steering wheel

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wyn02
Joined: Sun 15 Apr, 2012 20:24
Posts: 35

  Z3 roadster 2.0

steering wheel

Post by wyn02 »

Hi guy's and happy new year. Couple of questions, while taking off the radiator to change the thermostat which was a piece of cake to do thanks to all on this site, I noticed that there was a second air intake pipe beneath the normal intake but this one went into the back of the alternator,
does anyone know why. The second is I was given a new steering wheel off my wife for Xmas. I've taken the airbag off but can't free the wheel nut, its really stuck. Is it a left hand thread? Thanks.

Mod Edit: Triple post cleaned up and replies merged into one thread. R.
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Captain
Joined: Thu 28 Jun, 2012 06:43
Posts: 520

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Durban

Re: steering wheel

Post by Captain »

The steering nut is a normal thread.

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si-forks
Joined: Fri 08 Oct, 2010 17:38
Posts: 514

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: worcester

Re: steering wheel

Post by si-forks »

My 1997 Z the steering wheel was just a normal thread 16 mm i think one good crack to the left and it was off

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E30 318 1988 Gone
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E39 525d M Sport 2003 Current
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Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Re: steering wheel

Post by Mike Fishwick »

A cold air intake to the alternator? What do you think it's for . . . cooling of course! Even a Meerkat could figure that one out!
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: steering wheel

Post by TitanTim »

Mike Fishwick wrote:A cold air intake to the alternator? What do you think it's for . . . cooling of course! Even a Meerkat could figure that one out!
:lol: :lol:

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
wyn02
Joined: Sun 15 Apr, 2012 20:24
Posts: 35

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: steering wheel

Post by wyn02 »

Sarcastic arse, I only asked!!
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: steering wheel

Post by TitanTim »

wyn02 wrote:Sarcastic arse, I only asked!!
Any pics if the steering wheel installed Wyn?

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Re: steering wheel

Post by Mike Fishwick »

Oh dear - I am starting the New Year after annoying yet another over-sensitive soul!

I was not being sarcastic, but was amused by your inability to perform the simple calulation of: Cold air inlet +Alternator = Cooling for alternator. Did you really need to ask?

At least I bothered to answer your question, which is more than anyone else did!

Why are people so touchy these days . . .
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
Bonzo
Joined: Wed 21 Mar, 2012 21:52
Posts: 866

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Norfolk

Re: steering wheel

Post by Bonzo »

Mike,ever thought about a career in The Diplomatic Service, or Acas? :twisted:
Z3lda (Zelda), 1998 2.8, Montreal Blue, Beige Oregon leather interior and M steering wheel, Sports Seats, Wood trim, Chrome Line Interior, Centre armrest with Cupholder, Alpina Softline wheels, Chromed Angel Eyes, De- tango'd, Rear stone guards, Sport aerial, ASC front strut brace, Strong Strut Butt Strut and Body Brace, Uprated brake fluid, Yellowstuff pads 78k.
geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: steering wheel

Post by geminimustang »

You can only reply to the question if you know the answer.At the age of 52,I've learn't something I didn't know,namely,alternators benefit from cold air being directed on to them.I have a further question but I'm too frightened to ask!!!!
Bonzo
Joined: Wed 21 Mar, 2012 21:52
Posts: 866

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Norfolk

Re: steering wheel

Post by Bonzo »

Chicken! :lol:
Z3lda (Zelda), 1998 2.8, Montreal Blue, Beige Oregon leather interior and M steering wheel, Sports Seats, Wood trim, Chrome Line Interior, Centre armrest with Cupholder, Alpina Softline wheels, Chromed Angel Eyes, De- tango'd, Rear stone guards, Sport aerial, ASC front strut brace, Strong Strut Butt Strut and Body Brace, Uprated brake fluid, Yellowstuff pads 78k.
geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: steering wheel

Post by geminimustang »

Rich,you're just after a ride in my zed,hope little Zedonist is keeping well?
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BladeRunner919
Joined: Fri 17 Feb, 2012 20:18
Posts: 2225

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: steering wheel

Post by BladeRunner919 »

geminimustang wrote:I have a further question but I'm too frightened to ask!!!!
Go on, I dare you!!
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TitanTim
Joined: Mon 23 Jun, 2008 18:56
Posts: 5488

  Z3 roadster 1.9i
Location: Stafford

Re: steering wheel

Post by TitanTim »

I will answer any question, but it may not be the correct answer.

I have to ask, why on earth would you want a cold feed to an alternator as I'm unaware they get hot :? Or is Mike pulling your chain :lol:

Tim.
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2001 Z3 1.9 Roadster Sport - 2012 Z4 sDrive 2.0 M Sport
Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Alternaor Cooling

Post by Mike Fishwick »

Well - think about it - on full load our alternator can produce an output current of 90 amps, which at 14 volts works out at 1260 watts. A typical three-phase alternator operates at an efficiency of around 80%, so 20% of the output power is wasted as heat - or 250 watts.

Think of this as four 60 watt headlamp bulbs, which if contained within an enclosure the size of an alternator would make it quite hot, even without the heat it absorbs from the radiator etc.

The external cooling fan fitted to most alternators would simply draw in hot air from the radiator, in addition to its internal 250 watt heating effect on full load - when the alternator is charging the battery and feeding headlamps etc. In hot countries such as California, of course, the situation is even worse.

So - some form of cold air inlet is a good idea, which will feed the internal cooling fan and pass through the alternator to extract heat from the rotor and stator, so providing good cooling in all conditions.

Large alternators on ships (typically 500 or 650 kilowatts) frequently have a sealed primary cooling air system, with an air/sea water cooler to extract the heat and throw it overboard, while really massive alternators in power stations (typically of 1200 megawatts) use a closed primary cooling system of pressurised hydrogen, which usually passes the heat into the cooling water system.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
wifevanda
Joined: Mon 09 Aug, 2010 19:36
Posts: 56

  Z3 roadster 2.0
Location: dagenham

Re: steering wheel

Post by wifevanda »

i knew that
geminimustang
Joined: Mon 11 Jun, 2012 21:06
Posts: 487

  Z3 roadster 1.9
Location: Wirral

Re: steering wheel

Post by geminimustang »

My further question is a). Is this cooling still seen on today's cars or only seen on older models.Seems a very antiquated way of cooling,e.g. A bit of pipe.
Del
Joined: Sat 19 Nov, 2011 18:35
Posts: 2136

  Z3 roadster 1.9

Re: steering wheel

Post by Del »

I agree with geminimustang. Lots of cars don't have such ducting and my 4-cylinder Z3 hasn't got it. It seems to be a feature of the 6-cylinder engines. I assume its down to a combination of a packed engine bay and small front grills.
Brian4
Joined: Mon 19 Dec, 2011 19:02
Posts: 541

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Hinckley

Re: steering wheel

Post by Brian4 »

Some of the 5 series and X5's have watercooled alternators.

Brian
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pingu
Joined: Fri 30 Apr, 2004 16:01
Posts: 3412

  M roadster S50

Re: steering wheel

Post by pingu »

Brian4 wrote:Some of the 5 series and X5's have watercooled alternators.

Brian
Something else to go wrong :shock: . A bit of air pipe can be easily improvised.
Pingu
wyn02
Joined: Sun 15 Apr, 2012 20:24
Posts: 35

  Z3 roadster 2.0

Re: steering wheel

Post by wyn02 »

Thanks for a sensible answer. Til today I too never knew an alternator needed cooling. Thanks every one.
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Southernboy
Joined: Thu 07 Oct, 2010 12:39
Posts: 6436

  Z3 roadster 3.0i
Location: Johannesburg

Re: steering wheel

Post by Southernboy »

Cool!! :D
"Normal is overrated"
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Mike Fishwick
Joined: Fri 19 Jun, 2009 10:27
Posts: 2093

  Z3 roadster 2.8
Location: Daglan, France

Re: steering wheel

Post by Mike Fishwick »

There is a cold air intake for the exhaust side of the engine, but that on the inlet side is used to hopefully feed the air filter - if the air can stop, reverse its flow, and turn an acute left-hand bend! A lot of cars are supplied with sufficient cold are around the alternator.
A Z3 is not just for Christmas - it's for life!
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