Take the Cool Carbon Quiz and you could win a free set of Street

the newsletter of Bavarian Autosport
Fall 2015
Take the Cool Carbon Quiz and you could
win a free set of Street/ Track brake pads!
Does your blower
seem to have a
mind of its own?
If you’re a regular
reader of our newsletters, you know
how much people
love Cool Carbon
S/T, the trackable
street pads made
in Germany. Not
content to glide on
their past success,
our friends at Cool
Photo contest entry by John M; photo by Ray Bradlau.
Carbon decided to
improve their pads. So they moved all manufacturing to a dedicated facility, giving them complete control over all aspects of production. They then had all new tooling made and adjusted
the formulation of the pad material for better performance.
The result is a pad that offers even more consistent torque
and better stopping capability, greater stability at both cold and hot temperatures (in
excess of 1100° F), even longer life, less noise and lower dust output.
To celebrate these improvements, we’re giving away three sets of Cool Carbon S/T
front brake pads. Just email the answers to these questions to CoolQuiz@BavAuto.com
by October 31st. We will select three random winners from among all correct entries
and send them their free Cool Carbons in November. You may pick up your pencils...
Question #1:
Cool Carbon Performance is a U.S.-based
company whose brake pads are made in:
A. United States B. Canada
C. China
D. Germany
E. none of the above
Question #2:
Cool Carbon Street/Track brake pads
exhibit excellent heat dissipation characteristics because:
A. they’re not called Hot Carbon.
B. they’re cross-drilled.
C. they contain miniature exhaust fans.
D. the pad material features a special,
“hollow” ceramic structure.
E. none of the above
Question #3:
Most brake pads are molded to a predetermined thickness, which keeps finishing costs low but causes variations in
density. Cool Carbon brake pads are:
A. grown in pad-shaped Petri dishes.
B. carved from blocks of pad material.
C. painted on in layers, by hand.
D. compressed to a specific density,
then finished to a common thickness.
E. none of the above
Question #4:
Cool Carbon S/T brake pads are on sale
at Bavarian Autosport from now until:
A. hell freezes over.
B. the cows come home.
C. the 12th of Never.
D. the 31st of October.
E. none of the above
CUSTOMER #:
Bavarian Autosport
275 Constitution Ave.
Portsmouth, NH 03801
KEYCODE:
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BAVARIAN
AUTOSPORT
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 1
October Special: 10–15% off
Cool Carbon Street/Track brake pads!
What the heck is going on?! You’re
pushing all the same buttons on the
climate control panel that you used to
push, but the blower isn’t paying any
attention. Do you need a new control
panel? A new blower? Or is it something
else? You can find the answer and
Otto’s latest video on page 6...
Table of contents
1
IMPROVED COOL CARBON PADS
PRODUCT FOCUS:
2
2
NOKIAN SNOW TIRE PACKAGES
WAGAN MIGHTY IMPACT WRENCH
3
ASK BAVARIAN OTTO
PRODUCT FOCUS: HEX-O-MATS
3
POSTER: BELLINGHAM BEAUTY
4–5
6
DIY: REPLACING A FINAL STAGE UNIT
DIY: INSTALLING LED ANGEL EYE BULBS
ON A 7 SERIES 02 THRU 08
7
PRODUCT FOCUS: MAHLE FILTERS
7
OCTOBER SPECIALS
8
Parts, accessories & knowledge since 1974.
© 2015 Bavarian Autosport
phone 800.535.2002 | BavAuto.com | blog.BavAuto.com
9/4/15 6:05 PM
Product Focus
nokian winter wheels | mighty impact wrench
Want to make your BMW/MINI an ultimate winter driving
machine? Install top-rated Nokian winter performance tires.
In addition to the all-weather WRG3, we offer several dedicated winter
tires by Nokian (shown below, some with optional studding).
Get free shipping* on Nokian
wheel/tire packages in October!
Nokian Tire Co. of Finland invented the
winter tire 81 years ago. Since then, Nokian’s key R&D principle has remained the
same: to develop tires with maximum grip
and durability for consumers driving in
northern conditions.
Many winter packages
feature Beyern wheels.
In ffact, in a
recent test of winter performance tires by a
leading consumer magazine (you know, the
one we can’t name), Nokian’s all-weather
WRG3 tire (V speed rating) was rated #1, and
their Hakkapeliitta R2, a dedicated winter tire
WRG3 all-weather tire
(R speed rating), was rated #3.
Water-expelling pump sipes.
Grip particles in the compound.
Angled slush penetrators.
2 | BavAuto.com
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 2
The test covered such categories as snow traction,
ice braking, wet braking, dry braking, handling, hydroplaning, ride comfort, road noise and more. Some
of the reasons that the WRG3 ranked so high in these
tests include:
■ Absolute grip and excellent handling in all the winter
conditions that were thrown at it
■ Stable and easy to control, even at high speeds
■ Low rolling resistance saves fuel and the environment
It also has the Severe Service or Mountain Snowflake
designation that indicates it is rated for use in severe
winter conditions.
Can you buy cheaper winter tires than Nokian? Of
course you can. But after more than 40 years of driving
our BMWs and MINIs in crazy New Hampshire winters
(snow, sleet, ice, slush, rain, mud and dry pavement –
sometimes all in the same day!), we’ve yet to find
a winter tire that combines the traction, comfort and
longevity of Nokians.
Winter wheel/tire packages start at $789.95. To
find out what's available
for your year and model,
visit our online store at
BavAuto.com. For the
best results we recommend speaking with one
of our friendly Advisors
at 800.535.2002. They
can help you figure out
exactly which Nokian
tire would be best for
your needs.
Hakkapeliitta 8 winter tire
Hakkapeliitta 7 winter tire
Hakkapeliitta R2 winter tire
Nordman 5 winter tire
October Special: Free shipping* on Nokian wheel/tire packages!
*Free shipping offer limited to 48 contiguous United States.
Product Focus
Finally, a 12-volt impact
wrench that really works!
The Wagan Mighty Impact Wrench loosens and
tightens vehicle lug bolts, using power from
your vehicle’s 12-volt accessory plug (cigarette
lighter socket). It comes in a compact, heavy
duty box that stores easily in your trunk
for roadside tire emergencies and/or
seasonal tire change-overs. Includes four
lug sockets: 17mm, 19mm, 21mm and 23mm.
When you first engage the wrench, it “spools up” then “knocks” to
loosen the lug bolts. When installing lug bolts, we have found that
two to three “knocks” of the impact mechanism will tighten the
bolts to 80–90 lb-ft.
See the Mighty Impact Wrench
in action – watch Otto’s video at
blog.BavAuto.com/go/12v-wrench
October Special: Save $5 on the
Mighty Impact Wrench! See page 8...
Very simple installation.
Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.
9/10/15 2:51 PM
Ask “Bavarian Otto”
from blog.BavAuto.com
Over 300 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.
I’m Confessin’ That Compressin’ Is Messin’ With My Head.
Dear Bavarian Otto,
I have a 2004 325i and I need to replace the front struts and the rear shocks.
The local shop quoted me more than $800 to do just the front struts using
their Brand X parts. I’d much rather get some high-quality parts from
BavAuto and install them myself but I don’t have a spring compressor. The
one you offer looks nice but I have to confess I’m a little apprehensive about
using it. Is this really something I can safely do myself?
Tyler R., Maine
Otto replies:
There are a couple of ways we can help you replace the front shocks (struts)
yourself and save money. We have a great DIY video that shows how to
safely use our spring compressor to disassemble the strut assemblies and
replace the shocks. Watch it at blog.BavAuto.com/go/springcompress. If
you’re still uncomfortable, or don’t foresee any need for a spring compressor
in the future, we now offer fully pre-assembled strut kits that include new
shocks, springs, upper mounts, rubber seats, bumpers and guides. These
kits are commonly known as “loaded” strut assemblies. You can simply remove your old assemblies and install the new ones; no spring compressor
is required. There is an upcharge for this service, but you’ll still save a ton
of money and time. Ask your Advisor about the availability of assembled
struts for your year and model or visit our online store at BavAuto.com.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Bavarian Autosport also has other pre-assembled kits,
including assembled wheel bearings and hubs for models that have bolt-on
bearing hubs. These bearing assemblies allow you to easily replace wheel
bearings without the need for special bearing puller/assembly tools and the
extra time/effort required to perform the complete disassembly and reassembly. Check them out at BavAuto.com.
Hibernation Explanation Reiteration.
Dear Bavarian Otto,
Winter’s coming and I have decided to send my beloved 325ic into hibernation. What should I do to ensure a happy, trouble-free spring awakening?
Otto replies:
Well, we can’t guarantee everything will be happy and trouble-free, but
we can certainly help you try to achieve that. We posted a fairly detailed
how-to article on this last fall at blog.BavAuto.com/go/storage.
Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 3
Lucy, You Got Some “Splining” To Do...
Dear Bavarian Otto,
I ordered and received a new wiper arm for my X3 from you folks, but I
can’t get the old #$%^& wiper arm off. Help! And now I’m looking at the
new wiper arm and it seems to be missing the piece that fits down over
the splined shaft. I don’t see it in the box... ???
Greg S., Indiana
Otto replies:
Most wiper arms are pressed onto a splined, tapered shaft (similar to tapered ball-joint spindles). It is very common that, after many years of use
in the outdoors, the wiper arm does not want to come off the shaft after
the securing nut is removed. You will need our wiper arm puller, which is
also great for lifting cable clamps off battery terminals. As for the “missing
insert,” new arms don’t have splines; the splines get cut into the aluminum
when you tighten it down onto the steel shaft.
Product Focus
Custom-fit Hex-O-Mats combine style and protection.
Winter’s coming –
are your BMW’s or
MINI’s floor mats
up to it? Our HexO-Mats are crafted
in the USA from
a high-quality,
non-cracking compound that has been
molded into a dirtand water-trapping
honeycomb pattern.
The material is cut with computer-precision to completely cover
your BMW’s or MINI’s footwells and/or trunk. (Yes, we have HexO-Mat trunk mats.) On the bottom, molded-in nibs grab the carpeting below and hold the mats in place underfoot – no slipping,
no sliding, no bunching.
Hex-O-Mat floor mats area available in your choice
of gray (in car above), black, tan or clear. Trunk
mats are available in gray, black or tan.
In addition, Hex-O-Mats are incredibly easy to clean. Just take ‘em
out, shake ‘em out, hose ‘em off
and let ‘em dry. Plus they’re backed
by our 2-year warranty!
Is that enough incentive to make you put them in your BMW or
MINI? Would it help if we put them on sale?... Done.
October Special: Save $5-10 on Hex-O-Mat floor and trunk mats! See page 8...
Experienced technicians only.
800.535.2002 | 3
9/8/15 7:56 PM
Bellingham Beauty
Photos by Klaus Schnitzer, Schnitzer Photography.
How one man’s search for an “in-town” ride
became a four year restoration project.
As a kid, Karl K. was always into model cars. When he
got his driver’s license, he and his dad customized a 1961
VW Bug (the first of many VWs to inhabit Karl’s garage).
It was purple with a paisley hood panel and headliner,
chopped fenders, exposed engine and more. In college,
he took a photography class where his professor was one
Klaus Schnitzer of Schnitzer Photography fame. Professor
Schnitzer introduced him to the world of BMW 2002s.
“That was an incredible eye opener!” says Karl. “Who
would ever think that a boxy car like that could be so
amazing to drive?”
Fast forward a couple of decades, where we find Karl
living in Washington state, driving an exquisitely restored
1976 2002. Here’s the story in Karl’s own words...
“My thought going into this project was I could either buy
a new, low-end car that I would use for my in-town travels, or I could take that money and restore a 2002 to likenew condition. Then I would have a fun, pristine classic
versus your run-of-the-mill, average transportation.”
“Since I wanted to do a number of modifications, I felt it
should not be a tii. (If it were a tii, I would go totally stock
all the way.) Modifications include a beefier cam, pistons,
twin Weber 45 carburetors, 5-speed tranny, limited slip
differential, Bilstein Sport shocks, upgraded brakes,
ceramic-coated headers, custom exhaust, new interior,
all the chrome either removed or painted black, fiberglass
bumpers (modified to hug the body) and more.”
“I tend to underestimate costs, and I also tend to go to
extremes with a tad bit of perfectionism, so needless to
say this project cost more (over $40K) than expected. It’s
tough trying to make perfection out of a car that is 39
years old, not to mention finding people willing to work on
various parts of this project who have a passion for their
work and are perfectionists as well. But since it took four
years to complete, it was sort of like a lay-away plan...
Now it’s time to drive and fully enjoy it!”
Beautiful car, beautiful photo... well done, Karl and Klaus!
Make this 2002 your computer's/phone's wallpaper:
Go to BavAuto.com/wallpaper.
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 4
800.535.2002 | BavAuto.com
9/8/15 7:54 PM
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 5
9/4/15 6:14 PM
Do-it yourself
replacing a final stage unit | installing LED angel eye bulbs
DIY: Replacing a Final Stage Unit.
One of the most common problems on later model BMWs is failure of the heat and
A/C blower control. This causes the blower motor to run at varying speeds, not at
all or continuously (not shut off). Changing the blower speed input on the climate
control panel may have intermittent or no effect on the actual blower speed or operation. The most typical cause for these symptoms is a faulty Final Stage Unit, commonly known as the blower resistor.
Later model BMWs (generally from the late
‘90s-on, with digital climate control panels)
use a continuously variable blower speed
control, as opposed to the earlier models
that have three or four specific blower
speeds that are chosen via a control knob
or dial. The continuously variable control
is accomplished through a digitally modulated Final Stage Unit. These units do eventually fail and, as noted above, the common
symptoms include:
■ blower motor will not change speed per the climate control inputs
■ blower motor changes speed on its own when not in “auto” mode
■ blower motor does not operate at all
■ blower motor will not shut off
On most BMW models, the blower Final Stage Unit is mounted in the area forward and
above the left side of the passenger footwell (above and to the left of the passenger’s
left foot – fig. 1). In this DIY we will be replacing
the Final Stage Unit in an X5 00-06 (E53 chassis).
The location of the unit and the general procedures shown will be similar for many BMW models, including 3 series 96-05 (later E36 and E46),
5 series 97-03 (E39) and others. The Bentley
repair manuals detail the specific locations and
Figure 1
replacement procedures for the different models.
Parts:
■ Final Stage Unit – BavAuto.com
Tools:
Non-Marring Pry Tools – BavAuto.com
■
■
Male Torx bits or drivers, or 69-piece
metric socket set – BavAuto.com
■
Phillips & flat-head screwdrivers
1.
Remove the forward plastic trim panel (fig. 2) by releasing the two ¼-turn fasteners and one
Phillips-head screw (fig. 3).
Screw
¼-turn
¼-turn
Figure 2
Figure 8
Figure 3
6.
Pry the glove box light down and disconnect
the wiring harness (fig. 8).
2. Disconnect
the courtesy light
wiring harness and
remove the trim
panel (fig. 4).
3.
Press out
and remove the
damper securing
pin (fig. 5).
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 10
8.
Figure 6
Press the right side of the glove box to allow
the stopper to clear the frame so the box can be
lowered (fig. 6).
6 | BavAuto.com
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 6
7.
Lower the glove box assembly and remove
it (fig. 9).
Screw
Push side console trim panel forward to release rearward clip, after removing Phillips head
screw (fig. 10).
4.
Figure 9
Figure 11
9.
Unclip and remove the footwell air duct
(fig. 11)....
To read the rest of this article
and watch the DIY video, go to
blog.BavAuto.com/go/final-stage
Figure 7
5.
Remove the six Phillips-head screws securing the glove box assembly to the dash (fig. 7
– arrows indicate screw locations).
Very simple installation.
Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.
9/9/15 3:25 PM
replacing a final stage unit | installing LED angel eye bulbs
DIY: Installing LED angel eye bulbs.
Before
Product Focus
If Mahle filters
are good enough
for BMW...
After
After
On late-model BMWs, the Daytime Running Lights (DRLs) that surround the headlights are commonly referred to as angel eyes. (They
are also known as halos, corona rings, demon eyes, etc.) On the
BMW 7 series 02 thru 09 (E65/E66 chassis, including 745i, 745Li,
750i, 750Li, 760i, 760Li), the original halogen bulbs that illuminate
the angel eyes are comparatively dim and yellow when compared to
the Xenon HID headlight bulbs of the more current LED angel eyes.
For a while now, we have offered LED angel eye upgrade bulbs that
work great on the E65/66 7 series (as well as other chassis), changing the duller yellow rings to bright white.
Right: stock angel eyes on
a 5 series 04 thru 10.
Above: LED bulb in the same
5 series 04 thru 10.
Before
We have another video showing LED installation on a 3 series
06 thru 11 (E90). See it at blog.BavAuto.com/go/LED-angel.
These LED upgrade kits are a direct replacement for the original halogen
angel eye bulbs, but a lot of our customers have complained that they
can’t figure out how to access the original bulbs to replace them. Doing
a bulb replacement on these 7 series involves removal of the headlight
assemblies. Bavarian Otto has made a video showing you how to do these
procedures yourself and upgrade to the brighter, whiter, more current
LED angel eye bulbs. Watch the video at blog.BavAuto.com/go/E65angel
Now thru October 31 save $15 on LED angel eyes bulbs! See page 8...
Do you have a 3 series 99 thru 05 (E46)? Add some
angel eyes and give it a cooler, more current look.
These add-on angel eye rings are made to fit
the stock BMW headlights on the 3 series 99
thru 05 (E46 chassis). They’ll give your BMW
the more current “angel eyes” look without
requiring you to buy full, angel-eye headlight
assemblies (which can get very expensive).
Installation is a bit time-consuming but is not
difficult (detailed instructions are included),
and you’ll love the new look of your Bimmer
when you’re done! Plus now thru October
31st, these angel eyes are on sale!
Save $15 on angel eyes upgrade kits for 3 series 99 thru 05.
Normally $99.95, they're now just $84.95! Sale ends October 31st.
Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.
N415FallNewsOct15_lyt20FINAL.indd 7
Experienced technicians only.
MAHLE has grown from a small test
workshop into a global company and
technology leader. The success story begins in 1920 when pistons made of heavy
gray cast iron were being used in internal
combustion engines for automobiles. The
Mahle brothers, in contrast, were producing light alloy pistons at their small,
newly established company. To keep dirt
and dust out of the engine, they eventually developed air and oil filters.
Today, every second automobile produced worldwide contains MAHLE components. For BMWs, MAHLE makes oil
filters, air filters, fuel filters and cabin air
microfilters. You can find them all in our
online store at BavAuto.com. And right
now, they’re all on sale (see page 8).
Save even more when you DIY!
Watch these videos, then do it yourself:
■
blog.BavAuto.com/go/oil-change
■
blog.BavAuto.com/go/fuel-filter
■
blog.BavAuto.com/go/air-filter
■
blog.BavAuto.com/go/microfilter
800.535.2002 | 7
9/9/15 3:50 PM