The Best ///M/Barge/General Rant/Look at this/O/T (Vol XVII)
Discussion
M
Alpha-N is not a state of tune, but a method describing how the engine knows how much fuel to inject - unlike MAF (most engines), which calculates engine load based on the amount of air passing through the hot wire/film in the MAF, it uses just throttle plate angle and temperature correction (and altitude correction) for the really good set ups.
Of course Alpha-N is cruder, but it could allow for a more efficient airbox design. And yes, getting it right is not easy at all. However, it is not rocket science either. Enough good guys around these days to help out.
My brother's E46 runs the standard cats, but yes, he did spend time (a lot) on the Dyno and the open road with the guys from Evolve.
The suspension bit - KW off the shelf is still developed for the car. Sometimes the results are great, sometimes they are pants. A ZM Coupe or Z4M Coupe on its standard suspension is diabolical. Put them on KW CS and suddenly they are the car they should have always been. Take them to someone like Spires Tuning or Geoff Steel or Centre Gravity and they get even better. Yet fit anything to a E39 M5 or a E60 M5 and they become utterly s
t, destroying the purpose of the car...
Anyway, there is a good Phoenix Yellow M3 on the Trader with sub 100k, SMG, nice spec for less than 7k. Must be a CAT car or what am I missing?
Pennyroyal Tea said:
You've misunderstood me/misquoted me again.
Alpha N is a state of tune, but I hope you'll agree with me, it requires some fettling to get the fueling right, yes? On my E36, it wasn't possible without damaging the cats etc. Hence, I sold my Geoff Steele airbox as it proved to be more hassle than it was worth. Is your brother's M3 running the original cats?
Onto the suspension: the off-the-shelf kits are just that; they're not tuned by Manthey or whomever specifically for the car and or a given environment. Hence the comment. Ergo, your GT3 isn't running off the shelf stuff. The V3s you refer to are off-the-shelf units and as I alluded to above, I invariably find these less than satisfying, which is also why I specifically stated that good suspension requires ££££ investment. On the contrary, I think a nice Ohlins setup would be a huge compliment to any sporting car.
Anyway, let's move on
Pedant mode on... Alpha N is a state of tune, but I hope you'll agree with me, it requires some fettling to get the fueling right, yes? On my E36, it wasn't possible without damaging the cats etc. Hence, I sold my Geoff Steele airbox as it proved to be more hassle than it was worth. Is your brother's M3 running the original cats?
Onto the suspension: the off-the-shelf kits are just that; they're not tuned by Manthey or whomever specifically for the car and or a given environment. Hence the comment. Ergo, your GT3 isn't running off the shelf stuff. The V3s you refer to are off-the-shelf units and as I alluded to above, I invariably find these less than satisfying, which is also why I specifically stated that good suspension requires ££££ investment. On the contrary, I think a nice Ohlins setup would be a huge compliment to any sporting car.
Anyway, let's move on
Alpha-N is not a state of tune, but a method describing how the engine knows how much fuel to inject - unlike MAF (most engines), which calculates engine load based on the amount of air passing through the hot wire/film in the MAF, it uses just throttle plate angle and temperature correction (and altitude correction) for the really good set ups.
Of course Alpha-N is cruder, but it could allow for a more efficient airbox design. And yes, getting it right is not easy at all. However, it is not rocket science either. Enough good guys around these days to help out.
My brother's E46 runs the standard cats, but yes, he did spend time (a lot) on the Dyno and the open road with the guys from Evolve.
The suspension bit - KW off the shelf is still developed for the car. Sometimes the results are great, sometimes they are pants. A ZM Coupe or Z4M Coupe on its standard suspension is diabolical. Put them on KW CS and suddenly they are the car they should have always been. Take them to someone like Spires Tuning or Geoff Steel or Centre Gravity and they get even better. Yet fit anything to a E39 M5 or a E60 M5 and they become utterly s
t, destroying the purpose of the car...Anyway, there is a good Phoenix Yellow M3 on the Trader with sub 100k, SMG, nice spec for less than 7k. Must be a CAT car or what am I missing?
jeremyc said:
olly22n said:
I think my record was less than 2 minutes, but it's been a while!
Any tips on getting those last bastid poppers on once the roof is down? 
Best take the roof off completely and leave it at home, just think of the weight saving.
Looks fantastic, hope you are enjoying it, certainly my favourite of your fleet, which takes some doing!
jeremyc said:
olly22n said:
I think my record was less than 2 minutes, but it's been a while!
Any tips on getting those last bastid poppers on once the roof is down? Patrick Bateman said:
I wasn't aware the timing chains on these were prone to bork. VANOS I think is over-dramatised; they grumble sure, but fail completely?No, I'd be more worried about rod bearings, dodgy MAFs, brake servos and basically every single rubber bush on the entire car.
Pennyroyal Tea said:
Patrick Bateman said:
I wasn't aware the timing chains on these were prone to bork. VANOS I think is over-dramatised; they grumble sure, but fail completely?No, I'd be more worried about rod bearings, dodgy MAFs, brake servos and basically every single rubber bush on the entire car.
timing chains are not really an issue on the V8
Vixpy1 said:
timing chains are not really an issue on the V8Looks like a barrel of depreciation proof fun to me... Get them to throw in an extra year of warranty....
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/M/3.2-M/Irvine/1767085-6...
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/M/3.2-M/Irvine/1767085-6...
Olf said:
Looks like a barrel of depreciation proof fun to me... Get them to throw in an extra year of warranty....
http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/M/3.2-M/Irvine/1767085-6...
If that was a Coupe it would be £30K+ at that mileage.http://usedcars.bmw.co.uk/M/3.2-M/Irvine/1767085-6...
Justayellowbadge said:
Leins said:
Only time I've ever witnessed one was parking up at Silverstone for the GP in '96. Amazingly it even seemed to outshine the Alfa SZ beside it for attention
Although I did overhear someone ask "What on earth has that guy done to his Mercedes?"
Not an unreasonable question though, I remember a number of dubious 'rude merc' kitted 190s around during the time. Although I did overhear someone ask "What on earth has that guy done to his Mercedes?"
Vixpy1 said:
Pennyroyal Tea said:
Patrick Bateman said:
I wasn't aware the timing chains on these were prone to bork. VANOS I think is over-dramatised; they grumble sure, but fail completely?No, I'd be more worried about rod bearings, dodgy MAFs, brake servos and basically every single rubber bush on the entire car.
timing chains are not really an issue on the V8Rod bearings would be the only other major one to consider, it's just a lot to fork out for something that could well be fine for many more miles. Just a pain there's no way of knowing for sure until you remove them.
Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 21st February 12:09
Patrick Bateman said:
Timing chain guides, however, can be. If the chain has been replaced then it'll have new guides. Trying to accurately say at what mileage this is though is too difficult. A guy on bmw5 forum had his grenade the engine at over 220k miles, there's a 300k+ mile one on M5 board on original engine internals too.
Rod bearings would be the only other major one to consider, it's just a lot to fork out for something that could well be fine for many more miles. Just a pain there's no way of knowing for sure until you remove them.
This is why I'm glad to be out of that game. Too much risk for not enough reward, IMO. Rod bearings would be the only other major one to consider, it's just a lot to fork out for something that could well be fine for many more miles. Just a pain there's no way of knowing for sure until you remove them.
Edited by Patrick Bateman on Sunday 21st February 12:09
Patrick Bateman said:
As in started to break up and require replacing or completely break up and grenade the engine?
Can be a good idea to drop the lower oil pan to check for any plastic debris.
Started to go, could hear the chain hitting the cover.Can be a good idea to drop the lower oil pan to check for any plastic debris.
Wasn't worth fixing that car, so broke it for parts - the manual conversion alone pretty much covered the value of the car.
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