Fall 2014 - Bavarian Autosport

N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 2:47 PM Page 1
celebrating
years
40
since
the newsletter of Bavarian Autosport
Want to regain that “ultimate” ride without
the ultimate prices? ZF has what you need...
“Who is ZF?” you ask. You may recognize the
name from the automatic transmission fluid
we sell, but ZF is far more than
that: it is one of the top ten automotive suppliers in the world,
with 122 production companies
in 26 countries, employing 72,000 people.
Of the multiple brands ZF offers, three are of
specific interest to BMW enthusiasts:
n SACHS shocks and struts,
n Lemförder chassis components,
n ZF automatic transmission fluid.
All three brands are Original Equipment on
many BMWs. So if you want to regain that
“ultimate” ride, just follow these steps:
1974
Fall 2014
DIY: Seven “must
do” under-car
fluid changes.
Everyone knows they should change
their engine oil, but there are several
other under-car fluids that should be
changed regularly. See pages 6–7…
Table of contents
Step 1: Replace your worn shocks
and struts with SACHS. SACHS twin-tube,
low-pressure, gas replacement shocks
deliver sure, immediate response across a
wide range of road and driving conditions.
You’ll fall in love all over again with that
“original BMW” ride. Plus all SACHS shocks
are backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
n
THE ZF FAMILY OF PRODUCTS
1
PRODUCT FOCUS: PREPARE FOR WINTER 2
NOKIAN WINTER TIRES
Step 2: Replace worn chassis and
steering parts with Lemförder. Lemförder manufacturers the highest quality
control arms, bushings, tie rods, sway
bar links, ball joints and more. They’re
identical to BMW’s parts – just without
the BMW number. (Or price!)
n Step 3: Change
your automatic
transmission fluid
and filter. Fresh fluid
restores smoother
shifting and prolongs
transmission life. Since
ZF makes most BMW automatic transmissions, shouldn’t you use their fluid?
n
CUSTOMER #:
Now thru October 31st – 10% off
all SACHS, Lemförder and ZF!
PIAA BULBS AND WIPERS
HEX-O-MAT FLOOR & CARGO MATS
ASK BAVARIAN OTTO
3
PHOTO CONTEST ENDS THIS MONTH
3
POSTER: “HAIL” OTTO!
4–5
DIY: CHANGING UNDER-CAR FLUIDS
6–7
ENGINE OIL
TRANSMISSIONS
TRANS-AXLE
DIFFERENTIALS
TRANSFER CASE
OCTOBER SPECIALS
8
Parts, accessories & knowledge since 1974.
© 2014 Bavarian Autosport
phone 800.535.2002 | fax 800.507.2002 | BavAuto.com
Bavarian Autosport
275 Constitution Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
KEYCODE:
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BAVARIAN
AUTOSPORT
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 3:40 PM Page 2
product focus
Get ready for winter with these money-saving upgrades...
Rated #1 by a leading
consumer magazine
For better vision in
winter, think PIAA.
Shown with optional hub caps.
For hub cap choices, ask your
Advisor or visit our online store
at BavAuto.com.
If you need winter tires, choose Nokian –
they invented the snow tire. Nokian Tyre Co.
of Finland invented the snow tire nearly 80
years ago. And they’ve been leading the field
ever since. Over the decades, Nokian’s key
R&D principle has remained the same: to develop tires with maximum grip and durability
for consumers driving in northern conditions.
The company’s ability to remain at the forefront of their industry stems from a thorough
understanding of Nordic conditions complemented by innovation – a continuum of ideas
harnessed to improve safety, durability and
environmental friendliness. The results of
their work are tested in conditions in which
only the best can succeed.
But don’t take just our word for it – in a
recent test of winter performance tires by
a leading consumer magazine, Nokian’s allweather WR G3 tire (V speed rating) was
rated #1, and their Hakkapeliitta 2, a dedicated winter tire (R speed rating), was
rated #3. The test covered such categories
as snow traction, ice braking, wet braking,
dry braking, handling, hydroplaning, ride
comfort, road noise and more.
Can you buy a cheaper winter tire? Of course.
But after 40+ years of driving our BMWs and
MINIs in crazy New Hampshire winters,
we’ve yet to find a tire that combines the
traction, comfort and longevity of Nokian.
Buy a winter wheel/tire package in October –
we’ll mount, balance and ship them for free!*
Color choices: gray (shown
in car above), black, tan or
clear (shown at right).
With PIAA high-performance bulbs and
wipers, you’ll see farther and more clearly.
The worst weather of the year is coming for a
large portion of the country. BMW and MINI
drivers will be dealing with snow, sleet, fog,
etc. In addition,
the days will be
getting shorter
and darker. Two
of the best safety
upgrades you
can install are PIAA high-performance bulbs,
and PIAA Super Silicone windshield wipers.
PIAA high-performance bulbs. Offered in
three versions: Xtreme White (brightest and
whitest); Night-Tech (brighter and longerlasting than halogen bulbs); and Plasma Ion
Yellow (less reflective than white light –
better for fog/mist/snow).
PIAA Super Silicone wipers. As they wipe,
they leave behind a microscopic layer of activated silicone so water beads up and wipes
away completely. The silicone also eliminates
squeaks, reduces chattering and is more
resistant to cold, ice and UV degradation,
extending service life.
Want better vision in winter? Think PIAA.
During October only, get free shipping* on
PIAA headlight/fog light bulbs and wiper sets.
* Free shipping offers are limited to the 48 contiguous United States.
2 | BavAuto.com
Custom-fit Hex-O-Mats:
protection plus style.
Very simple installation.
All-weather mats. Our Hex-O-Mats are
crafted in the USA from a high-quality, noncracking rubber compound. This compound
is molded with a handsome, raised honeycomb pattern on top that traps water,
slush, sand, etc., over a wide area so they
don’t pool up in one area or slosh around
when you corner hard.
This innovative
material is then
cut with computer accuracy to
fit your BMW’s or
MINI’s footwells
or cargo area precisely, providing
complete coverage for
maximum protection.
Choose gray, black or tan.
On the bottom of the
mats, molded-in rubber nibs grab carpeting,
etc., to hold the mats in place.
And while our Hex-O-Mats were originally
created as winter mats, a lot of our customers
tell us they use their Hex-O-Mats to protect
their carpeting year-round. They’re easy to
clean (take them out and hose them off) and
are backed by a Lifetime Warranty. (Yes, lifetime.) When ordering, please specify mat
color and your BMW’s/MINI’s year, model
and (if appropriate) 2-door, 4-door or wagon.
Save $5-10 on Hex-O-Mat floor mats and
cargo mats, now thru October 31. See page 8...
Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/23/14 8:32 PM Page 3
Ask “Bavarian Otto”
from blog.BavAuto.com
Over 320 years of BMW/MINI experience is
yours for the asking – free!
If you add up all the years the Advisors at
Bavarian Autosport have been working on BMWs
and MINIs – and helping people like you work
on theirs – it totals well over 300 years. That’s
a lot of knowledge under one roof. And it’s yours for
the asking. Have a question about your BMW or MINI?
Search Bavarian Otto’s knowledge base of more than 1,000
tech Q&A at blog.BavAuto.com, or call 800.535.2002.
No restart after running out of gas.
Dear Bavarian Otto,
I ran out of gas in my 2004 330ci. After getting a couple gallons of gas and
pouring it into the tank, the engine would not start. I went and got two
more gallons and added it, but the engine still would still not start. How
much gas do I need to put in to get it started? This seems really odd, since
I can normally run it for 10, 20 or 30 miles after the reserve warning light
comes on, before the “range” shows 0 miles.
Otto replies:
We suspect that you may now have a failed fuel pump. The fuel pump on
later model BMWs and MINIs (as well as most other cars) is mounted inside
the fuel tank and actually uses the fuel to cool and lubricate the pump.
Consistently running the fuel very low will limit the amount of fresh, cool
fuel to keep the pump cool and lubricated, accelerating wear and shortening the life of the pump. This also applies to earlier models that have external, in-line fuel pumps. It’s likely that this last episode of running out of fuel
was the “straw that broke the camel’s back.” This ends up being fairly
common, especially if the pump has a lot of miles of use or is often run with
less than 1/4 fuel level.
We believe replacing the fuel pump will likely cure your no-start issue. Remember to also replace the pump seal ring and have fresh hose clamps
available to replace the original factory crimp clamps or rotten old hose
clamps. The Bentley repair manual for your model, will cover the fuel pump
replacement procedure.
Diagnosing “misfire” fault codes.
From Bavarian Otto’s tech blog – blog.BavAuto.com:
OBDII fault codes for misfires can often be troublesome and difficult to
track down and eliminate. They are commonly displayed as shown below:
P0300 – Random misfires; this is indicating that the engine management
system is detecting misfires intermittently on multiple cylinders.
P0301 – Misfire on cylinder #1
P0302 – Misfire on cylinder #2
P0303 – Misfire on cylinder #3
P0304 – Misfire on cylinder #4
P0305 – Misfire on cylinder #5
P0306 – Misfire on cylinder #6
Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.
P0307 – Misfire on cylinder #7
P0308 – Misfire on cylinder #8
P03xx – Misfire on cylinder #9–12 (where the cylinder number is the last
two digits of the code)
Today’s engines are designed to run within very tight parameters in order
to satisfy emissions requirements. Small variances in system functions can
trigger fault codes through the OBD-II (On Board Diagnostics, v-2) monitoring system. While there may be genuine problems within the engine management system, keep in mind that short-trips, slow driving and prolonged
idling can compound cylinder misfire issues by not allowing the spark
plugs to work at the higher temperatures required for “self-cleaning.” In
these cases, an otherwise properly functioning engine can generate misfire
fault codes due to minor spark plug fouling. Engines that see these types of
conditions may need more frequent spark plug changes.
If you have fault codes for specific cylinder misfires, the first step is to swap
the ignition coil assembly from the indicated cylinder, with the coil assembly from another cylinder. Next, clear the fault codes and drive the vehicle.
If the fault code now comes up indicating the new cylinder location (the
cylinder that the coil was moved to), you can assume that the coil assembly
is at fault and replace the coil. If the original fault code returns...
Read the rest of this post at blog.BavAuto.com/go/misfires.
Photo contest ending soon!
Greetings from
Kentucky!
Michael D. and his 1988 535is. When you have a
classic like this in your driveway, every day is a beautiful
day in the Bluegrass State.
Have you entered the 2014 Bavarian Autosport Photo Contest yet?
You could be one of dozens of BMW / MINI owners to win $100 savings certificates and have your car seen by hundreds of thousands
of automotive enthusiasts around the world. If you haven’t entered,
there’s still time – we are accepting entries until October 31st.
After that, there will be a two-week voting period – open to the
public – to help us determine the finalists. Our judges will then
retreat to an underground bunker to deliberate, emerging several
weeks later with the list of winners, blowing their trumpets and
begging for a shower. For complete rules and to enter the contest
online, go to BavAuto.com/photocontest.
Experienced technicians only.
800.535.2002 | 3
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 3:21 PM Page 4
800.535.2002 | BavAuto.com
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 3:22 PM Page 5
“Hail” Otto!
In August, renowned automotive photographer
Klaus Schnitzer spent a day with us, taking
road shots of various BMWs and MINIs for use
in our future catalogs, newsletters, ads, etc. In
the middle of shooting Gordon Arnold (a.k.a.
Bavarian Otto) getting his E36 M3 sideways in
our parking lot, a violent thunderstorm descended on Portsmouth.
After a few minutes of torrential rain and high
winds, the temperature plummeted about 25
degrees and the precipitation changed from
rain to blueberry-sized hail. No sheet metal or
paint jobs were damaged, but it was impressive nonethelss... not to mention a little unnerving. As soon as the storm began to die
down, Klaus and Otto quickly went back out to
grab a few more shots before the hail melted
away. The image at right comes from that session, capturing Otto’s M3 at the beginning of a
carefully choreographed 180.
After this session was over, Klaus commented
that he has taken photos with professional
drivers at both Skip Barber’s Driving School
and BMW’s M Performance Center, but Otto
is, by far, the best driver he has ever worked
with, understanding not only how to control
the car but to “pose” it during drifts and spins.
High praise from someone who ought to know.
Gordon Arnold, a.k.a. Bavarian Otto, kicking asphalt in his M3.
WARNING: This photo was taken using a
highly-experienced driver on a closed course.
For everyone’s safety, do not attempt this on
public streets or private parking lots without
the written consent of the owner.
Want to make this photo your
computer’s or smartphone’s wallpaper?
Go to www.BavAuto.com/wallpaper.
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 4:50 PM Page 6
Do-it yourself
engine oil | transmissions | trans-axle | differentials | transfer case
DIY: Changing “must-do” under-car fluids on BMWs and MINIs.
Tools
Common tools needed for under-car fluid changes include a floor jack, jack-stands
(in some cases drive-on ramps can be used), common mechanic’s tools (metric sizes)
and the following special tools, all of which are available from Bavarian Autosport:
n Drain pan(s)
n Fluid transfer pump(s)
n Oil filter removal tool(s)
n Ultimate oil filler funnel
n Form-a-funnel
n Allen (internal hex) bit set
n Torx bit set
n E-Torx socket set
n Garage Guard floor protector
n Pig-Mat oil absorbent pads
While we all know the importance of regular engine oil changes – and the consequences of neglecting them – there are other critical fluid changes that we tend to
overlook. Some of the most neglected maintenance tasks on our BMWs and MINIs
are the regular changing of fluids in the under-car gearbox assemblies. This includes
the transmission (trans-axle on front-wheel drive), rear differential (all current BMWs
and 4WD MINIs), front differential (4WD BMWs) and transfer case (all 4WD models).
Just as with the oil in your engine, the fluids used in transmissions, differentials and
transfer cases perform two elemental tasks:
1) lubricate and prevent wear to the parts that are moving against each other;
2) help cool the assembly by removing heat from the internal metal parts and
transferring it to the case, where it is carried away by the air passing over it.
Unlike engine oil, these fluids do not get contaminated from combustion byproducts.
They do, however, break down from heat and “shear” (i.e. the fluid’s molecular structure being strained by the grinding action of the gears and bearings). Additionally,
these fluids do become contaminated with minute, metallic particles that are the
byproducts of metal-on-metal wear. Using a magnetic drain plug can remove a lot of
these metallic particles, prolonging the useful life of both the gears and the fluid.
[Ed note: our magnetic drain plugs are on sale thru Oct. 31, 2014. See page 7…]
The best way to ensure that your BMW’s or
MINI’s differential, transmission and transfer
case fluids are doing their jobs is to replace
them regularly. These are relatively simple
tasks; if you know how to change your own
engine oil, you will be able to change your
other under-car fluids with ease. How often
should each be changed? We recommend
Above: Bavarian Otto’s Ultimate
Maintenance Schedule.
following Bavarian Otto’s Ultimate Maintenance Schedule for your BMW or MINI. You can find the schedule for your year and
model at blog.bavauto.com/go/maintenance.
There are four types of fill and drain plugs: 1) external hex (commonly 10mm, 14mm
or 17mm); 2) internal hex (Allen-type; commonly 10mm, 14mm or 17mm); 3) Torx
(internal-head; various sizes); and 4) E-Torx (external-head, various sizes). The D.I.Y.
videos here will show you the basic procedures and tools needed for a variety of fluid
changes. Your model BMW or MINI may differ in plug locations; the applicable Bentley
repair manual will cover specifics for your year and model.
6 | BavAuto.com
Under-car Engine Oil
In a previous video, we covered an engine
oil change using the Bavarian Autosport
Oil Extractor, which allows you to vacuum
the oil out through the dipstick tube
(blog.BavAuto.com/go/oil-vacuum). As
great as this tool is, it will not work on
BMWs that do not have an engine oil dipstick. For cars without dipsticks, oil must
be drained in the traditional method, from
under the car (which can be done on
any BMW or MINI model, regardless of
whether it has a dip-stick or not). The
refill procedures on these dipstick-less
models are a bit unique. In this video,
we cover the under-car oil drain as well
as the procedures for refilling.
DIY video – Under-car oil change:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/oil-change
Automatic Transmission
We have previously posted videos on how
to change the fluid and filter on automatic
transmissions. You can view the videos at
the links below.
DIY video – Automatic transmission:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/automatic
Very simple installation.
DIY video – ZF 6-speed automatic:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/automatic-ZF6HP
Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.
N414FallNews_October14.lyt16 LG_Newsletter 8/25/14 2:49 PM Page 7
engine oil | transmissions | trans-axle | differentials | transfer case
Manual Transmission
Rear Differential
On a manual transmission case, there are both a drain plug
and a fill plug. The fill plug is normally on the passenger
side of the transmission case, near the middle. The drain
plug is on the
bottom of the
transmission,
typically at the
rear or middle of the case. Most
manual transmissions will need between
1.5 to 2 quarts, or liters, of fluid for a complete change. Check the applicable Bentley
DIY video – Manual transmission:
repair manual for specific quantities for
blog.BavAuto.com/go/manual-trans
your year and model.
As with the manual transmission, a differential will usually have a drain plug
and a fill plug. The plugs are commonly in the rear cover of the
differential, but note that some models have one or both plugs
in the side of the main housing. Additionally, some late models
only have a fill plug (there is no drain plug on the assembly).
These models require a unique procedure in order to evacuate
the fluid. (We address this is the video.) Most rear differentials
will need just over 1 quart, or liter, for a fluid change, but some models require more than 2 quarts (liters). Check the applicable Bentley manual for
model-specific fluid quantities.
Trans-axle (MINI)
Being front wheel drive, MINIs use a combination transmission/front differential assembly, known as a trans-axle. (A 4-wheel
drive MINI uses a trans-axle AND a transfer case.) Since the transmission and the
front differential are in the same case, the
fluid used is common to both parts of the
trans-axle assembly, making trans-axle
DIY video – Trans-axle:
fluids unique. This also means that using
blog.BavAuto.com/go/trans-axle
fresh fluid is very important, as the two
systems within the trans-axle assembly are working the fluid heavily.
The fluid change for a trans-axle on a manual transmission MINI
is very similar to that for a standard BMW manual transmission, with both drain and fill plugs. And while the
general procedures for automatic transmission
MINIs are similar to BMW applications, we must note
that the fluid pan cannot be readily removed, as the
lower cross-member is directly under the pan. The
cross-member must be lowered slightly in order to
remove the fluid pan and access the filter. Consult
the Bentley repair manual for fluid capacities.
product focus
The ultimate drain plugs.
These magnetic drain plugs use the world’s
strongest neodymium magnets to grab
particles that are too small for filters to
catch, prolonging the useful life of engines, transmissions, etc. More details
in our online store at BavAuto.com.
Now thru October 31, save $3 on magnetic drain plugs.
Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.
Front Differential
Found on 4WD BMWs, front differentials are very similar to rear differentials but hold
very little fluid, comparatively. This makes it very important to keep fresh fluid in
these assemblies. (It wouldn’t hurt to change this fluid more often than even our Ultimate Maintenance Schedule recommends.) In most cases, less than one quart (liter)
of fluid is needed for a fluid change. However, you should check the Bentley repair
manual before purchasing fluid to be sure you have the proper amount.
DIY video – Rear differential:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/rear-diff
DIY video – Front differential:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/front-diff
Transfer Case
Found on 4-wheel drive models, the transfer case is similar
to the manual transmission and differentials in that it typically
has a drain plug and a fill plug. (Some models have only a fill
plug and require
special steps
for fluid evacuation, which will
be shown in the
DIY video.) Like the front differentials, most
transfer cases contain very little fluid;
frequent fluid changes are recommended.
Fluid quantities are noted in the model-speDIY video – Transfer case:
blog.BavAuto.com/go/transfer-case
cific Bentley repair manuals
Still have questions? Ask Bavarian Otto.
Above: metallic
particles the filter
didn’t catch.
Between Bavarian Otto’s DIY videos and the Bentley repair manual for your year and
model, these fluid change procedures should be thoroughly covered. But if something
isn’t clear or we’ve left out some information, please don’t hesitate to contact us. You
can call us at 800.535.2002, option 5.
Experienced technicians only.
800.535.2002 | 7