Potential ZHP newbie in Arizona

[amrozhp]

Hello, everyone.

I've been bitten by the bug and have started my search for a ZHP. I've grown a little tired of my current car, a Hyundai Genesis Coupe. I've always been a BMW fanatic but never owned one.

I prefer the classics but a late 80's 325is might just be a little too old. And late 90's and early 2000's M3's are being priced out of reach. So I've been looking at the early 2000's 3-Series. I love the E46 body style, preferably the sedan. The ZHP package adds just that little bit more to the 330i.

As you can imagine, I search Craigslist (via autotempest.com) and Autotrader on a daily basis. The Orient Blue looks great, but I wouldn't complain if I found one in Titanium Silver.

My Hyundai is an automatic but my ideal ZHP has a manual.

The toughest thing is finding one in the condition I would be happy with but not overpriced. I came close to landing one in Texas but another buyer was able to get to it faster. Note to self...be prepared to travel almost immediately if a car comes available.

I found this car but was concerned with the mileage and lack of maintenance records (the seller told me to check the CarFax he included in the listing).
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/walnut-creek-bmw-e46-330i-sedan-zhp-6/6803868397.html

There's this one too but from the damage shown, the rear bumper needs resprayed and at least the driver's seat needs reupholstered. I would think these two things could be as high as $1500 to repair.
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/carlsbad-2004-bmw-330i-zhp/6790434103.html

Is it OK to contact sellers and let them know, in a nice way, that their cars need work and would they consider lowering the price? I don't really have a problem doing the work necessary (using the second car as an example) but with the repairs and mileage, I don't think it's worth $9K.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I hope to connect with some of you here. Thanks and have a good one!

[704sw]

Welcome, and good luck with your search!

Personally, I wouldn’t buy either of those. The one in San Diego is egregiously overpriced for the condition (bumper, possible MAF, seat, and I can almost guarantee that A-pillar dent cannot be removed 100% no matter what you pay) and something about the way the ad for the SanFran car is written bothers me (that steering wheel is not mint, no pictures of the sagging headliner/hood damage, claiming the 6MT is “rare”). I don’t know, I just feel like you can find something better for the price, but that’s just my opinion.

[amrozhp]

Yea, I thought the same thing. The seller in SanFran was really pushing me over email, saying he had many others who were interested. I told him to listen to other offers. I didn't want to hold up a potential sale. ;)

[fredo]

GL with search. There are some good examples out there. Where in TX was the car you almost bought ?

[amrozhp]

GL with search. There are some good examples out there. Where in TX was the car you almost bought ?It was in Waco. A nice Mystic Blue with two-tone interior. Oh, well, hopefully there will be others!

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[racer2086]

Welcome. I'm just about as new as you. Also searching. There are a lot of overpriced examples out there (in my opinion). And I talked to all the same ones you did. It is worth waiting, and that's what I'm going to do.

It did cross my mind to get an auto and add paddle shifters, which I saw has been done in this forum. That is intriguing because you can still "shift" but not deal with that in traffic. Decisions... Or get a low mileage auto and convert it (there are a lot of low mileage autos around me for cheap). More decisions...

[amrozhp]

Yea, I've thought about the transmission swap also. I would be interested in hearing from others who did this and the costs to do it.

[johnrando]

Welcome. GL w search. Of course factor needed maintenance/corrections into your offer price, especially when backed up with numbers (price for repair).

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[zhphd]

Good luck! I had to come back to a ZHP after a 10 year break. Hope you find yours!

[amrozhp]

Welcome. GL w search. Of course factor needed maintenance/corrections into your offer price, especially when backed up with numbers (price for repair).

Sent from my SM-G955U using TapatalkYeah, having quotes for repairs prior to making an offer makes sense. Even going as far as showing the quotes to the seller to prove I'm doing my homework. ;)

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[amrozhp]

Good luck! I had to come back to a ZHP after a 10 year break. Hope you find yours!Thank you!

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[danewilson77]

Welcome to the Mafia.

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[Jetstream23]

Hello, everyone.

I've been bitten by the bug and have started my search for a ZHP. I've grown a little tired of my current car, a Hyundai Genesis Coupe. I've always been a BMW fanatic but never owned one.

I prefer the classics but a late 80's 325is might just be a little too old. And late 90's and early 2000's M3's are being priced out of reach. So I've been looking at the early 2000's 3-Series. I love the E46 body style, preferably the sedan. The ZHP package adds just that little bit more to the 330i.

As you can imagine, I search Craigslist (via autotempest.com) and Autotrader on a daily basis. The Orient Blue looks great, but I wouldn't complain if I found one in Titanium Silver.

My Hyundai is an automatic but my ideal ZHP has a manual.

The toughest thing is finding one in the condition I would be happy with but not overpriced. I came close to landing one in Texas but another buyer was able to get to it faster. Note to self...be prepared to travel almost immediately if a car comes available.

I found this car but was concerned with the mileage and lack of maintenance records (the seller told me to check the CarFax he included in the listing).
https://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/cto/d/walnut-creek-bmw-e46-330i-sedan-zhp-6/6803868397.html

There's this one too but from the damage shown, the rear bumper needs resprayed and at least the driver's seat needs reupholstered. I would think these two things could be as high as $1500 to repair.
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/carlsbad-2004-bmw-330i-zhp/6790434103.html

Is it OK to contact sellers and let them know, in a nice way, that their cars need work and would they consider lowering the price? I don't really have a problem doing the work necessary (using the second car as an example) but with the repairs and mileage, I don't think it's worth $9K.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I hope to connect with some of you here. Thanks and have a good one!

Hey amrozhp, I just joined the site and I'm also in the Phoenix area. (Just introduced myself in a new thread here in the forum). I'm not 100% sure I'll be selling my ZHP but I should know within the next 2-3 months. Mine is a Steptronic but if you're interested in just checking it out (not sure if you've driven one before) shoot me a message and maybe we can meet up.

In any case, good luck with your search and if you've already found yourself a ZHP then I'll see you on the 10 or the 101....just hopefully not in traffic. :-D

[amrozhp]

Hey amrozhp, I just joined the site and I'm also in the Phoenix area. (Just introduced myself in a new thread here in the forum). I'm not 100% sure I'll be selling my ZHP but I should know within the next 2-3 months. Mine is a Steptronic but if you're interested in just checking it out (not sure if you've driven one before) shoot me a message and maybe we can meet up.

In any case, good luck with your search and if you've already found yourself a ZHP then I'll see you on the 10 or the 101....just hopefully not in traffic. :-DHello, Jetstream23. Thanks for the heads up. The next Cars & Coffee might be a good option for a time to meet. Something to keep in mind.

I've considered getting an auto. There's seems to be more of them available, in better condition and with fewer miles. I've been striking out lately trying to find a manual trans car. If the car is in good condition, it's over priced. I almost had one in Texas but another buyer beat me to it. I've contacted two sellers recently but both cars have surface rust. And both claim their cars are clean underneath. That seems unlikely.

Again, thanks for the heads up about your car. Let me know what you decide and I would love to take a look at it.

Take care!

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