Just a warning....Hood Pins!

[Jghiglier@xxxxxxx]

Hello,
       Well, after a bad experience this past week, I would just like to 
inform you all about the importance of checking if hood pins are in on cars 
that have them. This past Wednesday, I had the opportunity to drive a factory 
E36 M3 Lightweight that had been converted to a race car. It is quite the 
car. Very quick! Here's the story. The driver of the car works for my uncle's 
BMW shop, and he was pulling the car in and asked if I'd like to try it out. 
So, we let the car warm up and then pull out onto the street. He said it was 
fine to drive, didn't have to worry about anything. We go down the street and 
didn't really get on it too much, we turn around at the end of the court and 
stop and then I go again, this time with a little more gas. I got on it in 
2nd gear, then went to get 3rd when all of the sudden there was a "boom" and 
I couldn't see out of the windshield. The hood had come up. We pull over 
immediately and see what had happened. The hood was bent over the roof and 
the windshield had started to crack. We put the hood down and slowly pull 
back into the shop to assess any other damages. Luckily nothing else had 
broken or was damaged. But this all happened because we had forgotten to 
check if the hood pins were in. So, if you ever have the opportunity to drive 
a race car, just be sure to check if the hood pins are in so this doesn't 
happen to you too!
       But, we are looking for an e36 hood if anyone knows of one that isn't 
damaged or can be repaired to normal. (we already found a windshield) The 
hood had been lightened by removing all the braces, so its bent up pretty 
much beyond repair. If anyone knows of such a hood, please email me. Thanks!
Thanks for listening and hope I can help this from happening to one of you 
too!
Justin

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