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#1. Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator - from Mark D
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:40:18 -0400 From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator My door plastic just kind of fell off by itself. The adhesive doesn't have much strength left. I'm not sure what to reattach it with so I just pushed it on there as best I could and reassembled. I took the opportunity to epoxy the main hanger rail on the door panel that attaches near the window and that's much batter now :) Thanks, Mark Goss, Patrick - PA wrote: > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:01:30 -0500 > From: "Goss, Patrick - PA" <Patrick.Goss@GMACM.COM> > Subject: RE: [E36M3] door lock actuator > > Thanks Jim and Mark. Were you able to remove the door saran wrap thingy > without any drama and able to keep it from ripping apart. I'm assuming > that's what BMW uses also. Time for dynamat??? > > -----Original Message----- > From: Jim Bassett [mailto:jim@jimbassett.com] > Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 10:54 AM > To: E36M3 > Subject: Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator > > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 07:51:03 -0700 (PDT) > From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> > Subject: Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator > > On Mon, October 29, 2007 7:14 am, Goss, Patrick - PA wrote: > >> Sometimes works, sometimes it does not. Thoughts, ideas, >> > difficulties? > >> Is it worthwhile to tear apart and clean contacts? This is the >> > drivers' > >> front door on a 4dr (limo) if it matters. >> > > Replace it. There's nothing to clean, they work intermittently until > they > fail completely. IIRC, actuators are ~$40-$50, and the Bentley manual > does > a pretty good job of describing the procedure. The front is easy, rear > one > is more of a PITA. > > Feel free to ask me any questions. It's been a while since I've replaced > one (I've done all 4 :-)), but I'll help if I can. > > Jim Bassett > > >
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#2. RE: Had a new baby! - from Ahmad Lutfeali
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:45:45 -0400 From: "Ahmad Lutfeali" <m3_racer99@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: Had a new baby! Hello Mark, Congrats on the E46 purchase. I too have an E46 328i and compared to my E36s from the past, the chassis is definitely more refined, there is hardly any wind noise and yes the pull from 3Kish rpms is similar in terms of how the motor behaves (sans 60 or so horses). The E36 M3 is also geared differently and feels quicker. Regarding the suspension, when I got my last E36 (had it for a few months before I sold it to another list member), the car was SLOPPY. Here is what I did to fix the problem and got the car back to life: 1) Control arms with Bimmerworld Poly bushings up front. 2) Rear trailing arm bushing (DESPERATELY needed since the rear end would step out upon power). 3) Rear strut mounts (clunking was then gone). 4) Shocks. I would suggest Bilsteins and leave the stock springs in there if it's a daily driver (I had Turner's I Stock setup but then it wasn't a daily driver either). 5) Tie rods are cheap and while you are at it, put in a new set. The current owner of my ex 96 Estoril M3 is quite happy (its his track toy) and so was I after I got it fixed. Check the Guibo for tears before replacing it. The rear sub frame bushing can hold its own and is a pain to replace. So after you are done with the above required maintence items and the car still feels sloppy, then you can take a look at it but from my experience with half a dozen E36 M3s, they are quite rigid or maybe I have been lucky. Didn't have any issues with the diff bushings in the past either. The shifter on my last E36 was quite sloppy too. Changed the orange bushing (shifter bushing or whatever its called) in there along with a DSR and short shifter from UUC. Loved it. The E46 non Ms are quite tame compared to the E36 M3 and for daily driving, I prefer that car better since I never drive fast on the streets (clean record so far knock on wood). For an adrenaline fix, I have my Sti (yeehaa). Ahmad -------------------- 6 -------------------- Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:20:39 -0400 From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Had a new baby! Well not what you're thinking, my fiance and I have cars, not children :-P We just bought a 1999 323i with a rather strange history but clean title, a body with 130K that looks like 50K, an engine with 75K that looks and feels like 30K and we got it for a steal. Only issues are a clunk in the driveline, SES light is on, and the shifter gates are a little weird which is probably what resulted in the PO's money shift. The coolant light came on on the way home when I attempted to use the heat and turned off when I turned the heat off but a top off of about 1.5 quarts of coolant took care of that. (is anybody terrified yet that this is going to be a money pit?) :-P Mandatory M3 content... This car is delectably mushy in all the right ways. A smooth handler and above all else extremely quiet. No road noise, no wind noise, nothing. Has anybody taken steps to bring their M3's back to new levels? Were the M3s' always FAR more harsh than these cars? I think to begin with, I need new shocks, springs and struts. If you've taken steps, what did the most for you? I can't imagine that the rear subframe bushings for instance always produce a huge change, but perhaps replacing the vapor barrier was a huge change for some? I think this winter I'm looking at tie rods, control arms, all rear ball joints and perhaps rear subframe and diff bushings (as well as guibo and center bearing) but I'd like to cut down on wind noise, improve weather stripping, etc if I can. Things that really make the car feel new again. Any suggestions very appreciated. I find it interesting that my handling has become a bit vague over the years but the shifter/trans in my almost 200K car feels WAY better than this car. I also find it interesting how this car has the same 3500-4000 rpm pull mine has and makes me think my vanos is just fine - that or this car's vanos is toast too :) Thanks, Mark
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#3. Re: [E36M3] RE: Had a new baby! - from Mark D
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:36:48 -0400 From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] RE: Had a new baby! Ahmad Lutfeali wrote: > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 11:45:45 -0400 > From: "Ahmad Lutfeali" <m3_racer99@hotmail.com> > Subject: RE: Had a new baby! > > Hello Mark, > > Congrats on the E46 purchase. I too have an E46 328i and compared to my E36s > from the past, the chassis is definitely more refined, there is hardly any > wind noise and yes the pull from 3Kish rpms is similar in terms of how the > motor behaves (sans 60 or so horses). The E36 M3 is also geared differently > and feels quicker. > > Oh yeah, by no means is it even remotely as fast as the M3, but at the same time, the pull above 3500 rpms is good enough that I don't feel like the car is dog slow either. > Regarding the suspension, when I got my last E36 (had it for a few months > before I sold it to another list member), the car was SLOPPY. Here is what I > did to fix the problem and got the car back to life: > > 1) Control arms with Bimmerworld Poly bushings up front. > I think I'll do this, but I already replaced the front control arm bushings so assuming I don't tear them apart getting the control arms out, I'll leave them, otherwise I'll switch to poly bushings on this spot. I definitely think my control arms and front ball joints are causing big sloppiness. They're original AFAIK. > 2) Rear trailing arm bushing (DESPERATELY needed since the rear end would > step out upon power). > Just replaced this but I have yet to do the alignment (tsk tsk) They weren't that bad to begin with but were ready for replacement. > 3) Rear strut mounts (clunking was then gone). > I've had a lot of fun in this dept. Needless to say, new mounting plates and new ground control street and track mounts. > 4) Shocks. I would suggest Bilsteins and leave the stock springs in there if > I think this is key. My rear end seems to be sagging a bit and I think springs might be in order too. Not sure. > it's a daily driver (I had Turner's I Stock setup but then it wasn't a daily > driver either). > 5) Tie rods are cheap and while you are at it, put in a new set. > The current owner of my ex 96 Estoril M3 is quite happy (its his track toy) > and so was I after I got it fixed. > > Check the Guibo for tears before replacing it. The rear sub frame bushing > can hold its own and is a pain to replace. So after you are done with the > above required maintence items and the car still feels sloppy, then you can > take a look at it but from my experience with half a dozen E36 M3s, they are > quite rigid or maybe I have been lucky. Didn't have any issues with the diff > bushings in the past either. > > The shifter on my last E36 was quite sloppy too. Changed the orange bushing > (shifter bushing or whatever its called) in there along with a DSR and short > shifter from UUC. Loved it. > > I might do this too. It'd be nice to get some precise feel back into the shifter that it had when I bought it. > The E46 non Ms are quite tame compared to the E36 M3 and for daily driving, > I prefer that car better since I never drive fast on the streets (clean > record so far knock on wood). For an adrenaline fix, I have my Sti (yeehaa). > > That's kind of how I am feeling too. After driving the E36 M3 for so long as a daily driver, that E46 sure felt good this morning. > Ahmad > > -------------------- 6 -------------------- > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:20:39 -0400 > From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> > Subject: Had a new baby! > > Well not what you're thinking, my fiance and I have cars, not children > :-P We just bought a 1999 323i with a rather strange history but clean > title, a body with 130K that looks like 50K, an engine with 75K that > looks and feels like 30K and we got it for a steal. Only issues are a > clunk in the driveline, SES light is on, and the shifter gates are a > little weird which is probably what resulted in the PO's money shift. > The coolant light came on on the way home when I attempted to use the > heat and turned off when I turned the heat off but a top off of about > 1.5 quarts of coolant took care of that. (is anybody terrified yet that > this is going to be a money pit?) :-P > > Mandatory M3 content... This car is delectably mushy in all the right > ways. A smooth handler and above all else extremely quiet. No road > noise, no wind noise, nothing. Has anybody taken steps to bring their > M3's back to new levels? Were the M3s' always FAR more harsh than these > cars? I think to begin with, I need new shocks, springs and struts. If > you've taken steps, what did the most for you? I can't imagine that the > rear subframe bushings for instance always produce a huge change, but > perhaps replacing the vapor barrier was a huge change for some? I think > this winter I'm looking at tie rods, control arms, all rear ball joints > and perhaps rear subframe and diff bushings (as well as guibo and center > bearing) but I'd like to cut down on wind noise, improve weather > stripping, etc if I can. Things that really make the car feel new > again. Any suggestions very appreciated. > > I find it interesting that my handling has become a bit vague over the > years but the shifter/trans in my almost 200K car feels WAY better than > this car. I also find it interesting how this car has the same > 3500-4000 rpm pull mine has and makes me think my vanos is just fine - > that or this car's vanos is toast too :) > > Thanks, > Mark > >
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#4. Yet another M3 for sale - from Graeme Weston-Lewis
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:49:50 -0700 (PDT) From: Graeme Weston-Lewis <graemewl@yahoo.com> Subject: Yet another M3 for sale Reluctantly, I have to offer my M3 4-door for sale. 109,000 miles, Arctic Silver/Light Gray, 5-speed $15,000 Details and pictures here: http://gwl.rmsolo.org/M3-FS/ Graeme I have no control over anything below this line. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
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#5. Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale - from Gary
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 12:01:01 -0500 From: "Gary" <probikeguy@probikeusa.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale I love the last line..... LMAO....... > > Graeme > > > I have no control over anything below this line. > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around > http://mail.yahoo.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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#6. RE: [E36M3] door lock actuator - from Paul Andrews
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:22:33 -0400 From: "Paul Andrews" <emosound@verizon.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] door lock actuator Pat, My passenger side actuator went bad, first it was intermittent, then failed entirely. I bought a pair from http://www.rmeuropean.com/. I figure the driver's side will fail eventually, too. The new one is working perfectly. It's too much of a PITA to try cleaning/fixing the old one. The front and rear doors take a different lock motor. -Paul -----Original Message----- From: Goss, Patrick - PA [mailto:Patrick.Goss@GMACM.COM] Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 10:14 AM To: E36M3 Subject: [E36M3] door lock actuator Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:12:47 -0500 From: "Goss, Patrick - PA" <Patrick.Goss@GMACM.COM> Subject: door lock actuator Sometimes works, sometimes it does not. Thoughts, ideas, difficulties? Is it worthwhile to tear apart and clean contacts? This is the drivers' front door on a 4dr (limo) if it matters. Patrick 97 M3/4
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#7. Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator - from Jim Bassett
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:30:18 -0700 (PDT) From: "Jim Bassett" <jim@jimbassett.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] door lock actuator On Mon, October 29, 2007 8:44 am, Mark D wrote: > My door plastic just kind of fell off by itself. The adhesive doesn't > have much strength left. I'm not sure what to reattach it with so I > just pushed it on there as best I could and reassembled. The adhesive on my door was still sticky, so I was able to re-stick it once I was done. Jim Bassett
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#8. Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale - from Mark D
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:58:30 -0400 From: Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale Graeme Weston-Lewis wrote: > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:49:50 -0700 (PDT) > From: Graeme Weston-Lewis <graemewl@yahoo.com> > Subject: Yet another M3 for sale > > Reluctantly, I have to offer my M3 4-door for sale. > 109,000 miles, Arctic Silver/Light Gray, 5-speed > $15,000 > > Details and pictures here: > http://gwl.rmsolo.org/M3-FS/ > > Graeme > > *sigh*. That car is so freaking pristine, *especially* the engine bay. What's your regimen for cleaning/detailing? I'd buy it if I was hunting. Thanks, Mark
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#9. Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale - from Graeme Weston-Lewis
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 17:48:18 -0700 (PDT) From: Graeme Weston-Lewis <graemewl@yahoo.com> Subject: Re: [E36M3] Yet another M3 for sale The outside is lavished regularly with Zaino http://www.zainostore.com/ I wish I could take credit, but the interior and engine bay, I leave to a friend of mine who owns a professional detailing shop :) Graeme Mark D <mdlkml@atari-source.com> wrote: Graeme Weston-Lewis wrote: > Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 09:49:50 -0700 (PDT) > From: Graeme Weston-Lewis > Subject: Yet another M3 for sale > > Reluctantly, I have to offer my M3 4-door for sale. > 109,000 miles, Arctic Silver/Light Gray, 5-speed > $15,000 > > Details and pictures here: > http://gwl.rmsolo.org/M3-FS/ > > Graeme > > *sigh*. That car is so freaking pristine, *especially* the engine bay. What's your regimen for cleaning/detailing? I'd buy it if I was hunting. Thanks, Mark I have no control over anything below this line. __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com
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#10. RE: [E36M3] Window jammed - from M540
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Date: Mon, 29 Oct 2007 21:46:10 -0400 From: "M540" <m540@bellsouth.net> Subject: RE: [E36M3] Window jammed Brilliant! I'm not sure the motor sounds great with all of the sound-deadening material removed, but judicious application of a BFH brought it back to life for now. Thank you for the tip Bob. Kevin From: mdriver13@aol.com [mailto:mdriver13@aol.com] Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 9:46 AM To: m540@bellsouth.net; e36m3@bmw-m.net Subject: Re: [E36M3] Window jammed Actually, take a hammer to the motor. Rap it a couple of times, if you're luck it will start to work again. It worked for me and then two years later it finally died for good. good luck and happy rapping, Bob Gill 97 ///M3 coupe Philly Region SCCA 2005/2006 Philly Region BSP Champion Sponsored by WCC & Rogue Engineering