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#1. RE: Alloy T-Stat Housing ... was Air Pocket - now Bad Thermostat Dude! - from Burgess, Kim L
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:33:06 -0700 From: "Burgess, Kim L" <kim.l.burgess@boeing.com> Subject: RE: Alloy T-Stat Housing ... was Air Pocket - now Bad Thermostat Dude! There are two brands out there. Maybe by chance, I have had better luck with Ronal, now at about 64K. I had to replace the Ranok on my wife's 97 due to a hairline leak in the face of the T-Stat Housing. I looked at two others (at local parts supply house) and rejected them due to obvious voids and porosity issues, purchasing the third as it looked OK. As result many are recommending the factory plastic housings. So for me it has been hit and miss. Two for three were leakers, but I also watched two 'balls' pass by. KLB -------------------- 4 -------------------- Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 08:52:56 -0700 From: Peter Loron <peterloron@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! Another data point: my aluminum t-stat housing has probably 20-30K on it (installed by previous owner). No leaks. - Pete
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#2. Fwd: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! - from Bill Sharp
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 14:41:30 -0500 From: Bill Sharp <M3@cueframe.us> Subject: Fwd: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! After lots of Dremel work, I installed one in the e39 a couple of weeks ago. It's good to know that the weeping can be easily be seen. I got one for the e36 too and have ground it down. Maybe I should pour water in and let it sit for a few days. I think I'd go back to plastic after seeing what I got for my money. I'd just be very careful with the bolt torques and I think the plastic would be fine until the rest of the plastic has to be changed out again. Bill Ft. Worth Begin forwarded message: > From: David Thomas <dave@sasdatalink.com> > Date: April 11, 2007 12:10:49 PM CDT > To: E36M3 <e36m3@bmw-m.net> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! > Reply-To: David Thomas <dave@sasdatalink.com> > > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:04:21 -0700 > From: David Thomas <dave@sasdatalink.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! > > On Tuesday 10 April 2007 7:00:38 pm Reed Nicholson wrote: >> You're not the only one. My mechanic says many of the aluminum >> housings >> were poorly made and he's seen a lot of leaking ones. > > BTW: On my bad housing, it was not leaking around the edge of the > gasket, it > leaked right through the front of the housing....right out of the > raised area > for the thermostat. It had about a 1/2" long area where you could > see it > weeping coolant once the car had been run. It would be interesting > to weigh a > dozen of the aluminum housings to see the variance, I suspect they > all have a > fair amount of voids in them. > > Dave T. > > > ************************************************* > 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 > ************************************************* > > Bill Sharp Ft. Worth '99 Coupe
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#3. RE: [E36M3] Re: Individual interior colors - from Dave DeBuhr
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:42:29 -0700 From: "Dave DeBuhr" <debuhr@comcast.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Re: Individual interior colors That ius inevitable. Best bet is a rear window tint. Even if you don't like tint you can get a clear film that will greatly reduce UV/IR and slow the purple deck syndrome down. Pop off a rear speaker grill if you what to see what color your rear deck used to be. :) -----Original Message----- BTW, just out of curiosity, how many of you with black interiors have a rear parcel shelf that has faded to purple? It's almost similar to the ///M purple color, but a bit lighter, so I almost want to keep it that way. :-P
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#4. Re: [E36M3] Re: Individual interior colors - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:39:25 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Re: Individual interior colors On Wed, April 11, 2007 11:40 am, Brian Ruiz said: > BTW, just out of curiosity, how many of you with black interiors have a > rear > parcel shelf that has faded to purple? Yep, but with the rear headrests I hardly see it :-) Plus, it matches/accentuates the exterior :-) Jim Bassett 1998 M3/4 - Techno Violet/Black 1993 325is #44 - Alpine White/no interior
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#5. RE: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! - from Mike Frank
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:52:38 -0400 From: "Mike Frank" <mfrank28@insightbb.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! The two aluminum t-stat housings I have aren't going to win any quality awards, but they look fine. The one that's been on the car for the past year has been leak free, but of course, YMMV. I went to the Al housing so I could tap it for a water temp sender, otherwise I would have probably stuck with the very robust looking plastic part. I do remember hearing theories of supplier changes resulting in quality problems. Either way, I wouldn't be scared of the Al housings. Just inspect it to the best of your abilities. The good news is that it's an easy swap if it ends up weeping. Mike 97 M3 > -----Original Message----- > From: Jamie Howton [mailto:jhowton@gmail.com] > Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 7:21 AM > To: E36M3 > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! > > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 06:22:23 -0500 > From: "Jamie Howton" <jhowton@gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! > > > Yep...the casting quality is really poor > > > > > > I'm surprised no one has offered a quality made alum t-stat housing for > our > > engines? You aftermarket guys readings this? > > Well, the one I bought years ago has been just fine and seemed to be > pretty good quality when I bought it. It has held three or four > t-stats and has withstood the last five years of heavy track use. > > And of course I have no idea where I bought it, maybe Bimmerworld or > BavAuto? > > Regards > > Jamie
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#6. Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! - from Carey Probst
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 17:26:43 -0400 From: Carey Probst <hcprobst@alum.mit.edu> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! I've had the one on my M3 for almost 7 years now. Installed right after I bought the car and have had no problems. Unfortunately I don't recall who the vendor/source was. Carey Mike Frank wrote: > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:52:38 -0400 > From: "Mike Frank" <mfrank28@insightbb.com> > Subject: RE: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! > > The two aluminum t-stat housings I have aren't going to win any quality > awards, but they look fine. The one that's been on the car for the past > year has been leak free, but of course, YMMV. I went to the Al housing so I > could tap it for a water temp sender, otherwise I would have probably stuck > with the very robust looking plastic part. > > I do remember hearing theories of supplier changes resulting in quality > problems. Either way, I wouldn't be scared of the Al housings. Just > inspect it to the best of your abilities. The good news is that it's an > easy swap if it ends up weeping. > > Mike > 97 M3 > -- Carey Probst '99M3 daily driver '86 325 track toy, cammed, chipped, swayed A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.
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#7. Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! - from grantfairweather@sbcglobal.net
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:27:56 -0500 From: <grantfairweather@sbcglobal.net> Subject: Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! >I am not encouraged as I just purchased (but have yet to install) an >aluminum housing from TurnerMotorsport. I will have to monitor things >closely. I had an unknown water leak after I installed my radiator (after >the neck broke) but it mysteriously ended before I could figure out where it >was coming from. I bought the aluminum housing as insurance but don't feel >so assured now! >Matt Bader >98 M3/4 >Delaware I installed a new rad, H2O pump and T-stat and housing this past weekend. After I had everything buttoned-up and started to bleed the system, I noticed a significant leak from the new alu T-stat housing. Upon inspection, I discovered that the leak was due to a large crack that occurred during installation (my own fault..rrr). I cleaned-up the OE plastic housing and reinstalled. My cooling system had 70k miles and 9+ years on the clock. It was on my list of items to do this spring, but I was forced to address it a wee bit earlier due to a failed H2O pump seal. I noticed a small coolant leak under the car, and when poking around under the hood, I realized that the fan appeared out of balance when the car was running. After shutting her down, I grabbed the blades/fan clutch and could easily wiggle it side-to-side and back and forth....bad seals. Grant 98 M3/4 Chicago 'burbs
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#8. RE: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! - from S Stiles
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:41:18 -0700 From: S Stiles <stiles_s@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude! Ditto that. I'd replaced nearly the entire cooling system myself and had a mystery leak I couldn't solve. After lots of headache I finally figured out that I had a few pinhole leaks in the alu housing. Really frustrating to buy a supposedly overbuilt/heavy-duty part and have it be such a POS. I too went back to plastic (hired it out -- i was sick and tired of dealing with it...). > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 12:10:49 -0500> From: dave@sasdatalink.com> To: e36m3@bmw-m.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude!> > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 10:04:21 -0700> From: David Thomas <dave@sasdatalink.com>> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Was air pocket - now bad thermostat Dude!> > On Tuesday 10 April 2007 7:00:38 pm Reed Nicholson wrote:> > You're not the only one. My mechanic says many of the aluminum housings> > were poorly made and he's seen a lot of leaking ones.> > BTW: On my bad housing, it was not leaking around the edge of the gasket, it > leaked right through the front of the housing....right out of the raised area > for the thermostat.. It had about a 1/2" long area where you could see it > weeping coolant once the car had been run. It would be interesting to weigh a > dozen of the aluminum housings to see the variance, I suspect they all have a > fair amount of voids in them.> > Dave T.> > > *************************************************> 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] Individual interior colors - from S Stiles
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Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 22:02:14 -0700 From: S Stiles <stiles_s@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Individual interior colors Do you have any pics of the redone interior? You went w/cloth seats? Scott. > Date: Wed, 11 Apr 2007 01:11:42 -0500> From: macvaugh@comcast.net> To: e36m3@bmw-m.net> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Individual interior colors> > Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 22:52:40 -0400> From: Ed MacVaugh <macvaugh@comcast.net>> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Individual interior colors> > I just redid the interior in my '96 sedan and that GAHH site clearly > doesn't have a fifth of the possible color and fabric selections that > are in the BMW ETK.> > I went to the dealer, ordered an assortment of nine of the rear fold > down armrests in order to evaluate the fabric/leather combinations and > chose a fabric for the seat centers from the sample armrests. Returned > the armrests and ordered the "boa" fabric.> > Ed> > James Clay wrote:> > Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 14:48:23 -0400> > From: "James Clay" <james@bimmerworld.com>> > Subject: RE: [E36M3] Individual interior colors> > > > GAHH? We deal with them and they are great, but I wanted my facts straight> > before I called on this one.> > > > James Clay> > >
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#10. Rear Shock Tower Problems... - from Hunt Hodgetts
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Date: Thu, 12 Apr 2007 03:13:59 -0700 (PDT) From: Hunt Hodgetts <hhodgetts@yahoo.com> Subject: Rear Shock Tower Problems... My rear end started making a "popping" noise each time I hit a bump or pothole a few days ago. I inspected it with my technician yesterday. The rear shocks have completely torn away from the chassis at the mounting points in the trunk. I had bilsteins and the Rogue rear shock mounts installed about a month ago and they have completely torn away from the chassis. Has anyone had experience fixing this problem? I found Turner's Rear Shock Tower Reinforcement Kit but the plates that they sell are almost exactly the same size as the new jagged holes in my rear shock towers... Hunt Hodgetts 98 M3 Coupe, Atlanta