As Dane would say, my Imolarot itches...

[az3579]

Yes it does...

That tiny little text under the gorgeous pic of his red 4-door is what led me here. My name is Botond and I'm from Bridgeport, CT. I'm new to the E46 world in general, migrating from a wicked fast S50-swapped E30. It was time to move on to a proper daily driver/track rat (dual-purpose), and do not regret it for a second.

10k miles and 3 months later, I'm still tickled every time I get in the car. My Imolarot itches; I think I'm going to go and scratch it now.



http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E46%20330i%20ZHP/Exterior/2010-11-13_16-25-49_793.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E46%20330i%20ZHP/Exterior/2010-11-13_16-26-01_273.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E46%20330i%20ZHP/Exterior/2010-11-13_16-26-18_45.jpg

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E46%20330i%20ZHP/Exterior/2010-10-22_11-26-22_634.jpg


Front license plate has been removed and blanking strip in place as it sits now. Haven't had any chances to take pics during the day (dark when I go to work and dark when I get out!). Perhaps one day someone with a proper camera will offer to snap some, as I only have a crappy Droid-X camera to take pics with...

[zhp43867]

Nice! The wheels look good too, makes the car more aggressive.

[kayger12]

B E A utiful ride. Welcome to the mafia!

[Alphatek45]

Very Nice man. If you don't mind me asking, What nationality is "Botond" ? Not trying to be nosey, just never heard that name before.

[az3579]

Nice! The wheels look good too, makes the car more aggressive.


I was thinking along of the lines of "special editions", such as how new M3's (on 18" wheels) have a darker color to them, or like how hot hatches in Europe have slightly darker wheels to signal a more special model. I think the slightly darker silver wheels are the perfect "special edition" touch to what is a very special car.


Very Nice man. If you don't mind me asking, What nationality is "Botond" ? Not trying to be nosey, just never heard that name before.

Hungarian. And yes, fluently, before you ask.
The two most common questions I get asked are: What nationality is that, and do you speak Hungarian?
lol

[Alphatek45]

lol, good stuff. Thanks...

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Love the car, Az.

[onepercent]

I was thinking along of the lines of "special editions", such as how new M3's (on 18" wheels) have a darker color to them, or like how hot hatches in Europe have slightly darker wheels to signal a more special model. I think the slightly darker silver wheels are the perfect "special edition" touch to what is a very special car.



Along similar lines, since about 2005 or so Audi has offered the Titanium Package here in the US with darker wheels and maybe a few other mods.

Nice car! I think there may be an Imola Syndicate within the ZHP Mafia.

[pyreguy]

Man that car is sexy! I love how you did the wheels! I have a question.... When you refinished them, were you able to take out and reinstall the ///M logo without damaging it or did you just replace it. If you replaced them, where did you get the replacements? That is the only think I was worried about when I was planning to do something similar to mine.

And what's your suspension setup? Its looks completely badass sitting like that!

[danewilson77]

AZ's car is sooo smexy

[az3579]

Love the car, Az.

Me too. ;)


Nice car! I think there may be an Imola Syndicate within the ZHP Mafia.

It's kind of funny; I got Imola because I thought it was a rare color. Turns out, a large portion of the ZHPs I see pics of are Imola. Now I want Alpine; I very rarely see those. lol



Nah, Imola all the way. :cool:


When you refinished them, were you able to take out and reinstall the ///M logo without damaging it or did you just replace it. If you replaced them, where did you get the replacements?

I believe the guy took them off and put them back on. I don't see why it would be such a big deal to just get new stickers; they'd at least look fresh! I'm sure they're cheap, too.



And what's your suspension setup? Its looks completely badass sitting like that!

H&R Race springs, I think. It was like that when I bought it, and I'm definitely keeping it as-is.


AZ's car is sooo smexy

Thanks all for the comments. I have a couple of things planned in the future that I think would look absolutely badass:
* Have only inside angel eyes light up (around high beams)
* Club sport splitters
* Motorsport flag on front left corner of hood in black
* FIX THE MIRRORS! Whoever put them on didn't make them work. They don't adjust. :(
* Toying with the idea of yellow headlight Lamin-x covers. Not sure yet.
* Possibly 35% tint. Maybe.

[gr330zhp]

Looks awesome!

One of your pics was my background for a while..

Pics of the E30 please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[az3579]

The E30 was in rough shape externally, and had some growing problems mechanically. Was still reliable though, and definitely not swap related. Most of these pics are before the euro bumper swap. The euro bumpers didn't quite fit right because the body was tweaked front and back, but still looked LEAGUES better than those hideous diving boards!



http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/2010-05-19175611.jpg

In winter beater mode:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/IMG00019-20100131-1156.jpg

And doing what it loved doing:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/3736953405_d7f03382e8_o.jpg



Unfotunately I didn't upload many pictures onto Photobucket, so this is the only shot I have of the engine... lol

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Engine/2010-07-31180633.jpg

[gr330zhp]

The E30 was in rough shape externally, and had some growing problems mechanically. Was still reliable though, and definitely not swap related. Most of these pics are before the euro bumper swap. The euro bumpers didn't quite fit right because the body was tweaked front and back, but still looked LEAGUES better than those hideous diving boards!



http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/2010-05-19175611.jpg

In winter beater mode:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/IMG00019-20100131-1156.jpg

And doing what it loved doing:

http://i200.photobucket.com/albums/aa192/az3579/Automotive/BMW%20E30%20325e%20S50/Exterior/3736953405_d7f03382e8_o.jpg

Awww man!!! Perfection!!!

I want an E30 sooo bad!!! I am thinking M30 swap though :p

[az3579]

I did S50 because it was much newer technology, put out great power for a car that weighs 2780 lbs., and got great fuel economy once I changed that blasted O2 sensor. I averaged a good 24mpg mixed city/hwy with that car, including all the times I went out to a "fun" drive!

[gr330zhp]

I did S50 because it was much newer technology, put out great power for a car that weighs 2780 lbs., and got great fuel economy once I changed that blasted O2 sensor. I averaged a good 24mpg mixed city/hwy with that car, including all the times I went out to a "fun" drive!

Sooo cool!!

Yeah an S50/52 would be the best but probably more expensive right??

Eh if you do it do it...S54 it is :p

Serious though....an E30 FTW!

[mimalmo]

Welcome. Glad to see you made your way over here.

[az3579]

Sooo cool!!

Yeah an S50/52 would be the best but probably more expensive right??

Eh if you do it do it...S54 it is :p

Serious though....an E30 FTW!

Prices for S50/52 engines are getting lower, as the mileages certainly aren't getting lower!
S54 in the E30 is overkill, in my opinion. Plus, that would be a ridiculous amount of money compared to how much I spent on my swap. When all was said and done, including parts and labor, I must have spent a good $5-6 on the swap at a minimum! Imagine how much an S54 swap would be. That isn't quite as straightforward as a swap as the 50/52...

I agree with E30 FTW though. :D


Welcome. Glad to see you made your way over here.

Absolutely! How could I miss out on all things ZHP?

[gr330zhp]

Prices for S50/52 engines are getting lower, as the mileages certainly aren't getting lower!
S54 in the E30 is overkill, in my opinion. Plus, that would be a ridiculous amount of money compared to how much I spent on my swap. When all was said and done, including parts and labor, I must have spent a good $5-6 on the swap at a minimum! Imagine how much an S54 swap would be. That isn't quite as straightforward as a swap as the 50/52...

I agree with E30 FTW though. :D


Yeah I was just messin'. S50/52 is the best swap! Wow thats not a lot of money that you spent on doing it all!

[az3579]

My bank account doesn't quite agree with that statement. lol


It sure as hell was fun running with a pack of Ferrari's on I-84 one day though! That F355 couldn't shake it...

[gr330zhp]

My bank account doesn't quite agree with that statement. lol


It sure as hell was fun running with a pack of Ferrari's on I-84 one day though! That F355 couldn't shake it...



I believe it! :)

[Washburn]

Along similar lines, since about 2005 or so Audi has offered the Titanium Package here in the US with darker wheels and maybe a few other mods. .

Right now I have naturally dark special edition wheels due to huge amounts of brake dust :(

[zhpnsnv]

Love the yellow fogs - is it film or lens?

[az3579]

Love the yellow fogs - is it film or lens?

Film. I'm sure it has saved my fogs countless times as the front of my car is road-rashed beyond all hell.

[Washburn]

az3579:
Interesting - Can one get clear film, just to protect the fogs of my coupe?
Where does one find this product? Link?
Thanks IA.

[pyreguy]

I used lamin-x and got them directly from their site. $14ish. Mine are yellow, but they make clear and a variety of other tints.
http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00010.jpg

az3579, did you use lamin-x? I'm wondering how they fit for you.

[az3579]

az3579:
Interesting - Can one get clear film, just to protect the fogs of my coupe?
Where does one find this product? Link?
Thanks IA.

Yes, they are available in clear. Clear, smoked, yellow, blue, and probably some others that I'm missing, are available colors.
I bookmarked a site where I was going to buy some for my E30, but then I sold it and never got around to it.
The film on my fogs was already there when I bought the car.

The site I bookmarked is: http://www.xpel.com/
Keep in mind, I've never ordered from them before.


I used lamin-x and got them directly from their site. $14ish. Mine are yellow, but they make clear and a variety of other tints.

az3579, did you use lamin-x? I'm wondering how they fit for you.

I do not know where the PO got them, but they fit fine. You can still see that the film doesn't cover 100% of the area, more like 98%. There is still a very fine line around the film that is exposed, but it's not bad at all. If I had to do it again, I would do yellow again; it looks amazing when the fogs are turned on! HIDs definitely help in that area as well, because each fog has its own ballast...
The previous owner definitely did well with my car, I have to admit.

[pyreguy]

Yeah mine has that same fitment. You can't tell unless you look really close...

[Washburn]

Thanks guys - will look into those. I need to protect only, IDK how i feel about changing the OEM look of my ZHP :)
Oh and were they pre-cut?

any of you have good pics with those yellow fogs on?

[pyreguy]

http://i986.photobucket.com/albums/ae342/pyreguy/ZHP/DSC00004.jpg

They were precut, but with tabs to help with positioning that had to be trimmed off

[Washburn]

Ah. Perfect for a lazy ass like me.
Thanks!
wonder how easily they come off, if needed...

[pyreguy]

it should be just a matter of pulling them off.

[az3579]

You'd definitely pull them off with your Alpine coupe. Yellow on white is quite nice. :)
I'll snap some on photos tonight (if I remember to) at dusk to show you how cool they look when they light up the road right in front of you. :)