For Sale (SOLD): 2004 BMW 330 ZHP in TX by Dealer 102K Miles, $9300

[zhp43867]

I doubt this dealer knows what he has. It looks like its in decent condition and would need some work, but it sure is cheap.

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=288454225&dealer_id=65776447&car_year=2004&end_year=2005&model=330I&start_year=2003&origin=myatcemail&body_style=SEDAN&search_type=both&transmission=Manual&distance=0&default_sort=newsortbyprice_ASC&min_price=8000&address=19317&advanced=y&LNX=ATCMYATCEMAIL&incremental=last_searched-1290661200000&max_price=16000&make=BMW&seller_type=b&cardist=1285&standard=false

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Agree. It has NAV, it has the really expensive steering wheel, etc. Also, it's a 6 speed -- not a 5 speed as the ad says.

Bottom line: the seller does not know what it is selling.

[zhp43867]

I think it has the alcantara steering wheel with a really disgusting cover, but nevertheless it's a good deal. lol.

I agree Marcus all he says is 5 speed and sport package, it would be nice with a car with wheels like that to know the maintenance history and what not, oh well.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I think it has the alcantara steering wheel with a really disgusting cover, but nevertheless it's a good deal. lol.

I agree Marcus all he says is 5 speed and sport package, it would be nice with a car with wheels like that to know the maintenance history and what not, oh well.

You know what? You're right. It does not have the leather wheel. It has some kind of cover, instead, over the alcantara. Good eye. Still a good deal for someone looking for a ZHP.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Casey should buy this car! LOL. Casey, you know you want one of these.

[danewilson77]

Yeah....but he'll never admit it....

[zhp43867]

Marcus I want your car. Damn EWS... :)N

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Marcus I want your car. Damn EWS... :)N

What the heck happened to the EWS module?

[zhp43867]

If your car didn't have EWS I could have it. lol ;)

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Ahh, I see! You could flat bed it out of here.

[zhp43867]

I will eventually get a zhp coupe or convertible to accompany my baby, at least that's the plan anyway. :) Gotta look ahead!

[justinwilson77]

Pops, you feel like taking a trip over to TX? Lol

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Even though the miles are on the higher side, this does look like a good deal. Just have to make sure the maintenance is up to snuff.

[NDubSki]

Ugh... He has a steering wheel cover over the alcantara... I would love to buy, but it's a sedan. Deal breaker.

[az3579]

Ugh... He has a steering wheel cover over the alcantara... I would love to buy, but it's a sedan. Deal breaker.

But sedans are better, so I don't see what the problem is... :pimp:

[danewilson77]

See....the problem is that he would end up NOT liking his coupe.

[NDubSki]

That's all hogwash. Coupes are just so much more elegant IMO. I guess it helps when you live the semi-single life.

[kayger12]

I guess it helps when you love the semi-single life.

Or are trying to remind yourself of it......

[danewilson77]

:rofl:

[NDubSki]

meant "live", Dane, pic fail.
Idk, less doors are just more appealing to me. Both my cars have been coupes, and I'm pretty sure my next will be.

When I get married, I'll get the coupes still, the wife will get an ML

[danewilson77]

Nice poke.....bastard.

[NDubSki]

?

[zhp43867]

meant "live", Dane, pic fail.
Idk, less doors are just more appealing to me. Both my cars have been coupes, and I'm pretty sure my next will be.

When I get married, I'll get the coupes still, the wife will get an ML

Really got it all planned out don't you. :spit:

[zhp43867]

Car's down to $8990.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Car's down to $8990.

Someone is going to steal that car at that price.

[Linh]

Makes me feel bad getting mine at 10kish.

But I don't think I would be happy with black, to much maintenance to keep clean.

[danewilson77]

I'm thinking this is a scam somehow, and that's why it hasn't sold. Does it make any sense that this car isn't sold yet?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Difficult to know, DW. Difficult to know. Odd that it has not sold yet, though. Could be a flood car.

[Mike V]

A buddy has been trying to inquire about this car but the dealer never returns his calls. Not sure what's going on there.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Mike, if you guys ever get the status, be sure to report back.

[Mike V]

I just got a text from my buddy. He said the dealer finally called him back. We were a bit skeptical about this car actually being a zhp and sure enough, the dealership insists that it has a 5 spd in it.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Got to go look at it. Is your buddy local to the car?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I just looked at the photos again. It's a ZHP. Maybe someone put a 5-speed knob on it.

The are red needles, alcantara wheel, rear valance is ZHP, mtech II front bumper, black cube trim.

[Mike V]

I just called too, since I'm bored. :) The seller doesn't speak very good English and now he's not sure if it's 5 spd or 6 spd. He said he'll verify tomorrow. :confused:

[Mike V]

No, we're not local to it. He posted on the uuc_digest yesterday looking for someone in the area to look at it but no bites. I'm leaning toward zhp now too. It just has too many of the zhp details for someone to spend that much to make a 330 look like a zhp.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

No, we're not local to it. He posted on the uuc_digest yesterday looking for someone in the area to look at it but no bites. I'm leaning toward zhp now too. It just has too many of the zhp details for someone to spend that much to make a 330 look like a zhp.


Friend just ran vin for me. It's a 6-speed. ZHP.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

No, we're not local to it. He posted on the uuc_digest yesterday looking for someone in the area to look at it but no bites. I'm leaning toward zhp now too. It just has too many of the zhp details for someone to spend that much to make a 330 look like a zhp.


Friend just ran vin for me. It's a 6-speed. ZHP.

It has xenon, smokers package, nav, black on black, performance package. Started its life in Minneapolis.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Guys, someone should jump on this. My wife is telling me to buy this, put the right wheels on it, and then flip it. I'm tempted.

[Linh]

Yeah, I kind of curious on whats the story of the car too. . .

I imagined it would be gone by now if it was clean titled and everything.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Poor marketing, Linh. That's what I am guessing.

[Linh]

I Guess thats a good thing for some one looking for a zhp!

I've seen zhp with around 130-140k miles go for about 8-9k.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yep. I could probably grab it for $8k. Then I could flip it here in San Diego for $13k.

[danewilson77]

Guys, someone should jump on this. My wife is telling me to buy this, put the right wheels on it, and then flip it. I'm tempted.



You buy it....and flip it to me for a modest profit, and we'll get JW77 to get rid of the Benz.

Now thats what I'm talking about

[Linh]

13k would be a good asking price, but realisticly maybe 11-12k for a quick buck =)

[Marcus-SanDiego]

I have a better idea. You buy it directly. I don't make a single dime. And JW scores. Dhu eeet.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

13k would be a good asking price, but realisticly maybe 11-12k for a quick buck =)

yep. I figure I could be patient and get full amount.

[zhp43867]

Well if I were to flip it I would:

- Take the steering wheel cover off and clean it with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, 303 and Suede shoe cleaner (what I did to mine when I had it).

- Buy a new shift knob (Net $65)

- Match the front corners and side markers to amber (Net $0)

- Buy ZHP wheels (Net $0)

- Buy New Headlight Lenses (Net $80)

- Buy Chrome Grill (OEM; Net $0)

- Buy New Floor Mats (Net $75)

- Detail it

I bet you could get $12,500

My ZHP was assessed at (I'm guessing) a good margin over 10k (11-12k) and it has 138k miles.

I'll post a DIY for the steering wheel cleaning now actually...

[zhp43867]

I ran an Instavin check (not about to spend $35) :shifty:; so no service records. It looks clean; two owners, no reported accidents, no salvage, theft, or flood damage reported. It's been in Texas its whole life.

https://www.instavin.com/?r=0d1157a1902135e3b7a2fb01b8b6b90f0a5129b1

[Marcus-SanDiego]

My buddy saw a Minneapolis record with this VIN. Regardless, it's the same car. The owner simply does not know what he is selling.

[justinwilson77]

Yea pops, les dhu eeet! Haha

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yea pops, les dhu eeet! Haha

I just don't have the time to fly into Texas right now. But I do think that the Wilsons should buy this one. Justin, get online and price plane tickets out. Tell dad that you've got it all figured out. Give him the itinerary.

[danewilson77]

I'm listening....to the shenanigans...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Let us know when you're picking it up, DW.

[Mike V]

A buddy at the local BMW dealer ran the VIN for me. Here is what he said without seeing the car first:

Its a black on black ZHP car. Xenon, Nav, harmon-kardon, power seats. Good service history up until 49,059 miles.
Another buddy sent me a Carfax, which is clean and shows that it's an original owner car (doubtful that's accurate).

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Yep. Seems like a nice car.

[bimmer848]

only thing that worries me is that it is at a dealer, so they should be more than educated on what they have as that is their living. even if they stole it from an auction or some old lady on trade, they should be trying to bring the hammer down on someone for 10.5-11k ish. and fwiw, all of my years in the car biz here in western PA, while shopping for cars on da interwebs, dealers and wholesalers always told me the same thing.."never buy a car from Texas!" not sure why, but all of them had stories of getting burnt. some kind of ring, border issues, idk? maybe a Texas member if there is one could chime in, or look at it before a wasted plane tic?? i'm always a skeptic when it comes to matters of car sales, so please ignore me if you are diggin' on this car. looks like its been reduced to 8900!

[Kudos]

My last car was from texas, absolutely no rust. I'm in the transportation industry, and I have shipped cars. The cars from the south very seldom have rust damage, yes burn damage can happen, but that can happen anywhere. Places to avoid or louisianna cause of katrina, FL, cause of yearly hurricanes and places with snow/salted roads. The car looks like a steal. I wonder if we could get a page where people posted their prices, if willing obviously so that new members know the price ranges and they can spot a deal a lot quicker than asking every time.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

It's a small dealer who doesn't know what he has. Probably doesn't sell a lot of BMWs. I will start a thread in response to your suggestion, Kudos.

[zhp43867]

So who bought it? Fess up :p

[Linh]

A close friend of mine drove 8 hours to pick it up. Needs work but still a hell of a deal. Probably the best deal I've seen.

[danewilson77]

What kind of werk?

[Linh]

Will need new head light lenses, a re-tint, coolant is due soon, vanos seals, and strange rattling noise from motor when accelarating (zhp's common rattle?).

The person hacked up the front suspension mounts holes for some reason. . . Have any idea?

Overall the car looks its been sitting outside most of its life. The interior is in really nice condition, besides the steering wheel of course.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Glad one of us got it. Make sure your buddy signs up here. We have plenty of space here.

[MrMaico]

The person hacked up the front suspension mounts holes for some reason. . . Have any idea?

If you're talking about the upper strut mounts, he probably was trying to make the camber adjustable but that is definitely NOT the right way to do it.

[mimalmo]

The person hacked up the front suspension mounts holes for some reason. . . Have any idea?

Any pics of this damage?

[Linh]

I will ask him to takes some pictures of it.

[danewilson77]

He may need the re-enforcement kit to fix this. Or some fab....

[MrMaico]

He may need the re-enforcement kit to fix this. Or some fab....

Good idea Dane! If that's the problem a set of these (mount from underneath the strut tower) might just help restore some of the strength to the mount area.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=51717036781

[danewilson77]

Yeah...may save him a buck or two depending on the damage.

I would be interested in seeing pics of the damage...

[zhp43867]

Yeah...may save him a buck or two depending on the damage.

I would be interested in seeing pics of the damage...

I think like Mr. Maico said- he cut the top of the dust cap/strut bearing off to allow the strut to be adjusted for camber. This shouldn't damage the shock towers if the car wasn't tracked or abused all the time. It is wrong though.

[danewilson77]

Wut? Cutting the dust cap off (and OBTW, they just pop off) will do nothing regarding the camber. The camber adjustment (however small the capability...and I mean its small) is in the strut mount, slightly elongated bolt holes. The pin on the strt mount has to be punched out first though. Maybe thats what you saw him do....or maybe I am totally misunderstanding you.

The lil nub below is what needs to be punched out...to make camber adjustment to front....

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Maintenance%20and%20Misc/suspension_e39_front_shock_mount_strut_mount_525i_ 528i_530i_31336752735_1.jpg

[MrMaico]

I think like Mr. Maico said- he cut the top of the dust cap/strut bearing off to allow the strut to be adjusted for camber. This shouldn't damage the shock towers if the car wasn't tracked or abused all the time. It is wrong though.

Actually, what I'm guessing he did was he elongated the strut mount holes in the shock tower to allow the strut mount to be adjusted. If so, he's going to have to fix that somehow. What might work best if he's going to try to fix it with those reinforcement plates would be to get those tack welded in from below otherwise they may want to slide around in the hogged out holes. Unless those plates are a good enough fit that once in place they don't have any room to move side to side. I have a set sitting in the garage, if I ever decide what to do for new shocks I'll install them.:biggrin

EDIT: I just took one of mine and held it over the shock tower and it looks like it might be a tight enough fit that it won't have any room to move once installed.

EDITII: Ya, what Dane said. Looks like we were typing at the same time.

[danewilson77]

Theres a parrot in here somewhere....