Hi All!

[cakM3]

Hey everyone!

I would like to introduce myself to the forum by saying that I am a current BMW owner and am currently looking to, hopefully, purchasing a used 2003 Imola Red 330i ZHP in the near future. The car is owned by a BMW mechanic and enthusiast and is maintained very well. It currently has 104k on the odometer and has every available option including Nav. The rear subframe has been checked out with no cracks but has been reinforced anyway. When I talked to the owner he gave me a price of $11.5k. I would like to know your thoughts and opinions. Seems there has been good advice in other threads here in this forum so and I am curious and looking forward to what everyone thinks.

If I go through with this, this bimmer will be my 3rd. My first was a Helrot '99 323i which was a fun car to drive. When I had it I got lots of complements from it. Here are a few pics:

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/323ifront.png
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/323iside.png
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/323iback.png

I now drive a 2004 TiAg M3 and love driving it but am now looking to get another bimmer so that I can reduce the mileage on my M. Currently I am at 133k and would love to keep it for many years to come which is why I am looking at this ZHP. I miss driving a sedan from time to time and figured that getting this would satisfy my niche...:)

A few pics of the M:

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/IMG_20110501_102933.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/IMG_20110501_102949-1-2.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/IMG_20110501_105112.jpg

Thanks everyone for taking the time to look over my post and pics...:thumbup

~Charlie

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Charlie, great cars.

That price of $11,500 seems reasonable. If it was well maintained it's right in the ball park. Did the guy do the cooling overhaul on it yet? Radiator still original? When was the battery last changed? Does he have all of the maintenance records? I'm of the opinion that once you buy a car with more than 100,000 miles, it's imperative that you know exactly how it's been maintained. You'd assume that the mechanic would maintain it well. However, I wouldn't buy the car based on that assumption alone. I want to make sure that I don't have to pile a bunch of money into the car.

Glad you joined the site. Good luck with the purchase.

[danewilson77]

Welcome to the Mafia.

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[cakM3]

Charlie, great cars.

That price of $11,500 seems reasonable. If it was well maintained it's right in the ball park. Did the guy do the cooling overhaul on it yet? Radiator still original? When was the battery last changed? Does he have all of the maintenance records? I'm of the opinion that once you buy a car with more than 100,000 miles, it's imperative that you know exactly how it's been maintained. You'd assume that the mechanic would maintain it well. However, I wouldn't buy the car based on that assumption alone. I want to make sure that I don't have to pile a bunch of money into the car.

Glad you joined the site. Good luck with the purchase.

Thanks,

I plan to get a PPI done when I take a look at it on Tuesday. There are some things that I know from past purchases and lessons learned ('99 323i). As far as I know, everything regarding the cooling system is original so I know that I will have to work on this...hopefully I can negotiate pricing based on this future maintenance. If so, then I don't have a problem since I know what I will need to get based on doing this earlier with my 323i. As for the battery, I think it will also be time to change that out as well....should I just stay with the OEM battery or do you have a good recommendation? Thanks again and I look forward to any recommendations :thumbsup

[mimalmo]

Welcome

[Marcus-SanDiego]

You do not have to stick with the OEM battery. I just had my battery replaced with an Interstate battery (Interstate is making OEM BMW batteries these days). I got the MTP-94R/H7 (85 months). It's a direct replacement. Fits perfectly.

I know that other people have used other batteries, too.

[kayger12]

Welcome to the Family.

No need for OEM battery.

Droid X. Tapatalk. Use it.

[cakM3]

Great! I will look into alternatives. Maybe I can save a little weight...:)

Thanks everyone for such a warm welcome!

[static667]

Welcome to the family. Good luck on your purchase.

Sent using Tapatalk on my rooted Droid. Wut?

[mikeyb74]

Hey Charlie, Great to see you here!

[johnrando]

Welcome. Good luck with your purchase. Plenty of Imola Reds on this site. John

[cakM3]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome! I got to spend just a little time, more or less a "getting to know you" moment with my future acquisition...;) The current owner even let me take a test drive and I was impressed by the quick acceleration compared to what I see every day driving my ///M3 :biggrin I'll be picking up my ZHP next week. I got an incredible deal and couldn't pass this one up...so here are a few pics of my new ride :drool Let me know what you think :thumbsup

http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iZHP-01-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iZHP-02Pinstripe-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iinterior-04-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iDash-02-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iDash-01-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iInterior-02-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iinterior-03-1.jpg
http://i395.photobucket.com/albums/pp37/macdctr/330iBack-1.jpg

Sorry I didn't get more detailed pics...it was raining outside so I took these quick shots. As far as detailing and being clean there is work and I have the summer to bring it up to par...I'm not a big fan of pinstripes so this will also be taken care of soon. There will be more pics once I get the car detailed out.

A few things I'm planning to do are:

- smoked clear corner and side markers
- smoked LED tails
- glossy front grills
- glossy 330i badge
- aFe CAI
- new Michelin Pilot Super Sports
- delete pinstriping (not a big fan of pinstripes)
- front strut brace
- replace rotors with BMW performance drilled rotors
- stainless steel brake lines
- Interstate battery MTP-94R/H7 (will be getting this soon)
- M3 auto dim rear view mirror

This is a start...I'm sure there will be more in the future...:roundel

I've already been hit by the mod bug regarding my M3. Anyway I'm sure I will end up posting questions about my "new to me" ZHP. Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice. :thumbsup

Marcus, I got the PPI done...car checked out as a well maintained car. No red flags anywhere - except for the pinstripe :rofl Current owner will end up being my mechanic whenever I need major maintenance done to my ZHP...:biggrin So at least he gets to see it when I'm modding/upgrading various components since I'm really big on preventive maintenance. Water pump, thermostat and expansion tank as well as hoses were replaced. Original radiator but will be changing this out before winter.

~Charlie

[Mtnman]

welcome..... looks sweet! hell of a stable you have now.

[M0nk3y]

Congrats on the future purchase!

More pictures please when you purchase it and it stops raining!

[cakM3]

Thanks David!

I sold the '99 323i last summer and then realized just how much I missed driving my sedan so when this ZHP came up I couldn't pass on it. I will have to do some work to make it the way I want it....

[sqweak]

Welcome, I'm almost as new as you but there are good peeps around here!

Congrats on the new acquisition! Hope to join you with my own soon :)

[cakM3]

M0nk3y, when the weather improves and I get some much needed detailing done....including compounding and polishing then I will be sure to find a nice setting to take some good pics and post them up here. I am in the "I think I'm dreaming" stage still. Can't believe I got this awesome car...:biggrin

Don't get me wrong but I still love driving my M. I just want an equally fun car that I can use as a daily driver but with 4 doors...anyway, I really do appreciate all the warm welcome...I can see why this forum is set apart from all the other forums out there! Marcus, you have a great group of guys/gals here on this forum. I'm glad I joined :thumbup

Thanks sqweak! Be sure to post pics of your ride when you get it...:thumbsup

[cakM3]

welcome..... looks sweet! hell of a stable you have now.

Thanks Mtnman! I couldn't be happier with what I have...the style 135 wheels really look awesome and help complete the look on the ZHP. I'm glad that I can now say that I have one :thumbsup

[cakM3]

Hey everyone!

I will be taking delivery of my ZHP this afternoon...:jump Got a bunch of things in store...already got the BMW performance grills, smoked corner and side lights as well as smoked LED tails. Waiting on CAI, new roundels and blacked out badge. At least I will be able to get in a good detail while waiting for parts...:thumbsup

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Congrats on the new car. In for pictures when you have them.

[tripod06]

loving all the cars! i'm drooling right now. welcome to tha family!

[cakM3]

loving all the cars! i'm drooling right now. welcome to tha family!

Thanks! Sold the 323i but this 330i ZHP will more than make up for it :^) I have lot's of projects in store to get her cleaned up and proper...I will be posting pics as I go along to share and look forward to everyone's comments and suggestions :thumbsup