ZHP Daily Driver

[Beau B]

I have been waiting to do a project thread until I had some time to clean the car and take some pictures but figured I will just update it later with pictures. Anyways, I just purchased my black over tan ZHP in the beginning of June. I purchased it for $9000 knowing there would be a lot of items that needed to be repaired/updated. Here is the long list of items that need to be addressed on the car:

Driver's side headlight does not work
Coolent system needs to be overhauled
Steering Wheel needs recovered
A, B, C, Pilers need recovered
Needs a good detail (entire interior out of the car, and a good wash/wax)
Driver's Window switches
Need to find 17inch wheels for snow tires
Fix the Sun Shade
Front Windsheild Cowl
Misc. rubber gaskets (ie. around headlights etc.)
Replace all fluids


Most of these items I plan on waiting the 1.5 months until I get back home to Ohio, but am debating on whether to do the coolent overhaul now or wait.

I got started on these items this weekend and pulled the headlight out and replaced the ballast and ignitor as well as the bulbs. So one thing done with a lot more to do.. I am hoping to get pictures up within the week.

Beau

[WOLFN8TR]

Nice! My ZHP is a Daily Driver also, love it.


Bayerische-Motoren-Werke

[johnrando]

Looking forward to pics. Most people would say do the cooling now, as you know it's the weakest link.

[danewilson77]

Looking forward to pics. Most people would say do the cooling now, as you know it's the weakest link.

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af278/nicee46/Funny/Weakestcast.jpg

[BimmerWill]

^ before i overhauled mine I was doing this every time i took a decent drive in it :begging

[Beau B]

^ before i overhauled mine I was doing this every time i took a decent drive in it :begging

This is exactly what I am doing every day here in Texas everyday I am driving it.

It is just a pain in the butt with me being away from home and all my tools etc. I think that I will just bite the bullet and go to the auto shop on base and spend the weekend on base and get it done.

I am looking at the ECS Cooling Maintenence Level 3, does anything think that the EMP Stewart water pump is really worth it for a soon to be Ohio car that will see some random track days, but will mostly be on a DD status?

Beau

[cakM3]

I think if you are going to do any track time it would be good to spend the extra cash and get the best components for your cooling system but that's me thinking.

I use my ZHP for daily driving and long-distance traveling/cruising, but then I switch out both bimmers for long-distance driving/cruising duties.

There are some members who have seen this :) The ///M gets the occasional outing, but I prefer to drive the ZHP daily because I don't get harassed too much compared to driving my ///M and the feel is much softer (better for everyday driving IMHO). More or less, I tend to get more stares because of the Imola and everything else I have going on with it... besides, it's fun to drive :biggrin

TT + iPad

[Beau B]

Here are some quick pictures from my cell.. don't mind the dirty car.. You can also see where the tint on the back drivers side window needs replaced and the steering wheel needs recovered... anyways.. she is a work in progress...

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0187.jpg
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0188.jpg
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0189.jpg
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0192.jpg
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0194.jpg
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0190.jpg

[cakM3]

Is that Natural Brown I see inside??? If so I know someone who will get excited seeing it ;)

Def a great project car :thumbsup

Be sure to make a project thread if you haven't done so already :)

[Beau B]

It is tan/brown interior I will try and take some more pictures in the next few days. The leather needs to be conditioned very badly and the entire interior is filthy! I was planning on taking the entire interior out to clean and leatherique it once I am back in Ohio. Also that way I feel a little more comfortable with my 6 month old riding in the car.

I will just keep updating this thread as I finish each task.

[derbo]

doesnt look too bad! looks like you will be done with the little stuff in no time!

[Beau B]

Well finally had time to get to some of the items on the long list for this car. I managed to pick up a M3 strut bar off ebay for $100 and got a recovered wheel from Coby Wheels.

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0200.jpg

When I went to install the strut bar it fits but there is not enough threads on to screw it down and I could not even get the inner (closest to the engine) most nut to fit on the bar.. is there something I am missing? Do I need different nuts?

I thought the these raised pieces were for earlier body styles that the strut housing where not flat?

http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0202.jpg

As for the steering wheel it took me right about an hour. The longest part was trying to get the airbag off, and finding the tools I need from the auto hobby shop on base. You never really appreciate having your own tools until you dont have them to use when you need them... Anyways the wheel feels and looks a million times better, the one down side is that the rest of my interior now looks worse than it did before..

Before
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0192.jpg
After
http://www.r3vlimited.com/gallery/files/8/2/4/5/imag0206.jpg


Needless to say I hope the issue with the strut bar was just me being dumb and that it is not the wrong bar.. Thanks for the help.

Beau

[BimmerWill]

As far as the strut bar is concerned have you checked to see if the mounts have mushroomed? From what I have heard its fairly common to happen especially if you have gone with a stiffer suspension setup then stock..Seems like that would cause things to not mount up correctly. Or possibly the M3 strut mounts are set up differently...I'm not sure but those would be my guesses im sure someone here is more knowledgeable. Wheel re-wrap looks awesome btw :)

[JupiterBMW]

Love the wheel rewrap... Good luck with the strut bar and let us know how it feels when you get it on.

[Beau B]

I figured the strut bar issue out.. I need different nuts.. I need part number 51717895241 just in case anyone else needs to know for future reference. Also the little black caps that go over the nuts are 51717896829

[Beau B]

Well after seeing the price of the strut tower nuts from ECS and BMW ($9 a piece) I am on the hunt for some.. if anyone knows someone that might have them can you let me know, thanks..

Beau

[danewilson77]

Well after seeing the price of the strut tower nuts from ECS and BMW ($9 a piece) I am on the hunt for some.. if anyone knows someone that might have them can you let me know, thanks..

Beau

Why do you need them? How many?

[328ioc]

Hey Beau,

The seller you got the strut bar from was he only selling the one of did he have multiple?

I would love to get one and that's seems like a great price.

Good luck with the fitment too. Please post some pics when you get it on.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[Beau B]

The nuts for the strut towers on the car are the larger ones and do not fit into the recessed holes of the strut plates and there is not enough threads to have a solid connection. The ones that I need look like this..

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/51717895241/ES129238/

As you can the nut is deeper than what you can see from the top, and it is not as wide as what is on the car now.

[danewilson77]

Yeah...I don't have those, though I am intrigued. You think those will go through the strut bar holes and mate with strut mount bolts?

Use lock-tite.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Beau B]

That is what they are suppose to do, and they come with lock-tite on the nuts from the factory.. here is the link that goes more into detail that I found on e46fanatics.com

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=927849

Beau

[danewilson77]

That is what they are suppose to do, and they come with lock-tite on the nuts from the factory.. here is the link that goes more into detail that I found on e46fanatics.com

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=927849

Beau

OK....I'm going to grab that link for our stickied DIY thread so we have it ear marked. This has come up a few times.

[Beau B]

That is interesting that you did not have this same problem, does your strut bar look different?

Beau

[danewilson77]

That is interesting that you did not have this same problem, does your strut bar look different?

Beau

Nope. Mine was perfectly flush (full thread engagement). And I have the TMS reinforcement plates installed as well.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Beau B]

That is interesting there must be two different part number for the M3 strut bar.. I am guessing I have an earlier one and you more than likely have an newer version..

[danewilson77]

That is interesting there must be two different part number for the M3 strut bar.. I am guessing I have an earlier one and you more than likely have an newer version..

I don't have ///M3 strut bar.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Beau B]

I should of read your signature better... :facepalm

[derbo]

Those nuts aren't cheap. 6 strut mount nuts and the 4 regular nuts to mount the bar onto the tower mounts.

See how much getbmwparts.com sells it for. I wouldn't bother with the black caps since they are like $5 a piece lol


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[Beau B]

Went to the auto shop today to work on my cooling system and remove the satellite radio wires hanging next to my radio.. Anyways the wires were easily removed but when they had Best Buy do the install (I have the receipt) they basically mounted a portable charger and spliced in the wires under the dash, and taped everything up..

I then proceeded to start on the cooling system overhaul, now that the engine was somewhat cooled down. One reason that I really enjoy working on my own car instead of taking it places is I take the extra time to clean everything, where as when you take it to a shop they seem to want to get the car in and out asap (not all shops, but most). Anyways All of my undertrays were covered in powersteering fluid from when the previous owner had the power steering lines changed a few months ago. I think the car lost close to 5 pounds after i cleaned out the oil and road grim... anyways..

I worked around 4 hours today, and got everything taken apart and most things put back on except for the radiator.. I tried to replace all the belt tensioners, but ECS sent the wrong part for the main tensioner.. :facepalm anyways on to the pictures...

Cleaned all the plastics, airbox etc..
http://i.imgur.com/7L3By.jpg
Cleaned front subframe brace, it is shiny again :roundel
http://i.imgur.com/gLBN7.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/e0HzA.jpg
This can't be the original water pump can it? I could not find anything in the history saying it has been changed.. anyways odo reads 136,XXX
http://i.imgur.com/E1vL2.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/2RN4i.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/WQ2qk.jpg

[Beau B]

Does anyone know what the thread size and pitch is for the waterpump? I would like to pick up a cap for it..

Beau

[danewilson77]

Does anyone know what the thread size and pitch is for the waterpump? I would like to pick up a cap for it..

Beau

Just buy the cap for it bro?

http://www.understeer.com/onlinestore-engine.shtml

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Beau B]

Awesome thanks! I knew I saw that somewhere, just could not remember where...

[Beau B]

Finished the cooling system overhaul, nothing too crazy to report in reference to this, however I decided that I had some extra time and would try blacking out my kidney grills. So I am currently waiting for the 4th coat of Plasti-dip to dry, pictures will come tonight after they are back on the car.

Beau

[Beau B]

Finished the grills up, I am happy with the way they came out. Although I am not very confident that they will hold up for very long. I think I may have to spring for the real blacked out grills. I have also realized that I need to take care of my lower grill as well, not that it stands out..

http://i.imgur.com/ZowHj.jpg

[Beau B]

Been a while since I updated, but now back in Ohio and finally have an internet connection

Maintenance Update:

Replaced the crankcase pressure regulator valve and assoc hoses

Replaced a cracked oil filter housing and gasket

Next will be the O2 sensors and intake boot.

[WOLFN8TR]

Nice! The OFHG is a fun job.

What part of Ohio are you in? Originally from Youngstown.

[danewilson77]

Nice! The OFHG is a fun job.

What part of Ohio are you in? Originally from Youngstown.

I'm getting ready to do this soon.

[Hornung418]

+1 loved every minute of it! Such a rewarding task when you compare DIY vs. Dealer/ Indy cost.

[danewilson77]

Zactly. Looks fairly straight forward. I do not plan on draining oil or removing upper coolant hose. I only plan to remove intake, 2 bolts on ps reservoir, and alternator.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[ryankokesh]

Is this something you're doing preventatively?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hornung418]

Only added advice would be to unscrew the OFH cap to drain the housing into the pan. Makes for a less messy removal :)

[Hornung418]

Is this something you're doing preventatively?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Chances are it's flattened and needs replacing.

[WOLFN8TR]

Zactly. Looks fairly straight forward. I do not plan on draining oil or removing upper coolant hose. I only plan to remove intake, 2 bolts on ps reservoir, and alternator.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

Thats what I did.

Delaer wanted $985 to do mine, cost me $7 and a few hours of time.

Ryan- I had oil everywhere! All over the engine, and all the way back to the converter.

[Hornung418]

Delaer wanted $985 to do mine
WTF?! Are you serious? That's totally ridiculous.

[nike001]

Hmm - Maybe i'll try to do this at SIGfest in the spring..

[danewilson77]

Thats what I did.

Ryan- I had oil everywhere! All over the engine, and all the way back to the converter.


So...is not draining a mistake?

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[alexandre]

I didn't need to drain... I think he's talking about the leak. When I did mine there was oil everywhere too.

[danewilson77]

Ahhh...got it. Yeah....I never had to add oil between oil changes and noticed last week, I was a quart low. Inspected waffle area on black, and sure as shit (however sure that is) there's oil there.:(. I've had the gasket since last SIGFest, because I new it was in the cards someday.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Beau B]

Nice! The OFHG is a fun job.

What part of Ohio are you in? Originally from Youngstown.

I am originally from Chagrin Falls, just outside of Cleveland.. and now down in Marysville just west of Columbus (20min)..

I had a leak coming from the oil filter housing, I thought it was just the gasket.. however when I went to check it.. there was a crack so the repair went from $6 or so dollars to quite a bit more very quickly. fyi if you order a new oil filter housing from BMW they come with a new oil filter and gasket..

Beau

[Beau B]

Some new pictures.. still have not gotten around peforming to a good buff and polish yet to remove the swirls from the previous owner..

http://i.imgur.com/pWpB9l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/ZGPo5l.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/gKrlal.jpg

[Beau B]

I through some Style 40 M Roadster wheels on just to see what it would look like.. needless to say the more details are in the thread below..

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?7444-M-Roadster-Wheels-on-ZHP

Beau