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#1. Re: New BMWs - from Jay L.
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Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 12:12:54 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jay L." <joong@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: New BMWs A lot of Mercedes models have had the "no dipstick" option for several years now. The solution is to buy a "service" dipstick for a ridiculous amount of money (the dipstick tube is still present but w/ a cap in place of the dipstick). Seems they just don't want owners tinkering with the cars nowadays. > -------------------- 1 -------------------- > Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2006 21:46:33 -0800 > From: Matthew Teel <mteel@beluga.com> > Subject: New BMWs > > Speaking of new Bimmers... > > I was at the dealer today and they mentioned that the new M5 (there was one > on the floor) didn't have a dip-stick for checking oil, but relied on a > sensor, and that was true for other new BMWs (I'm not clear on the models > that have this "feature"). > > What's interesting is that they've already had a handful of sensors go bad > and register a low oil light. The only way to check the actual level is to > drain all the oil from the engine.
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#2. Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs - from Andrew Kalman
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Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 16:36:35 -0700 From: Andrew Kalman <aek@pumpkininc.com> Subject: Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs Same here (what looks good). The Z4 series is the only group of current BMWs I find attractive, and might therefore like to own. >Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 13:30:51 -0500 >From: "Jamie Howton" <jhowton@gmail.com> >Subject: Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs > >> MZ4 Coupe is on my very short list of appealing cars coming available >> soon... at least that fall into the somewhat realistic list (although it'll >> take a lot of inner debate to justify $50K+). Donations are now being >> accepted. ;) > >My feelings are very close to yours. I am on the verge of pulling the >trigger on an new M Roadster. I would love to want a new 3 or 5 >series, I just don't. I have driven E60s and E90s, and they are great >drivers, they are just plain old ugly and I just can't do it. > >Regards > >-- >Jamie Howton >2000 M5 >1995 M3 >Hampshire, IL -- ______________________________________ Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. aek@pumpkininc.com
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#3. RE: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs - from Ron & Brenya B.
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Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 20:22:32 -0500 From: "Ron & Brenya B." <rbuchals@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs Speaking of Z4 M Coupes....check out what will be hitting the track soon! http://bmwheaven.bmwsport.net/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=185 -rb >-------------------- 5 -------------------- >Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2006 09:11:15 -0700 >From: "twisty M3" <twistym3@hotmail.com> >Subject: RE: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs > ><< I just don't find the new cars very appealing. >> > >I've felt like that for a while... Until the new MZ4 Coupe made it's first >appearance. That's about the only new model that has me thinking the way I >was when the E36M3 thoughts were running through my head many years ago. I >can even overlook the funny nose and "flat" interior look (I still love the >E36 interior, even if it is dated). > >MZ4 Coupe is on my very short list of appealing cars coming available >soon... at least that fall into the somewhat realistic list (although it'll >take a lot of inner debate to justify $50K+). Donations are now being >accepted. ;) > >Jonathan L.
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#4. Looking for front spring suggestions - from Mike Frank
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Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 00:19:16 -0400 From: "Mike Frank" <mfrank28@insightbb.com> Subject: Looking for front spring suggestions My current setup: H&R Race springs, Koni Sports (single adjustable), K-Mac Camber plates, RD Sport swaybars. I'm very happy with the handling overall for both street & track. However, when I switched from H&R Sport springs a few years ago, the front end dropped quite a bit, maybe 1.5 inches or more, and the rear end actually went up about an inch. Go figure. I added and extra 7.5mm spring pad in front to get it to a reasonably streetable height. Right now I have just under 12.5" from the center of the front wheel to the fender (measuring straight up). One thing I immediately noticed when I switched from Sport to Race springs is that the front of the car will give a harsh bang over large (for the M3) bumps. I'm assuming the suspension is bottoming out. Note, with the Sports these same bumps did not cause the front end to bottom out. A peek at the springs with the suspension loaded confirms that there's not a lot of travel. I bought the springs used and I've always wondered if maybe they were not quite right, maybe for the wrong year or model (but they fit). Again the car handles great, so I'm not unhappy. I've been running like this for a few years and I'm finally deciding to have a go at improving it. My question is the following. Does anyone know if there is a front spring available for our cars that has roughly the same rate (345lbs./inch, progressive?) as the H&R Race but is slightly longer? I'd like to keep the ride height where it is or maybe raise it a little bit. A little stiffer would probably be OK, but I don't want to make a big change. Basically I'd like to turn the spring pad into suspension travel, plus maybe a little more. It's not really broke, so I don't want to fix it too much. I'd like to avoid going to a full GC coilover setup if I can. I'm open to any other ideas/solutions as well. Sorry for the lengthy post. Thanks, Mike Frank 97 M3
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#5. Gauge Illumination Color Match - from Mike Frank
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Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 00:32:29 -0400 From: "Mike Frank" <mfrank28@insightbb.com> Subject: Gauge Illumination Color Match Maybe this is already common knowledge, but in case anyone is trying to match the illumination color of your gauges (VDO Vision in my case) to the stock lighting, I've found a really good match. I tried the bulb condoms, orange markers, combinations, modifications, etc., but by far the best match was achieved by spray painting the bulbs with Krylon #2411 Pumpkin Orange Gloss. YMMV. Sometimes it's the little things. Mike Frank 97 M3
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#6. Re: [E36M3] E90 M3; V8 or TT I6? TT for E36? - from Alain van der Heide
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Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 22:36:09 -0600 From: "Alain van der Heide" <ajvdh1@comcast.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] E90 M3; V8 or TT I6? TT for E36? ----- Original Message ----- Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2006 19:52:00 -0500 From: "Jamie Howton" <jhowton@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] E90 M3; V8 or TT I6? TT for E36? > Several companies have done a single turbocharger E36 M3; I have heard > of a "Mechtech" or something like that and Active Autowerke > (http://activeautowerke.com/turbo/main.php) are still selling them. I > know a guy who had a Mechtech turbo'd 95 M3 and he said it was very > fast but very unreliable, however AA seem to have a pretty good > reputation when it comes to forced induction so their kit might be a > different story. I have about 45,000 miles on the Mechtech kit on my '95. The kit's OK, so long as you 1 - throw out that goofy RRFPR and get larger injectors. 2 - Relocate the MAF upstream of the turbo 3 - Get AA's software It doesn't quite have the kick in the butt that Eurosport's S/C kit does (Tunnell took me for an Auto-x run in his car, *that* was amusing), but it does get out of its own way. Mine was dynoed at 345, and I see a full 7psi at 2400 RPM. It's one of the "old" kits, which uses an Aerodyne variable vane turbo. - Alain (turbo '95 M3 for sale)
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#7. Re: [E36M3] Pre-inspection in Nashville, TN area? - from Jon@treehouseracing.com
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Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 00:26:09 -0500 From: "Jon@treehouseracing.com" <jon@treehouseracing.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Pre-inspection in Nashville, TN area? Were Right here in Nashville, and a LIST SPONSOR TOO! Call me at the shop in the morning George. We can get your car on the lift tomorrow if you need. Thanks, Jon ______________________________________________ Jon Siccardi - DM #052 TreehouseRacing.com M50conversion.com 615.333.9118 ______________________________________________ ----- Original Message ----- From: "George P. Trilikis" <george.trilikis@gmail.com> To: "E36M3" <e36m3@bmw-m.net> Sent: Thursday, April 06, 2006 11:16 AM Subject: [E36M3] Pre-inspection in Nashville, TN area? > Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 09:11:51 -0700 > From: "George P. Trilikis" <george.trilikis@gmail.com> > Subject: Pre-inspection in Nashville, TN area? > > Greetings, > > Can anyone suggest a shop or a person for a pre-inspection on a vehicle in > the Nashville area? > > I am looking for this to happen very soon. > > Thanks in advance! > > George Trilikis > > > ************************************************* > 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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#8. Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs - from Scott McClung
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Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2006 13:43:29 -0700 (PDT) From: Scott McClung <smlists@pacbell.net> Subject: Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs And still, you would have to really love the brand to pick a M-Z4 over a Boxster S, especially when you can get a 1-2 year old one with low miles for about $20K less than a new M-Z4 would cost. Scott Andrew Kalman <aek@pumpkininc.com> wrote: Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 16:36:35 -0700 From: Andrew Kalman Subject: Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs Same here (what looks good). The Z4 series is the only group of current BMWs I find attractive, and might therefore like to own. >Date: Thu, 6 Apr 2006 13:30:51 -0500 >From: "Jamie Howton" >Subject: Re: [e36m3] [E36M3] New BMWs > >> MZ4 Coupe is on my very short list of appealing cars coming available >> soon... at least that fall into the somewhat realistic list (although it'll >> take a lot of inner debate to justify $50K+). Donations are now being >> accepted. ;) > >My feelings are very close to yours. I am on the verge of pulling the >trigger on an new M Roadster. I would love to want a new 3 or 5 >series, I just don't. I have driven E60s and E90s, and they are great >drivers, they are just plain old ugly and I just can't do it. > >Regards > >-- >Jamie Howton >2000 M5 >1995 M3 >Hampshire, IL -- ______________________________________ Andrew E. Kalman, Ph.D. aek@pumpkininc.com ************************************************* 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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#9. Loud Emission Control Air Pump - from mdroz@mac.com
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Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:01:55 -0400 From: mdroz@mac.com Subject: Loud Emission Control Air Pump I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this issue for me. I have a 1998 E36 M3 (M52 engine) that has an extremely loud secondary air pump (a.k.a. SMOG pump, part # 11 72 1 744 490). When the engine is started from cool, the air pump comes on for about a minute. It is loud enough to hear over the stereo, at mid-volume. With the hood open it sounds like a household vacuum cleaner. I haven't been able to pinpoint any obvious cause, like loose hose, rattling housing, etc. Is this a common issue? Is it time for a new air pump, or could there be a simpler solution? Thanks in advance. -Mark
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#10. Re: [E36M3] Loud Emission Control Air Pump - from Mark D.
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Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:17:08 -0400 From: "Mark D." <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Loud Emission Control Air Pump On Fri, 2006-04-07 at 18:10 -0500, mdroz@mac.com wrote: > Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2006 19:01:55 -0400 > From: mdroz@mac.com > Subject: Loud Emission Control Air Pump > > I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this issue for me. I have a 1998 E36 M3 (M52 engine) that has an extremely loud secondary air pump (a.k.a. SMOG pump, part # 11 72 1 744 490). When the engine is started from cool, the air pump comes on for about a minute. It is loud enough to hear over the stereo, at mid-volume. With the hood open it sounds like a household vacuum cleaner. I haven't been able to pinpoint any obvious cause, like loose hose, rattling housing, etc. > > Is this a common issue? Is it time for a new air pump, or could there be a simpler solution? > > Thanks in advance. > > -Mark Mine does the same thing. I think the bearings in the motor/fan assembly itself are shot. it's a lot quieter/less obnoxious in the summer. But I've been driving the car for 50,000 miles and it hasn't gotten any worse, so I'd probably ignore it. Not like it's a probable breakdown cause. Thanks, Mark