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04-16-2008, 09:51 PM | #1 |
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Q&A Part II with Larry Koch, BMA NA M brand manager
As most of you know Skierman posted his recollection of his Q&A with Larry Koch, which was fairly extensive.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=133368 I asked him a few more questions tonight at another BMW CCA event. I am paraphrasing as accurately as I can as I did not tape his answers, and I am keeping my opinions out of it (I am not agreeing or disagreeing with anything he said so don't flame me). Q: Will I lose my warranty if I track my M3? LK: You will if you compete with it. If you get on the track during your local BMW CC event and drive around, you will be fine. Q: Will BMW offer performance parts for the M3? LK: This is under discussion. I brought it up in the presence of an M-division engineer, and he immediately asked what was it that I thought could be improved exactly. Q: (from the general audience) What is the difference between the Sport and Normal EDC settings? LK: In the normal setting, the computer constantly adjusts the suspension. [some other stuff that is common knowledge on this forum]....Under certain conditions, in the Normal setting, the suspension can be stiffer than it is in the Sport setting. Q: Why is the E92 M3 chassis riding slightly higher than the E92 335 coupe chassis? Does this have anything to do with airflow? LK: Is it? If it is, I don't know. Q: Would lowering the M3 cause problems with EDC? What should one pay attention to? LK: Lowering the car would alter the suspension geometry, and take away from performance. It would also cause uneven tire wear. Q: (from the general audience) Will there be another M1 to compete with the R8? LK: I can't answer future products questions, but we are always looking into that kind of thing. Q: (from the general audience) Why doesn't BMW offer LSD in the non-M 3 and 1 series cars? LK: I don't know. I am focused on M products. Q: (from the general audience) Why is there no dipstick in the M3? LK: Only 2-3% of the owners actually ever use the dipstick. They don't even think about engine oil unless the car gives an electronic warning anyway.
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04-16-2008, 09:57 PM | #2 |
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Interesting, thanks for the info
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04-16-2008, 09:57 PM | #3 | |||
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04-16-2008, 10:10 PM | #5 |
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Lucid, that was a nice compliment to what I posted last week. Awesome job. I had actually asked him the same question as your first one about tracking the car but forgot to post it on here. He gave me the same answer. Which is good becuase my dad tracked his E46M and warped the rotors, his dealer said they wouldn't replace them under warranty, that was a few years back.
Here's skiermans answer to the engineer that asked what can be improved: This is going to seem nit picky, but one of the things that bugs me about the car is the look of the front calipers. It's interesting that the 135 has nicer looking (perhap better performing) multi piston calipers than a $70K M3. A car that costs this much and looks this good shouldn't have front calipers that look like they come off a Chevy Cavilier. Especially when BMW has developed two very nice looking sets of open wheels which show off the brakes. I haven't tracked the car yet, so I don't know how well the brakes perform. I'm guessing they'll do just fine, based on some other reports about the car on the track. They look like crap and I would buy new calipers from BMW performance if they offered them to fit on the current rotors. My $.02.
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04-16-2008, 10:11 PM | #6 |
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Thanks LUCID for taking the time to ask and record answers and then post them here. Much appreciated
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04-16-2008, 10:15 PM | #7 |
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Nice, thanks!
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04-16-2008, 10:42 PM | #9 |
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Why do you think that? He likely has data.
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04-17-2008, 12:30 AM | #10 |
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Thanks for the update.
I regret not thinking of this question for you guys to ask him earlier: Will using launch control in M-DCT equipped cars void warranty? Theres a "rumor" floating around that it does for SMG cars...
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04-17-2008, 12:39 AM | #11 |
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I hate not having a dipstick!! I don't care if the car tells me the oil level is fine, I like to SEE the oil on the stick. BMW's recommended oil change intervals (at least on regular 3 series) is nuts (15,000 miles!?!) I'm running 5,000 mile intervals with samples going to Blackstone.
I think I'd be one of those that actually USES a dipstick. Nice to know I'm in the top 2% to 3% of BMW owners!
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04-17-2008, 12:43 AM | #12 |
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04-17-2008, 06:41 AM | #13 |
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I agree with Skierman64 about the calipers. I saw the 135i at my dealer and the calipers looked so nice. The 19" wheels especially show off the brakes and you have to look at those crappy looking calipers.
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04-17-2008, 06:48 AM | #14 |
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He did say they have data, but he didn't specify if it was from M owners or BMW owners in general. I got the sense that it might be the latter.
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04-17-2008, 06:50 AM | #15 |
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They possibly cannot prohibit the use of a standard feature they have designed into the car. However, there might be some language around how often it can be used and so on.
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04-17-2008, 07:38 AM | #16 |
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Even limiting use by sheer language kinda sounds dubious to me though, lucid. I think it would have to be limited by the computer or it would not hold up in vert well from a legally binding perspective. What if two people share a car for example? So then they have to like keep a logbook of how and when they use LC? That just seems crazy. And there are other scenarios (however contrived) that this would seem to not work out also.
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04-17-2008, 07:39 AM | #17 |
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Lucid, thanks for taking the time to post your questions and answers. I was with Skierman64 at the Philly BMW CCA/Larry Koch meeting, and it was invaluable. If anyone else has the opportunity to go to any future meetings where Mr. Koch is speaking, I would strongly suggest it.
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04-17-2008, 09:27 AM | #18 | |
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04-17-2008, 10:24 AM | #19 | |
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Dipstick: WTF? Only 2 - 3% check their oil? Where do they get those numbers? Does that mean that only 2 - 3% of M3 are true enthusiasts? Maybe there should be an HP drivers license. If you don't check your oil regularly you lose your license and ability to drive the M3!
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04-17-2008, 10:27 AM | #20 |
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LC in SMG II M3s was watered down from that of the Euro model. However, in Europe, (and I suppose most other parts of the world) after, I could be wrong on the exact number, thirty launches the transmission had to in for service -- overhaul I think. Because LC was watered down for the US, I do not believe that the 30 launch rule applied -- but then I could be wrong -- I never heard anything definitive one way or the other.
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04-17-2008, 11:43 AM | #22 | |
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