SOLD! Thanks guys.

Hey everyone,

I was a member of MM back when I went to JMU in 2006 (I'm old). I now live up in Baltimore, but I'm moving to the west coast and am having to sell my e36 M3, so I figured I'd let you guys know. It's not in excellent condition anymore, but it's pretty damn good for a 20 year old car that has been my daily driver for the past 12 years. It still runs great, but does need a little bit of work.

Pics: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://imgur.com/a/ss7IN">http://imgur.com/a/ss7IN</a><!-- m -->

Over the years I have made quite a few modifications, but almost all were improvements to performance or reliability. I've always babied the car and never abused it. It has never seen the track and outside of a few auto-x events it has only been used as a daily driver. Here's a list of the modifications:

- BMW water pump with composite impeller
- Aluminum thermostat housing
- Bilstein PSS9 coilover suspension
- TMS rear shock mount reinforcement plates
- Ground Control rear shock mounts
- BMW motorsport cross brace
- 17"x8.5" Kosei K1 lightweight wheels
- Cross drilled front brake rotors
- TMS performance chip (requires premium fuel)
- Jim Conforti intake with 3.5" HFM and ITG foam filter,
- Stromung cat back exhaust
- UUC EVO3 SSK with DSSR
- BMW aluminum and leather shift knob
- Depo Euro Ellipsoid headlight housings with HID ballasts
- Depo smoked turn signals
- Clarion DVX-745 head unit (color matches the rest of the controls)
- Bavarian Autosport Ultimate floor mats

- OEM amber turn signals and headlight housing included
- OEM chip included

As I mentioned, there are a few issues that will have to be sorted out by the new owner. The gauge cluster doesn't work and will need to be replaced, which I have heard is common. However, the odometer does work as does the onboard computer. There are a few chips and dings in the body and the rear wing's clear coat is peeling. There is a crack in a front strut tower that should be welded and reinforced. Driver door lock doesn't open with keyless remote (have to use key). HID headlights work great, but throw a dismissible low beam failure warning on the onboard computer.

With a bit of TLC this could be a solid track car or could easily continue to be a daily driver for its next owner. If I wasn't moving across the country I would keep it, but I have to let it go. It is located in Baltimore, so if you are seriously interested we could work out a place to meet maybe half way. If you want to give it a good home, make me an offer.

Again, pics are here: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://imgur.com/a/ss7IN">http://imgur.com/a/ss7IN</a><!-- m -->

Thanks,
Josh

Just saw this on Reddit. Super cool tool to use to learn about cars. Play around on it. Basically a browser game where you can use different tools to diagnose an engine and play around with sensors and stuff.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://simulator.electude.com/">https://simulator.electude.com/</a><!-- m -->

So I'm in Richmond for the summer. Who wants to start going to these some Saturdays? I know Chip does. Feel like it is a good way to keep in touch with students and alumni.

How's next Saturday morning for everyone?

Okay, before everyone collectively gets their panties in a bundle, let it be known that if I could have passed along this invite, I would have done so to each and every one of you. But, I couldn't, the invite was for me and no "+1" sort of thing allowed.

I've done some autocrosses with the NCC (National Capital Chapter) of the BMW CCA, and I guess that got me on some list for this event. I was invited down to Summit Point for half a day of beating on new BMWs. The invite made it seem like I'd be driving the M3, M4, M5 and M6, which was about half true.



Turns out a few of my NASA friends also got invites, so I was with Chris, Christina, Tian, Simon and Kristin which made our little group of six. There were probably 25 people there in total. The event is largely catered toward people who own BMWs (M-cars in particular, maybe?) but otherwise probably don't have track experience.

So, for the total n00bs, this was the best day ever and we're totally going racing, oh my god. Us six had more of a clue and tried to stick together, for reasons explained later.

So, we show up at 8 AM to the Shenandoah circuit's classroom to get registered. They ask us to "pick a buddy" which worked well, given the six of us all have prior DE/track experience. Chris and I paired up for the day.

Classroom time was basically "welcome to Summit Point, we are excited to have you here, you'll be with instructors for the autocross and we'll do lead-follow for the track part, let's roll." We were encouraged to clap a lot. Instructors were hired from BSR. They were nice enough.

Autocross
We were loaded into two Ford Transit vans and driven up to what was formerly the SPK track. If you look at that track from above, it's basically three skidpads connected by some tarmac. BMW set up an "autocross" course here. The tarmac has some surface coating on it to make it more slick for skidpad/kart use, which made the whales of cars that we drove handle... questionably.

The whole lot of us huddled around a convertible M6 and watched as an instructor explained how to put the transmission in Drive. We were told the cars were already running, please do not shut them off (it resets all the drive mode shit) and to not touch the controls around the shifter. They were gearing this to the lowest common denominator so they wanted traction/stability control left on.

We drove an M5 and M6 Gran Coupe (swoopier M5 that I didn't fit in as well). We were told to put the car in Drive, it was already in "Sport" which reduces the traction control intrusiveness, and no playing with paddles. Christina told me to put it in Drive and subltly click the (-) paddle to pop it into manual mode without the instructor seeing. So, I did, and I made a point to shift before it went brapbrapbrap at fuel cut.

Autocross Impressions
The M5 looks better and is easier to see out of compared to the M6 GC. They had the same drivetrain (turbo V8, DCT, RWD), largely the same interior, and drove pretty much the same.

The low-grip surface made the cars very challenging to drive, and Sport mode with DTC (dynamic traction control) enabled was necessary for the n00b drivers but very intrusive. One new guy (who said he "raced his Beemer" when referring to autocross... :roll: ) about put the M5 sideways into a dirt/grass berm. I was amazed at how the DTC could slap his wrists so hard and reel the car in. Once you know what you're doing though, you gotta have the thing in Sport+ with the nannies turned off.

Oh, I guess I got overzealous with the M5. Managed to get the iDrive to yell something about "reduced steering assistance available, please drive moderately" after a few runs.

I mentioned something about "track experience" and "racecar" to the instructor when he asked about my driving background and he chuckled in a "that's cute, dear" sort of way.

After an hour or so playing with the M5 and M6 GC, we were ferried back down to Shenandoah for Lead/Follow laps.

Lead/Follow Track Time
Upon arriving back at Shenandoah, I was excited to drive the M3/M4 like the invite insinuated. Instead, we saw these pigs:



We were told to get in the cars in our twofer groups (so, Chris and I) and each group of six would have a pace car. So, my group of six got to all go play together. This was really beneficial, as the lead car (M4 with instructor driving, and instructing over radios to our cars) was going to drive as fast as we could keep up, basically.

Challenge Accepted.

Each pair drove each car, and both drivers got 4 laps each, per car. So we would go out for 4 laps, pull back in and switch around while the pace car was out with another group, then go back out.

Lead/Follow Impressions
All three cars were automatics (ZF 8-speed) with Xdrive (AWD). We had a 650i GC, a 750Li, and a 640i Convertible.

First up was the 650i Gran Coupe, which I discovered hardly allows for a helmet given the roofline. I had never driven (or seen, really) Shenandoah, so this was a big learning experience for me. We were not allowed to go into "the bowl" that mimics the Nurburgring's bowl, as I think the risk was too high for inexperienced folks.

The 650 GC was a good car. Planted, easy to turn in with little understeer (but it was there, trust me) and plenty of power.


Note the "M1" in the cluster. "Not allowed to use the paddles" ... right :wink:

Next, we got in the 750Li. My initial impression was "great, this will be like trying to drive a limousine down Lombard Street." Chris and I actually had the most fun in this car. It handled far better than it should, given the size. Body roll was hugely apparent. It understeered, but not so much that it was impossible to correct. I got the big beast up to 109ish mph on the straightaway. Brakes were good, given the weight and repeated abuse. We were kept comfortable by the three-stage air-conditioned leather seats.

Finally, the 640i convertible. Huge, huge disappointment. It had different tires vs. the other cars, which were either very overheated or just sucked at providing grip. The car felt skittish everywhere. Oil and trans temps got so high (in four laps!) that the transmission wouldn't let me manually shift, and short-shifted at 2500 rpm with a firm goal of 6th gear. When Chris took it out after me, the brakes had faded to the point of us almost t-boning the 750Li in front of us at the end of the straight.

"Hot Laps"
After the lead/follow, we got to ride with the instructors in the M3 and M4 (ooh, here's where those cars come in to play) for "hot laps" which is basically how some of us would have driven if we had the right cars and no pace car. Was fun to get the ride, and the M4 sounds really good at full-bore.

After the hot laps, we got lunch:



And then I went home around 1 PM.

This was definitely a fun event, and I understand it's very much marketed to people who have never stepped foot on a racetrack before. If you approach it from that angle, it was a really, really fantastic day. And even from my perspective - yes, we had to keep nannies on, yes, it was slower driving than I'd prefer in huge, heavy cars - hell, I got to beat up on a ton of new BMWs that I'll never buy, for $Free. It sure as hell beats a day in the office.

And really, when else would you even bother pushing a $110k 7-series around a racetrack?

I haven't been on the MM forum in several months but I thought I'd come back since I have a very important question for you fools.

Since its almost June and I'm still rocking my snow tires on my OEM 17" wheels on the X3, I've decided to get a new pair of shoes. I've narrowed it down to 2 options but I'm having trouble picking a favorite. I've always been a fan of classic BBS styles on BMWs but I'm not about to pay an outrageous price for authentic BBS wheels on Dasblaubabyhaulen. I've decided to go with 18s which were optional on the X3. I feel like it'll give the SUV a better look without compromising ride quality. Also 18" tires are a lot cheaper than 19" tires.

So my first option is this CSL style replica in "hyper black". I don't think I've ever seen hyper black wheels in person but I'm lead to believe that they're a dark chrome-ish color similar to the SBC color of the RP-F1s I use for track wheels on the S2000.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.ebay.com/itm/18-CSL-STYLE-Hyper-Black-Wheels-Rims-18x8-ET-35-5x120-Fits-BMW-E36-E46-E90-E92-/231482471513?hash=item35e56e3459&vxp=mtr">http://www.ebay.com/itm/18-CSL-STYLE-Hy ... 59&vxp=mtr</a><!-- m -->


My other choice is the MiRo 112 wheel in silver, which is sorta similar to a BBS CH wheel. I like the design of this wheel more than the CSL replicas but I think silver is so blah. And this wheel only comes in silver or black.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.autoanything.com/wheels-rims/miro-112-wheels">http://www.autoanything.com/wheels-rims/miro-112-wheels</a><!-- m -->


And in case you don't know what my X3 looks like, here's a picture of it wearing a set of 17" ARC-8's in gunmetal from DJ's old E36 racecar. Those tires were just a weeeeeee bit small for the X3. I could fit my whole head in that wheel gap.


So MM, which wheel do you think would look better on my X3?

While not as cool as the Porsche/Audi/BMW experiences at Summit Point, it's at least a free way to autox a brand new car. Another chance for me to scare the shit out of instructors.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://ude.bmwusa.com/">https://ude.bmwusa.com/</a><!-- m -->

Ford Transit Connect seems ideal, don't really need full size, but if you know someone with something reliable FS hit me up.
Willing to paint over any existing "free candy" message.

Something about that just doesn't strike me as being possibly true, but I've not found any data.

Now, that being said, before 2002 some automakers recommended having the airbag system inspected after 10 or 15 years, which I'm sure we all did. :evileye: But they weren't finding issues, so they don't recommend it anymore.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/do-car-airbags-expire.html">http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/do-ca ... xpire.html</a><!-- m -->

Speaking of things I'm sure we all did, the Takata airbag recall is up to 34 million now...

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/10/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-takata-air-bag-recall/index.htm">http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news ... /index.htm</a><!-- m -->

First gen airbags <'90- ~'98 were never fantastic anyway. So at what point do we just start disconnecting these things? Will the automakers or the NHTSA tell us? It's not like there's going to be a recall on 20+ yr old cars. But clearly an ABS light being off doesn't mean the bag will operate properly.

*edit*
in a semi-related the-more-you-know category: a lot of automakers offer lifetime seatbelt warranties. :thumbup:

The Hburg Church of the Nazarene out near RMH hospital is having the first of the their biannual shows (Spring) this friday the 29th from 6-9. This show is one of the biggest local car shows we have and its free to enter. I'd say its as big as the Waynesboro Motorshow is. Mostly focuses on antique cars and trucks from 1940s-1980s. The show has been growing and I am seeing more off-road/4x4, motorcycles and modern Japanese and Euro entries in the last 2 years. If it rains the rain date is June 5th 6-9. should be a good turnout if the weather holds.

Even though I'm pretty damned happy with my M, I've been thinking about what car I'll get in the next few years, as is the custom of the car guy. The next cars on the potential list are things like a 996/997 Turbo or GT3, or maybe the 360 I've always wanted.

But then I've also been thinking about some of the bonkers track cars out there like the Zenos E10, Ariel Atom, Radical, Caterham SP/300R, etc. In the case of the Atom and Zenos you get a car that is as fast or faster than most supercars around the racetrack and costs a lot less to acquire and way less to maintain. Blown engine? Buy a $4k Honda engine on ebay. Torpedo a tire wall? Assuming you haven't been maimed, fuck it, buy another one. Tires, wheels, brakes, gas, and oil are all cheaper than the supercars. And with all that money you didn't spend you can really drive the car harder than you would that Ferrari. And you don't have to deal with being gouged in the derriere with a Ferrari-branded fireplace poker when it comes time for service.

So then I wonder, why the fuck should I buy a supercar? For the price of a used 997 Turbo or 360 I could buy a Zenos E10s outright and have money leftover for a decent and fun streetcar. I could buy the Zenos or a used Atom and an early NSX, or E39 M5 or a S2000, or even a silly project car. K20-powered MR2-Spyder or stuff a LS V8 into something. Or even something dumber like one of those stuper-SUV's to tow the track car.

I mean when it comes down to it, I'd want to drive a supercar on track, and I'd probably never really push it to hard because of the golden steering wheel effect. It'd be fun around town, but there are only so many miles you'd want to put on some of these cars lest you tank your resale value. That track car though would be a fucking weapon in HPDE or autox and you could take it out on Sunday drives here and there.

Sure if I became wealthy I'd buy a big ass garage with a modest house attached and fill it with the exotic metal of my dreams. But I probably won't get that kind of money anytime soon. My rational mind says that with a healthy but not insane budget supercars are stupid. I don't necessarily buy things with my rational brain so maybe I'm just blowing smoke but I feel like this may be the answer for my car future. What say you MM?