New Member in Tampa, FL

[JanMatt]

Hey guys,

My name is Jan(pronounced just like how you spell it). Finally finished trolling the classifieds and picked up a 2004 ZHP! I'm 23 and always been interested in cars. My dad never let me touch the cars for maintenance, but I've always wanted to learn. So, I was looking to pick up something sporty, but not too expensive(since it is just an extra family car) and the ZHP seemed like the way to go. On that note, I'll be looking to the mafia for a lot of DIY and advice. Well, here it is.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2251_zps7yixjacm.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2251_zps7yixjacm.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2248_zpsf9hrzolo.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2248_zpsf9hrzolo.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2246_zpssz3ewsya.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2246_zpssz3ewsya.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/ccfa1152-59d1-4cda-824a-2a94f17a4e7b_zpskhfedtgp.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/ccfa1152-59d1-4cda-824a-2a94f17a4e7b_zpskhfedtgp.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2257_zps549n4k6y.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2257_zps549n4k6y.jpg.html)

It's great mechanically and the interior is still super clean despite 150K miles.



Suspension/ Wheels/ Tires:
Front- 225-40-18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports ( 10k miles on the front )
Rear- 255-35-18 Michelin Pilot Super Sports ( Brand new....less than 100 miles on them )

Recent maintenance:
New battery
All new belts
Oil change every 7,500 miles
Brake fluid flush
New cooling system ( radiator, water pump, all hoses, expansion tank, etc) in last 15k
New front control arm bushings ( OEM )
New crank case cent valve, PCV, and all hoses

On that note, listing the good, I should also list what can be improved!

Steering wheel needs to get rewrapped.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2245_zpscrwwvdgn.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2245_zpscrwwvdgn.jpg.html)

A-pillars, naturally.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2242_zpsln7s1wr2.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2242_zpsln7s1wr2.jpg.html)

NBD, but bothers me personally lol.
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2255_zps9ftm1irs.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2255_zps9ftm1irs.jpg.html)
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2253_zpsx47nzuix.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2253_zpsx47nzuix.jpg.html)

Having trouble figuring out what this part is called:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2252_zpsawddtxvg.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2252_zpsawddtxvg.jpg.html)

Sunroof is off-track/clip is broken:
http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn4/janmatt4/ZHP/IMG_2254_zpsvff7crxa.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/janmatt4/media/ZHP/IMG_2254_zpsvff7crxa.jpg.html)

Other mentions:
1.I've never driven a zhp before, but i'm feeling a little bit of juttering around 3K RPM at any gear besides 1 and 2. Read up on some of it and maybe it needs a ecu reflash, but definitely want someone who has a better bench mark to give me some feedback.
2. Shifter play is killing me! Read up on this and maybe its just bushings?
3. Has exterior imperfections that any 150K 11yr old car would have.

Sorry if this turned into a project thread of sorts. Just thought it'd be something nice to look back to in the future when I get all these issues sorted out(hopefully!). So definitely looking to learn and grow through this car and hoping to meet some good people along the way. So feel free to PM me if you're in the area!

[danewilson77]

Welcome to the Family.

Sent from my SM-G925V using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

Congrats, and welcome!

It's nice to hear you're enthusiastic in doing your own maintenance. You get to learn how your car works and have the added benefit of saving tons on labor. I'm a young guy like you (25) and never really did much in the way of maintenance myself for my cars until my last E46. They're a great platform and really pretty straightforward, with the benefit of there being a DIY for pretty much every imaginable repair.

I think $7,800 seems perfectly fair to me, given relatively new tires, cooling system, belts, etc. Did it come with maintenance records?

As for the improvements:

Everyone will chime in but if you want to keep the alcantara wheel, Coby Wheel makes great stuff. If you want a mixed leather/perforated leather steering wheel they're a little more spendy but I'm in love with mine.
Someone else can chime in on sagging A-pillars, I haven't had to deal with those yet.
The cracked item on the windshield is your windshield cowl. I'm pretty sure that's a relatively easy fix, just have to buy the part.
The shadowline trim that's popping out of the door might be repairable, I'm not sure. Unfortunately I don't think the parts are particularly cheap.
The judder is usually at a higher RPM (~4k) if it's due to the DISA valve. Someone with more experience can weigh in
Shifter play my guess would be worn bushings but could be other things. You could always get a BMW short shift kit. I think they're relatively inexpensive (~$150) but I don't know if they come with new bushings or not.

I look forward to seeing what you get done on the car.

[johnrando]

Welcome! Quite the list, good stuff though. Looks like much was answered above. Good luck with all the work! Plenty of good advice around here one you get going.


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[fredo]

Welcome, Jan. I agree with BMWCurves' comments. About the A pillars, I'm planning to replace mine. But, I'm not there yet. Enjoy the ZHP !

[JanMatt]

Thanks everybody!

[Vas]

Welcome.

Majority of the stuff you had listed can be easily replaced. If you want to keep the Alcantara wheel, you can get a re-wrap from Coby Wheel. A-pillars are a bit expensive to replace but its an easy job. Same goes for that door rubber seal and the cowl.

The big shadowline trim though is about $200 since it runs the length of the roof. Is the one on your car broken?

As far as the juttering, sounds like you need a ecu reflash to the latest software. And the shifter bushings can be replaced. ECStuning sells a rebuild kit for it.

Overall not a bad price for the car with the Dinan Intake and the Corsa Exhaust.

[NoVAphotog]

Congrats, and welcome!

It's nice to hear you're enthusiastic in doing your own maintenance. You get to learn how your car works and have the added benefit of saving tons on labor. I'm a young guy like you (25) and never really did much in the way of maintenance myself for my cars until my last E46. They're a great platform and really pretty straightforward, with the benefit of there being a DIY for pretty much every imaginable repair.

I think $7,800 seems perfectly fair to me, given relatively new tires, cooling system, belts, etc. Did it come with maintenance records?

As for the improvements:

Everyone will chime in but if you want to keep the alcantara wheel, Coby Wheel makes great stuff. If you want a mixed leather/perforated leather steering wheel they're a little more spendy but I'm in love with mine.
Someone else can chime in on sagging A-pillars, I haven't had to deal with those yet.
The cracked item on the windshield is your windshield cowl. I'm pretty sure that's a relatively easy fix, just have to buy the part.
The shadowline trim that's popping out of the door might be repairable, I'm not sure. Unfortunately I don't think the parts are particularly cheap.
The judder is usually at a higher RPM (~4k) if it's due to the DISA valve. Someone with more experience can weigh in
Shifter play my guess would be worn bushings but could be other things. You could always get a BMW short shift kit. I think they're relatively inexpensive (~$150) but I don't know if they come with new bushings or not.

I look forward to seeing what you get done on the car.

Welcome. Car looks super clean for years/mileage! You sound like me a couple years ago (24 y/o now) getting into working on cars and "discovering" the ZHP!

As far as those improvements I agree with BMWCurves. Look into a Coby Wheel rewrap or one of the eBay leather ones, very, very nice improvement.

Shifter bushings are most likely the culprit for the play, I know ELCID86 had the same issues and fixed it with a UUC short shifter and new bushings. Shifts great now.

I bought new A-pillars from my local dealer...pricey but worth it to me than any of the DIY options with glue. After all, you see them every time you drive the car.

Part numbers:

A-pillar Cover (Left): 51437902933 ~$70
A-pillar Cover (Right): 51437902934 ~$70

I'd wait to replace windshield cowl when getting a new windshield since it all has to come out for that anyway.

The part you didn't know is the Shadowline trim and it's big time pricey and not really worth replacing considering the big picture cost. I'd say you could plastidip it if gets really bad, may look cheesy though :dunno

Judder could be the DISA valve, intake boots, really a lot of things if they've never been replaced...would need to see as you go along other symptoms.

Still though, looks great and glad you are enjoying it! Follow the "new owner" guides on here and E46fanatics and you'll be set.

[Oli77]

Welcome! Car looks good and that is a great price with all those things done.

[Lukasss]

Glad you're enjoying the car and assessing the things I didnt get a chance to take care of.
Also happy it went to someone who can appreciate the vehicle and is enthusiastic about it.

Im sure you already know this but please keep in touch with any questions you may have about it.

PS, upper and lower intake boot are new as well.

[Vas]

Dude tampa weather this week is insane.

[FL116]

Dude tampa weather this week is insane.

Yeah its been raining everyday in Orlando too lol

[Vas]

Yeah its been raining everyday in Orlando too lol
Wife and i grabbed our stuff today and took a 5 hour road trip up north to get away from the rain. Just got back into Tampa and it's raining. This blows.

[ELCID86]

Wife and i grabbed our stuff today and took a 5 hour road trip up north to get away from the rain. Just got back into Tampa and it's raining. This blows.

That sucks. Go hang out with JanMatt?!


Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

[ikeupinya]

Welcome to the site as well. Lived in Tampa for 6 glorious years & I loved it, especially when my boss would sometimes kick me out of work so I can take my fam out to Busch Gardens or Islands of Adventure/Universal in Orlando, during off-season!!!