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RE: bmw-digest V9 #1962

Having owned 2002s in Hawaii for a number of years, I've followed the
cracking dash issue with great attention.  Have never heard before, though,
anyone recommending drilling stress relief holes in the dash to prevent
further cracking.  Won't say it won't work; but at least for 2002 owners,
I'd rather think that our dashes would end up looking like black Swiss
cheese!

I think Will has the right idea.  Use of a good vinyl softener/protectant
can do a lot to stop existing dash cracks from spreading.  I've lived with a
small dash crack in a 2002 dash for several years without any further
problems, by regularly applying a Zmoyl vinyl softener/protectant product
and always protecting the dash from exposure to the sun when the car was
stopped.  

Protection is the first step in addressing cracking BMW dashes.  Attempted
restoration is an optional, not always satisfactory, second step.  I'd
recommend you owners of "modern" BMWs browse the 2002 Digest Archives for
information about prevention and restoration of dash cracks.  There is a lot
of information there about this topic.  

Best,
Bob Sundberg


> Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 12:29:27 -0700
> From: "Will Hartje" <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: cracks in dash.
> 
> The main problem is that the thing is drying out and becoming brittle. Use
> of Armorall and similar products that supposedly "protect" dashes only
> make
> things worse.
> 
>  The only product I have found, and have used with great success on
> rubber
> and plastic is Meguiars Mirrorglaze 40, I used for years on the rear
> spoiler
> on my Porsche 944 in Arizona and the spoiler stayed like new, no greasy
> film, no going hard or oxidizing . It is in a class of it's own when it
> comes to restoring rubber and plastic components.
> 
> - -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]On Behalf Of David
> A. Leonard
> Sent: Monday, November 05, 2001 8:26 AM
> To: [email protected]; [email protected]
> Subject: cracks in dash.
> 
> It was written...>>>>Dash cracking...I am concerned that the crack will
> expand and increase in length, and
> eventually become very visible..   Is there anything I can do to prevent
> further cracking?  >>>
> 
> 
> One way to stop a crack from continuing is to " stop drill" the end of it.
> The optimum size of the hole is about three times the thickness of the
> materiel that you are drilling.  It won't fix the crack, but it usually
> will
> stop it from propagating, as it relieves the stress.
> 
> You simply drill a hole at the end of the crack.  This spreads the stress
> over the entire wall of the round hole, rather than at the point of the
> crack.  It is commonly done on aircraft fairings in plastic, fiberglass,
> and
> aluminum .
> 
> The only problem is getting a drill in there , but in a dashboard, I might
> try a 1/16" bit, and try turning it by hand..the dash skin is thin and
> plastic, so it would probably work. Make sure the center of the hole/
> drill
> point is exactly on the most extreme point of the crack.
> 
> You might then try sneaking a little black urethane (3m4200 is one of my
> favorites) in the crack after drilling , but that may cause it to be more
> noticible than just leaving it.
> 
> I've even had luck drilling the plastic rear window on my 325ic and
> stopping
> the plastic from cracking further.
> 
> Hope this helps,
> 
> Dave Leonard
> 
> 
> 
> 
> - --
> to be removed from bmw, see /bin/digest-subs.cgi
> or email "unsubscribe bmw" to [email protected]
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Mon, 5 Nov 2001 11:52:21 -0800 (PST)
> From: Sara Bahner <[email protected]>
> Subject: RE: Brakes
> 
> I've also used Foreign Car Service, Alexandria, VA (DC
> general area) and found them to be quality folks. 
> They've also been written up in the Washingtonian
> magazine as reliable, etc.
> 
> 703.549.4100
> Find a job, post your resume.
> http://careers.yahoo.com
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Mon, 05 Nov 2001 18:44:23 -0600
> From: John Harbolt <[email protected]>
> Subject: Fuel feed/quantity problem on a 1997 318ti
> 
> Anybody ever heard of this before and know how to fix it?
> My 1997 318ti quit running like it was out of gas but the fuel low-level
> light had not come on and the computer said I could go another 83 miles
> with
> the present fuel. This had proven very accurate in the 86,000 miles I've
> driven the car. I left the car with a BMW dealer (it was Saturday
> afternoon), rented a car, and went on to Florida.  A phone call to the
> dealer disclosed that they checked fuel pressure at zero and therefore the
> fuel pump was bad and needed to be replaced.  When I picked up the car
> they
> told me they put in $5.00 worth of gas before they test drove it and it
> ran
> great.  In a hurry to get on the road, I didn't fill up.  Thinking the car
> was fixed I kept driving 'till I saw the low-level light blink and pulled
> off at the next exit.  The car died at the bottom of the exit.  Started
> again but ran poorly and for just long enough to get to the driveway of a
> filling station. Got help to push the car to the pumps and filled it up to
> the top of the neck with 12.8 gallons.  This is a 13.7 gallon tank which I
> have put in as much as 14.3 gallons numerous times.  Started car and it
> ran
> fine.  My conclusion is that I had about 1 1/2 gallons somewhere that
> didn't
> feed .  Later testing showed that when the car "ran out" the resistance on
> the right side fuel level sensor (the side with the fuel pump) read 10
> ohms
> which is the correct reading for an empty tank, but the left side fuel
> level
> sensor read about 65 ohms indicating some quantity of fuel present.  I
> tried
> this several times and it was always about the same.  Now I know that
> there
> is fuel in the left side tank of the tank that I can't get to feed, but I
> don't know how the "siphon feed system" works to move fuel from the left
> side to the right side so that the pump will get it all (or at least most
> of
> it).  Any help out there?
> John - 1985 635CSi (Euro), 1997 318ti (supercharged)  
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Tue, 6 Nov 2001 11:35:59 -0500 (EST)
> From: "W.T. Chung" <[email protected]>
> Subject: Any idea about MB
> 
> Dear All Bimmers,
> 
> First of all, I make an apology for betraying all Bimmers by buying MB.
> I plan to buy 2002 C320 for my better half in this week.  Our family has
> owned three bimmers already.   All bimmers are runing great.  However,
> they want to change of air for next baby.
> 
> 
> 
> 
> if any bimmers had some experiences with the MB dealer, I would like to
> have your valuable experience.   What is a reasonable price or percentage
> for dealer's margine from the invoice?
>  
> I used to pay $1,200~$1,500 for BMW
> I really appreciate for your reply in advance.
>  
> Regards,
> hoosier
> 
> ------------------------------
> 
> End of bmw-digest V9 #1962
> **************************

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End of bmw-digest V9 #1963
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