the newsletter of Bavarian Autosport

Cool Carbon brake pads: S/T vs. S/T PLUS. Which one is right for me and my BMW? In our experience, Cool Carbon brake pads are simply the best sport pads a BMW enthusiast can put on his/her car. So what’s the difference between S/T and S/T PLUS? Check it out:

Fall 2016

Yes, those turbo power modules really are “plugand-play”!

Original S/T formulation: Friction level is 15% greater than BMW OE pads, and it improves as the brakes get hotter. ■ Less dust after bedding-in than most BMW OE pads. ■ Great for daily driving, but also for street performance/Mtn. runs/ Canyon carving/HPDE/Auto-X. ■

NEW!

New S/T PLUS formulation: Friction level is 30% greater than BMW OE, and it’s constant whether hot or cold. ■ Less dust after bedding-in than most BMW OE pads. ■ Even better for daily driving/ street performance/Mtn. runs/ Canyon carving/HPDE/Auto-X... PLUS you get improved overall track performance. ■

Read what drivers like you have been saying about Cool Carbon pads: For new S/T PLUS pads (above left), go to – blog.BAVauto.com/go/ST-Plus For original S/T pads (above right), go to – blog.BAVauto.com/go/Cool Carbon

Original S/T pads are offered in a wide range of front and rear applications, while S/T PLUS are available for many front applications. (You should pair them with original S/T pads on the rear.) In addition, all Cool Carbon brake pads are made in Germany. And in October, they’re all on sale. CUSTOMER #:

Bavarian Autosport 275 Constitution Ave. Portsmouth, NH 03801

KEYCODE:

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BAVARIAN AUTOSPORT N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 1

SAVE! Cool Carbon brake pads are now 10% off front or rear sets and 15% off full car sets.

If you’ve been hesitant to install a power module on your turbo BMW or MINI, you’re not alone. Many people are afraid they will screw something up if they do it wrong. But these modules are so easy to install it’s almost impossible to do it wrong, as you can see in Otto’s new DIY videos (page 7)...

Table of contents 1

PRODUCT FOCUS: COOL CARBON PRODUCT FOCUS: WINTER GEAR

2

ASK BAVARIAN OTTO

3

PRODUCT FOCUS: NEW TOOLS

3

POSTER: PHOTO CONTEST WINNER

4–5

DIY: WHY YOU SHOULD CHANGE SPARK

6

PLUGS EARLIER THAN SCHEDULED DIY: REMOVING STUCK, RUBBER

7

SPARK PLUG CONNECTOR BOOTS DIY: INSTALLING POWER MODULES

7

ON BMW/MINI TURBO ENGINES

8

OCTOBER SPECIALS

Parts, accessories & knowledge since 1974. © 2016 Bavarian Autosport

phone 800.535.2002 | BAVauto.com | blog.BAVauto.com

9/5/16 3:26 PM

Product Focus winterizing your BMW/MINI

Five easy ways to get your BMW or MINI ready for winter. Winter can present some specific challenges to our BMWs and MINIs. And depending on where you live and drive, your definition of “winter” can be very different than ours. For those of us who live in northern climes, when we think of “winter” we think of snow, ice, temperatures below freezing (or zero), more snow, more ice, 15 hours of darkness per night... (Why do we live here again?) But to folks in, say, Dallas/Fort Worth, the term “winter” conjures up completely different images. Winter Challenge #1: Reduced Traction Whether you’re facing deep snow drifts, greasy slush, slick ice or heavy downpours, putting a set of winter tires on your BMW or MINI will make a huge difference in your handling and safety. We offer a variety of #1 rated Nokian winter performance tires – studded, non-studded, run-flat, regular, snow, all-season – including Hakkapeliitta 8, Hakkapeliitta R2, Hakkapeliitta WRG3 and Nordman 5. So while you might not need “snow” tires per se, you would see improved traction (and safety!) from tires designed to maintain road contact in heavy rain. FREE SHIPPING on winter wheel/tire packages during October!

Winter Challenge #2: Reduced Daylight In winter, it’s not uncommon to drive to work in the dark, and back home in the dark. A simple upgrade of your headlight bulbs and fog lights makes a huge difference in how well you can see road hazards, pedestrians, etc., while brighter angel eyes make your BMW more visible to other drivers. Here are a few upgrades to consider: ■ ■

Hella 2.0 and PIAA bulbs for halogen headlights Stealth upgrades bulbs for Xenon headlights ■ Projector and yellow fog light assemblies ■ Weisslicht and Lux angel eye upgrade bulbs During October, save on upgrade bulbs and fog light assemblies. See p. 8...

Putting your BMW/MINI in storage for the winter? Make sure you do it properly so there are no unpleasant surprises when you take it out of hibernation in the spring – check out Otto’s long-term storage advice: Bavarian Otto’s Guide to Long-term Storage: blog.BAVauto.com/go/storage

Winter Challenge #3: Reduced Vision Adding to the problems of seeing road hazards in the dark is the common problem of streaked or iced-up windshields. Treating the windshield with Aquapel and installing new wiper blades makes a huge difference in visibility (and, thus, safety). We offer a range off wipers, i iincluding ice-shedding Bosch Icon, PIAA Super Silicone, Genuine BMW/MINI and more. Save on an Aquapel bundle plus get $2 off every Bosch Icon wiper blade.

Winter Challenge #4: Slush, Sand & Salt People treat slippery sidewalks and streets with all kinds of stuff – salt, sand, kitty litter, fireplace ashes – all of which get trapped on shoes and boots, then deposited onto (if not ground into) your BMW’s or MINI’s carpet floor mats. Rubber to the rescue! We offer WeatherTech Floorliners, Genuine BMW/MINI rubber Save $5 on our mats, and our own Hex-O-Mats and all-weather All-Weather Mats. floor mat sets! Winter Challenge #5: Windows Closed With colder air outside, we tend to drive with our windows up during the winter months. This can trap humidity, odors, etc. Here are some products to help you handle being without “fresh air” for a couple of months: ■

Zarpax dehumidifier (no more fogged-up windshield) Auto Shocker (no more bad smells) Save on Zarpax dehumidifier ■ Cabin air microfilter (breathe cleaner air) and Auto Shocker! See p. 8... ■ Ionic ionizer (remove allergens, etc.) ■

Get up to $100 from Kumho! Kumho will send a prepaid VISA card worth up to $100 to anyone who buys a set of four qualifying Ecsta tires during the month of October. The qualifying tires include Ecsta PS91, Ecsta 4X II, Ecsta PS31 and Ecsta PA31. For more details, ask your Advisor or visit BAVauto.com.

2 | BAVauto.com

N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 2

Very simple installation.

Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.

9/1/16 8:24 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.

Advice you can use when you’re in a pinch (bolt). Dear Bavarian Otto, I just snapped the strut pinch bolt on my 2003 325xi wagon after soaking with penetrant and careful turning. Looks like this could take a while. Any advice besides drilling it out? AND… any advice on removing the other side? It seems to be stuck as well. Otto replies: At this point, your only recourse is to drill out the broken bolt section. To drill out the broken one, start with small bits and work up to the larger sizes. Use a slow drill speed and lots of lubricant (some type of oil) to both cool the bit and lubricate the tip. Do your best to get the initial drilling centered on the bolt shank. Once the bolt is drilled out, you can either use a new longer bolt and lock-nut or install a thread repair insert like those from Heli-Coil, Time-Sert or others. If this is done, you can use a new original bolt. Alternatively, you can remove the complete spindle and strut assembly and take it to a machine shop. The shop can quickly drill out the bolt shank and repair the threads. As for removing the stuck pinch bolt on the other side, see my blog post at blog.BAVauto.com/go/pinch-bolt.

Proof positive. From time to time, Otto hears success stories that are so strong, he must share them. John C’s experience with Liqui Moly is one of those stories. John recently purchased a certified, pre-owned, 2013 328i (F30) with a little over 38,000 miles on it. While driving home from the dealer, he noticed a “darn ticking noise.” He drove the car back to the dealer. The BMW service advisor said the noise was from the direct injectors and this noise was “normal” for BMWs. No service was offered. Not satisfied with this answer, John attempted to fix the noise himself by doing an oil change with Mobil-1 0w-40 full synthetic oil. A week later the noise came back. John searched on a few internet forums and found several accolades for Liqui Moly motor oils. After learning that Liqui Moly is the #1 motor oil in Germany, he bought Liqui Moly full synthetic, changed the oil again and started the car. “My jaw dropped,” wrote John.“The engine ticking and knocking was gone.” After 2,000 miles, he still has no ticking sound and the engine is running smooth.

Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.

N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 3

“The proof for me was my car! The car seems more responsive, light on its feet feeling, sooooo smooth on the freeway… there is definitely a huge difference between Liqui Moly and Mobil-1.” “In the past, I have experimented with many different synthetic oils; Mobil-1, Pennzoil, Valvoline, Castrol to name a few. But nothing gave me real results like Liqui Moly. The difference was right away and it stayed that way... So, in my opinion, Liqui Moly is the best in the world. You have earned a lifetime customer!” Here at Bavarian Autosport, we’ve been offering Liqui Moly oils, additives and maintenance products for more than 25 years. We believe Liqui Moly, which is made in Germany, is the best synthetic motor oil for BMWs and MINIs. It has even been approved by BMW in Germany for use in all its cars. BMW North America, however, has an exclusive contract with a single motor oil provider, so no other brands can be “approved,” even though the parent company back home has already given it its blessing. So you won’t find Liqui Moly at a BMW dealer, but you will find it at BAVauto.

A tisket, a tasket, I've got a leaky gasket... again! Dear Bavarian Otto, Not too long ago I replaced the oil filter housing gasket on my 2001 525i, and now it’s leaking again. Do I need a new housing? Otto replies: It’s not the housing – most oil filter housing gaskets are made from inexpensive materials that lose their effectiveness in relatively short order. This is a very common problem – one we decided to do something about. We worked with suppliers to develop a gasket made from long-lasting DuPont Viton. If you use this gasket, it is unlikely you will ever need to replace it again. Read more at blog.BAVauto.com/go/viton.

Product Focus NEW! Tools to help make maintenance/repairs easier.

Over the past few months we’ve been sourcing a pile of new tools. Some are universal tools, like our low-profile, rolling drain pan that slides easily under lowered cars to catch coolant and/or oil. Other are designed to do a specific task, like our new trailing arm bushing press, spark plug sockets and more. You can see them all at BAVauto.com or ask your Advisor at 800.535.2002.

Experienced technicians only.

800.535.2002 | 3

9/5/16 12:48 PM

Contest winner! At right is the winning photo in our “BMW/MINI in Summer” photo contest, submitted by Stefan R. of Colorado. Entitled “Colorado Back Road Sunset”, the shot, which features an E46 ZHP and an E36 M3, received the highest number of viewer votes among the Finalists. All 26 Finalists (selected from more than 700 entries!) received $100 BAVauto savings certificates, while Stefan received a second $100 certificiate for garnering the most votes. For more details on our photo contest, see below...

Your BMW or MINI could be featured here!

Photo P Ph hot ho oto oc con contest cont ontte es entr entry t b by Randy n J.

n Enter our Ultimate BMW & MINI Photo Contests! Throughout the year we will be running various photo contests. Here’s how they work: 1) you enter online; 2) we select the finalists; 3) everyone votes for a winner. All finalists receive a $100 Bavarian Autosport savings certificate; the winning photo gets a $200 certificate. And if a photo is good enough, it could end up as our next poster! To enter, or for more info, go to BavAuto.com/photocontest.

Make this photo your computer’s/phone’s wallpaper: Go to BAVauto.com/wallpaper.

N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 4

800.535.2002 | BAVauto.com

9/5/16 3:28 PM

N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 5

9/5/16 3:28 PM

Do-it yourself change spark plugs sooner | removing stuck connector boots | installing turbo power modules

DIY: Why you should change your spark plugs earlier than scheduled. For the past 35 years or so, BMW (and by extension, MINI) automobiles have employed some form of vehicle service reminders. The original reminders ranged from a mileage-activated light on the dashboard saying it’s time to change the oxygen sensor, to the common ‘80s and ‘90s systems that told us to change the oil or see our BMW dealer for a “service” or “inspection.” Maintenance intervals for today’s BMWs and MINIs rely heavily on what BMW calls CBS (Condition-based Service). The CBS program uses inputs from sensors, vehicle mileage and vehicle usage to compute service and replacement intervals for various vehicle systems/components. These include engine oil, brake pads, brake fluid, cabin microfilters, spark plugs and overall vehicle inspection and service intervals. Regardless of which version is in use on your BMW or MINI, these built-in service reminders help ensure that the vehicle receives at least some level of maintenance. However, exactly when these reminders are activated (the length of the service intervals) can be influenced by forces other than what is best for the vehicle’s performance and longevity (e.g. “cost of ownership” ratings).

So what can you, the BMW or MINI owner, do about this? The answer is simple – replace your BMW’s or MINI’s spark plugs sooner than 100,000 miles. Take a look at the spark plugs that we recently pulled from three different vehicles (bottom left). Each of these sets of plugs had between 30,000 and 35,000 miles on them. All of the cars they came from were exhibiting noticeable engine misfires. One of the vehicles also had misfire fault codes. Note that all of the plugs were burning well; in other words, there was no heavy carbon, oil or additive build-up that would have caused the misfires – the plugs were just simply worn and weak. Just by installing new spark plugs (and doing nothing else), the misfires were cured and engine response improved dramatically on all three, with the grinning owners saying they felt as if they had their old cars back. So what’s a good interval for spark plug replacement? Well, you can wait until you start getting misfires, sluggish performance and faults codes if you like, but we recommend between 30,000 and 40,000 miles to ensure maximum fuel efficiency (MPG) and engine performance. Parts: Spark plugs ■ Connector boots (where appropriate) ■ Replacement ignition coils (if needed)

One good example of a service interval that is way too long is the one for engine spark plugs. On current models, spark plug replacement intervals are set at about 100,000 miles. But consider this: When a spark is produced, a small amount of metal from the electrode is removed (or, worn away). This wear is actually part of a spark plug’s function. After millions of sparks produced in, say, 30,000 miles of driving, the electrodes will, not surprisingly, begin to show signs of physical wear: the electrodes become rounded, increasing the gap that the spark must jump. This reduces the energy and consistency of the spark. Also, a rounded electrode doesn’t perform as well as a new, sharp-edged electrode. Add these two effects together and you start to see a noticeable degradation in engine efficiency. While the plugs may still be operating “acceptably,” they can generate random misfires and/or an engine management fault code (indicated by the CHECK ENGINE or Service Engine Soon warning light). You may even notice reduced fuel economy.

■

Tools: ■ 69-piece metric socket set ■ Spark plug socket ■ Pick and hook set

Check out the old vs. new spark plugs for these three vehicles. Note that all the electrodes look fairly clean, they’re just noticeably worn.

DIY video – changing plugs & coils: blog.BAVauto.com/go/spark-plugs

1995 M3, 145K miles:

2012 MINI Cooper, 34K miles:

2007 335i, 90K miles:

Occasional misfires (bucking) under acceleration. No fault codes. Spark plugs had between 30,000 and 35,000 miles of use.

Quite apparent engine misfire and backfire noise through exhaust, plus a fault code for cylinder #4 misfire. Spark plugs had 34,000 miles of use (original plugs).

Misfires under acceleration. No fault codes. Spark plugs had 31,000 miles of use (De-carbon walnut blast was performed 8,000 miles earlier.)

SAVE! During the month of October, save on all spark plug sockets!

6 | BAVauto.com

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Very simple installation.

And remember, replacing spark plugs is a simple, DIY job that take less than an hour on most models, yet it can save you hundreds of dollars over what a dealer would charge you. Watch Otto’s DIY video to see just how easy this job really is, then go change your own spark plugs and restore top-notch performance.

Relatively simple; your BMW may need to be raised.

9/1/16 8:31 PM

DIY: Removing spark plug connector boots that are stuck to the plug. BMW’s and MINI’s use of “coil-on-plug” ignition coils has been great for improved engine management and efficiency. They allow longer saturation times for higher energy sparks and more precise timing, increasing engine efficiency and improving fuel economy. They also reduce the service needs of the ignition system by eliminating ignition (spark plug) wires, distributor caps and rotors – heck, the entire distributor, for that matter – and all associated hardware. However, the newer, hemispherical cylinder head designs (with 4 valves per cylinder and spark plugs centrally located in the top of the combustion chamber) have created a new service challenge for these vehicles.

Due to higher heat and longer service intervals, the connector boots that link the ignition coils to the spark plugs tend to “glue” themselves to the spark plug insulators (the ends of the spark plugs). This can be a major headache, as the spark plugs are buried deep in recessed tubes in the cylinder head. And trying to pull the boot off usually rips it, leaving some of the boot in your hand and the rest still attached to the spark plug. When this happens, you cannot remove the spark plug because the remains of the rubber boot prevent the spark plug socket from fitting over the plug. At BAVauto, we get calls from customers almost every day who have at least one boot that will not pull off the spark plug. In many cases, they have been fighting with the offending boot for some time before calling us, hoping that we have some sort of magic procedure to get the boot off so they can finish the job. Well, as it turns out, we do indeed have a procedure, though we wouldn’t call it magic, and we want to share it with all of our fellow BMW and MINI owners.

3. Now that we have a hollow boot, we can

1.

If you have the earlier style bolt-on coils that utilize a separate spark plug connector boot and the boot has stayed behind when the coil was removed, first try to pull the boot off with needle-nose pliers. If you have the later style coils (we call them “pencil” coils) that have integral connectors with just a short boot/sleeve at the bottom, and the boot/sleeve has pulled off the coil end or ripped and left a partial section on the spark plug, go to step 3.

2.

If the needle-nose pliers just rip the boot, grasp the center electrical connector portion of the connector boot and pull outward. If the complete boot comes out, great! If the electrical connector separates from the boot and pulls out, go to step 3.

apply a shot of spray silicone down into the boot. After spraying the silicone, insert a long pick tool or small flat-blade screwdriver down through the boot. We want to gently force the tool between the inside wall of the boot and the spark plug insulator. This will break the seal and allow the silicone to seep between the plug and the boot. Then use the needle-nose pliers or long pick tool to pull the remainder of the boot off the spark plug.

4.

When installing the new parts, apply a small dab of silicone grease to the inside of the connector boot or sleeve before assembling on to the spark plug. This should prevent future boot removal problems.

DIY video – changing plugs & coils: blog.BAVauto.com/go/stuck-boots

SAVE! Pick & hook set is now 10% off.

DIY: Installing power modules on BMW and MINI turbo engines. Can you really add 60 horsepower to your turbo BMW or MINI in less than 20 minutes? That’d be a big, fat “Yes!” The new generation of plug-n-play modules allow turbo engines to increase power output, with great horsepower-per-dollar cost ratios and very little install time. Otto has made a few videos showing just how easy it is to install some plug-n-play modules from aFe Power, Burger Motorsport and DINAN. Watch them and see just how easy it is... then get your own power module and go kick some asphalt!

aFe Power SCORCHER is designed to alter the pressure sensor signals to increase turbo boost to an optimum level throughout the entire RPM range. Hassle-free installation (i.e. no cutting or splicing) can be completed in about 30 minutes. Factory electronic accessories are not affected. Available for most BMW turbo 4 & 6-cylinder turbo models, including diesel and M3/4/5/6. DIY video – aFe Power Scorcher: blog.BAVauto.com/go/scorcher

Specific tools needed; repair experience recommended.

N416 Fall 16 Newsletter_lyt12LG.indd 7

Burger Juice Box. This plug-n-play tuner gives you huge power gains in just a few minutes. Choose the default gains or select maximum gains (for use with higher octane fuel). Plus, at the default setting, it will not trigger any codes. Simply unplug one connector and insert the unit. Available for most 6-cylinder BMW turbo models (except M & diesel) and MINI turbos. DIY video – Burger Juice Box: blog.BAVauto.com/go/juice-box

Experienced technicians only.

DINANTRONICS Sport employs a simple design that allows for easy installation or removal in just minutes, producing results you’ll feel, and enjoy, from the first start. The DINANTRONICS Sport Tuner incorporates Bluetooth capabilities that allow user controlled adjustability and a live boost monitor to keep track of the action. Available for many late model 4 & 6-cylinder BMWs and MINI. DIY video – DINANtronics Sport: blog.BAVauto.com/go/dinan-sport

800.535.2002 | 7

9/5/16 3:26 PM

October specials Money-saving deals on gear you can use right now

Sale ends October 31, 2016. Don’t delay – order today!

Free shipping hi i * WINTER TIRE PACKAGES. See page 2…

Save up to $220.00! * To 48 contiguous United States only.

Save $5 12-VOLT MIGHTY IMPACT WRENCH. Runs off your BMW’s or MINI’s car battery.

10% off

10% off

10% off

PROJECTOR & CRYSTAL FOG LIGHTS. See page 2…

HEADLIGHT UPGRADE BULBS for both halogen and Xenon headlights. See page 2…

ANGEL EYE UPGRADE BULBS for Genuine BMW angel eyes. See page 2…

Orig. $27.95–149.95 pair

Orig. $36.95–154.95

Orig. $164.95–199.95

Now $25.15–134.95

Now $33.25–139.45

Now $148.45–179.95

Orig. $54.95

Now $49.95

Save $3 MAGNETIC DRAIN PLUGS

Orig. $29.95–34.95

Save $2

Best Seller!

NEW!

ZARPAX DEHUMIDIFIER. No more fogged-up windshield! See page 2…

Orig. $19.95

Now $26.95–31.95

Save $1

Now $17.95

ATE TYP200 BRAKE FLUID.

Orig. $13.95

Free

Now $12.95

AQUAPEL BUNDLE. Buy the windshield treatment – get the wipe free! See p. 2…

10-15% off

Just 8.95 for both

COOL CARBON S/T AND S/T PLUS PADS. See page 1…

$

$

Save 2.95!

$

Save 5 BAVAUTO® ALL WEATHER MAT SET. We import these mats from Germany. And they’re backed by our 2-year warranty! See page 2…

Orig. $64.95

Save 2

Save 2/wiper

AUTO SHOCKER. Simply the best odor eliminator we’ve ever used! Gets rid of smoke, sour milk, pet odors and more. See page 2…

BOSCH ICON WIPERS distribute pressure evenly across the blade. See page 2...

Orig. 24.95

Orig. $117.95–264.95

BUY A MOTIVE POWER BLEEDER – GET OUR RECEIVER BOTTLE FREE!

Now $106.15–225.20

A $12.95 value!

Now $59.95 $

$

Free

$

$

Now 22.95

Be in-the-know about money-saving specials, new videos, etc. – sign up at BAVauto.com/email.

Orig. $16.95–24.95

Now $14.95–22.95 phone 800.535.2002 | BAVauto.com | blog.BAVauto.com

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9/8/16 3:52 PM