Chikoo
11-12-2015, 02:38 PM
This year I was looking for a 3rd car to add to my stable and I was thinking of going with a used Corvette, Mustang or a Camaro convertible. The last time I had driven a BMW 3 series was in 2010 when I was looking for my 2nd car and was not at all impressed by the new 328i in terms of what it offered as a sedan interior, and even when driving it (We were left wondering why it was called the ultimate driving machine). Definitely the combination of the both for the price was not acceptable. That said, every time I passed an e46 on the road, they would make my head turn, but reading up the e46 wiki and all the DIY made my head spin. I was not ready for all that and I ended up with a Lexus IS250 (with F-sport shocks).
Fast forward back to 2015, I had the opportunity to drive the Camaro convertible for a few days (Hertz Rental) and came away unimpressed. Right after that, one day the Ford guys showed up at work to demonstrate their turbo boost vehicles, a Mustang being one of them. I test drove and was not impressed. But as it was a short drive with the turbo boosted 4 cylinder, I decided to test drive the real deal - a GT. On the Labor day weekend I show up at the neighborhood Ford dealer and test drive a used GT. Engine burble felt nice, yet it was missing a connection to the driver, and it was beyond my price range even at the used price.
So I hit the computer and as I adjust my Autotrader settings to search for a convertible within my budget range, 1 e46 convertibles shows up with 50K miles on it. It is a 2006 330ci Convertible with Blue exterior and Tan interior. (1,2 Pic). Looks great from the outside. Interior is dirty, ragged, dusty. Oh well, it is used and it is a convertible. Let's pop the hood. Engine is also dirty. No work has been done on it whatsoever. Anyhow, I fire it up and take it for a drive. Drives very well. Steering is weighed in well, esp compared to the other cars I have test driven and driving DD. But somehow I did not feel like pulling the trigger on it. I let it go.
I keep looking at Autotrader on a daily basis, and few days later, another e46 convertible pops up. 2005 330ci with 98k. White with Brown+black interior. (3,4 pic). Pics look good, but then most of them do anyways. So I go to check it out. 1st looks in person and I am trembling. It is clean, inside out and the engine too. New belts, new control arm bushings, no oil leaks on the top. I fire up the engine and I am in awe of the exhaust note. Sweet. Never heard a BMW sound so sweet. I take it for a drive and I am sold. It handles crisp, and the automatic shifts smoother than any other car I have owned. I put a deposit on it and go home and do some more research and I figure it is a ZHP edition. Thanks BMWVIN.com, and zhpmafia.com for the knowledgebase on whta makes it so special. No wonder it felt so much better than the other 3 series I had driven my life. So I come back next day and ask the seller to put it on a lift to see what lies underneath. Sadly enough, the oil pan was leaking. I ask him to fix that before I can buy it. He says no problem.
Next day I show up at noon and the car is up on the lift with the oil pan removed. I can see the insides of the engine. Progress. I come back in the evening and the oil pan is back in place with a new gasket. Not bad. I once again take it for a drive and it drives just as wonderful as the day before. No let downs. The soft top is as dark as a new one, and works, and there are no signs of any wear on the cables/wires of the mechanism.
I sign the paperwork, and drive away with my top down, listening to the musical note put out by the zhp exhaust.
22559225602256122562
Fast forward back to 2015, I had the opportunity to drive the Camaro convertible for a few days (Hertz Rental) and came away unimpressed. Right after that, one day the Ford guys showed up at work to demonstrate their turbo boost vehicles, a Mustang being one of them. I test drove and was not impressed. But as it was a short drive with the turbo boosted 4 cylinder, I decided to test drive the real deal - a GT. On the Labor day weekend I show up at the neighborhood Ford dealer and test drive a used GT. Engine burble felt nice, yet it was missing a connection to the driver, and it was beyond my price range even at the used price.
So I hit the computer and as I adjust my Autotrader settings to search for a convertible within my budget range, 1 e46 convertibles shows up with 50K miles on it. It is a 2006 330ci Convertible with Blue exterior and Tan interior. (1,2 Pic). Looks great from the outside. Interior is dirty, ragged, dusty. Oh well, it is used and it is a convertible. Let's pop the hood. Engine is also dirty. No work has been done on it whatsoever. Anyhow, I fire it up and take it for a drive. Drives very well. Steering is weighed in well, esp compared to the other cars I have test driven and driving DD. But somehow I did not feel like pulling the trigger on it. I let it go.
I keep looking at Autotrader on a daily basis, and few days later, another e46 convertible pops up. 2005 330ci with 98k. White with Brown+black interior. (3,4 pic). Pics look good, but then most of them do anyways. So I go to check it out. 1st looks in person and I am trembling. It is clean, inside out and the engine too. New belts, new control arm bushings, no oil leaks on the top. I fire up the engine and I am in awe of the exhaust note. Sweet. Never heard a BMW sound so sweet. I take it for a drive and I am sold. It handles crisp, and the automatic shifts smoother than any other car I have owned. I put a deposit on it and go home and do some more research and I figure it is a ZHP edition. Thanks BMWVIN.com, and zhpmafia.com for the knowledgebase on whta makes it so special. No wonder it felt so much better than the other 3 series I had driven my life. So I come back next day and ask the seller to put it on a lift to see what lies underneath. Sadly enough, the oil pan was leaking. I ask him to fix that before I can buy it. He says no problem.
Next day I show up at noon and the car is up on the lift with the oil pan removed. I can see the insides of the engine. Progress. I come back in the evening and the oil pan is back in place with a new gasket. Not bad. I once again take it for a drive and it drives just as wonderful as the day before. No let downs. The soft top is as dark as a new one, and works, and there are no signs of any wear on the cables/wires of the mechanism.
I sign the paperwork, and drive away with my top down, listening to the musical note put out by the zhp exhaust.
22559225602256122562