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View Full Version : Hi from Santa Barbara - 2005 Titanium Silver 330Ci ZHP


Sreten
10-14-2016, 08:45 AM
Hi guys. Wanted to introduce myself.

I'm originally from Europe but past 3 years I've been living and working in beautiful Santa Barbara in California.

Been a long time BMW enthusiast. I own a 2002 e39 530i Sport for quite a while now. Currently 140k on the clock and still runs awesome.

In the past I had few e38s, 2001 740i Titan Silver Sport, 2001 740iL Jet Black and 2000 740iL Alpine White for whom I still regret for selling it.

Anyways this is my e39 in Toledo Blue Color where I've done many things to keep it running.

https://s12.postimg.org/49ue85kl5/20160904_170106_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/49ue85kl5/) https://s12.postimg.org/3o5fc1pix/20160904_170251_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/3o5fc1pix/) https://s12.postimg.org/exy56zuk9/20160904_170127_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/exy56zuk9/) https://s9.postimg.org/4gdfnpax7/20160809_190628_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/4gdfnpax7/) https://s32.postimg.org/djd9uxoap/20160511_185231_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/djd9uxoap/)

https://s32.postimg.org/eny58tw01/20160511_183803_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/eny58tw01/) https://s32.postimg.org/o62hmm729/20160511_183936_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/o62hmm729/) https://s32.postimg.org/5gai5vebl/20160511_184120_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/5gai5vebl/) https://s32.postimg.org/djd9uxoap/20160511_185231_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/djd9uxoap/) https://s32.postimg.org/djd9uxoap/20160511_185231_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/djd9uxoap/)

Recently I bought 05 330Ci ZHP. Kinda rushed into buying it but I always wanted one. Unfortunately tranny is auto, but it has 117k on the clock and I got it from the original owner with 2 keys and books. Though didn't get all the records I did managed to trace all history and it was serviced at Bob Smith BMW while still under the warranty and after that in BMW Clinic in Reseda. Trying to get my hands on hard copies currently.

Overall I'm pretty happy with the car. Needs some things to get it in the condition that I can live with.

These are the pics that I have for right now.

It has a gray leather interior which is in pretty good shape. Leather still looks great and soft to the touch.

https://s14.postimg.org/yd0xe6yql/20161008_124526_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/yd0xe6yql/) https://s14.postimg.org/5oskoply5/20161008_124551_HDR.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/5oskoply5/) https://s14.postimg.org/z586r4sbh/20161011_173541.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/z586r4sbh/)

It had an airbag recall so right now it's with the dealership where they are replacing them. Should pick it up later today.

Some plans are to repaint the front bumper since it has scratches which I can't stand. After that I'm gonna polish and protect the whole car.
Over the weekend I'm going to do the Vanos because why not. Also replace oil and all filters.

Already replaced front sway bar links and the rest of the suspension looks and feels good. Bushings were replaced by previous owner and everything else is intact, all the ball joints still good.

Got the new floor mats and still not sure what to do with the steering wheel. Probably going to get it rewrapped at Coby's.

That's it for now.
san
10-14-2016, 08:52 AM
Welcome! Replace the cooling system as well if it's not been already...


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danewilson77
10-14-2016, 09:17 AM
Sreten, welcome.

S7 Edge, out
Sreten
10-14-2016, 09:53 AM
Thanks guys.

I think there might be something done to the cooling system in past. I'll have to check.

I would probably do everything at once but not sure how much I want to go in it because I'm probably going to end up selling the car soon.
It was supposed to be our second car but girlfriend is not the fan of the car and she will be going back to Europe soon and I'm way too deep in my e39 to even consider selling that.

I'm not sure yet. I already ordered a bunch of stuff for the car and going to be playing with it over the weekend just don't want to lose too much over this project. :)
BMWCurves
10-14-2016, 11:22 AM
Welcome aboard!
fredo
10-14-2016, 11:45 AM
Welcome ! There's nothing wrong with AT. That was my preference while looking for my ZHP. A good one showed FS locally, MT, and I bought it.
Sreten
10-14-2016, 12:24 PM
Thanks. Yeah, of course nothing wrong with AT, just my e39 is also auto and would love if this one was a manual. I miss having a manual car, but oh well.

Got it back from dealership. Airbag light is still on due to passenger head airbag. Have to start troubleshooting that.
And they confirmed what I already knew that it has an oil leak. Not sure yet from where. It is wet on the front of the engine so I'm suspecting oil filter housing, but then again it's wet in the back part of the engine as well. It's also wet around Vanos oil line.

Tires and breaks are good. Rear tires are brand new.

Now I'm thinking that I should've start on resolving the oil leak first and leave Vanos for later...
3ZHP
10-14-2016, 09:15 PM
Welcome!


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Whammy
10-15-2016, 06:32 AM
Welcome!
Pilot05
10-15-2016, 08:57 AM
Thanks. Yeah, of course nothing wrong with AT, just my e39 is also auto and would love if this one was a manual. I miss having a manual car, but oh well.



Now I'm thinking that I should've start on resolving the oil leak first and leave Vanos for later...

Welcome! I spent time in Santa Barbara as a youth..Some of the best years of my life...Santa Barbara is one of those place where you don't know how good you have it until you leave....

I just did my valve cover gasket an Vanos seals in the same job...they go well together as a combined job. .oil leak from the rear could likely be valve cover. gasket. dive in man.
Sreten
10-17-2016, 02:59 PM
Thank you!

I agree. I've been all over the place in US and Europe but I like Santa Barbara the most! It's been great to me.

I was busy over the weekend. I got the new Vanos seals in and new Valve Cover Gasket. It wasn't leaking from VCG at all but I wanted to do the Vanos seals cause I already had them at home just sitting. Everything went smooth other then snapping a Vanos bolt in Camshaft but luckily I was able to get it out fairly easy.

https://s21.postimg.org/tc2tfnq0z/20161015_092644.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/tc2tfnq0z/) https://s21.postimg.org/mkcect11f/20161015_092137.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/mkcect11f/) https://s14.postimg.org/6nqe7dn9p/20161015_092921.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/6nqe7dn9p/) https://s21.postimg.org/f86y79itf/20161015_100118.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/f86y79itf/) https://s21.postimg.org/bd85ifp1f/20161015_102655.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/bd85ifp1f/)

Also got new spark plugs in, cabin filter and engine air filter.

I'm 90% sure that the oil leak is coming from the oil filter housing. I cleaned up everything with break cleaner and went for a ride.
You can clearly tell that it's coming from around that area on the front of the engine and when you take of the air filter box.

So I got the new gasket coming along with new Vanos oil line, belts and oil level sensor for which I'm getting an error.

After that goes oil and filter change finally.
GotZHP
10-17-2016, 09:03 PM
Welcome to the forum! I live in Goleta near UCSB. Let me know if you need a hand with anything. I've basically rebuilt half my ZHP by now. I've done the oil filter housing gasket, oil pan gasket, whole new cooling system, whole new electrical system, whole new front end, all belts & pulleys, all knew electrical & ignition system. Have yet to tackle vanos. All new CCV, all knew intake. List goes on...and on...

Always willing to lend a hand or some advise. Maybe I'll see you around. Currently dont have a hood on my ZHP so my car is noticeable :) I have a build thread in the projects page as well.
Sreten
10-18-2016, 08:29 AM
Haha nice! I'm in Goleta actually. I work down at Bacara Resort and Spa.

Not often do I meet bimmer guys around here. You're thread is pretty big, good job! We should def catch up. I'll PM my number.

I've done quite bit of work on all of my cars. On my e39 I've done whole front suspension, struts, control arms, sway bar links, rebuilt DISA valve with GAS kit, upgraded headlight projectors and should do rear struts soon as they have been sitting in my house for a month now. Also a lot of work on my e38s as well.

Today after work I'm tackling the Oil Filter housing. I got some records on the car yesterday and oil pan gasket, CCV were done in 2012 at around 107k miles so that's pretty good.
Oli77
10-18-2016, 04:30 PM
Howdy from KY!
Nice cars
ELCID86
10-18-2016, 05:55 PM
Welcome


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Sreten
10-21-2016, 02:27 PM
Replaced OFH gasket, belts even though they were good and alternator pulley which was also good and Vanos oil line.

https://s22.postimg.org/l4o30pcjx/20161020_140834.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/l4o30pcjx/) https://s22.postimg.org/to7gygkwd/20161020_141550.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/to7gygkwd/) https://s22.postimg.org/4jggl1lfx/20161020_143659.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/4jggl1lfx/) https://s22.postimg.org/nptno81xp/20161020_162433.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/nptno81xp/)

It was actually pretty easy and fun!

I will probably put it up for sale soon though... :/

And btw thanks guy. Very welcoming and great community!
BMWCurves
10-21-2016, 02:53 PM
Replaced OFH gasket, belts even though they were good and alternator pulley which was also good and Vanos oil line.

https://s22.postimg.org/l4o30pcjx/20161020_140834.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/l4o30pcjx/) https://s22.postimg.org/to7gygkwd/20161020_141550.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/to7gygkwd/) https://s22.postimg.org/4jggl1lfx/20161020_143659.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/4jggl1lfx/) https://s22.postimg.org/nptno81xp/20161020_162433.jpg (https://postimg.org/image/nptno81xp/)

It was actually pretty easy and fun!

I will probably put it up for sale soon though... :/

And btw thanks guy. Very welcoming and great community!

Your car?
Sreten
10-21-2016, 03:26 PM
Yup. This ZHP.
Pilot05
10-23-2016, 03:48 PM
Yup. This ZHP.

Any issues with the OHG install? I have to do mine in the spring. Have done one before.

Why do you think you'll be selling ? you just got this..
Sreten
10-24-2016, 08:15 AM
It actually went very smooth. Very easy and fun. And most important no more leaks.

Like I said, won't be needing a second car right know and e39 works better for my needs and I invested a lot into it so I wouldn't consider selling it.

I have been daily driving ZHP and after everything that I've done, it's unbelievable how good it fells and how much faster and lighter feels then my e39 hah. Though I have yet to do Vanos on 530i and it just hit 140k on the clock.
johnrando
10-25-2016, 08:02 AM
Welcome!