GerryAttrick

I recently had some trouble with one rear tyre catching on the lip of the arch on my E39 Touring with SLS. I think I have sorted that with the use of a rubber mallet. Reading the Bentley manual it seems to indicate that you can adjust the ride height on SLS according to the size of rim - mine is running 18" with 245 x 45 tyres. I know these are higher than optimum but I want the extra sidewall height for comfort and to protect the wheels against ptoholes on our crappy roads. is it possible to reset the ride height and is it a major job? Can you also stiffen it a tad by pumping more air in to it?

I think you are correct. From memory the rolling radius is quite a bit more and I think that coupled with maybe the SLS needing a sort may have been the issue.I did notice that when I jacked the car up and then let it down the clearance between the tyre and lip of the arch was quite small but after a brief run the clearance was significantly greater. I'll get the SLS checked at the next service if it seems OK in the interim...if not that will happen sooner. Do SLS faults show up on a computer check or is SLS solely a manual operation. I have access to Carsofr & my Bentley Manual DVD is on its was so that should help

Thanks M-Spec - that just what I needed. I never managed to find it with all my Googling but I have no idea why.Now this weekends job is to see if I can actually get the lever moved enough to open the glass. I might check the wiring first as that might just solve the problem without having to replace the switch. Must remember to take photos.

The glass hatch on my E39 Touring won't open and I suspect it is a micro switch that has failed but I can't seem to find any info on how to verify the problem or fix it....even on the TIS DVD. Its a real pain because the gas struts on the hatch have also got a touch of Brewers Droop and won't always stay open so it would be nice to be able to open the glass to put groceries in.It also looks a bit naff seeing a BMW with a stick holding the hatch open. Any advice on how to fix it would be appreciated.

Sorted - it does indeed seem to have SLS but with the aid of a rubber mallet I managed to "pursuade" the arch lip to move a few mm and hopefully that has sorted it. I'll know for sure this weekend when I tow a trailer across to the Coromandel.

I don't think mine has SLS although I have to confess to not checking. (Memo to self- "have a look and find out this weekend). However the Alignment guys said they could not do anything to fix the problem and I assume they would have mentioned if SLS was the issue. Its OK under normal running but just when I hit a dip at speed and the suspension compresses. Its only just catching and pulls off tiny pieces of rubber that look like mould nipples - hard to even see where it is marking the tyre itself.I have a rubber mallet so I might just try "massaging" it with that. Its more an issue to the "Passenger seat Airbag". I could take the E36 at a pinch but its not rego'd at the moment and I don't want to spend the money on that this close to Christmas just for the one trip

I've just fitted new 18"(245 x 45 x 18) tyres on my E39 Touring and the right rear is "just" catching on the inner guard lip - all the others are OK. I have had it in for a suspension and alignment check and its all spot on so I need to get the rear guard lip slightly rolled. I'll do both to keep things even. Any recommendations on the best place to get this done - preferably on the North Shore. Happy to pay cash for Christmas I have to tow a trailer down country next weekend (16th) so it would be nice to get it done for that otherwise I'll need to bung the old tyres back on for the trip. I had 265/35x18s before and the low profile worked well but I hate the lack of give in the sidewalls and the 45s give me a more comfortable ride.

No offence taken. My wife did a bit of googling and came up with a few links but as expected they all came to nothing. Oh well we can't win them all. Lucky I have some tyres to get me by that are a few months off needing replacement so I can afford to spend some time looking. I probably have more chance of some good used Bridgies in 245/45/18 than the Toyos I am very tempted by the Goodyears but I have spent a bit more than planned lately and its going to be a squeeze finding $500 in the next little while. I need to keep a bit in reserve to cover the rewire on my E36 coupe after a "person who shall be unnamed" put a 25 amp fuse in a 5amp slot!..and before you point the finger it was an electrical tradesman!!!! I've got a few bits n bobs to sell off on TM so if I am lucky there then I'll grab the Goodyears for sure.

You did not cross enough fingers...just heard that the supplier has none in stock so they can't supply. :banghead: I could have told them that as I have already spoken to suppliers. Oh well hopefully there will still be one somewhere I can luck on to. Otherwise I am going to have to look for 2 GOOD 2ndhand Bridgestone Potenza RE001 Adrenalin 245/45R/18 to match the fronts. I'd prefer new but I can't afford them just at this time.

BrunchYou are THE MAN!!! Thats a beer I owe you. Just bought it for buy now - just hope they don't find its actually not that size. I did have look on TM a while back but had no luck and was waiting to hear if it was a tread separation before getting the replacement. Dunno why I did not try TM again

Toyo Proxes T1R 265/35/ZR18

I don't know if this constitutes a cross post but if they do no doubt the mods will remove it. I just posted a WTB for a Toyo to replace my one that is totalled but has a near new mate looking for company. Probably most of the dealers (Zanetti??)look here first so I thought it would be worth a heads up to look in the WTB. No point in checking with the distributor in Hamilton as the tyre has gone out of stock and has been replaced and they have no T1Rs left. If I can't find a decent one then the good one will need to go in the boot as a spare...which does mean I'll be able to sell my OEM wheel and brand new Continental so I guess there is an updside

One of my Toyos has turned its last revolution leaving me with a near new tyre that needs a matching mate. Its either that or I have to spend $$ I don't currently have switching to 2 new replacements. I have contacted Toyo and they tell me all the T1Rs have now gone out of stock and they have none left!!!! If anyone has a new or very good used one please let me know...hopefully one of the dealers is reading this and just happens to have an orphan on their shelf looking for a good home

My Speedo and Fuel guage have both stopped working. After looking at the wiring diagram it seems they both pass through a connector C. I have checked the fuses and they are all Ok. The Orange low fuel light comes on even though it now has at least $40 worth of gas onn top of what was there before. Neither the needle for the guage or the speedo needle moves but Tacho etc is fine. I'd like to check at connector C but I can't find where it is...with my luck and knackerd back it will be up behind the dash. If it helps I have recently replaced the dud 7 button OBC with an 11 Button OBS - would the connector be tucked in behind there and maybe I have dislodged it. I'd look myself tonight but its dark when I get home and I can't get any cars in my garage - my wife and her brother have taken over all the spare space. Any other suggestions on what to check would be great as my son wants to borrow the car later this week and I'd rather he had a speedo when he does.

Thanks - will contact him after weekend as I will be out of town

The 7 button OBC on my 94 E36 has died. I'll put an 18 button in eventually but in the interim I'd like to get a cheap (but working) 11 button OBC to install. The hole in the dash is seriously upsetting me. If anyone has a working 11 button and has upgraded or has a cheap one please let me know Alan 021-2779900 PS Left my phone at the beach so won't be contactable until after 10am Saturday 26 Feb.

Who did you get them from ? Local or overseas? Do they make much difference to new standard lines?

I have no problems bleeding brakes - I'm just not sure if there are any tricks with ABSI'll take your old ones if you don't need them -that way I can get the car going again and pick up some stainless later and install them I'll be in Hamilton Xmas Day so could grab them then. Give me a ring on 021-2779900 if that suits you. We can sort a time place anD $$ THEN.

The E36 just failed a WOF and needs new front brake lines. I thought of trying stainless braided lines and wonder if anyone who has them fitted can tell me if they are worth the trouble. The car has ABS so I'd like to know the best place to pick up a set. I was going to fit them myself but I see that you need to "Carry out brake bleeding only after opening ABS Hydraulic System first". Is this a simple task or should I leave it to the "experts" - I have bled non-ABS systems plenty of time before without a problem I'll have a search around for more info on the procedure as I have some time between now and 10 January when I go back to work. Meanwhile any info welcome

Yes it sure does help. I will definitely have a look at a similar setup. The only reason for looking at the Z3 was on the basis that I'd have to replace the discs so I might as well go larger but I no longer drive in excess of the braking capacity (and probably never did if I'm honest.Did you consider EBC rotors? I don't know the price but I did fit some to Falcon I had and they seemed to be much better - although to be fair the falcon ones were badly warped. When you say caliper rebuild do you mean a rebuilt caliper or an over haul kit? I can probably get the calipers overhauled here anyway

Try Charlie at Bygone decals on the North Shore http://www.bygonedecals.com/ He does a lot of original decals and may just have what you want. The website is just being set up so not all of the decals are shown. He has some nice Alpina ones and he is putting some Schnitzer ones on my E36 when I have time to get across to him. He can do custom stuff too.

Not so much wank factor just using the chance to go bigger - I am always being told bigger is better! . Brembo slotted rotors would be nice and I guess at the end of the day when you add cost of bigger rotors and the Z3 calipers there wont be a lot in it. My calipers are fine just the pads and rotors need to be replaced. Are you doing the work on your brakes yourself? If not who is doing it? Are the parts being sourced locally or are they from overseas? Costs? I'm not committed to the Z3 route yet - just starting to consider options and I'll consider the valid points you make.

I will shortly need to fit new discs and pads to my E36 325i and thought I'd take the opportunity to go a bit bigger in the front disc area. From what I can see the easiest (cheapest?) is to go the Z3 Carriers & Rotors and use my existing calipers. A couple of questions: 1. Is the caliper carrier (part No:34.10.6.758.120) handed i.e do I need to buy a left and right or can they be used on either side? Any articles I have found have only mentioned the one part number and I don't yet have a parts manual 2. Given there is "only" an extra 14mm diameter in the front rotors would this upset the brake bias very much?If so whats the best way to fix it? Has anyone done this conversion and if so is the 14mm worth while. I have E46 wheels fitted so wonder if there are other options I should consider or am I best just sticking with the standard setup given that it is only for road use at this stage

Give me a chance - I drove it home Monday night in the dark and have been at work during the last 2 days and its almost dark again when I get home. I'll get some pix and put them up at the weekend...now watch it pi$$ down! Here ya go. Its the only one I have so far

Well I did it...I went and bought another E36 last night to keep my E39 Touring company Its a NZ new 1993 Burgundy (have not checked the correct description yet) 325i a/2 with Schnitzer rear spoiler and pale grey leather trim. High kms but seems to run OK and it will give me something to play with over the summer. I just ordered a set of Carsoft Interface cables and once they arrive I'll do a quick scan to see if anything major throws up. I've never used the Carsoft software before so it should be quite a learning experience I think it needs new pads and front discs so I may see about some larger discs. I think Z3 caliper carriers are needed for the swap so I'll have to do some research first. My wife was not amused but the doctor says the bruises will fade quite soon