S3 #17 Is Back From Dinan - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

x703jko · 9th December 2006, 04:03

After 4.5 long months my S3 was delivered to me today.

Several of you inquired as to the status of the project, why it was taking so long, etc.

The primary reason for the length of the project was that I had Dinan replace the bottom end on the engine and also do a valve job and clean the secondary air system lines. Along the way they: replaced the starter, replaced the fuel pump and retimed the throttles.

But, that's all water under the bridge. The car is back and I am, so far, pleased.

Dinan told me that I should break in the engine as if it was new (since, for all intents and purposes, it is new). Hence, I'm trying to keep it under 5500 RPM with no WOT runs.

But, I couldn't resist punching it several times and I have to tell you, it's everything they say it is.

I will pass along more feedback as I drive it more, along with some pic. However, here are some initial comments:

1) No blower lag in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Blower lag is somewhat noticable in 4th IF the engine is pulling from below 2500 RPM. Haven't tried 5th and 6th but I imagine the result will be the same.
2) In 4th, once you are above about 3100 RPM, the engine pulls very hard - much harder than the S2 or a straight OEM E39 M5.
3) Torque delivered to the ground is unbelievable in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. With the S3, the Dinan 3.45 diff can really deliver as it was designed to.
4) Although I didn't push it too hard today, it is VERY easy to spin the tires in 1st and 2nd. I imagine under WOT the tires will spin in 3rd if pulling from below 3000.

As stated, I will pass along more as I go along.

Jeff

phillym5 · 9th December 2006, 04:13

Another one..... ? Dam. Now there are 2 "almost" confimed S3's on this board. Congrates! I said "almost" because we still haven't gotten any photo's yet. Hopefully we will get some soon. Its crazy to think just a couple years ago.. there was only 1 SC'd beast ... now just counting the members of this board there are 4(not including the ones I saw at D/A.. or other S3's lurking around). Pretty cool.

x703jko · 9th December 2006, 04:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by phillym5

...we still haven't gotten any photo's yet....

What would you like photos of? I will take some tomorrow and post.

Jeff

phillym5 · 9th December 2006, 04:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by x703jko

What would you like photos of? I will take some tomorrow and post.

Jeff

It was really directed to Fast 5 as an inside joke. He's been laggin on photo's of his. But..yeah, photo's of the engine bay.. a nice side profile could be cool... mix in a little artsy angle or something....

again... congrats!!

doug · 9th December 2006, 04:51

Jeff, congrats! I forgot you were working on this. Very cool. So did you end up doing cams or any head work? Last I recall you were contemplating this.

mottati · 9th December 2006, 04:53

Congrats Jeff!
I had seen your car there a couple of times, and an S62 torn down in the engine room on our 'tour' back in late summer.

I notice in your sig you list 5w30 oil, didn't you use tws before? Did dinan convince you (as he did me) to go with bmw longlife 5/30?

Again, congraulations, must be hard to get thru the break in!
Mike

x703jko · 9th December 2006, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by doug

Jeff, congrats! I forgot you were working on this. Very cool. So did you end up doing cams or any head work? Last I recall you were contemplating this.

No, I didn't do the cams. Thought about it several times, especially since my engine was being re-built, but at the end of the day, I decided against it.

Jeff

x703jko · 9th December 2006, 05:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottati

Congrats Jeff!
I had seen your car there a couple of times, and an S62 torn down in the engine room on our 'tour' back in late summer.

I notice in your sig you list 5w30 oil, didn't you use tws before? Did dinan convince you (as he did me) to go with bmw longlife 5/30?

Again, congraulations, must be hard to get thru the break in!
Mike

Mike. Sort of...Steve does make sense when he says that TWS is really intended for engines with 8000 RPM or higher redlines. As well, I often wondered if the TWS contributed to SAS carbon problems - especially in cold weather.

Hence, consider this switch back to 5W30 as an experiment. I will monitor with oil testing.

Jeff

VetteRacer · 9th December 2006, 05:06

Jeff, congrats! One amazing machine you have there. Got to ride in Dinans old car at the AGA day, incredible...

Whats the badge # on yours?
What do you mean by "monitor with oil testing"

Matt

FAST 5 · 9th December 2006, 05:43

Congrats dude!
I few things, Dinan also replaced my starter, but they did it for free, as I pointed out that my car is still under warranty and I intented to have this done by a BMW dealer, so they waived the cost ( parts & labor) to fix the starter. Regarding the oil, I just recently had an oil change done less than 1000 miles ago, prior to sending the car to Dinan. They changed ALL the car's fluids, including the motor oil. They dumped
the 5 weight motor oil into the car. I questioned "Oscar" and "Eric" about this, and as per Steve Dinan,
the S3 only needs the 5 weight oil, not the heavier motorsport oil. They are concrete firm on their position with this action. Regarding your comment of, "In 4th, once you are above about 3100 RPM, the engine pulls very hard - much harder than the S2 or a straight OEM E39 M5." Once I got my car back from CA, spoke with Eric, and he simply told me to have the car in fourth gear hold on and smash down the gas pedal, for the true experience of what the S3 is capable of being & doing, with DSC off and sport button on. Did it several times, car feels like the Space Shuttle Columia Rocket, pulls like a freight train, and your pushed back into the seat soo hard, its an amazing feeling! The car flies.!!!! For the rest of you guys, my pictures will be uploaded Saturday, as I took the pics today when the car was at the dealer having warranty work done. The BMW techs all freaked out on the incredible high calibre of craftsmanship, thought, layout & overall design Dinan put into the S3 package car. They were all shaking their heads in disbelief. My car's seconary air pump was too loud, so they changed it (free) but the resonin the air pump is louder than what I recall, is due to the fact that it is now relocated, in a different section of the car. This air pump, its situated directly behind the left side foot rest pedal, so, you'd have to remove the left side wheel well plastic cover in order to expose the air pump. The re-designing of the car's entire plumbing was what impressed the hell out of the BMW techs. Every tech was in agreement that the car was designed 100% professionally, and the best layout they ever viewed. I will start a new thread on Saturday showing all the various pictures. Jeff, Oscar and Eric BOTH informed me that if you put 100 octane or higher 105 the engine gets even more power! There estimate much higher than what the web site states.
Robert

Lawaia · 9th December 2006, 05:51

Congrats on S3.