Found on Craigslist: 2005 Alpine White ZHP Sedan w/ Engine Rebuild

[nicksarazen]

Hi all, new to the forum but actively looking for a ZHP in the Los Angeles/SoCal area. Found this listing on CL with no pictures (which always feels like a red flag to me) for a 2005 AW automatic sedan over Alcantara interior (sucker for a rare combo) with 146,000 miles for $7800, but inquired nonetheless out of curiosity for this engine rebuild mentioned. Here's the link, but I'll paste the writeup on the ad below anyway: https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/cto/d/glendale-2005-bmw-330i-zhp-package/6810121839.html

"The car engine has been replaced with overhauled repaired engine on 116k miles.
Tires are new. Radiator and coolant hose are new. Car is very clean. Suede interior.
This car has been maintained to perfection.
Issue: Driver side seat top part is torn"

I chatted with the guy on the phone and had him send me pictures - I have yet to see the car in person, but cosmetically, it's definitely not perfect. You can see the front bumper is misaligned and has a significant scuff/scrape on the passenger side bottom, a handful of dents, and the driver's seat bolster is torn up badly. I've attached the pictures he's sent me below.

I'll recount everything he told me about the car in terms of mechanicals. It's got a clean title, but this guy (a mechanic at a shop somewhere in Glendale) bought it with a blown engine in 2013. He did the following work himself (but doesn't have any receipts to prove the work, but he said he'd write up a parts list if I wanted it): at 115k miles, he took the engine out of the car and did basically an entire top-end rebuild. This included the cylinder head, pistons, rod bearings, engine mounts, spark plugs, as well as the entire cooling system, all the belts, hoses, and all 4 brakes as good measure. (He was talking fast so I may have missed some engine parts when he was rattling them off) The automatic transmission is original and he claims it has no issues. The suspension is original and he says it's fine. He didn't note anything about the VANOS, but he claimed the car needs nothing else mechanically besides a driver's side front shock mount that he's planning on replacing because of a squeaking sound.

He and his wife have been driving the car since this work was done in 2013, and they've driven it about 30k miles with seemingly no issues.

I would never take someone's word alone when buying a car, so of course I'm planning to check the car out in person. I'm not sure how I'd be able to verify the quality of work he did on the car, if he used OEM parts or not, etc - so I'm definitely wary. Just wanted to put this car on everyone's radar and share it with the community. What do you guys think?

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7847/46567088184_577cd12fb5_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuWL)20190206_151556 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuWL) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7913/46567088254_768ead77a1_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuXY)20190206_151546 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuXY) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7874/46567088084_9ec16cd8c0_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuV3)20190206_151610 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuV3) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7817/46567088024_1f9beed798_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuU1)20190301_124933 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuU1) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7894/46567087914_4568fddc86_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuS7)20190301_124938 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuS7) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7817/46567087864_45ed4aec7a_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuRf)20190301_124956 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuRf) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7888/46567087364_39de33176d_k.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuGC)20190301_125051 (https://flic.kr/p/2dWYuGC) by Nick Sarazen (https://www.flickr.com/photos/141888633@N08/), on Flickr

[fredo]

Last year, there was a similar car in ATX. The last asking price was $4,500.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21683-FS-2005-ZHP-sedan-AW-beige-131k-miles-AT-5-000-Austin-TX

[nicksarazen]

Last year, there was a similar car in ATX. The last asking price was $4,500.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21683-FS-2005-ZHP-sedan-AW-beige-131k-miles-AT-5-000-Austin-TX

Thanks for pulling this one up. That one might have even been a little better because of the documentation it had... I don’t think the one I posted has any records at all before 115k. Sounds like $7800 is way too high.

[GMBBS]

The white one suffered from the worst option...tan interior.

[sillieidiot]

Get a ppi

[ComradeNick]

7800 is asking a lot for an auto esp with that many miles imo. I paid 9300 for my auto with 93k and that car was in near mint condition and mechanic owned. I almost bought one that had 86k but was a repaired salvage for 5k, with that milage and rebuild I'd say 3-4k would be the max you should pay for that car if it's in good condition mechanically. White and Alcantara is a rare combo but you can buy an Alcantara interior for ~1k if you find the right car.

Don't settle, I'm glad I didn't.

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[DeathTrap]

Original suspension? Fine? No sir. Pretty sure it's done for. I'd shoot for 6k and pocket the rest for the things that sneak up on you.

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[GotZHP]

Remember, the buyer is in Cali, so the price is going to be a few grand higher than most places in the US, but I still Believe it is high for the current condition and options and mileage.

Honestly, I would hold out and wait for a better one. I wish I did this when I bought my ZHP. I'll keep my eyes out for ya. Im up in Santa Barbara so just north of you.

For references, I paid $10,000 out the door for my ZHP. At the time it was just a tick over 100K miles, manual, silbergrau metallic, black leather, and some recent work done to it. I took a gamble on the car having no work history, and ultimately ended up paying for this as many parts needed to be replaced. I was ok with the price because it was the color combo I wanted in leather, and when I first go the car, it was damn near perfect inside and out.


If I had to do it over again, I would have waited for a member here to have on up for sale that was in good condition with work history and would have flown to get the car. Or would have waited for one with work history to show up in Cali. Price could have been cheaper but it is what it is :/

[GotZHP]

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/laguna-niguel-2004-bmw-330i-zhp/6805592268.html

Little south from you, but I think a way better example of the breed. Mileage and price about the same but condition is much better, has records, was garaged, and you can always haggle the price some.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/los-angeles-2006-bmw-330ci-e46-zhp-6spd/6832270867.html


Lower price higher miles and comes with a lot of race parts. If it was a track car then it may need some maintenance to account for it.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/d/ontario-2004-bmw-330i-zhp-package/6827085499.html

Dirt cheap because of the title but don't always jump to conclusion on salvage titles. I know there are people that walk away the second they see that, btu my car was considered "total" and it only took $2,300 to fix what was caused in the accident. My radiator was even damaged and my insurance company claimed it needed over $9,800 dollars in work. If there is proper documentation and photos, maybe something to consider, but only if that is there. I took over 400 photos, so I have that documentation lol.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/san-diego-2005-bmw-330i-zhp-4-door/6816275093.html

Little further south but around same price and mileage with tons of work done to it. You can tell the owner is more of an enthusiast and that this car was cared for.


Anyways, that was a 5 min search on CL. I would hold out for the right one. These cars come up for sale all the time out here.

[fredo]

I waited almost 2 years to find my zhp. There are good ones out there.

[nicksarazen]

Thanks for all the input everyone, I agree. Gonna wait for the right one to come up - well documented is the most important thing for me. I’m looking for an auto sedan in Southern California - not afraid of higher miles at all. Would actually rather a higher miles example that’s had a lot of major things addressed (like cooling system and suspension work) than one that’s just over 100k that’s only had oil changes.

[nicksarazen]

https://orangecounty.craigslist.org/cto/d/laguna-niguel-2004-bmw-330i-zhp/6805592268.html

Little south from you, but I think a way better example of the breed. Mileage and price about the same but condition is much better, has records, was garaged, and you can always haggle the price some.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/wst/cto/d/los-angeles-2006-bmw-330ci-e46-zhp-6spd/6832270867.html


Lower price higher miles and comes with a lot of race parts. If it was a track car then it may need some maintenance to account for it.

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/cto/d/ontario-2004-bmw-330i-zhp-package/6827085499.html

Dirt cheap because of the title but don't always jump to conclusion on salvage titles. I know there are people that walk away the second they see that, btu my car was considered "total" and it only took $2,300 to fix what was caused in the accident. My radiator was even damaged and my insurance company claimed it needed over $9,800 dollars in work. If there is proper documentation and photos, maybe something to consider, but only if that is there. I took over 400 photos, so I have that documentation lol.

https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/cto/d/san-diego-2005-bmw-330i-zhp-4-door/6816275093.html

Little further south but around same price and mileage with tons of work done to it. You can tell the owner is more of an enthusiast and that this car was cared for.


Anyways, that was a 5 min search on CL. I would hold out for the right one. These cars come up for sale all the time out here.

Thanks a lot for these - planning on checking that last one out actually. Checks all the right boxes for me - just unfortunate that it has the light beige interior. I guess if it has to be paired with any color, Alpine is the best for it.

[nicksarazen]

Remember, the buyer is in Cali, so the price is going to be a few grand higher than most places in the US, but I still Believe it is high for the current condition and options and mileage.

Honestly, I would hold out and wait for a better one. I wish I did this when I bought my ZHP. I'll keep my eyes out for ya. Im up in Santa Barbara so just north of you.

For references, I paid $10,000 out the door for my ZHP. At the time it was just a tick over 100K miles, manual, silbergrau metallic, black leather, and some recent work done to it. I took a gamble on the car having no work history, and ultimately ended up paying for this as many parts needed to be replaced. I was ok with the price because it was the color combo I wanted in leather, and when I first go the car, it was damn near perfect inside and out.


If I had to do it over again, I would have waited for a member here to have on up for sale that was in good condition with work history and would have flown to get the car. Or would have waited for one with work history to show up in Cali. Price could have been cheaper but it is what it is :/

Really appreciate you keeping an eye out. You found your ideal color combo though, that’s big. Ideally, I’d like to find a sedan in Orient blue or Alpine.

[GotZHP]

Plus side to a light interior, it wont get hot AF in the summer sun. I need to get window shades for the side windows. Black leather in SoCal sun is enough to burn skin lol

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[nicksarazen]

Plus side to a light interior, it wont get hot AF in the summer sun. I need to get window shades for the side windows. Black leather in SoCal sun is enough to burn skin lol

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That’s a great point... definitely helps me justify it lol. Is there a reason light beige seems to be the interior no one likes?


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[ComradeNick]

That’s a great point... definitely helps me justify it lol. Is there a reason light beige seems to be the interior no one likes?


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkBeige just doesn't look good in most cars imo, there's few applications that it does, plus it gets dirty very easily. Don't let these people scare you away from black leather, I live in the bay area and honestly window tint + a sunshade keeps the car comfortably cool. But if you have no tint at all prepare for 2nd degree burns.

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[fredo]

I like beige interior, actually. Three of my cars (black e46 323i, black e90 330i, silver e90 335i) had beige color and it looked good IMHO. Plus, I live in TX and that helps during the summer.

[GotZHP]

Thanks for all the input everyone, I agree. Gonna wait for the right one to come up - well documented is the most important thing for me. I’m looking for an auto sedan in Southern California - not afraid of higher miles at all. Would actually rather a higher miles example that’s had a lot of major things addressed (like cooling system and suspension work) than one that’s just over 100k that’s only had oil changes.

I agree with this statement! I bought one at 100k miles with no work done. I woulda rather get one around 125k with work done. By the time I hit 125K I had done the following (leaving some items out and not including additional items from the accident, check my old build thread):

- entire cooling system
-All pulleys and belts
- Entire CCV
-OPG
-OFHG
-Tie rods, control arms, new boots (needs new struts, bushings everywhere, and I still need to rebuild rear suspension)
-New intake boots
-All new vacuum lines
-DISA
-Washer bottle motor for sprayers
-and the list goes on and on.


You are right about documentation being the most important part because it proves the maintenance. I keep all my receipts, have a huge spreadsheet tracking my work, dates, miles, etc, and have 100s of photos to back it all up.


In retro spec, I should have waited for one instead of jumping on the first one I liked in the colors I wanted. I wanted the suede, but was fine with leather, and now prefer it because I'm a dog owner.


I bought my car in Lake Elsinore, which is 200 miles away. I drove my GFs car the first time when I went to inspect and test drive, then took a train down when I bought, so just widen your search area and you'll find the one for you.

[DeathTrap]

Yep. I bought mine not knowing anything about E46s, only common issues and horror stories. Figured it couldn't be that bad...it was. I have replaced almost everything on the car. I did buy it pretty cheap so it balances out.

If were to buy another, I would pay a bit more for documented repairs. That premium is very much worth it, unless you enjoy doing the repairs...

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[GotZHP]

I like working on my car and doing the repairs, just don't like the price tag that goes with it sometimes

[erikthomas33]

My 2005 black on black convertible is for sale in So Cal if you are still interested. Check it out here at the forum or on craigslist.

[GotZHP]

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?22211-FS-2005-Silver-Gray-330i-ZHP-Southern-California

This just came up for sale but the one you listed earlier was an A/T, so don't know. Good price tho