dbuilt
11-05-2020, 08:40 AM
Making this thread to keep a running log of changes to the car and share my progress!
A little bit about my 330xi..
Currently has 205k on the ODO, no rust anywhere except for light bubbling on the pass rear fender. It's a factory slicktop, 6mt car. ZCW, ZSP, ZPP car. Just missing the zhp package! Shame it wasn't available for the XI's. That's why we're here!
Carfax says at some point in 2010 the car had a minor collision on the front passenger side. There is evidence of this. Not sure why it was fixed the way it was, however the front bumper was replaced with a ZHP replica bumper and the fender support bracket, along with bumper support was geniusly held in place by... what looks to me like silicone putty. So there is some fitment issues with all the bracketry on the passenger side as well as the bumper supports missing on both sides of the bumper.
This is all being addressed!
https://i.imgur.com/mIwv0xv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/REyygrw.jpg
Onwards to future plans and current progress..
When I bought the car I noticed that the obc stated the last oil service was -38,000 miles ago. The seller noted that he recently did an oil change and flushed the coolant. So I drove the car for a little while, put maybe a thousand miles on it or so and was met with a low oil light. Sure, a 200k mile m54 burning a little oil should be expected. Ordered a liqui moly change kit from FCP and hauled the car into the garage.
However, I was not prepared for the ridiculousness that would follow.. I doubt this picture would do it any justice whatsoever... but I believe the OBC estimate to be correct. The oil that poured out was so black that it seemed to negate any light. All of the o rings in the oil filter housing were hard and brittle. The filter itself was the consistency of soup and turned to mush just moments after taking this photo.
https://i.imgur.com/YizDSid.jpg
Among the atrocity, I noticed the car seemed to roll quite a bit in corners. It was not very planted and bumps seemed harsher than usual. Decided to inspect the car and to my surprise.. the car was on sachs shocks and blue h&r sports. Well that explains why my xi sits lower than normal. Explains the harsh and firm ride but not completely. Why was the car rolling so much that I was nearly falling out of my well-bolstered sport seats? Ah...
https://i.imgur.com/XjKKAz9.jpg
Passenger sway bar end link has failed! Another order placed with FCP euro and got that all squared away. The cv boots have pretty much all seen better days. Shelving that project for better days. Getting cold here in the northeast now.
Only had one working fog light and found that all the fender liners were missing. The wiring on the passenger side for the fog lights looked like someone forcefully pulled off pigtails and connectors. So I purchased some pigtails off of ebay and wired them in. We have 2 working fog lights now! Also went ahead and changed out the xenon bulbs for some nice oem temp D2s and some generic sylvania bulbs for the others. And.... along with the lighting improvements, took a DA to the headlight housings to get them a little less hazy.
https://i.imgur.com/Ksss820.jpg
Don't really have any before pics for this one.. but installed some alcantara boots for both the shifter and e-brake. Car could use a nice vaccuming.
https://i.imgur.com/ydZtLJK.jpg
So whats to come?
I've got a black headliner set on the way and will be yanking out the tan and saggy trim. I quite like the aluminum as opposed to the cube trim and other's available for e46's. A new steering wheel is en route, probably the closest match I'll find to the OEM leather as a rewrap.
Was thinking of trying to source an alcantara wheel/seats but not sure if I'm comfortable enough with making sure I take good care of it. So for now, stock seats and oem leather will do.
That's about up to date with where we're at with the car.
Will be ripping out the interior shortly!
Also, enjoy some pictures of my (new to me) zhp wheels.
They have some curb rash but are free of any bends or cracks. Picked them up for $450 and slapped some a/s tires on. Didn't deem it cost effective to clean up the curb rash at this time and well, lets face it.. this isn't a show car! Maybe at a later point.
18x8 225/40 F and 18x8.5 255/35 R
https://i.imgur.com/gDaekPQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B3yRC1I.jpg
A little bit about my 330xi..
Currently has 205k on the ODO, no rust anywhere except for light bubbling on the pass rear fender. It's a factory slicktop, 6mt car. ZCW, ZSP, ZPP car. Just missing the zhp package! Shame it wasn't available for the XI's. That's why we're here!
Carfax says at some point in 2010 the car had a minor collision on the front passenger side. There is evidence of this. Not sure why it was fixed the way it was, however the front bumper was replaced with a ZHP replica bumper and the fender support bracket, along with bumper support was geniusly held in place by... what looks to me like silicone putty. So there is some fitment issues with all the bracketry on the passenger side as well as the bumper supports missing on both sides of the bumper.
This is all being addressed!
https://i.imgur.com/mIwv0xv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/REyygrw.jpg
Onwards to future plans and current progress..
When I bought the car I noticed that the obc stated the last oil service was -38,000 miles ago. The seller noted that he recently did an oil change and flushed the coolant. So I drove the car for a little while, put maybe a thousand miles on it or so and was met with a low oil light. Sure, a 200k mile m54 burning a little oil should be expected. Ordered a liqui moly change kit from FCP and hauled the car into the garage.
However, I was not prepared for the ridiculousness that would follow.. I doubt this picture would do it any justice whatsoever... but I believe the OBC estimate to be correct. The oil that poured out was so black that it seemed to negate any light. All of the o rings in the oil filter housing were hard and brittle. The filter itself was the consistency of soup and turned to mush just moments after taking this photo.
https://i.imgur.com/YizDSid.jpg
Among the atrocity, I noticed the car seemed to roll quite a bit in corners. It was not very planted and bumps seemed harsher than usual. Decided to inspect the car and to my surprise.. the car was on sachs shocks and blue h&r sports. Well that explains why my xi sits lower than normal. Explains the harsh and firm ride but not completely. Why was the car rolling so much that I was nearly falling out of my well-bolstered sport seats? Ah...
https://i.imgur.com/XjKKAz9.jpg
Passenger sway bar end link has failed! Another order placed with FCP euro and got that all squared away. The cv boots have pretty much all seen better days. Shelving that project for better days. Getting cold here in the northeast now.
Only had one working fog light and found that all the fender liners were missing. The wiring on the passenger side for the fog lights looked like someone forcefully pulled off pigtails and connectors. So I purchased some pigtails off of ebay and wired them in. We have 2 working fog lights now! Also went ahead and changed out the xenon bulbs for some nice oem temp D2s and some generic sylvania bulbs for the others. And.... along with the lighting improvements, took a DA to the headlight housings to get them a little less hazy.
https://i.imgur.com/Ksss820.jpg
Don't really have any before pics for this one.. but installed some alcantara boots for both the shifter and e-brake. Car could use a nice vaccuming.
https://i.imgur.com/ydZtLJK.jpg
So whats to come?
I've got a black headliner set on the way and will be yanking out the tan and saggy trim. I quite like the aluminum as opposed to the cube trim and other's available for e46's. A new steering wheel is en route, probably the closest match I'll find to the OEM leather as a rewrap.
Was thinking of trying to source an alcantara wheel/seats but not sure if I'm comfortable enough with making sure I take good care of it. So for now, stock seats and oem leather will do.
That's about up to date with where we're at with the car.
Will be ripping out the interior shortly!
Also, enjoy some pictures of my (new to me) zhp wheels.
They have some curb rash but are free of any bends or cracks. Picked them up for $450 and slapped some a/s tires on. Didn't deem it cost effective to clean up the curb rash at this time and well, lets face it.. this isn't a show car! Maybe at a later point.
18x8 225/40 F and 18x8.5 255/35 R
https://i.imgur.com/gDaekPQ.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/B3yRC1I.jpg