gr330zhp
03-03-2011, 10:54 PM
It all started in 2006. I bought an Audi A4 2.8Q Sport as my first car. I loved the car and still do, the downside was that it was a Tiptronic and I always wanted an E46. I continued to look for an E46 though, mainly a facelifted 325i Sport with a manual...
As time went on I began narrowing my search down, from 325i to 330i. I was saving and saving and saving. I then said I couldn't get a 330i without Sport, so that's what I was looking for. All along I knew of the mighty "not so special (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?983-Nough-Said-My-BMW-ZHP-Is-Not-Special-%28a-video-by-Kayger12%29)" ;) ZHP, but never thought I would save enough...
June 2008 rolls around and I was really searching for a new car now. At this point I knew I wanted a ZHP, but I was also looking at B6 Audi S4s for the same and even lower price, but a whole lot more car. In New England there really weren't many ZHPs around and most were Jet Black or Silver Grey. So I started leaning more towards S4s. Anyway, I looked at an Alpine/Alcantara ZHP at Bill Dodge BMW. It was a 2003 with 10k original miles but wasn't in the best shape. I had caught it when it was traded in so I saw it pre-detail. That car let me down and kinda turned me away ZHPs. One day on my way to see a beautiful Nogaro Blue B6 S4, I stopped at a different highline dealer, Richards Motorcars, just outside Boston, to browse their lot. I walk into the showroom, and there it was, shining in Imola Red in the center of the showroom floor. (I wish my old comp didn't die so I had the pics still from the showroom)
Anyway long story short, the car had 1 owner and 27k miles on the odometer. It looked like it was brand new. They pulled it out of the showroom and off I went on a test drive. I fell in love. We negotiated and the deal was done. Because Mass doesn't give temporary plate I had to get transit plates. The next day I drive back down and pick it up . I was the happiest kid alive. The drive home was amazing!!
As soon as I brought it home, I examined the car. I came to the conclusion that an enthusiast owned the car. It had Turner Motorsport pullies, it had (but the owner removed) a front stress bar and rear, but left the rear brackets in. Every bulb was converted to LED, glove box, foot wells you name it. The roundels on the wheels were white/red and there was a carbon fiber e-brake handle. As well as the AA brake duct grille rings from an E39 in my lower mesh grille and a B&M ssk. Looking through the folder, I found all oil changes and other receipts. The car was babied til the 27k
From then on I began making my own changes to it.
At 32k my passenger seat cushion was replaced, as it turned my SRS light on. A common E46 issue.
Unfortunately around the same time, some tool decided they wanted to key my drivers side 3/4 panel :mad. Bill Dodge BMW repaired the damage and it came out incredibly well.
At 38k, just before the factory warranty was up, BMW replaced my steering wheel because I said it had "pre-mature wear" (the magic term) as well as my shift knob and CABs. The brake fluid and power steering fluid were flushed at the same time.
From then and on it has been mods and maintenance.
Maintenance includes: oil changes religiously
-Diff and tranny fluid swapped out at 48k with Redline.
-The famous E46 clunk came along, most people live with it, but I couldn't, so I coughed up the dough and got my diff mounts changed as well as CV shaft seals while I was there.
-Air mass meter boot
-Cooling system overhaul at 56k
-New OE clutch at 60k
-Tranny mounts at 60k
-Valve Cover gasket @ 72k
-Beisan Systems Vanos rebuild and anti-rattle kit at 72k
-NGK Spark plugs @ 72k
This October BMW of Stratham inspected my subframe, found absolutely nothing wrong and I talked with the mastertech who claimed it is the "cleanest undercarriage of an E46 he has seen" :cool way to put a smile on my face
Mods over the few years include:
-18x8.5 et35 BBS CH Motorsports
-Michelin Pilot Supersports
-E46 cargo net
-OE alarm
-Clears
-Orion V2 Angel eyes
-M3 dead pedal
-OE rubber mats
-CDV
-AFE Stage II intake
-Dynavin Nav
-Dice link iPod adapter (removed)
-Euro first-aid kit box (still have to put this on)
-Turner water pump pulley cover (best $10 I ever spent) :)
-Clubsport splitters
-BMW Performance stress bar
-LED license plate bulbs-- Thanks Lance!
-Style 135 spare tire w/Bav Auto air hose extension
There's more I'm prob forgetting
I love the car, it has been soo much fun and a joy to own. It is currently at 58k miles and I plan to own it til it dies. It is stored in the winter(for now) but once spring comes I drive the hell out of it :)
It has been to Show & Shine 3 years now, climbed Mount Washington, countless amount of times the Kangamangus Highway and Auto road all around northern NH. This year I am planning on auto-x and tracking it a lot...
Anyway I wish I had some pics from when I got it, but my old laptop died :(
These are some pics of her
My favorite pic of the car!
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0590.jpg?t=1306647778
Mt. Washington
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/group7-1.jpg?t=1299221879
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/group14.jpg
First S&S (I am the guy in the middle)
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/11970012.jpg
Sleeping beauty (winter hibernation)
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/IMAG0482.jpg
March 31, 2012, New wheels!
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0280-Version2.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0274.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0282.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0277.jpg
As time went on I began narrowing my search down, from 325i to 330i. I was saving and saving and saving. I then said I couldn't get a 330i without Sport, so that's what I was looking for. All along I knew of the mighty "not so special (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?983-Nough-Said-My-BMW-ZHP-Is-Not-Special-%28a-video-by-Kayger12%29)" ;) ZHP, but never thought I would save enough...
June 2008 rolls around and I was really searching for a new car now. At this point I knew I wanted a ZHP, but I was also looking at B6 Audi S4s for the same and even lower price, but a whole lot more car. In New England there really weren't many ZHPs around and most were Jet Black or Silver Grey. So I started leaning more towards S4s. Anyway, I looked at an Alpine/Alcantara ZHP at Bill Dodge BMW. It was a 2003 with 10k original miles but wasn't in the best shape. I had caught it when it was traded in so I saw it pre-detail. That car let me down and kinda turned me away ZHPs. One day on my way to see a beautiful Nogaro Blue B6 S4, I stopped at a different highline dealer, Richards Motorcars, just outside Boston, to browse their lot. I walk into the showroom, and there it was, shining in Imola Red in the center of the showroom floor. (I wish my old comp didn't die so I had the pics still from the showroom)
Anyway long story short, the car had 1 owner and 27k miles on the odometer. It looked like it was brand new. They pulled it out of the showroom and off I went on a test drive. I fell in love. We negotiated and the deal was done. Because Mass doesn't give temporary plate I had to get transit plates. The next day I drive back down and pick it up . I was the happiest kid alive. The drive home was amazing!!
As soon as I brought it home, I examined the car. I came to the conclusion that an enthusiast owned the car. It had Turner Motorsport pullies, it had (but the owner removed) a front stress bar and rear, but left the rear brackets in. Every bulb was converted to LED, glove box, foot wells you name it. The roundels on the wheels were white/red and there was a carbon fiber e-brake handle. As well as the AA brake duct grille rings from an E39 in my lower mesh grille and a B&M ssk. Looking through the folder, I found all oil changes and other receipts. The car was babied til the 27k
From then on I began making my own changes to it.
At 32k my passenger seat cushion was replaced, as it turned my SRS light on. A common E46 issue.
Unfortunately around the same time, some tool decided they wanted to key my drivers side 3/4 panel :mad. Bill Dodge BMW repaired the damage and it came out incredibly well.
At 38k, just before the factory warranty was up, BMW replaced my steering wheel because I said it had "pre-mature wear" (the magic term) as well as my shift knob and CABs. The brake fluid and power steering fluid were flushed at the same time.
From then and on it has been mods and maintenance.
Maintenance includes: oil changes religiously
-Diff and tranny fluid swapped out at 48k with Redline.
-The famous E46 clunk came along, most people live with it, but I couldn't, so I coughed up the dough and got my diff mounts changed as well as CV shaft seals while I was there.
-Air mass meter boot
-Cooling system overhaul at 56k
-New OE clutch at 60k
-Tranny mounts at 60k
-Valve Cover gasket @ 72k
-Beisan Systems Vanos rebuild and anti-rattle kit at 72k
-NGK Spark plugs @ 72k
This October BMW of Stratham inspected my subframe, found absolutely nothing wrong and I talked with the mastertech who claimed it is the "cleanest undercarriage of an E46 he has seen" :cool way to put a smile on my face
Mods over the few years include:
-18x8.5 et35 BBS CH Motorsports
-Michelin Pilot Supersports
-E46 cargo net
-OE alarm
-Clears
-Orion V2 Angel eyes
-M3 dead pedal
-OE rubber mats
-CDV
-AFE Stage II intake
-Dynavin Nav
-Dice link iPod adapter (removed)
-Euro first-aid kit box (still have to put this on)
-Turner water pump pulley cover (best $10 I ever spent) :)
-Clubsport splitters
-BMW Performance stress bar
-LED license plate bulbs-- Thanks Lance!
-Style 135 spare tire w/Bav Auto air hose extension
There's more I'm prob forgetting
I love the car, it has been soo much fun and a joy to own. It is currently at 58k miles and I plan to own it til it dies. It is stored in the winter(for now) but once spring comes I drive the hell out of it :)
It has been to Show & Shine 3 years now, climbed Mount Washington, countless amount of times the Kangamangus Highway and Auto road all around northern NH. This year I am planning on auto-x and tracking it a lot...
Anyway I wish I had some pics from when I got it, but my old laptop died :(
These are some pics of her
My favorite pic of the car!
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0590.jpg?t=1306647778
Mt. Washington
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/group7-1.jpg?t=1299221879
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/group14.jpg
First S&S (I am the guy in the middle)
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/11970012.jpg
Sleeping beauty (winter hibernation)
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/IMAG0482.jpg
March 31, 2012, New wheels!
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0280-Version2.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0274.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0282.jpg
http://i378.photobucket.com/albums/oo223/cruisineuro/DSC_0277.jpg