1-9 0

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BMW M3

uesda y

If it's not broken, we won't fix it.

We're not the kind of BMW repair shop that seems to find a major problem with your car every time you bring it in for an oil change. If your BMW needs only a minor adjustment to solve a 1

problem, we'll tel l you. Because we focus on building ' ,.~' ,, long term re lationships with our customers. , (· (:) p But if your BMW does need fixing , our ASE-certified- ;; Master Technicians have the expertise to quickly get to the root of the problem. With our state-of-the-art equipment and computerized ~ access to all factory service bulletins, we' ll make sure your repairs are done right the first time.

As a get-to-know-you special, save 10% up to $35.00 on all services, OR receive an Oil Change for just $19.95 plus tax. Offer valid through March 31 , 1998, new customers on ly. We'l l even provide free shuttle servicel So call us today at 747-6044. 2111 140th Ave. NE Bellevue, WA 98005

STRICTLY BMW Independent Service

Over 2,000 BMW owners trust us with their keys

~ Ziindlolge Volume 28

Club Hotline 206 286-1209

Club Website www.bmwaca.org

Ziindfolge Staff Editors-In-Chief

Number 3

Cover: BMW Motorsport' s first effort, the mid· engined Ml. BMW Archives photo.

Lucetta and David Lightfoot 2641 39th Ave. W. Seattle, WA 98199 206 282-2641 Fax 206 282-3614

Production Editor William Linder

Editor Emeritus Denny Organ

Columnists Thomas B. Nast Greg Mierz

Assistant Editor I Photographer Brian Horne bhorne@interserv.com

Postal Notice Zundfolge is published monthly by the BMW ACA Puget Sound Region. Office of Publication : 2641 39th Ave. West, Seattle, WA 98199. USPS publication number 715250. Subscriptions are $10 annually (available only as part of the $25 membership fee). Periodicals postage paid at Seattle, WA. Postmaster, send address changes to: Zundfolge PO Box 1259 Bellevue, WA 98009

Boilerplate This magazine is the monthly publica­tion of the BMW ACA, Puget Sound Region, and remains its property. All information furnished herein is provid­ed by the membership for members only. Ideas, suggestions and opinions, technical or otherwise, are those of the authors, without authentication by or liability to the editors or the Club .

liindfolge is produced by Creative Image Design, 253 850-3047

March 1998

Board ol Directors Please limit phone calls to these volunteers to between the hours of 9am and 9pm.

President Hugh Golden 2361 0 51 st Ave .S. Kent, WA 98032 253 859-5947

Vice-President Ray Kirkland 11303 224th Ave. N.E. Redmond, WA 98053 425 868- l 089 RayK@mci2000.com

3 Speedware General Meeting by Ray Kirkland

Stalls

~ MOTO~ ' '. ~~~

g

~~ill E-3

4 Stalls

5 Presidential Address

6 Motorsports Page

8 Technik

9 Twenty Years Of M Cars

14 Get Ready For Autocross

14 New Members

16 AA-Formation

20 Classified Marketplace

March 27 friday Deadline for the April Zi.indfolge

March 28 saturday

by Thomas B. Nast

by Hugh Golden

by the Driving Events Committee

edited by Greg Mierz

by Brian Horne

from the editors

General Meeting at Speedware in Redmond. See the arti­cle for details on this 'don't miss ' meeting.

April 2 thursday Board Meeting hosted by Mary Lee Helton. All members are welcome. Famous brownies.

April 18 saturday Detailing Session hosted by Bradley's Autowax and Detail in Bellevue. See Ray Kirkland's article for all the particulars.

May 8 friday Driving School at Bremerton Raceway. This is a Friday; call in sick. Hurra y Hurray it's the eighth of May.

May 10 sunday Lapping Day at Seattle International Raceway.

Secretary Roster Manager Concours d'Elegance Michael Thompson Greg Mierz Open Position. 10821 S.E. 172nd St.#4A 2218 SW. Willow St. Please contact a board Renton , WA 98053 Seattle, WA 98106 member if you're 425 228-0848 206 7 68-03 7 6 interested in volunteering . alpina@halcyon.com GregM2002@aol .com

Ziindfolge Editors Treasurer Lucetta & David Lightfoot Banquet Roger Wales litefeet@brigadoon.com Chris & Bi ll Linder 2515 140th Pl . S.E. 3903 Cambridge Ct. Mill Creek, WA 98012 Driving Events Kent, WA 98032 425 7 43-9246 Jacqueline Kahn 253 859-5620

8034 NE l 78th La ne

Membership Bothell , WA 980 11 Past President Mory Lee Helton 425 481-9571 Stephen Niver 4700 Somerset Ave. S. E. Kahn@esca.com 2546 l 86th Ave . N.E. Bellevue, WA 98006 Wes Hill Redmond, WA 98052 425 643-4729 425 989-9516 425 883-8577

General Meeting at Speedware March 28 Shaun Duncan of Speedware in Redmond has invited the club to join him and his crew on Saturday the 28th at lOam for a fun morning. Colin Cantrell will do an alignment for us and point out the wear points and tricks of the job. Dan Bernauer will be on deck to show us the installation of a harness bar assembly in an E36 (cutTent 3 series).

Speedware has long been a must stop for the Porsche people and is now a new adver­tiser in the Zundfolge. They would like to introduce themselves to our club and show why they have long been a must stop for the Porsche people as well as other perfor­mance folks. Shaun will also give a talk on the mysteries of helmet ratings, and discuss which clubs and sanctioning bodies requ ire which ratings. It will be well worth it to come just for this talk.

Speedware has some sharp racing machinery on display and in the shop along with a quality line of related apparel, parts and equipment including Sparco and Bell.

Not only do they do a good business in street and track preparation but they also have a great fabrication business that includes the above harness bars as well as roll bars and cages .

Shaun has assured me that not only will there be coffee and doughnuts but some spe­cial savings for the club members that come out on the 28th.

Speedware is located in downtown Redmond. Directions from 520 eastbound, take the Sammamish Parkway exit, go left at light, next right onto Leary and left at light onto 159th, middle of block on left side; 7509 159th NE. You can ' t miss their large sign.

-Ray Kirkland

National PRO Rally Event To Be Run In Washington

PRO Rally 's motto is "Real Cars, Real Roads, Real Fast. " It consists of production­based cars traveling down closed-off public roads (usually dirt) at high speeds in timed stages. A co-driver sits in the passenger seat and instructs the driver on the upcoming route. If you like to see long powerslides and cars spitting gravel as they claw for every last bit of traction, this is the sport to watch.

On April 17th and 18th, the SCCA Northwest Region wi ll be hosting the "Wild West" round of the National PRO Rally Championship. While it looks doubtful that the Pennsylvania-based M3ti team of Rick Davis and Ben Greisler will be able to compete this year, there should still be an interesting aiTay of vehicles in attendance.

The tentative schedule calls for the cars to be on public display on Friday, April 17th from 4:30 to 6:00 pm, after which the night stages will be held. On Saturday morning, the cars can also be viewed from 8:30 to 9:00 am, after which the day stages of the rally will be held.

Friday evening 's viewing will be at the Little Creek Casino, located a few minutes northwest of Olympia and south of Shelton on Highway 101. To get there, take exit 104 from I-5 and travel northwest on Highway 101 to the Highway 108/McCleary exit. The casino is right off the highway. Downtown Shelton, where the cars can be viewed Saturday morning, is just a few minutes farther up Highway 101. Spectator guides, including stage viewing locations and times, will be available. Bring a car you don't mind taking down a gravel road, dress for doing a little standing in the woods and you 'II have a fun time!

For more information , please check out these websites: http://www.scca.com/ama­teur/prorally .html, http://www.nwr-scca.org/ral ly or http://www.reed.edu/-bradley. Also, since this schedule is only tentative, please call the SCCA hotline at (206)292-0500 ext. 3, to verify times and locations. Feel free to contact me at (206)842-9983 or jrallen@halcyon.com if you'd like more information, or come by and say hi to me when you're there. I'll be co-driving car 76.

- John R. Allen

Tech Session At Bradley's Autowax Detail In Bellevue On April 18th we are invited to Bradley's Detail Shop on Northeast 16th in Bellevue to go over the Spring cleaning require­ments for our cars. Brad Zefkeles will demonstrate the best ways to Spring clean our cars and help us get them looking good for the Summer months. Next issue I will describe in detail what processes he will show us and also the products he rec­ommends.

-Ray Kirkland

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1998 March ZUNDFOLGE 3 e

Stalls

Flakes It seems extraordinary that "The Last Judgment" has seen its 450th birthday come and go, but car makers cannot make a coat of paint last for two decades.

All Michelangelo had to work with was some vegetables, oil, oxides and clays. The only techie thing he had that was high was the scaffolding beneath the Sistine Chapel ceiling. We have acrylics, urethanes, catalysts and an electron micro­scope 's view of the molecular structures of coatings, but they might as well be fin­ger paints for all the good they do us.

BMW has a rich history in the paint failure department, harking back at least to metallic paints used in the seventies. These were clear-coated with something loose ly derived from fish scales, which rather quickly attempted a return to the sea. BMW shared the bill for repainting many of those cars, despite having culled the very best North Atlantic cod. Probably no metallic-painted BMW of that period that spent more than one percent of its time outside has surviving original paint.

As the eighties waxed, there was a brief Happy Era in the paint department, especially for those of us wise enough to avoid metallics and reds. Then the EPA, Greens and other assorted do-good myopes got their hands in the cans, foist­ing off stuff called water-borne paint on an unresisting industry.

Water-borne paint, like its immediate antecedent, water colors, is excellent stuff. Can't think of anything better for kids painting dinosaurs in pre-school. It just hasn ' t worked out all that well on cars .

First, as with so many things environ­mental, water-borne paints were rolled out before they were adequately field tested. Which is a polite way of saying, car buy­ers did the field testing without first being told they were getting Paint v1.0. What field testing disclosed was that such

0 4 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

by Thomas B. Nast

unforeseeable conditions as sun, flying pebbles, tree sap and guano caused the paint to fl y off in patches. Whence, the car or portions thereof could be repainted, no doubt at considerably more environmental burden than had it been done with decent processes in the first place. Nothing new there .

It is a little-known fact that the speed of cars during this period was electronical­ly governed to prevent the paint from blowing off.

In the last few years, water-borne paint has been improved so that instead of out­right failing, it is merely looks lousy as it ages. The clear coats tend to cloud, partic­ularly on dark-colored cars. The clears also behave as if they are more absorbing of chemicals and contaminants; run your hand over them, and you will feel a fine grit of particulates that have embedded themselves . There are techniques and materials for dealing with this , but we would all be better off without these sorts of "undocumented features ." The longevi­ty of these new formulae cannot yet be determined, but few doubt their inferiority to the old acrylics.

Presently, the unelected fourth branch of government is closing down paint shops that don 't meet stipulated levels of con­tainment and filtration . While this may serve some greater good, it will have the effect of reducing the number of licit paint shops while increasing the overhead of those surviving, which will make the cost of repainting measurably higher. And even with this equipment installed, our ever­vigilant agencies are hard at work killing off after-market paints that aren't water borne. This is mild behavior for the regents of the "Land of the Free," where even toilet design and light bulb specifica­tions are dictated by regulation. But it is to the detriment of an attractive, well-main­tained car population.

There is , as with so many changes which are governmental rather than mar­ket driven, much dysfunction in all this. Call it governmentia.

Common sense challenges the implied notion that squirting durable paint onto cars is more environmentally degrading than building more cars to replace those that return to earth prematurely. That's why car manufacturers aren't protesting these rules . Most would just as soon the paint fell off after the warranty expires, so they ' ll sell more cars. Your loss is their gain.

But even as federal, state and regional regulators attempt to sentence cars to an early death (and the paint issue is just one of the predicate convictions) , our state leg­islature stays execution. It does so through a tax code which severely penalizes the purchase and operation of a new vehicle. As most of us are painfully aware, the first year tax hit is over 10% (assuming no fed­eral "gas guzzler" or "luxury tax" sur­charges), and an unconstitutional 2.5 % per year thereafter on some arbitrar il y­assigned value. For a Z3, this can be $4500 up front follow by an annual charge slowly declining from about $1000. These amounts are, of course, frequently raised. And the money from the increases, stated to be for road improvements, somehow always winds up elsewhere. I think I 'll keep my 2002 at about $65 per year, thank you.

So we have constructed a system which produces crippled cars for environ­mental reasons, then encourages them to remain on the roads for economic reasons. My plea: At least put an attractive, durable fini sh on them, so they 're easy on the eye and we owners have investments in which we can take pride. Ci'

BMWACA

Presidental Address

by Hugh Golden

Puget Sound Region

Hugh at the annual banquet in January.

My name is Hugh Golden, I am the new BMW ACA club presi­dent. I believe a great many of

you know me, or have at least met me. I have been involved with the BMW mar­que and the BMW CCA for ten years. I have been a member of the BMW ACA for six years, the last tlu·ee of which I have been very active with the club's board of direc­tors. Many of you will recognize me from being the banquet coordinator for the last two years. I am happy and excited to be the BMW ACA club president, consider this an introduction as well as a mission state­ment for my first year as club president.

A leader's agenda is dictated by cur­rent events. The main current events affecting the BMW ACA in 1998 are growth, general direction of the club, and the BMW CCA'S attempts to get us to unite with them.

BMW has experienced unprecedented growth in the past few years, culminating with record sales figures in 1997. While the BMW ACA has grown also, our growth does not reflect that of BMW's. I am going to take a more aggressive approach to expanding club membership. The ability to increase our membership ultimately rests with current club mem­bers, there is no better marketing tool for a club then its members . I ask you to spread the word, and share with other BMW owners the many benefits our club offers them. The board has decided to try and create printed material which can be

distributed to potential club members. If we all work toward a common goal of growth , I am confident the club can enjoy unprecedented growth to match.BMW's.

Like any organization uniting individ­uals, our club is a diverse group of people. This diversity creates an environment of change. Currently BMW has been very successful in realizing its company policy of being a "drivers" car company. BMW's success in motorsports over the last cou­ple of years has been phenomenal. This successful motorsports campaign has car­ried over onto the showroom floor in the form of the M3 in all its varieties, the M Roadster and Coupe, and an overall sportier line up of cars . Club members have embraced this BMW renaissance by attending club driving events in record numbers . The interest in driving events is at an all time high and increasing. The club's policy for driving event remains one of instruction, and the current driving events coordinators have made tremen­dous strides in attracting new members to club driving events. The BMW ACA club driving schools are recognized as the pre­miere club sponsored driving schools in the Northwest. We owe this success to current and past driving event coordina­tors, as well as BMW for building the cars we want to drive.

The danger associated with the popu­larity of one activity in a club, is that the club becomes one dimensional, and less attractive to its members as a whole. The

board of directors is working to keep vari­ety in club events. I encourage club mem­bers with other interests to voice their interests and step up with ideas and actions to help keep the BMW ACA a multi-dimensional club.

BMW CCA has recently made over­tures to our club regarding a uniting of the two BMW car clubs. Briefly, BMW CCA is a national BMW car club with 30,000 members, and publishes the Roundel mag­azine. BMW ACA is "us" and numbers over 900 members and publishes the Zunc{folge magazine. This is a complicat­ed issue with pros and cons towards unit­ing the two clubs. This issue is currently under consideration by the club 's board of directors with no time frame for a deci­sion.

The board will keep the general mem­bership apprised of this issue as it devel­ops, and will endeavor to lead the club in the direction which best benefits the BMW ACA as a whole.

The BMW ACA is a thriving club with tremendous potential. I have assumed the role of president at a very opportune time, and would like to thank retiring president Steve Niver for the cur­rent success. I promise to do what ever I can to improve the BMW ACA. Please feel free to contact me at (253) 859 5947 with any concerns or suggestions, and I strongly encourage you to get more involved with your club. ~

1998 March ZUNDFOLGE 5

May Driving School First school of the Season!

by Jacqueline Kahn ... from your Driving Events Committee

Our first High Performance Driving School for the year is at Bremerton Raceway, Friday, May

8th. We encourage all those folks who have been wanting to come and out and see what our events are all about to join us. Remember you don't need a BMW to attend our schools! You just need enthusi­asm and the desire to learn more about you and your car 's abilities. Those of you who have attended our schools in the past, we hope to see you as well- practice, practice, practice!!!

The day will begin with a series of drill stations. Each station is designed to focus on specific car control skills . Instructors will be available to ride with you and coach you at each drill station. You will learn the limits of your car and how to keep your car within those limits. During the afternoon you will use those skills you learned in the morning to run some more advanced exercises.

The objective of the school is to make you a safer and more confident driver. You ' ll have a blast and have a whole new appreciation for your BMW! If you've ever been curious why they ca!J these 'The Ultimate Driving Machines' spend a day with us and find out what German Engineering is all about!

We have also planned a follow up school and lapping day on Sunday, May 10th at SIR for those interested in pulling your newly learned skills together in a road course venue. This school will be specifically designed with you in mind! Instructors will be working with you dur­ing the Sunday program as well. See this

0 6 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

month's article for registration details and sign up for both schools!! You won ' t be sorry!

please fill out the registration form, note the event date and mail it to: Jacqueline Kahn, 8034 NE l 78th Lane Bothell, WA by April 27th. Call with any questions you may have (206)481-9571. ~

Our schools do fill up quickly so get your registrations in early! To register

r-------------------------------, Driver's School Registration Form Friday, May 8, 1998 at Bremerton

Name ________________ Mem.# ______ _

Address _______________________ _

Year & Model Car _____________________ _

Phone No. Home ( _______ Work (

Number of Previous Track Events (Type, Where, etc.) _________ _

Driving Level: Novice, I, II, Ill , Instructor (circle one) Cost of School: $65 Two Drivers in One Car, Add $35 (non-members add $25) Discount For Attending May 8 School: Deduct $20 Total Amount Enclosed __ _

Please make checks payable to BMW ACA Driving Goals _______________________ _

L-------------------------------~ r-------------------------------,

Driver's School Registration Form Sunday, May 10, 1998 at SIR

Name ________________ Mem.# ______ _

Address _______________________ _

Year & Model Car

Phone No. Home ( _______ Work (

Number of Previous Track Events (Type, Where, etc.) _________ _

Driving Level: Novice, I, II, Ill , Instructor (circle one) Cost of School: $85 Two Drivers in One Car, Add $35 (non-members add $25) Discount For Attending May 8 School: Deduct $20 Total Amount Enclosed __ _

Please make checks payable to BMW ACA Driving Goals ______________________ _

L-------------------------------~

Driving School At SIR BMW ACA Puget Sound Region 1998 Driving Events Calendar

May 8th BMW ACA High

by Jacqueline Kahn

It's been a couple of years since we 've had a driving school at Seattle International Raceway so come join us

Sunday May 10th at the track and we'll do just that. Its not going to be a standard school like we now do at Bremerton but what it will be is a day devoted to show­ing the intennediate and beginning drivers the 'whys and hows' to drive a road course like SIR.

We won't be having drill stations in the morning with cones, what we will have is a possible track walk and intense breakdown of SIR corner by corner. Following that will be driving complete laps at slow speeds one on one with instructors. Because of this it would be an ideal day for all novice and intermediate drivers and those advanced drivers new to the area that haven't really had the chance to explore SIR in depth. Please keep in

Lapping at Laguna A simple reminder that we have schedu led a lapping event to take place at Laguna Seca Raceway on Thursday, June 11th, and the available spaces are filling quick­ly! Beyond the opporturuty to drive the renowned Laguna Seca road course, the surrounding Monterey area is packed with vineyards, golf courses, wonderful shops, beautifully scenic drives, and other terrific activities . C'mon, when was the last time you took a vacation?

If you have any questions please see the article in the February Zundfolge, or call me dming the day at (425)882-6725. If you have already made up your mind to go, please send in your registration form and non-refundable deposit. And HURRY!!

-Ken Hill

mind because of this format local advanced drivers may find this day rather slow, and although informative, there will limited lapping in the afternoon.

We have two scheduled open lapping days at SIR this summer, if you've only attended one of our schools at Bremerton you would be required to attend this event to be signed off to join us . If you attend Friday's event and then join us Sunday you'll also save $20 on the entry.

Our schools do feel up quickly so get your registrations in early! To 1:egister please fill out the attached Registration Form and mail it to Jacqueline Kahn@ 8034 NE l 78th Lane Bothell, WA by April 27th. Call with any questions you may have (206)481-9571.

LAGUNA™ SECA

RACEWAY

Performance Driver's School at Bremerton Raceway.See this month's article for details. Keep in mind, this is a Friday school, so schedule ahead to be out of work t hat day!

May 10th BMW ACA Lapping Day for Novice and Intermediate Driver's at Seattle International Raceway. See this month's article for details.

June 11th BMW ACA Lapping Day at Laguna Seca Raceway! What's that you say? That's right!! Lapping at Laguna Seca. Details in future Zundfolgs or registration form this month.

June 21st BMW ACA Lapping Day at Seattle International Raceway.

July 26th BMW ACA Lapping Day at Seattle International Raceway.

Oct. 31st BMW ACA High Performance Driver's School at Bremerton Raceway.

Nov. 1st Alfa Romeo Club Lapping Day at Bremerton Raceway. A great follow-up day to do some lapping after the school on Saturday and pull those skills you learned together! For more information call Pete Bristow (253) 661-3580.

Events are subject to change or can­cellation, so watch future Ziindfolge issues for updated information.

r-------------------------------, Registration Form Laguna Seca Advanced lapping Day June 11, 1998

Name __________________ Mem.# _______ _

Address _______________________ _

Year & Model Car -------------------~­

Phone No. Home ( ________ Work (

$100 Deposit Included? YES NO (No if non-BMW make)

Would you like additional equipment transported? YES NO

Driving Level : I, II, Ill, (circle one, note: not open to novices)

Have you driven at Laguna Seca Before? YES NO When? _______ _

Sharing a car? ___ _ Co-Driver's Name _____________ _

Mail form to: Ken Hill, P.O. Box 3314 Bellevue, WA 98009 IMPORTANT: Please make checks payable to BMW ACA.

L-------------------------------~

1998 March ZUNDFOLGE 7 I

0

Technik edited by Greg Mierz

Rubber Is Our Friend

R ubber is an important component of the modem car. It supplies us with traction in our tires, seals our

doors and windows and isolates the car from the harsh reality of our roads. Rubber comes in varying degrees of hard­ness depending on what it is supposed to do.

Soft rubber is used for weather seals at the doors and windows but harder stuff is used for suspension bushings and motor mounts. Time takes its toll on rubber just like on everything else and renewing some critical pieces can make an older car drive and ride like new. Oil leaks in the area of motor and transmission mounts will accelerate their demise. Transmission mounts are especially vulnerable to seep­age or leakage of the rear transmiss ion seals and the oil softens the mounts. Replacement of softened mounts will reduce the torque rollover of the motor and makes the tranny happier as well.

A lot of wear normally happens in sus­pension pieces and becomes a part of the brake shimmy problem some models get as they age (the E28s come to mind as well as E30s) and leads to a "sloppy" fee l­ing in the steering. Renewing the bushings on the control arms will do wonders to tighten up the feel. Modified 750 bushings are a popular upgrade to the stock E28 ones although a little work is necessary to make them fit. They must be turned down in size or the mount stretched to fit. As I discussed last month in Technik, the E30's ball joints can be a problem and replacement of the control arm solves this problem also. The same would apply to

other models as well. Silicone products should be avoided

on the weather seals and other rubber stuff but a good true rubber lube will add to their life . BMW has a product as does Zymol but I don ' t have first hand experi-

0 8 ZUNDFOLGE Marc:h 1998

ence so the choice is yours. The Internet has become a wealth of

stored information, some bad, some good and some excellent. The World Wide Web or WWW has many pages devoted to cars and BMWs. People have done up pages around certain model s and I'd like to comment about a few. Dale Beuning has two pages of interest for owners of E30 and E36 models that I recommend visiting. Both can be accessed at http://www.eskimo.com/-dalus/bm w /bm w_e36.html. There are many useful FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) there as well as tech tips that are model specific. These have been gathered from the BMW digest. Another very useful one that has 2002 and M5/6 info is Filippo Morelli's located at http ://www.bimmers.com l . Club member John Allen has info on the M5/6s located there as we ll as 2002 info.

For the E28 crowd there are two pages I'd like to suggest. First is Steve Bernstein's page located at www.garageboy.com /bmw/index.html. Second, is Chris Guys' page at www.members.aol.com /bmw535i86/index.html. Check them out for ideas and info.

Parts interchange or substitution has come into discuss ion of late on the 02 digest. Here are some things that were

recentl y brought up. From a 320i: brakes, both front and rear (with modification sometimes); hubs, '77-'80 fits tii struts for ventilated '77 rotors; '8 1-' 83 fit standard struts, rears fit all 02. Transmission for 5-speed conversion; tranny mounts; starter; side miJTors both sides. Differential (with modification). Parking brake lever, yes, and it uses a bolt and nut rather than a pair of circlips on a pivot (doesn 't wag side to side) . Parking brake boot; from a 528i/530i. Starter and alternator (with modifi cation). Later E l2s have internal regul ators, this is good and an easy mod; physical fit is identical but be sure to check the alternator bushings. They wear out and lean just like the ones on an 02; try the urethane bushings for the alternator mounts. Thanks to David Crum: dgcrum@cabrillo.campus.mci.net and Joel Marion: zeitguy@zeit.com for their postings from which this info comes.

The tri via question of the month : In the early 1980s we held autocrosses every May as part of the WWSCC seri es. In 1980 we held Bavarian Blitz II on a day that became very famous for a geologic event. What was the date and what was the event? Answer elsewhere in the Ziindfolge. See you next month . 1

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B eginning with the founding of BMW in 1916, "M" has always stood for Motoren-German for

"engines." And anyone who knows BMW wel l knows that wonderful engines are as much a part of BMW's reputation today as ever.

Today, however, "M" has another, highly complementary meaning at BMW. It stands for BMW M, the high perfor­mance and racing division of BMW; for the growing family of special BMW "M Cars"; for the evolving "brand within a brand" that is BMW M. As the Bavarian automaker' s competition and high perfor­mance division , BMW M has come to s ig­nify a very special breed of high perfor­mance automobile, exemplified by the BMWM3 .

By the end of 1998, five BMW M models will be available in the U.S. This heralds a new thrust and heightened signifi­cance for BMW M, as it enlivens the present auto scene and prepares for the future.

The First M Car The first M Car offered as a road car was the BMW M 1-an exotic, beautiful and fast mid-engine two­seater sports car introduced in 1978. Racing and perfor­mance activities had always been part of BMW's tradi­tion; BMW Motorsport GmbH had been established as a formal subsidiary of BMW in 1972 to conduct the company's racing activities and to manufacture rac­ing engines and cars, as well as modifica­tion kits and components for production cars. In its early days , for example, BMW Motorsport developed and supported a four-cylinder, 2.0-liter Formula Two rac­ing engine, and fielded awesome racing versions of BMW's elegant coupe model of the late Sixties and early Seventies , the 3.0 CS.

Twenty Years Of

MCars

The engine for those racing 3.0 CS models was a 24-valve inline six-cylinder unit , which in turn became the powerplant for the Ml. In the roadgoing Ml , this unit displaced 3.S liters and delivered 277 horsepower; competition versions put as much as 9SO hp to their huge racing tires. By the time the Ml 's career ended, rough­ly 4SO examples had been produced; today, the few available Mls command premium prices, well into six figures , as collector cars.

The Ml 's reign was brief; that of its engine would be long. Designated M88, this illustrious six-cylinder-whose power

was so abundant and sound so noble that it could be mistaken for a V-12-went on to drive subsequent generations of M Cars, the MS and M6.

These cars would establish the M Car tradition that thrives to thi s day. The M63SCSi , introduced in mid-1983 , was a special higher-performance version of BMW's graceful Coupe model of the peri­od; its M88 engine now produces an even more impressive 286 hp in European trim.

The MS, a con-esponding version of i BMW's S Series sedan, followed in

early 198S. When BMW decided to offer these

models in America, they would have to be "detuned" a bit to meet the more stringent U.S. emission limits: In American trim the 1987 M6 (as the M63SCSi was called in the U.S.) and 1988 MS offered 2S6 hp, still more than enough to deliver thrilling performance. Reporting in the April 1986 issue of Road & Track, the magazine's European Editor Paul Frere commented that "This car, you see, despite its external appearance and generous accommodation for four or even five passengers and their luggage, is the next best thing to a full­blood sport car." The M88 engine, which had four valves per cylinder and an indi­vidual throttle for each cylinder, was cost­

ly to produce; M88-powered MSs and M6s were accordingly expen­sive. Yet in the context of specialized high per­fo1mance machinery, they found a ready mar­ket: Over their 1987-89 production run for the U.S., some 2,700 American customers acquired them.

In 1986, BMW Motorsport launched a lower-priced model , the M3. Based on the increasingly popular BMW 3 Series, the M3 had been developed for the Group A category of

the European Touring Car Championship­which it won, along with the German Touring Car Championship, in its first year out. The production model was pow­ered by a four-cylinder engine that shared its basic architecture with the Ml/MS/M6 six-cylinder; with 2.3 liters of displace­ment, this hardy unit put out 192 hp in catalyst-equipped U.S. form. Comparing

continued on page 12...

1998 March ZUNDFOLGE 9

the M3 to a "normal" 3 Series of the time, Road & Track (February 1988) declared that, "The M3 is the choice for those who want a car whose racing image is more than skin deep." The M3 hit the U.S . mar­ket in May 1987; more than S,000 of them were sold through 1991.

A New Era Begins Higher up the M scale, in 1990 a second generation MS made its debut, with its six-cylinder engine now delivering 310 hp (while meeting U.S. emission limits) and its sleek new body expressing the M ideal more beautifully than ever. From model years 1991to1993, this MS was delivered to some 600 U.S. customers who, if they kept these cars long enough, would surely have a collector' s item in their stable. One might say that the first era of the "M" phenomenon was coming to an end, mak­ing way for a new M era.

The new era would bring not just more excitement, but greater accessibility. A new generation BMW 3 Series appeared in 1992; the new M3, whose body derived from the stylish and dynamic new 3 Series Coupe, made its European debut in late 1992. It was the first M3 with a six-cylin­der engine: BMW Motorsport had devel­oped a fresh engine for it, on the basis of the new generation 2.S-liter, 24-valve six found in 3 and S Series models but enlarged to 3.0 liters , and featuring Motorsport ' s traditional ultra-performance cylinder head with six-throttle induction system.

This new M3 was an instant sensation in Europe. But was also , in the M tradi­tion , very costly-so costly, in fact, that it did not promise great success in the U.S. in the market segment where it would compete. A major portion of the European M3 's cost was attributable to its exotic engine.

BMW Motorsport Becomes BMW M In 1993, the name of BMW Motorsport was changed to BMW M and its scope of acti vities was widened. Now, in addition to Motorsport's established competition activities and M high performance mod­els, BMW M would also encompass:

BMW Systems Technology-devoted to developing technology for clients, whether that client be BMW itself or an outside firm. For example, BMW M

0 12 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

developed a V-12 engine, with four camshafts, 48 valves and 627 hp, for the cost-no-object McLaren Fl sports/racing car.

BMW Individual-for creating limited series fo specially equipped production models (such as the current 328i Luxury Convertible and Dakar Yellow Z3) and individual customizing of customer cars on special order.

BMW Driver Training-Long an activity of BMW Motorsport, this popular program continued under the aegis of BMW Mas a significant contribution to BMW owners' skill and responsibility on public roads.

With this expansion came growth in BMW M's work force too- to about SOO people at the division's headquarters in Garching, a suburb of Munich. Now, with this combination of focus and expanded vision in place, it was time for BMW M to expand its horizons in North America.

An Ml For America About this time, BMW of North America was focusing on "getting back to its roots"-that is, sharpening its focus on the traditional BMW values of performance, roadability and the pure joy of driving combined with practically, reliability and value.

An important element of this focus, reasoned the executives at BMW of North American 's headquarters in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey, was to offer the special pleasures of BMW M 's endeavors to a wider clientele than before.

BMW clubs, long a wellspring of enthusiasm for BMW motoring, exist in many countries; but America 's clubs-pri­marily the BMW Car Club of America (BMW CCA) and the BMW Automobile Club of America (BMW ACA)-have the largest membership of all. BMW thought it important for these clubs to have a voice in the future of BMW M, and thus asked them for their input. BMW Club members expressed a number of well reasoned opinions and ideas which, eventually, would feed into the decision to offer a new BMW M3 especially for America.

This special U.S. M3 , conceived by BMW of North America and introduced in 1994 as a l 99S model, is powered by a unique edition of BMW six-cylinder engine. While sharing its 3.0-liter cylinder

block with the European M3 unit, the U.S . version used a cylinder head and induc­tion system that, though not quite as exot­ic, included dual overhead camshafts and 24 valves. It delivered a robust 240 hp and abundant torque. In 1996, it grew to 3.2 liters; still at 240 hp, it now developed even greater torque.

And what torque! While achieving through-the-gears acceleration almost equal to that of the European model in the speed range Americans use most-that is, up to l 00 mph-this remarkable engine delivers such ready response in lower speed ranges that the driver can put its transmission in fifth gear at 30 mph and accelerate briskly away. Especially impor­tant to many American drivers, the U.S. M3 can be equipped with an automatic transmission, something no other M model has offered. Finally, and perhaps most critically, this engine allowed BMW M to offer the M3 for a significantly more access ible price than would have been possible with the European-specification engine.

A Growing Family of M Cars The U.S. M3 prepared the way to expand the M phenomenon in America. In 1988, the best year of the earlier era, about 2,800 M Cars (M3, MS and M6) had been sold in America. In calendar 199S, the first full year for the new M3 , this grew to S,800 cars, with the single model out­selling the entire Porsche model line.

Which brings us to the present. In 1997, a second M3 model was introduced, the M3 Sedan, the first four-door M3. A dramatic increase in the M3 's market fol­lowed: BMW sold about 8,000 M3s in the U.S. in 1997, of which fully 60% were Sedans. Clearly, U.S. customers are capti­vated by an automobile that drives like a sports car, yet offers the space and practi­cality of a four-door sedan. And who could do this better than BMW?

For 1998, a third model joins what has now become a line: the new M3 Convertible. But this is only part of the 1998 BMW M story. During the calendar year, two further models will be intro­duced. The first is the M roadster, an ulti ­mately sporty two-seater that combines M magic with the wildly popular Z3 roadster format. Later in the year, the M coupe will bring a new interpretation of the classic

,,

European GT coupe concept-transporting two persons in snug comfort while offer­ing all-out sports car excitement.

Both these new M Cars will be pow­ered by the same high performance engine, and incorporate much of the same performance technology, as the M3s. Both will be produced at BMW's Spartanburg, South Carolina factory for sale in the U.S. and export to markets worldwide. And following the sneak preview at the recent Frankfurt Auto Show of a new, stunningly powerful MS, who's to say that the numeral accompanying the M won't start moving upward again?

Indeed, why even stop at "5"? Erik Wensberg, (former) BMW M Brand Manager for the U.S., notes that BMW M has become a family of sports automo­biles, offering a remarkably wide scope of qualities that logically can and will grow even broader with time. "We could have an M variation at every step in our model line," says Wensberg, alluding to expan­sion not only upward (as in 7 Series) but perhaps even downmarket as well (for a level of affordability not presently avail­able).

Tantalizing? Absolutely. Wensberg foresees delivering as many as 12,000 M Cars in 1998, some 10% of BMW's total in the U.S. But sales volume (and remem­ber, though large for high caliber perfor­mance cars, this is not mass-market vol­ume) is by no means the full BMW M story .

Current and future BMW M programs include:

Customer communications- The M Driver newsletter goes out to M Car own­ers and other "friends of the marque" quarterly.

Special events-In the past year and a half, M owners have been invited to the Monterey Historic Car Races in California, the Castle Hill Concours d 'Elegance in Boston, the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix, and the Louis Vuitton Concours in New York. Activities like this will continue and grow.

BMW M accessories and lifestyle products-will be developed to enhance enjoyment of, and identification with, the M experience.

M expertise-Advance driving instruc­tion will be offered, expanding on the pre­sent programs.

Club activities-BMW of North America already works closely with the BMW clubs, and will further develop these efforts.

Competition-The M3 GT racing car has been successful in the SportsCar GT racing series. This effort will continue in the coming season, and BMW M is study­ing other racing venues for the future.

"The point of the M brand," explains Wensberg, "is to epitomize BMW's core values in a pure, undiluted form. And make no mistake about it, not only is BMW M just that, but it is also highly complementary to BMW brand attributes in general." In other words, if an M3 or M. roadster represents BMW core values in that "pure, undiluted form," the entry level BMW 3 l 8ti with its 1.9-liter four­cylinder engine is also every inch a BMW. All you have to do to confirm that is to read a magazine road test (Car & Driver, June '97: "Alive with pleasure, filtered for your enjoyment.") or, .better yet, drive one.

"Drive one" could be a BMW M motto, especially as more and more dis­cerning drivers all over the world, but especially in America, do just that. In some parts of the world , even the police drive M Cars: Recently, the 50,000th M3 was delivered to the Autobahn Police, Germany's equivalent of U.S. highway patrols (but on a road network that includes extensive stretches of Autobahn without speed limits). It is in America, though, that more people are buying M Cars than anywhere else.

In America, not Germany? It 's true: In 1997, the U.S. market took 62% of BMW M production. Given the plans now in place, this percentage may well grow.

Which can only bode well for U.S. driving enthusiasts. (

(The preceding is a BMW NA Press Release. Why do we sometimes print press releases in Zundfolge? For several rea­sons. First, they are often the first "hard" information avail­able on a subject. Second, they are frequently the most com­plete information available. Third, by indicating "Press Release" you, the reader, know the source of the information and the bias al the writer. Many national publications use the same press information we use, make minor changes, and publish the piece under the name of one of their writers. This might lead the reader to believe the representations are those of an unbiased journalist. And finally, we use press releases because we' re lazy. -The Editors)

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1998 March ZiiNDFOLGE 13

Tentative SCCA/WWSCC 1998 Autocross Schedule through

Odober 1998 Coll the hotline (425)255-0658 for updates

March 15 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #1 • Kent 29 Sunday WWSCC NWDE Freeze Your Buns Off '98 • Kent

April 25 Saturday NWR/SCCA Autocross School • Kent 26 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #2 • Kent

May 3 Sunday WWSCC MCPS Joe and Alan's Excellent Autocross 5 - Kent 17 Sunday WWSCC ETC Practice • Kent 24 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #3 • Bremerton Fri 29-Sun 31 SCCA McKamey Driving School - Kent

June 7 Sunday WWSCC BEAC Autopilot '98 ·Kent 21 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #4 • Kent 28 Sunday BSCC Autocross #4 • Bremerton

July 12 Sunday WWSCC MCPS Sports Car Spectacular '98 • Kent Sat 18-Sun 19 SCCA Seattle National Tour ·Kent Sat 25-Sun 26 SCCA Seattle ProSolo2 -Kent

August 9 Sunday WWSCC NWDE Clothes Optional '98 - Kent 23 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #5 • Everett 30 Sunday WWSCC BEAC Enduro XVIII ·Kent

September 6 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #6 • Bremerton 27 Sunday WWSCC TS Championship • Kent

Odober 4 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #7 • Kent 18 Sunday NWR/SCCA Regional #8 • Kent

0 14 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

Get Ready For Autocross

One thing I noticed at the last Bremerton Driver's School was that most participants had a lot of

fun on the autocross courses that were setup in the afternoon session. One of the reasons for the grins was that it was a practical application of the skills learned in the morning drill stations. You can experience the same thrills by participat­ing in the regional autocross events put on by the SCCA SOLO 2 and WWSCC.

The main difference between SCCA

by Brian Horne

and WWSCC events is the number of runs . In SCCA you get three, in WWSCC you get four. These events are a great workout for you and your car, with mini­mal risk. It is a natural step for those that want to pursue high performance driving, but want something different than the track. It is also a great skill sharpener for those who go to track events too. I would encourage those that have participated in the Bremerton schools to give autocross a try.

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Dan & Janet Garretson Internet '98 318ti

Gregory & Sandra Sessler BMW Seattle '95 740iL

Bob & Mary Gehrke BMW Seattle '88 535i

Scott & Sharon Kelly

Peter Samson '72 2002tii

Greg & Maria Hindel '95 540i

John & Catherine Abbott BMW Seattle '98 Z3

Stephen Lardieri Request

George, Erik & Michael Cooper Jackie Kahn '75 2002

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..

Years ago the club sponsored a WWSCC season event. If we have enough interest there is the possibility that we could start up sponsorship again. This would be a great addition to the club 's slate of activities. These are family orient­ed events and there is plenty of action and work for those who don't want to compete.

Here are a few basics on what to expect at a typical autocross event.

Your Car Most participants bring their daily driver. No special tires or parts are needed, and both clubs have street tire classes or novice classes where you will be compet­ing with similarly skilled drivers. The array of cars is diverse, but everyone is relatively new to the sport. You will want to be sure that you car is in good working order, and the tires are in good shape. Before you compete it is required that everything be taken out of the cabin and trunk- so leave all unnecessary items at home. Make sure your seat belts are func­tioning properly and the seats are fully adjustable. You will be required to pass a simple tech inspection before you can run.

For those who want to enter the fray , cars are classed loosely on power. The class groups similar vehicles that have a chance to challenge each other.

Your Noggin Helmets are required with a Snell 1985 rating or above for competition. If your helmet is ten years old, chances are it needs to be replaced. There are loaner hel­mets on site if you wish to borrow one. Full face or open can be used.

Location Most of the events are run at the west lot of the Boeing Kent Space Center. If you take the Ori Ilia Road exit off of I-5 , go down the hill and head east on 212th it ' s the second left (north) after crossing the river on the opposite side of the RV Park. Events are also held at the Everett Boeing plant, and at Bremerton Raceway (where our driver's schools are held).

The Cost The cost for joining in is $20, or $15 for SCCA members. To join SCCA check out their web site www.nwr-scca.org, or call

Joan Manley (425)747-3407. The WWSCC hotline is (425)255-0658 for up­dated information on events.

If you 're hesitant because this seems like a lot to do, I will be at most of the events with my Alpine White M3 and can help those who have questions. If you want more information before you go, feel free to call me; (253)850-3047, or e-mail; bhorne@interserv .com. Each event also has a novice chairperson that can help newcomers. The events are geared towards accommodation of new partici­pants and the organizers go out of their way to help. See you in grid! ~

Hockey Night At Key Arena A Great Success! About 17 BMW ACA members enjoyed a fun night out at the Key Arena to watch the Seattle Thunderbirds face the Portland Winterhawks. Unfortunately the home town boys lost 6-2. But, the club seating was very nice, giving access to the restau­rant and lounge during the game. We will do this again in the future and I'm work­ing on another baseball outing at Cheney Stadium to watch the Rainiers . Look for details in upcoming Zundfolges!

-Hugh Golden

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1998 Marc:h ZUNDFOLGE 15 0

The new 3 Series, the E46, was introduced at the Geneva Auto Show in early March. Only

the sedan version has seen the official light of day. We should see the car in the U.S. late this summer as a 1999 model. The coupe will come a year later and the convertible six months after that. The M3 will be dropped from the lineup until the new version is available in 2000. The U.S. market is supposed to get the 3 Series Touring for the first time too. The 318i sedan, the price leader except for the 318ti, will be dropped with the new body style. The 323i will be the entry-level sedan.

The new 3 is larger than the old one. The driving dynamics have been improved. There is enough standard and optional equipment to give the 5 Series a run for the money. Side air bags are standard and the ABS has been improved by adding Cornering Brake Control (CBC). Options include a high-end navigation system, Xenon head­lights and rain-sensing wipers. Prices will be higher than the current models but not by much. (Auto Week)

Bimmer Magazine It's here! On newstands now is the new BMW only magazine by the publishers of Forza and Sports Car International. This premier issue features articles on Max Hoffman, The Kl 200RS Beemer, and provides a good mix of older model how-to and new model information. There's tech Q&A, letters to the editor (how'd they do that?) and an informative article on buying an '02. Our opinion on the new mag­thumbs up, all propeller heads should sign up now. One year subscriptions (six issues) are $14.99 (not $15!) . This first issue is 80 pages.

. ···:·············································· Sequential Transmission In The M3 BMW has released the latest version of the sequential gearbox for UK M3 models. BMW CAR reviewers generally

• • • • • • • • • • · • · • • • • · • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • .. • · • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • · • • · • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • · ••••• •• ; liked the system that is based on F1 No Free lander in the U.S. · New M3 and Super Touring race car principles.

The Land Rover Freelander will not be offered in the U.S. BMW boss Bernd Pischetrieder called the decision the biggest disap­pointment since BMW bought Rover. The Freelander was not developed with the U.S. market in mind. But BMW intended to reengineer it for the U.S., which would surely be its biggest mar­ket. But the Rover KV6 motor couldn't be certified for the U.S. and the transverse placement meant no BMW engine would fit. (Car)

Q 16 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

When the new version of the M3 is The driver can select an 'automatic' available in 2000 it will have a 3.4- mode, but the testers felt that it liter engine, up from the current 3.2-liter displacement. (Roundel)

lacked the precision of a true auto transmission with a torque converter.

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Rolls-Royce has finally unveiled the first prod­ucts using BMW engines and other drive train components. The Rolls-Royce Silver Seraph uses a version of the 5.4-liter V-12. The engine is topped with a cover proclaiming "Silver Seraph" and "V-12" in case there was any doubt. Frankly, the engine looks more handsome in the Rolls than in the big BMWs. And previ­ously BMW had about the best looking engine bays in the business. It's the first V-12 that Rolls has had since 1939. And for those purists who are bemoaning the BMW engine in this bastion of Britishness, it should be noted that the V-8 for the previous model traced its heritage back to the 1950s and General Motors.

The new Bentley Arnage gets a tur­bocharged version of BMW 4 .4-liter V­B. The Rolls debuted at the Geneva Show on March 3rd. The Bentley makes its debut at Le Mans on April 26th. [AutoWeek and Automobile)

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·ti Roadster When it came time to build the M version of the Z3 roadster, it was assumed that it would be built in Germany, where all M cars come from. And that's what the top brass in Munich had in mind. Partially built Z3s would be shipped from Spartanburg across the Atlantic. In Garching, BMW M headquarters, the M

• drive trains and special interiors would be fitted. But project manager Craig Westbrook had other ideas. He waged a fight within the BMW organization to build the M roadster in the U.S. The 30 year old Atlanta native won. In late 1996, a contingent from Germany came to Spartanburg and took over the plant. There was tension between the German engineers and the plant managers. But what was being created was the M road­ster prototype. Even the paint booth had to be purged, because the prototype was painted Imola Red, a color not in Spartanburg's inventory. In the end, Spartanburg got the right to build M cars. And they are shipped all over the world. (Auto Week)

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1998 March ZUNDFOLGE 17 G

BMW Bicycles BMW got into the bicycle business a few years ago with "badge engineered" models from Montague. BMW now develops their own models to provide a full line of bicycles. In 1997, BMW introduced the Super-tech and High-tech models. These two models borrow an innovation from BMW motorcycles: Telelever front wheel suspension. The Super-tech is the top model and incorporates an oil/air spring unit. The Telelever front suspen­sion can be adjusted infinitely to the weight of the rider and the terrain . Inward and outward damping strokes can be adjusted independently of one another. Castor, steering angle and wheel­base are unchanged regardless of spring travel. Spring rating and damping of the rear wheel shock absorber may also be adjusted infinitely. The Super-tech has 24 gears.

The High-tech mountain bike offer the same design princi­ples and many of the same features of the Super-tech. The main difference is that the Telelever front suspension does not come with an adjustable elastomer element and the hydraulic damper is integrated in the fork.

Developed by BMW, the frames are manufactured by Verlicchi in Italy and assembled to their full configuration by Wiener Bike Parts GmbH in the German town of Schweinfurt. This is also where BMW's other bikes are assembled, that is the Dynamic, Active, and Speedtronic models.

The Dynamic is a superior mountain bike, built for sports rid­ing on rough terrain. The Active models are trekking bikes with 21 gears. The Active line also features a ladie's model. The Speedtronic models are the same as the Active models except they have an automatic shift mechanism that simply requires the touch of a toggle switch on the handlebar. An electronic display show the gear you're in, the distance traveled, and your speed.

All BMW bikes are collapsible and fit into the trunk of your BMW automobile. Carrying cases are available.

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0 18 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

Technik Trivia Answer: The Bavarian Blitz II BMW ACA WWSCC autocross was held on the day of the eruption of Mt St. Helens, May 18, 1980.

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be introduced at the Detroit Auto Show in January 1999. As expect­

In this innovative arrangement between an automaker and an insurance company, TIG Insurance Co. began offering the lower rates in early 1996 and has been rolling out the program

ed, it will be built in Spartanburg. The BMW SAV will be available with

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • state-by-state since then. Applications have been filed with

six and eight cylinder engines. The BMW V-12 will be reserved for the

insurance departments in all fifty states and as each state approves the new rate structure, a requirement for implementation, the lower rates are available to BMW owners. BMW and TIG Insurance Co. anticipate that the lower rates will be available to consumers in all 50 states in 1998.

TIG has written about 3,300 policies so far. Savings have been as much as $1 ,000 per year on a 3 Series. new Range Rover, which will be built TIG has recognized the state-of-the-art technologies that BMW builds into its cars enhance passenger saf~ty, on the same BMW platform. The new ; deter theft and lower the cost of repairs. TIG has taken these savings into account in this new rate structure.

Range Rover will be larger than the current one. (AutoWeek)

Unlike the M-class Mercedes, the BMW off-roader will have unibody construction. The Mercedes uses body-on frame construction. The BMW will be a better driver than any sport utility. BMW is seeing to that by ~

extensive testing at the Nurburgring. The four-wheel drive system has been developed in a joint venture with ZF. (Autocar)

Computers and music are usually

good indicators of which generation

one is from. Now comes a theory

that the M coupe will serve the

same purpose. Jean J ennings in

Automobile says that Executive

Editor Mark Gillies' theory is that

everyone over 40 hates the M

coupe. while those under 40 like it.

Are there other opinions out there?

(BMW NA Press Release)

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1998 Ma1·ch ZUNDFOLGE 19 0

Classified Marketplace

Cars For Sale 1985 M635CSi Bronzit with buffalo, 941< miles. Engine rebuilt by H&B at 671< miles. All options including M skirts and three piece l 6X8 H&B wheels with Yokohama AVS. All records since new. Very nice. $17,000 OBO. (360)293-2663 days or kelly@ana­cortes.net.

1976 2002 Metallic blue with total suspension rebuild and upgrade, rebuilt engine with track cam, aluminum flywheel, other goodies. Lots of receipts. Car has minor body damage in front. Would make a good track car or daily driver. $2,700 OBO. Don Macl<ay (206)246-4956 or dmack@seanet.com. Parts for Sale :

1974 2002 Factory Rebuilt Engine (long block), new, in original box, never used. $1 ,800. Phil (206 )633-0847.

Parts For Sale 1996 328is Parts : Front bumper $250 (new), rear bumper $250 (new), side heated mirrors $230 (new), Sports Package shocks $200, springs $200, or $350 for both shocks and springs (used about 5,000 miles) .

Deadline for the April Issue is Morch 27.

Classified Advertising Policy:

Classfied ads are free to mem­bers in good standing (paid up dues). There is a $10 fee to non­members . Photo classifieds are $1 5 to non-members. Ziindfolge staff reserves the right to edit all classified ads. Ads must be typed or neatly printed and sent to Ziindfolge, c/o Lucetta Lightfoot, 2641 39th Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98199. Attn; Classfied Ads. Make checks payable to BMW ACA.

0 20 ZUNDFOLGE March 1998

Original light set: front turn signals $50, side markers $30, tail lights $150, or $180 for whole set (new). Call (206)522-5012. Aaron.

Wheels and Tires: Four 13x6 16-spoke 320i alloys mounted with Yokohama A509 Intermediaries, 205/60Rl 3. $400. Also have two 13x5.5 rims with old studded snow tires, four 13x5 stock '02 rims w/ chrome edge covers, stock Iii sways and springs. Make offer. Kerry Baker (425)747-8564.

BMW alloys 15" chromed. For studded snow tires. Used only 4,000 miles on a 525i. No reasonable offer refused. (425)481-0549 anytime.

E28 Steel Wheels. Four black 15x6.5 wheels. Super condition, only used four times. Older 205s (2) and 225s (2) mounted. Great for track or snow. New you 'd pay at least $300 for this setup. $150 OBO. Please call Brice at (206)232-6105 or yornic@juno.com.

Four BMW Alloy Wheels. 7JX15, taken off my E34 525 due to upgrading . Clean, spotless. Best offer. Call Mike at (206)443-6441 or email at mikee@komotv.com.

Miscellaneous Stuff: Rear OE shocks for 6 Series NOS, $80 the pair. Front Bilstein Sport inserts for E12 5 Series, $100 the pair. New 2002tii exh. manifold, $295. Chrome spoke wheels with tires for four-bolt 318 or 325, $600. Parting out '81 320is with 323 drive train. Extra parts: ltd. slip rear end x 2, rear disc brakes w/ spare set of swing arms and 15" Alpina wheels, etc. Too much to list. Callaway turbo setup for '80-'83 320i, low miles on rebuilt turbo. Complete with microfueler and instructions. Contact Steve at (360)426-6486 or pmauto l@aol.com.

Colgan hood bra for the current 3 Series. Like new, $30. Call Rich Smith at (425)641-0806 or email kyteflyer@aol.com.

Car Storage Spaces Now Available Dry and secure. Six months minimum. No in-outs. Reasonable rates. Call or fax Victoria at Lovelys & Daughter Storage. (253)863-8608 Edgewood, WA.

Dealer Ads Local Dealership Certified Pre-Owned

Bellewe BMW (425)643-4544 13617 Northup Way Bellevue, WA

1994 740iL Black/Black, trac­tion, very nice.

1994 SlSia Black/Black, trac­tion control.

I 99S 740ia Oxford Green/Gray interior. Premium sound system.

I 99S 7401 White, traction con­trol.

BMW Northwest (253)922-8700 4011-20th E Tacoma, WA

1996 BMW 740iL White/Tan leather cd asc+t super buy $49,900 BMW cell phone #dl3Sl30.

1995 S30ia Oxford Green/Sand leather, traction heated seats local car all records #GE90444

I 99S 740ia Cashmire, all options lo miles new body style, save #DH05l 14

1995 840cia Red/Tan leather ASC, CD, just I 5k miles, flaw­less coupe #CC90179

BMW Seattle (206)328-8787 714 E. Pike St. Seattle, WA

I 99S 740iA Choice of two low mileage examples, loaded, call for details.

1995 Sl5i /iA Choice of three. Various specs and colors. Priced from $27,900.

I 99S 3l5i /iA Choice of four. Various specs and colors. Priced from $26,900.

I 99 5 S 3 Oi Black/Black, trac­tion, loaded. 30,000 miles. Only $32,900.

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Your Source For:

v Scheduled Maintenance

v Performance Upgrades

v Electrical Diagnosis

v Computer Troubleshooting

Chroming Of Factory & After-Market Wheels:

14", 15", 16" ......... $605 per set of four 17" ........ ........ ........ $670 per set of four

18" ........................ $690 per set of four

Hours: Daily ............. 9:00am- 5:30pm Saturday .... 1 O:OOam- 5:30pm

Convenient Location!

Redmond

425. 881. 2824

Kirkland

-w NE85th

405

s I

908 NEBS<h

15205 N.E. 90th Redmond, WA 98052

425.881.2824 FAX 425.869.4495

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including:

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To join today, return this coupon and your check for $25 payable to BMW/ACA. Or mail this coupon to us and receive more information.

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BMW Year Model Color Lie. No. : I I I I

Mail to: BMW ACA P.O. Box 1259 Bellevue, WA 98009 : -- - - ---- - ------ - -------------------------------~

UNLEASH THE POTENTIAL OF YOUR BMW, ONE PAGE AT A TIME.

We can help you keep your BMW in peak condition and bring undreamed of perfo rm ance o ut from under-the-hood. Ca ll us for our free full-co lor catalog. It has over one hundred

Visit our web site: www.bavauto.com

pages of performance and styling accessories, and thousands of replacement parts for your BMW, ready for same d ay shipping . You ' ll find informative tech t ips and product pointers to help you with every job. We have a knowl­edgeable sales ~

staff and d::-. t~ J1i,ce we backup ~1 everything - ~~• 0•'0

we sell with an absolutely unbeatable Best Price Guarantee. Call us today at 1-800-535-2002.

i1il BAVARIAN ll_I autosport

FAX 8 00-5 07-2002 • 275 CONSTITUTION A V E. PORTSMOUTH NH

Sales We are the # 1 BMW Dealer in the Northwest and carry 4 acres of new and used car inventory. Let our knowledgeable staff assist you in finding the right car for your needs. You'll find great deals on low mileage one owner trades and lease returns. And our finance depa1tment is ready to help you with your purchase.

Parts Ou1 palls department is massive. The ai1p/ane hanget sized parts area holds one of the largest inventories in the U.S. Chances ore excellent that we will have the part you ore looking for in stock. The palls staff has the experience and tmining to answe1 the most detailed questions regarding any of your patts needs.

Service The semce department at BMW of Bellevue is rated among the best in the U.S. F1om the moment you drive in to our sheltered drop·off area you will notice a difference. The team of professionals who service your automobile are focused on excellence. From Bob Johnson, our service manager, to each and every member ol his staff you will find a dedication to qualify that is second to none.

BMW ACA P1i9• t !lo1in<1Aegtcm

BMW AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF AMERICA Puget Sound Region

P.O . Box 1259, Be llevue, Washington 98009

ff ur Sales: M-1: B:30am - B100pm

Saf: 9:00am - 1.00pm Sun. r I OOonr S Opm

Sewi • M-1: 1:00am - S130pm Sat: 9:10am - 00pm

M ft :30am - :30pm Safi 9:00om - .OOpm

1998 BMW Z31.9 $299/month

Per month, 27 months closed end lease, MSRR $29,995, cap reduction $2,500. Due at signing $3,099 plus taxes and lees. Total lease payments $8,073 plus taxes. Allowable mileage 22,500. Excess miles .20

per mile, residual $22,496 O.A.C. Expires 3-31-98.

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PAID Seattle, WA