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Suggestion - Technical FAQ section
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:17 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Do the "management" feel it would be a good idea to compile a list of the most frequently asked questions and then do a belt & braces response to each technical query and then either sticky the lot or have a separate Technical Help FAQ section.
I'm always happy to help a newbie or anyone else where i feel I know the answer, but it gets a bit tedious seeing the same questions asked all the time.
I know people rarely use the search function, but this may help.
What are the views on this?
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:28 pm
by SHAKEELE30
Not sure if you wanted zoners opinion or the mods opinion, but i think that'll be a good idea, cos ive noticed alot of similar questions keep coming up, hardly anyone uses the search function. I use it but sometimes its a bit useless, cos it brings up everything with the words you type in the search, which is a bit tedious at times.
But overall think its a good idea....See what the mods think
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:33 pm
by march109
Possible candidates are the questions
How do I get more/How much power from my M40/M10/M20?
How do I turbo?
Cheapest/easiest way to 5stud conversion?
I've got a leak/wet foot wells?
Gearbox/Engine/Diff oil recomendations?
and the rest.
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:35 pm
by richie_zone
You can use the search function more accurately if you use the options provided.
But a Tech FAQ sounds like a great idea.
What would be an example of the top 10?
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 2:38 pm
by oakey
A great idea.
I use a mr2 forum once in a while
and they have a "know your mr2" section with info on repairs, servicing, wheel fitments, technical specs, etc etc. And its very useful.
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:29 pm
by daimlerman
Most of the FAQ are now stickied,to put them in a seperate section may just cause more confusion. May be better to extend the 'articles' section and add the stickies there? Afterall,we now seem to have two places with this sort of information... is there any way of making the search function more user friendly?
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:32 pm
by oakey
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 3:46 pm
by march109
Articles/threads written for most common questions not yet covered would be cool.
If the articles section were then edited to have links to the specific threads regardless of what forum section they are stickied in in would be a one stop resource shop withought having to look through the forums.
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:35 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 4:36 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 5:40 pm
by daimlerman
I reckon your have just found yourself a job,Lee,after the engine swap...of course...
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:08 pm
by E30BeemerLad
2010 planned for roll out then
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 7:42 pm
by Kedge
Just posted something similar on one of these repetitive threads. On the M42 forum they have a section called "How-To's" full of guides on how to do things, this is treated like any other section of the forum but threads can only be started if they are guides so are deleted if they are questions. These can be replied to though so anyone can ask a question or maybe politely point out a mistake.
I know the zone already has an articles section but this rarely gets updated, has very limited content and i doubt many people who use the zone have even looked in it.
Just my 2p
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:47 pm
by snoops
e30tech.com has something similar with their faq section
a common question I see very often is something along the lines of 'Aramil's' question in the tech section now 'Looking at an E30 tomorrow... Things I should look out for?!'
Re:
Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2008 11:57 pm
by old_skool
I think central locking and poor idle problems would be the top two on the list. Brians wearing his keyboard out with those little beauties.
An FAQ section would be a great idea but it would take a fair bit of research, composition amd tabulating in order for it to be a success. If there are any volunteers?
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:10 pm
by TRANSPORTER
I,ve got to agree with the top 2 being Idle problems and central locking, How many times do we see a thread with idle in it, and how many times do people not complete the thread and inform when they have sorted the problem leaving the rest of us scratching our heads as to what the solution actually was to their problem, after we gave them many probable causes as to what was the cause of the problem.
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:45 pm
by richie_zone
Need a solid list before people can volunteer to write-up / do a thread.
There are already some really good ones in the Tech Articles, just need an extrapolation of those.
I'd say, in no order of importance:
1. Idle Issues
2. Central Locking Issues
3. 4-5 Stud Conversion
4. Leaky foot-wells / boot
5. Stopping rust (temporarily)
6. Diff problems
7. Lowering advice
8. Correct wheel offset for various models / camber / tyre size etc
9. ICE
10. Overheating
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 2:55 pm
by Cloggy Saint
11. OBC bulb replacement
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:01 pm
by E30BeemerLad
12. Speedo not working
13. instrument cluster not working
14. Fan only works on full blast
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 5:09 pm
by georgen
15. Knocking from front / rear / inside my head
16. What diff ratio ?
17. 2.5i into 2.0i etc etc
18. What exhaust ?
19. What tyres ?
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:16 pm
by Kedge
I think the list will be ever growing, thats why the way it's been done on the M42club works as anyone can write up a guide and post it, it would just need someone to moderate it that would know how accurate the guides are and that they are useful and make sense.
Re:
Posted: Wed Mar 19, 2008 6:29 pm
by abelai
The thing is we already have tech articles and stickies and nobody seems to use these and don't even get me started on the Links section which has not only all the ETM (wiring diagrams) but also the genuine BMW workshop manual (Better than Bently).
People are just too lazy
Rant over
Could be a good idear but they would only be of true improvement over whats already here if properly photographed.
Re:
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:04 am
by snoops
wet footwell
m40 sounds tappety
Re:
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 12:13 am
by march109
SI board failure
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Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 1:03 am
by bss325i
abelai wrote:The thing is we already have tech articles and stickies and nobody seems to use these and don't even get me started on the Links section which has not only all the ETM (wiring diagrams) but also the genuine BMW workshop manual (Better than Bently).
People are just too lazy
Rant over
Could be a good idear but they would only be of true improvement over whats already here if properly photographed.
Just looked in the links section and found the wiring diagrams but not the workshop manual. Where is this?
Re:
Posted: Thu Mar 20, 2008 3:51 pm
by E30BeemerLad
Links/"how to" guides/ workshop manual