driven M3? - from FranKirsten
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:56:22 -0700 From: "FranKirsten" <frankirsten@msn.com> Subject: RE: clutch kit for street driven M3? I replaced my stock failed clutch with the 8.5# UUC flywheel with the M5 clutch. I mostly drive my car for street use, and I love having this clutch in the car. You do get a little rattle with the car in neutral without the clutch engaged when it is warmed up, but after riding Ducatis, the noise doesn't bother me. When cold, it is best to put the gear in a forward gear before using reverse, but all-in-all it is one of the best upgrades I did to my M3. It has added some real joy to the driving experience. And, once again, thanks to all the digesters that gave me information when I did this clutch job and many other repairs. Cordially, Frank
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#3. RE: shift knob loose (or is it?) - from FranKirsten
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 13:01:50 -0700 From: "FranKirsten" <frankirsten@msn.com> Subject: RE: shift knob loose (or is it?) It sounds like the plastic prongs on the bottom have given up. I had this problem and used a small black plastic hose clamp, the type that come apart and you squeeze the teeth together with pliers to engage the clamp. Sorry, I don't know the name of the clamp. I installed the clamp right at the bottom of the shift knob where the plastic has the round bump on the inside that engages the stick shift. It gives enough pressure to keep the knob on, even during spirited driving. It was cheap, relatively unobtrusive for me, and looked a lot better than a silver standard hose clip. YMMV Cordially, Frank
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#4. Re: [E36M3] differntial changes - from Carey Probst
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:12:23 -0500 From: Carey Probst <m3carey@hcprobst.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] differntial changes Can't personally speak for the M3 since I haven't done the diff. change on it but I can tell you going from a 2.93 to a 3.73 on my E30 325e make if feel like I added an extra squirrel to the cage. Biggest effect of that much of a jump is loss of time in the lower gears. I was running out or rpm at the 5k redline until I added an i cam, 6k+ chip and breathing. Still not up to M3 standards but a lot better on acceleration. Slightly lower gas mileage and a little buzzier. With the changes my rpm at 75 is almost identical in both cars now. Carey Tom Yee wrote: > Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:11:16 -0500 > From: "Tom Yee" <tomgsr@hotmail.com> > Subject: differntial changes > > Dear E36 M3 friends: > > Has anyone changed the OEM differential to a higher numeric ratio? > What types of effects did you get with respect to acceleration (0-60, > standing quarter, etc.)? I am looking at some ideas, which include > cam kits, but wondered if anyone has tried this. I expect that the > speedo will be off by a percentage equal to the change in ratio (and > suspect the odometer, too) (or is the drive from the output side of > the diff vs the input side?). Are there other things I should be > aware of if I go this route? > > Any thoughts welcome here, thanks for ideas! > > Regards, > Tom Yee > > > > > ************************************************* > Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: > > Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com > Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com > Eurosport High Performance http://www.eurosporthighperformance.com > Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com > Treehouse Racing http://www.treehouseracing.com > Elephant Motorsports Inc. http://www.elephantmotorsports.com > > DIGEST INFORMATION: > http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm > ************************************************* > >
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#5. Re: [E36M3] differntial changes - from Carey Probst
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:12:41 -0500 From: Carey Probst <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] differntial changes Can't personally speak for the M3 since I haven't done the diff. change on it but I can tell you going from a 2.93 to a 3.73 on my E30 325e make if feel like I added an extra squirrel to the cage. Biggest effect of that much of a jump is loss of time in the lower gears. I was running out or rpm at the 5k redline until I added an i cam, 6k+ chip and breathing. Still not up to M3 standards but a lot better on acceleration. Slightly lower gas mileage and a little buzzier. With the changes my rpm at 75 is almost identical in both cars now. Carey Tom Yee wrote: > Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:11:16 -0500 > From: "Tom Yee" <tomgsr@hotmail.com> > Subject: differntial changes > > Dear E36 M3 friends: > > Has anyone changed the OEM differential to a higher numeric ratio? > What types of effects did you get with respect to acceleration (0-60, > standing quarter, etc.)? I am looking at some ideas, which include > cam kits, but wondered if anyone has tried this. I expect that the > speedo will be off by a percentage equal to the change in ratio (and > suspect the odometer, too) (or is the drive from the output side of > the diff vs the input side?). Are there other things I should be > aware of if I go this route? > > Any thoughts welcome here, thanks for ideas! > > Regards, > Tom Yee > > > > > ************************************************* > Please help support the E36M3 list by visiting our sponsors: > > Bimmerworld http://www.bimmerworld.com > Turner Motorsport http://www.turnermotorsport.com > Eurosport High Performance http://www.eurosporthighperformance.com > Rogue Engineering http://www.rogueengineering.com > Treehouse Racing http://www.treehouseracing.com > Elephant Motorsports Inc. http://www.elephantmotorsports.com > > DIGEST INFORMATION: > http://www.bmw-m.net/resources/digest_info.htm > ************************************************* > >
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#6. Re: differential changes - from RFKoby@aol.com
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:14:30 EST From: RFKoby@aol.com Subject: Re: differential changes some points of reference, the speedo sensor reads the output of the differential. So no matter what the ratio is changed to, as long as you still use the OE pulse wheel inside the differential, it will always read correctly. acceleration is directly related to torque. By changing the ratio to a "higher numeric ratio" you increase the torque at the rear wheel. For example, a stock 3.15:1 E36 changed to a 3.46:1 is a 10% change in ratio, and also a 10% increase in torque, for that particular gear and the speed range for the gear. the only catch about changing to a higher ratio is that you will have to shift more often to achieve the same speed. My 95 M3 [which is now gone :-( ] with a 3.46 and cams was very fast on a cold dry day. It would easily break the tires loose in 1st and 2nd gear by just rolling into the throttle. If you are trying to achieve the best quarter mile, go to a 3.91, this should top out around 125 mph in 5th gear @ 7,000 rpm. It will pull like crazy and run through the gears very fast, but this would be crazy for street use, since it would turn about 4,000 @ 70 mph. bob In a message dated 3/17/2006 1:24:11 P.M. US Eastern Standard Time, e36m3@bmw-m.net writes: Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:11:16 -0500 From: "Tom Yee" <tomgsr@hotmail.com> Subject: differntial changes Dear E36 M3 friends: Has anyone changed the OEM differential to a higher numeric ratio? What types of effects did you get with respect to acceleration (0-60, standing quarter, etc.)? I am looking at some ideas, which include cam kits, but wondered if anyone has tried this. I expect that the speedo will be off by a percentage equal to the change in ratio (and suspect the odometer, too) (or is the drive from the output side of the diff vs the input side?). Are there other things I should be aware of if I go this route? Any thoughts welcome here, thanks for ideas! Regards, Tom Yee
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#7. Strange M3 problem? - from Gary
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 14:18:23 -0600 From: "Gary" <probikeguy@probikeusa.com> Subject: Strange M3 problem? I have a buddy of mines car I work on at my shop..It has a strange problem. It started after he filled the tank up at a local station two days ago, ,ay be fuel or just timing... The car runs fine in the morning, then it will turn off. Like the ignition, or the fuel pump is loosing power. if you let it site 5 min it starts right up..Then dies after another 5-10 minutes. We replaced the fuel filter last night and it was fine for his drive to work but now its acting the same. My thought was bad fuel, or maybe the fuel pump is going bad? Any thoughts? Its a 95 M3 with 24lb injectors, CAI, 3.5AFM chip, other than that it's bone stock. It's got me stumped..... Thanks Gary
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#8. Re: [E36M3] differntial changes - from cteague@cox.net
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 15:27:33 -0500 From: <cteague@cox.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] differntial changes Tom, I changed my 97 from a 3.23 to a 3.38. It helped the acceleration, and I was happy with it. I doubt I'd want to go to more than a 3.38 on the street though. I'm back to the 3.23 though to comply with SCCA STU autox class rules. ;-( The speedo sensor is in the diff, so the speedo should be OK. Chris 97 M3/4 > Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:11:16 -0500 > From: "Tom Yee" <tomgsr@hotmail.com> > Subject: differntial changes > > Dear E36 M3 friends: > > Has anyone changed the OEM differential to a higher numeric ratio? What > types of effects did you get with respect to acceleration (0-60, standing > quarter, etc.)? I am looking at some ideas, which include cam kits, but > wondered if anyone has tried this. I expect that the speedo will be off by > a percentage equal to the change in ratio (and suspect the odometer, too) > (or is the drive from the output side of the diff vs the input side?). Are > there other things I should be aware of if I go this route?
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#9. RE: [E36M3] differntial changes - from twisty M3
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 12:46:21 -0800 From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] differntial changes I went from the stock 3.23 in my '99 M3 to a DiffsOnline custom 3.64 w/40% lock. This is on a cammed car, but the difference is really astounding. The car rockets out of corners and is easy to keep in the power band, which the stock gearing just didn't seem to do with the new upper-RPM power of the cam kit. We did before runs on my car for a magazine article, but still have yet to get out and do the after runs. I'm a horrible "drag" racer, however, so I can't say what the numbers will look like yet. For a cammed car, my 0-60 wasn't all that hot, but it's the driver, not the car. ;) It's pretty rare I find the need to go 0-60 on track. Acceleration is now on par or quicker than most E46M3s I stumble into on track, and is right there with the S54-powered M Coupes as well. The only thing that would make it a bit nicer on track would be an extra 500rpm of revs to use, so it's like learning to drive a new car again everytime I get on track. My shift points are much different, but once I get settled in, the car can really hustle. While 2nd gear turns are now really 3rd gear turns in most instances (simply because of where the exit shift point is), 2nd gear is still fun every now and then. The acceleration is pretty shocking... and fun! ;) This is on a street car, and it's really not that bad. 80mph is right at 4K rpm, so I often cruise on long trips at about 3,500rpm now. 4K is bearable, though. The only real negative I've noticed is that with the cams, big injectors and higher rpm driving, my gas mileage is significantly less now. Worth it, IMHO, however. I plan on going to a 6-speed conversion at some point in the next year or so, so that should fix that and I'd love to find a way to safely find another 500rpm on the tach. =) Jonathan L.
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#10. replacing knock sensors on '95 M3 - from Dave Thomas
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Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2006 19:47:31 -0800 From: Dave Thomas <dave@sasdatalink.com> Subject: replacing knock sensors on '95 M3 Can the knock sensors be replaced without removing the intake manifold on a '95 M3? I am getting a code 1225 (knock sensor #1), is it worth the effort to remove and inspect the sensor or does a code usually mean the sensor needs replacing? Dave T.