Philes' Forum by Vic Lucariello

Hello, Bimmerphiles! This month I have a report on the tech session hosted by our friends at Hunterdon BMW. Part II of the saga of Big Al’s alternator will continue next month. Don’t worry, Big Al is prominently featured in this month’s Philes’ Forum!

Before we get started, I want to remind you that I still want to receive copies of the NJ motor vehicle inspection reports which should be issued every time an emissions test is performed by either a State or private facility. I am interested in receiving a copy of your report whether or not you pass the test. These reports are a big help to me in advising folks who fail. Again, thanks for your help.

While I am on the subject, you might recall that two months ago I wrote about participating in a dynamometer emissions test. Well, I recently touched base with the tech who ran the test, and he tells me that of the maybe 100 fleet vehicles he has dyno tested thus far, only one has failed, and none has been damaged by the testing.

About fifty bimmerphiles descended upon Hunterdon BMW on 15 March. Hunterdon graciously hosted a tech session where we demonstrated what to look for when preparing a Bimmer for a driver school. BMWNA-Certified Techs Bill Wiedmuller and Rebecca Schindler, both of Hunterdon BMW, participated as did yours truly and Alicia DeLalio. Bill and Alicia are both NJ Chapter Tech Workers. Unexpected added attractions were an E46 323i Touring from BMW NA and an authentic E34 Euro M5 Touring! Door prizes were an EZI-Bleed brake bleeder donated by John Abbot and a mystery prize which turned out to be a microfiche reader-printer donated by Jon Saperia.

The victims were Big Al’s 100,000 + mi. E30 M3, Ricardo Venegas’ 20,000 mi. E36 M3, and a brandy-new E46 328ic furnished by Hunterdon [The E46 was Bill Wiedmuller’s idea.] We had the three Bimmers up on adjacent lifts, so we could compare undercarriages as well as tech the cars.

As you might expect, Big Al’s [Another NJ Chapter Tech Worker, or should I say FORMER Tech Worker] M3 had the most items, ahem…, needing attention. We found a horribly-deteriorated guibo coupling, cracked-power steering belt, broken exhaust hangars, engine oil leaks, rusted-out muffler, broken wires on the auxiliary fan temperature switch, cracked boots on the front anti-roll bar links, cracked rubber on the rear anti-roll bar links, a broken transmission mount, a missing bolt on a brake dust shield, and under the driver seat, perfumed, monogrammed [!] pink chantilly-lace panties [size:XXXXL] from Victoria’s Revenge. [The guibo coupling is the flexible rubber coupling which connects the transmission output flange to the driveshaft. E30 M3 guibos last about 60,000 miles.]

Ricardo’s M3 was luckier. We didn’t find anything wrong other than a bit of seepage from the transmission filler plug and brake rotors which would probably need changing [due to wear] at the next pad change. Hey, we hadda find something, we have an image to uphold! Ricardo himself wasn’t so lucky as he won the fiche reader-printer and had to lug it out of there. There was absolutely no way Joanne woulda let me back in the house with that thing!

Judging from number of questions fielded by the tech crew and the fact that some of us were still there at 11 PM, I would say that the meeting was quite a success. I would like to thank Hunterdon BMW for having us over. This is the second time they have hosted a tech session, and I am hoping we can make this an annual Spring event. Thanks also to Bill, Rebecca, and Alicia. It was a long evening.

Hunterdon BMW [908 236 6302] is located on Rt. 22 West in Lebanon, NJ, about 15 minutes West of Rt. 287. In addition to their service and repair facilities, they have high caliber collision repair and parts departments which cater to nuts like us. Moreover, Hunterdon has been able, somehow, to help folks resolve seemingly unresolvable warranty problems. Oh yeah, they sell Bimmers, too. Be sure to mention your NJ Chapter affiliation when you stop in. Tell ‘em Philes’ Forum sent you.

Anyone wishing to contribute to Philes' Forum should contact me via the info on the masthead. I'm interested in tech tips, repair /maintenance questions and/or tips, dealer horror stories, product evaluations, etc. Please call before 8 PM, and if you leave a message, PLEASE INCLUDE A PHONE NUMBER WHERE I CAN REACH YOU ON WEEKDAYS. Also, please be patient, I try to return every phone call, but it sometimes takes a while. If you don’t hear back from me within a few days, please call again. The best way to contact me is via e-mail.

Copyright 2000 - V.M. Lucariello, PE