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Q. How does one interpret the VIN?
A. Information regarding the logic behind the VIN sequence can be found at
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/all_vin_chart.gif
.
Q. Who is Ron Stygar?
A. While I don't personally know Ron Stygar, I've heard and read enough about him to fill a book. Ron spends countless hours helping the BMW
community with repairs, modifications, advice and just about everything else BMW related. Visit his web page where you'll find some of the most
useful BMW related information on the internet
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/frame_ron.html.
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Q. What should I look for when purchasing a used M3?
A. There are a few notable items. If purchasing a 1995 or 1996 M3, make sure the water pump has been changed to the metal impeller type
(discussed in the Engine section). On all M3s, verify the following: the radiator neck is not cracked, compression of all cylinders is within spec.,
there are no parts with DOT-R labels (discussed above), and no fault (may be minor) or over-rev codes have been saved. Finally, if you are
serious about your purchase, you should have the vehicle inspected by a certified BMW technician.
Q. What are DOT-R labels?
A. DOT-R (Department Of Transportation - Replacement) labels are used in place of the standard BMW label (includes your VIN number) indicating a
particular part has been replaced, e.g., the hood or fender, and is often attributed to a motor vehicle accident. For more information visit the
Unofficial BMW website
http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/all_vin_chart2.gif
which includes a further explanation of DOT-R labels.
Q. What is a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) M3?
A. In short, a CPO M3 is a dealer inspected and certified M3 with an additional 2 year / 100K mile factory warranty. For a detailed description, visit
the BMW NA site at
http://www.bmwusa.com/.
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Q. Will modifications or aftermarket parts void my warranty?
A. Yes and no. Technically, it is up to the dealer to determine whether a certain modification or aftermarket part has directly affected the item in
question. However, no two dealers are alike; some look the other way, while others will flat out refuse to provide warranty service for a failed
water pump when it was clear that the owner has modified his center console to accommodate a six pack. For further clarification, a statement
from a BMW bulletin (#010397) follows:
In general terms, the BMW warranty on a component is void due to a modification, where the modification, alteration or installation
of an aftermarket part was directly responsible for the failure.
Q. Why do I sometimes have problems shifting under hard acceleration and what is a mis-shift?
A. One of the primary causes of problematic shifting may be the stock manual transmission mounts. Under high loads, the mounts tend to
excessively flex and sometimes to the point where gear engagement can be difficult. This symptom is often exacerbated by accelerating around a
corner, further compressing the mounts. On occasion an unlucky few have mis-shifted (selected the incorrect gear, e.g., 2nd instead of 4th)
causing severe engine damage. A mis-shift may be due to weakened mounts that have deflected too much, although many other factors may be
contributing as well. In any case, a stiffer transmission mount will reduce potential complications down the road with few, if any, drawbacks. UUC
Motorwerks
http://www.uucmotorwerks.com/
has designed a replacement mount and an enthusiast's informative page details the mount installation
http://home.earthlink.net/~r_tech/cars/transmission_mount_bushing.html
.
Q. What horsepower gain will I experience with certain modifications?
A. The figures listed below are approximate and most are referenced from Dinan http://www.dinanbmw.com. Also note that one can't simply add each
item's effective HP, i.e., the overall system increase in HP is not equal to the sum of the individual modification gains.
MODIFICATION GAIN (HP, approx.)
air intake 10
camshafts 10
chip 10
exhaust 7
headers 10
high flow air meter 7
supercharger 100
throttle body 5
underdrive pulley 7
Q. What is the easiest and cheapest way to gain a few extra horsepower?
A. With a quick and easy modification to your factory airbox, your M3 should gain approximately 4 HP and 4 lb ft of torque as proven by Active
Autowerke Tuning's dyno results
http://www.activeautowerke.com/dyno/96M3%20Stock%20NoBaffles%20vs%2096M3%20Stock.asp. Simply remove the lower
baffle on the inlet side, inside your airbox. Access to the baffle is best achieved by temporarily removing the entire airbox assembly from the
vehicle. Looking on the underside of the airbox, a wedge shaped tab will be protruding through a slot on the airbox. This is what holds the baffle
in and you may need a screwdriver to coax it out. After removal of the baffle, simply reinstall your airbox and keep the baffle handy in case you
ever want to return the airbox back to stock form.
