Another taker

[pyreguy]

Hello everyone! My name is Lance and I am addicted to my ZHP.

This is my first BMW. I've had German cars for years, and I still have my '60 Ragtop bug. I have had several aircooled VWs. My only non aircooled VW, and my last daily driver was an '04 GTI 1.8T. God rest its soul.

Sorry for the cellphone pic, its all I have right now.

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/Photo-0034.jpg

I bought my '04 Sedan last weekend. Drove from Baton Rouge to Memphis to get it. That was a fun trip, especially on the way home! Even after driving it back for many, many hours, I still had to take it for a good long drive when I got home. I just wasn't ready to stop for the night....

The PO put the halo headlights in along with LEDs in the footwells and over the license plate. The tinting on the car was way too dark for me to live with (10% all the way around) so I had that redone this week. 35/20. Otherwise its stock with 50k miles on it.

Tuesday my clear turn signals, clear repeaters, LED tails, and black grilles should get here. Tonight I put on the yellow lamin-x on my fogs, though I'm not real happy with them.

I am enjoying the hell out of this car! I look for any little excuse to get out in it and drive somewhere...anywhere. Its a beautiful machine. And my daughter loves having her own door in the back! Sedans FTW

[pyreguy]

Almost forgot, I plan on getting some software, a Eurosport CAI, and a UUC shifter for the 6spd here in the next few weeks. I'm also gonna finish swapping all the interior lights with LEDs. Maybe some H&R springs to reduce what little wheel gap I have, though I am not sold on that yet. Oh, and something to hook up my iPod to the factory stereo. Seriously considering an AUX jack in the storage space under the climate controls or the USA Spec interface. Thinking the jack is all I need though. Also kicking around the idea of foregoing the cupholders for the eurotray with the sliding cover. I would love the extra storage and I never drink anything in my cars that doesn't have a screw top anyway.

Thats about it for now. And gas. Lots of gas for all the driving I am planning on doing every chance I get.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Lance, sounds great. Be sure to chronicle all of the changes your car undergoes. Be sure to post everything right here on the site. Sounds as though you're going to have a lot of fun with this car.

Welcome to the site.

[mimalmo]

Welcome. I love black cars. I just hate keeping them clean and shiny.

[danewilson77]

Welcome. Foor doors ftmfw! I think you may have only black car here....

[pyreguy]

I love black cars too, but hate washing them. The last black car I had I ended up painting it a different color. But this car is special and looks so good clean, and SO BAD dirty that I will just have to make myself handle up on it. I was outside washing it on thanksgiving because that was the last warm day we were gonna have for awhile.

It took longer to clean the wheels than the entire rest of the car! LOL

I will have to invest in a digital camera now. I am notoriously bad for neglecting to take pictures of my cars. I made an effort as I built up the GTI and got better, but this time I will do it right. I will get a camera today and snap some pics of it for yall.

So far all I've done is tint the windows, remove the 330i emblem, and put the yellow lamin-x on the fogs...so the pictures will start there. Next week all my lights come in and I will have all that good and documented.

And I need a badass shot of the halos for my signature. They make the car look sinister!

[danewilson77]

......remove the 330i emblem,

mmm....not sure I endorse this.....

Need a tail shot.

[Alphatek45]

Black is beautiful, but I'm done with it. I recently had a 1996 Impala SS that was black. What a pita it was keeping that thing sexy.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I'm done with black too. Had an E90 in black. Looked great for five minutes. Too high maintenance for me. No color looks better, though, when black is spotless.

[kayger12]

Congrats on the new ride. Beautiful car. Makes me miss my black 325. As others have said, pita to keep clean but no better looking color for a Bimmer.

Pics when she's all clear lensed out!

[pyreguy]

mmm....not sure I endorse this.....

Need a tail shot.

Leaving to go get a camera now. I will have some better pictures, including the debadged rear, posted tonight. I think the rear looks cleaner without the 330i and it I like to think it keeps the average person guessing...

Yeah, the whole drive home I kept shaking my head wondering what I had gotten myself into with another black car LOL My GTI was silverstone grey and was really good at hiding dirt. But, when its clean, there is no color that makes me happier. So its on me. I have access to a free carwash in an undisclosed location, so that will help!

[pyreguy]

This is a rear shot. I was pressed for time so I just took a couple quick ones in the parking lot where I bought the camera.

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00001.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00002.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Looks great. I like the debadged look.

[pyreguy]

Thanks!

[pyreguy]

Here is a picture with the yellow lamin-x on the fogs

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00003.jpg

[gr330zhp]

Looks awesome!! Welcome!! Soooo clean! 4 door FTW!!

I'm another VW guy :) I also own a MkIV Jetta 1.8T

[pyreguy]

Yeah I miss my MkIV GTI. That was a screamin little motor. I was pushing around 240 in it and was about to install a catch can and K04 kit from APR. Incidentally, that ARP K04 kit is for sale... it never made it out the box.

[danewilson77]

I don't know if the yellow is workin with the amber......may look betta with clear corners....

[kayger12]

+1 on the clear corners (with or without the yellow)

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/IMG_7488.jpg

http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff401/Kayger12/IMG_7863.jpg

[pyreguy]

My clear conrners, LED tails, and matte black grilles are, according to tracking info, arriving Tuesday. I hate ambers with a healthy enthusiasm. And since I nixed the 330i emblem, the lonely chrome accents on the front need to go as well. Clean clean clean!

[Alphatek45]

You know what we want when your done. Hint: It rhymes with Ticks...

[pyreguy]

ummm... ? guy, really?

OH! LOL

Will do.
I finally, after years of being that asshole that never posted decent pics (lucky to get even a cellphone pic outta me), bought a real camera yesterday so that I can keep a sort of photo journal of all my upgrades. Not that I am a good photographer, but I imagine I will get better as I go. I need to learn how to resize photos also. I would like the one in my sig to be smaller.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Lance, you can resize the photo in photobucket (where you are hosting your picture).

[zhp43867]

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/1208/dsc000062.jpg

You can put that code in your sig if you want, I never delete pictures.

[pyreguy]

Lance, you can resize the photo in photobucket (where you are hosting your picture).

I had no idea! I haven't taken the time to play with that website yet. I just opened that account recently so I could upload pictures to forums. I will definitely go and check that out!

[pyreguy]

http://img560.imageshack.us/img560/1208/dsc000062.jpg

You can put that code in your sig if you want, I never delete pictures.

AWESOME thanks! That's the perfect size

[pyreguy]

Here is a quick pic I took today. The 540 is my neighbor's car. I like to think they get along quite nicely hanging out in the parking lot together telling each other stories of the road....

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00007.jpg

[zhp43867]

Yours looks better! :) You have a windshield eyebrow, boss. How's your visibility with it?

[pyreguy]

It's fine. It's still 10% like what the PO had on all the windows. I got it retinted the monday after I got it home. I actually like having it dark like that though.
In fact, I do a banner that I'm gonna put across it that's solid black with a friend of mine's German speedshops name on it. He tunes on German cars and builds racecars out of M3's for several drivers around here. He also manages the local German repair center and always hooks me up with parts and service so I have no problem advertising for his company. I will post a picture when I get that installed. I will just have to stop a little farther away from redlights...

[pyreguy]

Today I ordered a UUC Evo 3 shifter w the DSSR, a Shark Injector, H&R Sports, a europlate frame, an intake, and some good BMW all weather rubber floormats. WOOHOO! I love cyber monday. I saved almost $80 on the shifter alone plus got free shipping!

[danewilson77]

mm...quite a delectable story...

[Alphatek45]

I'm very curious about the shark injector. Please report back!

[jjcools]

That car looks good and will be looking even better with those clears. I am thinking about ordering some this week aswell. Where did you get yours from?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Today I ordered a UUC Evo 3 shifter w the DSSR, a Shark Injector, H&R Sports, a europlate frame, an intake, and some good BMW all weather rubber floormats. WOOHOO! I love cyber monday. I saved almost $80 on the shifter alone plus got free shipping!

I have the UUC Evo 3 SS on my 335. Love it.

[kayger12]

Today I ordered a UUC Evo 3 shifter w the DSSR, a Shark Injector, H&R Sports, a europlate frame, an intake, and some good BMW all weather rubber floormats. WOOHOO! I love cyber monday. I saved almost $80 on the shifter alone plus got free shipping!

In the land of the unassertive the aggressive man is king! Way to attack the mods.

[pyreguy]

Haha Yeah I had a plan laid out and cash set aside for my last project when the car was involved in a heinous accident that totalled it. I was more than ready to get this one set up with a quickness once I got it. I did a lot of research when I decided what car I really wanted if I could buy any car so the rest is just details.

I drove a friend of mine's 325i that had the Evo 3 shifter in it and knew I had to have it. (side note, it's his wife's car and he bought her that as his anniversary present to her -- and she loved it! Unfortunately she doesn't have a sister...)

I am curious about the Shark Injector as well. I will follow up once its installed about how well it did, though it will have to be in conjunction with the intake because I am installing the at the same time because I CAN'T WAIT. A specialist here in town says I should expect about 15% more power with the two of them together. I bought the intake that they put on all their race cars.

[pyreguy]

That car looks good and will be looking even better with those clears. I am thinking about ordering some this week as well. Where did you get yours from?

I got most everything from Turner Motorsport. I bought the UUC shifter with the DSSR directly from UUC however, because their cyber monday sale was better. Saved over $70 and got free shipping.

[danewilson77]

You can also get clears over at ecstuning or jlevisw

[pyreguy]

Or at europeanautosource. There are a bunch of different places out there. I just chose them cause I was buying other stuff from there and I heard good things about them from people I trust. So far so good. I've bought stuff from ecstuning in the past and had good service, their shipping is just too high sometimes. I have some stuff in a cart at jlevisw and will give them a shot later on too.

[pyreguy]

New pics! Oh, and its been raining its ass off here so forgive the dirty car. Will wash it soon and take better pics.

LED tails:
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00009.jpg

Front with matte black grilles and clear turn signals:
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00010.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00011.jpg

[jjcools]

Looks good. I like those corners the best. The black trim works right into the headlights. I am going to order some yellow fogs too, I think it will be nice in the fog here.

[kayger12]

Looks great, pyre.

[pyreguy]

Those are just yellow lamin-x film. $14

[pyreguy]

Looks great, pyre.

Thanks!

Here's another one I took today.
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00012_2.jpg

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I like the view.

[pyreguy]

my balcony :)

[adb1028]

This thread brings tears to my eyes, its so beautiful!

[pyreguy]

Wow thanks!

[pyreguy]

more pictures:

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00061.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00053.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00059.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00056.jpg
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00054.jpg

Trying out different angles to get that perfect one...

[danewilson77]

One good lookin sedan there....but I think you're planning a front bumper detail...

[pyreguy]

Yeah it looks all chipped to hell in that picture. I never notice it unless I kneel down and look. Normally its ankle height so I don't see it :biggrin

There is a really good detailer here in town that I'm gonna take it to this coming spring. He will fix all that for me. There are scratches and chips here and there that will disappear.

[danewilson77]

Chips prolly will not disappear, though I am sure the detail will make it look much better.