Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 14:25:12 -0800 From: "Lew Becker" Subject: Recent M3 purchase: a couple of questions I put an Optima into my 97 M3/2 several months ago. I've had no problems with, and have been very pleased with all aspects of the Optima. The biggest "issue" is having to drill some sheetmetal (to directly bolt the battery into the car, using mounting holes that are already in the base of the battery) -- no biggie; if done right, the finished Optima installation looks like it came from the factory (which is how it should have -- the lack of a maintenance free battery coupled with having to deal with the consequences of running the cells dry/overfilling cells/etc. is BS in a car representing the leading edge in the M3's class). If you're interested in pursuing the Optima further and would like some specific installation "tips", let me know. Lew Becker > Date: Sat, 25 Nov 2000 18:46:51 EST > From: Carguymb@aol.com > Subject: Recent M3 purchase: a couple of questions > > I recently bought a nice '95 M3, with under 40k miles, really good condition, > with only a couple of small issues. > > One of those is the battery, which seems to have/is leaking. There's some > (limited) corrosion in the area under the battery, and a little more around > the vent hose grommet, where the vent hose exits under the car behind the > right rear wheel. I can clean it all up, but it leads me to wonder about > putting an Optima back there, so I can forget about this being a problem > again. Anybody else with an Optima (or one of the knockoffs)? Any issues > with installation? > > Second question is regarding the headlight switch. Is it supposed to be back > lit? Most (or all) of the other little icons on switches and controls are > back lit, but this switch isn't. Do I have a bulb out, or is this the way > it's supposed to be? > > TIA, > > Martin Bullen > '95 M3 > '97 Z3 2.8 -------------------- 3 -------------------- Date: Sun, 26 Nov 2000 17:35:32 EST From: Mdriver13@aol.com Subject: update on battery replacement To all: Well, it's been four years to the day and I just replaced the original battery. Uses the Interstate battery Ben Liaw posted info on some time ago. The battery has been upgraded and is now model # MTP-91 (group 91) with a 72 month warranty. Price is the same as $90.00 and it weighs the same at 39 lbs. I weighed the OEM at 47.5 pounds! Fits like the OEM. However, since the vent lip on this new battery is in the middle, toward the back, I attached a piece of tubing to the battery vent lip and then connected the tube to the OEM vent tube. The only problem I ran into was electronic in nature. Know your radio code, because when you turn on the radio it will ask for it. Punch in the code (on plastic card that came with my car), and presto, it works and all preset stations still in memory. For the onboard computer, you loss everything (in my opinion cheap...even my VCR retains more info during a power failure)! You must reset clock, date, speed limit signal, consump 1 and 2, avg. speed, etc. No problem with oil change and inspection LEDs. Just some FYI for you folks. Info on battery at interstatebattery.com Bob Gill 97 ///M3 coupe Philly Region SCCA AS Champion 1997 & 2000 mov'in to ESP in '01