Another SoCal forum newbie

[Vogon Poet]

Hi all, John here.

First off, thanks to Dane for the add to the membership list.

I'm the original owner of a 2004 330i 6MT sedan, Mystic Blue (*not* Orient! Good catch, BMWCurves), Anthracite interior with silver cube. I'll have to look up the rest of the option details, but pretty much everything on the car is original, except having replaced the tires and battery over time. This was my daily driver back and forth to work when I lived in NH, but I started working from home several years back so the miles haven't added up. Yet to crack 50k on the odometer. I did just have the A/C recharged, as it wasn't blowing cold (not so great here in Temecula, it was 100+ for quite a few days this summer!)

I have a crappy pic from my phone:

https://i.imgur.com/GHWiVMrl.jpg

[danewilson77]

Welcome. Minty ZHP my man.

Sent from my S8+

[Vas]

Welcome.

Still liking it as much as the day you drove it off the lot ?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

[BMWCurves]

First off, welcome! You'll like it here. It's a great resource of information and just a fun collection of people. I've only met a few of the members in person, but the ones I have met are great individuals.

Second, that's a good looking car! I love blues on E46s. I'm pretty sure that's Mystic Blue rather than Orient Blue (which is darker), but maybe it's just the lighting. Either way, post more pics when you have a chance!

Your car has really low miles! Any future maintenance or modification plans? You might consider refreshing the cooling system if you haven't already. If you're not already aware, the cooling system is a major weak point in the M54 engine. The plastic expansion tank often cracks due to heat expansion and contraction, causing a significant leak that can lead to the engine overheating (not good). It's a good thing to replace preventatively, and isn't too expensive if you do the work yourself. I replaced my cooling system when I bought my car at 49k miles for peace of mind.

Another maintenance item you might consider at that mileage is the suspension. The factory Sachs shocks/struts are usually toast by 50k miles. You might not really notice it since the car is sprung relatively stiffly, but you might notice that the car doesn't damp small bumps all that well i.e. small bumps create a pretty significant harshness. New shocks will fix that. I have a guide that I wrote when I refreshed my suspension at 50k miles that a few members have found useful. It sounds like you like to keep your car stock, so the guide might be for you since I stick to an "OEM+" approach to maintenance/modification of my car i.e. use parts that improve longevity and performance without sacrificing noise, comfort, and the overall ethos of the factory E46:

Suspension guide: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?16182-Help-with-Suspension-Refresh-at-50k-miles-10-years

There are other things you might also consider for maintenance as well given the age, rather than miles: fluids, belts, pulleys, fuel filter, air filters, etc.

At any rate, I hope I didn't sound too preachy and welcome aboard, hope you stick around!

[san]

Welcome


And what he said ^


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ELCID86]

Welcome aboard the boards. Love that combo.



---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - anonymous E46 fanatic

[fredo]

Welcome, sir. Car looks very sharp. :roundel

[Oli77]

Immaculate in Temecula! Welcome.

[Vogon Poet]

Welcome.

Still liking it as much as the day you drove it off the lot ?

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

Absolutely! I wish I was driving it more. We did do a "big trip" after we moved here, friends from the east coast came out. Did a loop up the coast to Monterey, then out to Lake Tahoe, over to Napa/Sonoma, then back down to Temecula. My wife says we should take the BMW up to Big Bear Lake some time to see how it likes the roads.

[Vogon Poet]

Second, that's a good looking car! I love blues on E46s. I'm pretty sure that's Mystic Blue rather than Orient Blue (which is darker), but maybe it's just the lighting. Either way, post more pics when you have a chance!


I went and dug up the sticker - you're right, is IS Mystic Blue. I'll edit my original and fix that. All these years...

https://i.imgur.com/F1txWG8l.jpg

[Vas]

Word of advice. Never ever sell the car.

[Vogon Poet]

First off, welcome! You'll like it here. It's a great resource of information and just a fun collection of people. I've only met a few of the members in person, but the ones I have met are great individuals.

Second, that's a good looking car! I love blues on E46s. I'm pretty sure that's Mystic Blue rather than Orient Blue (which is darker), but maybe it's just the lighting. Either way, post more pics when you have a chance!

Your car has really low miles! Any future maintenance or modification plans? [... deleted for brevity ...]

At any rate, I hope I didn't sound too preachy and welcome aboard, hope you stick around!

Wow - lots to digest. I've just started diving into the forum discussions, and I know there's a ton of information in here. Thanks for the jump start!

I have a couple cosmetic issues I'd like to address - some curb rash on the rims, a nick or two in the paint. Had the car detailed after our move (we shipped it cross country from NH to CA) and it came out pretty sweet. I'm due to give it a thorough once over again.

Thanks all for the words of welcome. I hope to be less of a lurker and more of a participant as I find my way around!

[BMWCurves]

Wow - lots to digest. I've just started diving into the forum discussions, and I know there's a ton of information in here. Thanks for the jump start!

I have a couple cosmetic issues I'd like to address - some curb rash on the rims, a nick or two in the paint. Had the car detailed after our move (we shipped it cross country from NH to CA) and it came out pretty sweet. I'm due to give it a thorough once over again.

Thanks all for the words of welcome. I hope to be less of a lurker and more of a participant as I find my way around!

My pleasure!

Sounds like you know what you need to do. Be sure to ask questions if you have any, people here love to help.


Word of advice. Never ever sell the car.

Listen to this man. I've been around this forum long enough to see several people who are returning because they want to get back into a ZHP after selling one a while ago. Numerous people recognize the great balance of fun, price, and daily drivability. That said...

If you ever decide to sell, let me know.

[CarbonZHP]

Welcome. If you need diy help or coding help drop me a message.

[PdZHP]

Good looking ZHP!

[Not_Special]

Welcome and great looking car!
Just FYI, the original owner I recently bought my 330i ZHP from, cried as I drove it away off his driveway.