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#1. Re: [E36M3] Re: It just keeps leakin' -- now aluminum thermo - from Mark D
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 11:10:49 -0400 From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: It just keeps leakin' -- now aluminum thermo housing? On Thu, 2006-10-12 at 09:26 -0500, mdriver13@aol.com wrote: > Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:24:06 -0400 > From: mdriver13@aol.com > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: It just keeps leakin' -- now aluminum thermo housing? > > I had good luck with one on my 99M3 and a leaker on my wifes 97 328. The one I > bought also showed signs of casting flaws so I returned it. There are two brands > out there, Ronak and Ronal as I recall and I don't recall which is the > non-leaker my car. > > Funny this topic should appear as I had my car to the Dealer earlier this week to replace the aluminum housing I had installed last year. Though it really never leaked, I kept seeing crusty coolant on the housing near where the T-stat area. Started cleaning it off and next day it's back. So I figured it was a hair-line crack. I did not want to be driving around and have a total failure so I had it replaced with the OEM plastic housing. > > IMHO, these alum housing are a piece of crap (mine was Ronal for what's it worth), manufactured in Indonesia I believe. The casting was only so-so, but good enough to install and not have leaking around the gasket. After removal, I looked inside and did not see any crack, so it must be just porous enough in one spot to force coolant through the wall and dry to form a "patch". Bottomline, I won't be buying this part again. > > regards, > > Bob Gill > 97 ///M3 coupe > Philly Region SCCA > 2005 Philly Region BSP Champion > Sponsored by WCC, JT-Designs, & Rogue Engineering FWIW, I decided to use the OEM plastic thermo housing for this reason. I used plenty of aftermarket parts on my domestic vehicles and they consistently let me down time and time again. I figure if it can last 170,000 miles without so much as a crack or drop of leakage, they're onto something. Thanks, Mark
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#2. RE: It just keeps leakin' -- now aluminum thermo housing? - from Burgess, Kim L
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:47:52 -0700 From: "Burgess, Kim L" <kim.l.burgess@boeing.com> Subject: RE: It just keeps leakin' -- now aluminum thermo housing? There is a paper gasket, and I bought one. But it does not work in conjunction with the orange rubber 'thingy' gasket. I'll have to look tonight to see if there is a even material left to create a seal plane for the paper gasket. FWIW - The gasket I got from the dealer had pre-applied sealant around 95 percent of the profile. A small section of the periphery had no seal applied, I guess to vent moisture. Also the parts guy should me a new 'composite' T-stat housing and he pointed out what appeared to be some sort of thin film sealant applied to the mating surfaces, all around. I looked at two alloy housings before settling on one. The first had large casting voids in what should have been a high quality die casting. KLB -------------------- 7 -------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 22:56:45 -0700 From: "Scott" <stiles_s@hotmail.com> Yep, I think mine has two o-rings. I appeared logically sealed to me when I installed it, though I was a bit surprised that it didn't also have a "paper" gasket. I think mine's the Ronak. Looks like I'm going to go shopping for a new one, and maybe some nice hose clamps to go along with it. Thanks all, Scott.
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#3. RE: alignment settings - from Burgess, Kim L
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 09:07:31 -0700 From: "Burgess, Kim L" <kim.l.burgess@boeing.com> Subject: RE: alignment settings The shop that performed my alignment last, loosened ALL the fasteners in the front end to optimize the set-up and to get things as symmetrical as possible. That cost me two bills, and was referred to as an 'aggressive street' alignment. http://www.trulineseattle.com/contact.asp My wife's car, 97 328 w/new struts/control arms/tie rods/CABs/RTABs, on the other hand was a simple toe/thrust adjust and cost $80. http://www.group2inc.com/ The former was an every day car kinda' shop recommended by local indy and the latter was a indy Alpha restoration/race set-up shop. KLB -------------------- 9 -------------------- Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 07:10:55 -0500 From: "Jamie Howton" <jhowton@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] alignment settings > Does anyone have any recommendations for the alignment specs? Or should I just have the alignment guy go with the "factory" specs or should I "tweak" it a little bit? The stock suspension isn't really that adjustable. You can only adjust toe in front and toe and camber in the rear. I would ask them to use the stock settings since most of your driving is done on the street.
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#4. Re: [E36M3] Check engine codes evap purge canister P0455 - from Kent Shephard
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:18:16 -0700 From: Kent Shephard <Kents@kls-consulting.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Check engine codes evap purge canister P0455 Bad gas cap??? Kent Shephard kents@kshephard.com On Oct 11, 2006, at 7:06 PM, j. helffrich wrote: > Date: Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:56:34 -0700 (PDT) > From: "j. helffrich" <girolamous@yahoo.com> > Subject: Check engine codes evap purge canister P0455 > > Hi, > My car is a '97 M3/4, and I would like to know if anyone has ideas > on what this P0455 could indicate? I get a MIL indicator after > about 20 minutes of driving that says Evaporative Emission System > Pressure Sensor Leak (Gross Leak). Seems to happen while the car > is idling, because the engine load is near 0% when it happens, or > maybe this is just chance. Could this be a cracked hose, and if so > where would I look? > > Thanks, > > Jerry Helffrich > > > > > > > > > ************************************************* > 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] Check engine codes evap purge canister P0455 - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:23:31 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Check engine codes evap purge canister P0455 On Wed, October 11, 2006 8:46 pm, Brian Ruiz said: > Make sure your gas cap is on tight. I've also heard of the rubber seal > for > the gas cap going bad (Jim was that you?) Yep, that was me :-) Typically "large leak detected"-type messages are a problem with the gas cap - either not tightened sufficiently, or as Brian says, the seal going bad. > which can be bought > independently > of the cap itself (~$5 I think). Huh, didn't know that. Cool, thanks. Cheers, Jim Bassett
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#6. Re: [E36M3] alignment settings - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 10:36:14 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] alignment settings On Thu, October 12, 2006 5:16 am, Jamie Howton said: > I would ask them > to use the stock settings since most of your driving is done on the > street. Seconded. I'm running stock alignment on the M3 now that it's retired from track-duty. Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 1993 325is #44 JP
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#7. Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor - from Trmptdc@aol.com
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Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 09:34:47 EDT From: Trmptdc@aol.com Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor In a message dated 10/10/2006 8:16:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, mfraiser@earthlink.net writes: > Thanks for the tips on the passenger seat occupancy detector. I > received a new sensor ($87 - ouch) and installed it today. No more SRS > light - yay. > It was relatively easy to do. Does anybody have an idea of what a reasonable charge for a shop to do this repair would be? I called a dealer and they quoted me $1100 ?! Another local shop quoted me around $800. Both seem high (especially the dealer!). Has anyone had this done in the DC, MD area? Thanks! Steve 98 M3
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#8. Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor - from marty
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Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:05:22 -0400 From: marty <mfraiser@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor bring it down here (VA) and I'll do it for $500 - or supply the part and some good beverages :) IMHO, those prices are ridiculously high for the part cost and effort required. I'd guess they should charge max two hours labor and the retail price for my new pad was $109 so I'm thinking $300 or so might be reasonable. I just got a quote from a local indy BMW shop for $308, parts and labor. marty '96 M3 - still no SRS light and new inspection Trmptdc@aol.com wrote: >Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 09:34:47 EDT >From: Trmptdc@aol.com >Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor > >In a message dated 10/10/2006 8:16:54 PM Eastern Daylight Time, >mfraiser@earthlink.net writes: > > > >>Thanks for the tips on the passenger seat occupancy detector. I >>received a new sensor ($87 - ouch) and installed it today. No more SRS >>light - yay. >>It was relatively easy to do. >> >> > >Does anybody have an idea of what a reasonable charge for a shop to do this >repair would be? I called a dealer and they quoted me $1100 ?! Another local >shop quoted me around $800. Both seem high (especially the dealer!). Has >anyone had this done in the DC, MD area? > >Thanks! > >Steve > >98 M3 > > >************************************************* >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. RE: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor - from Dave DeBuhr
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Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 08:33:56 -0700 From: "Dave DeBuhr" <debuhr@comcast.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor The cost will be significantly higher for sport seats than the vaders. Much more involved. Dave -----Original Message----- From: marty [mailto:mfraiser@earthlink.net] Sent: Friday, October 13, 2006 8:06 AM To: E36M3 Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 11:05:22 -0400 From: marty <mfraiser@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor bring it down here (VA) and I'll do it for $500 - or supply the part and some good beverages :) IMHO, those prices are ridiculously high for the part cost and effort required. I'd guess they should charge max two hours labor and the retail price for my new pad was $109 so I'm thinking $300 or so might be reasonable. I just got a quote from a local indy BMW shop for $308, parts and labor. marty '96 M3 - still no SRS light and new inspection
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#10. Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor - from marty
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Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:47:53 -0400 From: marty <mfraiser@earthlink.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor right, good point. All I can speak to is the effort involved for vaders since that's all i have first-hand experience with and that's what the quote was for. Although, I don't see how it could be $500-$800 worth of additional effort? Might as well just buy a new seat :) Is the main difference having to remove/replace hog rings on non-vader seats? I've not done that operation but I understand from some who have that it's not a big deal - especially if you have a hog-ring tool and have done it at least once before. Just a wild guess, but I'd think maybe an additional hour should cover that. A good alternative may be to take the seat to an automotive upholstery shop and have them do it. It's easy enough to get the seat out, disarm the seat belt tensioner, and cart it somewhere. Dave DeBuhr wrote: >Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2006 08:33:56 -0700 >From: "Dave DeBuhr" <debuhr@comcast.net> >Subject: RE: [E36M3] SRS - passenger occupancy sensor > >The cost will be significantly higher for sport seats than the vaders. >Much more involved. > > >