Jon's '04 Alpine White Sedan Project

[JupiterBMW]

Ok everyone, this thread is to document the ownership, maintenance, restoration, and modifications of my ZHP. I want to keep somewhat of a 'log' of everything I do to the car, with photos, and I figured this is better than a list on my computer. Plus, I get to share with all of you. The newest round of updates will be in bold.

Anyway, I bought the car on May 31st with about 93,500 miles on it. The car was located in NY, about an hour outside of the city. I paid handsomely for it, $15000, as it was the exact car I wanted, and finding this color combination in a sedan with a manual transmission was pretty tough. Luckily, it has been a great purchase so far and the car seems to be in really great shape. I will first set out to correct a few small issues, and then I'll start customizing the car to my liking.

I have added a bunch of reserved replies to this post so that I can add pics in as I go, as well as more info. But, after that, I'd love to hear your input, ideas, and recommendations.

Thanks for looking!

5/31/12- 93,507- Initial purchase
6/27/12- 95,428- Installed some new tires out back to replace some severely bubbled garbage 'Nexen' tires. Waiting to do the fronts until I get a set of square rims...
7/9/12- Finally got my headlights sorted. I retrofitted the severely burnt ZKWs with E90 parts, but then sold those in favor of OEM AL produced lights. Also installed some amazing Osram Xenarc SVS bulbs.
7/12/12- Installed the OEM homelink module in the headliner, one small feature I could NOT live without!
7/25/12- Picked up a set of new OEM carpeted floormats. Gives the interior a very finished look!
7/25/12- Removed the CDV and also installed a heightened clutch stop pad. A much better feel with both mods!
7/29/12- Navigation finally all fixed. Repaired the antenna, updated software, and picked up a 2012 maps disc. Finally working correctly!
7/30/12- Ordered the full Euro light package from Turner Motorsports, including stealth bulbs
8/19/12- Painted the matte black grills gloss black.
8/31/12- Installed the OEM ///M dead pedal to replace my cracked dead pedal.
11/19/12- 97,846- Installed the Dinan exhaust.
11/24/12- 97,846- Full brake package. StopTech/Centric Cross drilled rotors, StopTech SS braided lines, Axxis MetalMaster pads, and a full flush with ATE Super Blue brake fluid. Also replaced the sensors as well, and the left front caliper due to a snapped off bleeder screw.
11/26/12- 97,988- Shaved '330i' emblem from trunklid. Pics located in post #46.

[JupiterBMW]

The day I first saw the car. Took this pic right before I drove her off.

5909

Home in Florida... The first real shots of the car, inside and out.

5922

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Finally got my AL lights and new bulbs in... Amazing output!

5915

New floormats!

5914

Navigation all sorted out and working beautifully!

5916

Out for an evening cruise... Can't beat Florida weather!

5917

Gloss black kidney grills... Now I need to do the lower grill!

5918

Clear taillights to finish off the full Euro clear light package...

5919

[JupiterBMW]

My new OEM ///M dead pedal. Definitely better than the cracked plastic one I had! Interior is almost done! :)

5924

The first part of my Dinan build, the exhaust. I wish it was a full cat-back system as the quality is beautiful, but I am still extremely thrilled with it. It is very stock sounding most of the time, but has a nice little drone at 1500-2000 RPM and it sounds great when you really get on it! Just enough noise to be more than stock, yet not enough to bother my wife and baby when in the car. :biggrin

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It was a long process, but the brakes are done... It took a while to sort out the ordeal of why I received two LEFT rear rotors, but details on that can be found in a separate thread, HERE (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?8372-Rear-Rotors...-Some-new-information-for-everyone). Once that was sorted out, I installed everything else and I am extremely happy with the results so far. The biggest improvement, the pad wear sensor light is gone from my dashboard! :biggrin I am still in the process of bedding the pads in, but so far they're nice and quiet, low dust, and the black coating on the rotor hats and vents looks GREAT alongside the black paint I did on the calipers. :)

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[JupiterBMW]

#3 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#4 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#5 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#6 Space Reserved...

[danewilson77]

First of all...let me say...the "space reserved" posts don't bother me at all. Just a recommendation: The initial post can always be updated, with a date, and then what mods were added. After then installing said mod, you can bump the thread to let peeps know you added some stuff to the initial post. Again....its just another way of accomplishing the same thing. It's just the second time I've seen it done this way, recently, so I thought I would mention.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[derbo]

alpine white. Definitely keeping up with this thread Jon!

[JupiterBMW]

Dane- Yeah man, I plan to do that. Hopefully the "space reserved" posts don't offend, I just planted them there so I could add all my pictures in the front as well. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 pic/post limit, right? If I'm wrong, lemme know and we can get rid of those posts... But, I do plan to update the initial thread with info, and then pics in the following posts.

Derek... Thanks homie! Updates coming real soon, just busy getting all set to head out to work (at the airport now).

[danewilson77]

Dane- Yeah man, I plan to do that. Hopefully the "space reserved" posts don't offend, I just planted them there so I could add all my pictures in the front as well. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 pic/post limit, right? If I'm wrong, lemme know and we can get rid of those posts... But, I do plan to update the initial thread with info, and then pics in the following posts.

Derek... Thanks homie! Updates coming real soon, just busy getting all set to head out to work (at the airport now).

No problem at all. I do not think we have that pic limit.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[JupiterBMW]

Finally put in some updates. The internet is way too slow right now to upload pics, but they will come soon.

[JupiterBMW]

Pics finally added. Comments and critics welcome! :thumbsup

[derbo]

I love alpine white. I'm so jealous of your color right now. Car is looking fantastic!


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[JupiterBMW]

Thanks Derek!!

[MiniD]

Gosh I love your car.

[johnrando]

Looking good!

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks for the comments guys. I love it too, and I miss it!!!

[johnrando]

You have PM from me in your in box

[JupiterBMW]

Thread updated with the latest additions and a couple of new pics! Every time I install something new, I fall more in love with this car. :wub

[cakM3]

Jon,

I really love your AW/Natural Brown leather interior! I think this is one of the best interiors you can get, save for my Alcantara interior :thumbsup

Your car is looking awesome and I'm loving what you have been doing so far!!! Keep it going my friend :)

[Vas]

Any rust issues when you got it from ny? Just out of curiosity.

But the car looks nice. Keep at it.

[cakM3]

Jon,

If you need a caliper just let me know and I'll ship you my OE calipers. :thumbsup

[JupiterBMW]

Any rust issues when you got it from ny? Just out of curiosity.

But the car looks nice. Keep at it.

Ironic you should ask that today as I literally JUST got done in the garage for the day. I decided to start a gravity bleed, and in doing so, I found the front left bleeder screw corroded into the caliper. I gave it just a little extra force to loosen it and POP... It sheared clear off...

New caliper on order, will be here at 3pm. :facepalm

And Charlie, thanks for the offer buddy, but its all good... If you want to change your mind on that right rear rotor, I am willing to entertain. $100 plus my extra left rear? :biggrin

[cakM3]

:/

After what I have learned today...I think it would be to my advantage to keep my set for the future....:/

What I have learned concerning the use of one part for both rear rotors made me sad today.....:/

[JupiterBMW]

Yeah, no worries Charlie, I was just messing with you. I'm actually over it at this point, and I've installed the 4th rotor. So, my brakes are almost done, and as soon as I can get my wife to help me bleed them, I should be set! Looking forward to getting the girl back on the ground so I can test drive! :biggrin

[wsmeyer]

Looking forward to getting the girl back on the ground so I can test drive! :biggrin

:rofl

[jjcools]

Love the color combo. I never see AW ZHPs and that interior color is one of my favorites besides the cinnamon. Good luck!!

[danewilson77]

I wish I could have found AW. So :drool

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks guys... :wub


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[jayjay_dee]

Car is lookin good and you have good taste in mods Jon...

[Johal E32]

The dinan unit looks great! Too bad my 323 is a single in dual out muffler, not a sexy dual in dual out muffler.

I think you will enjoy the sound, I have the exact same setup, just the dinan rear box, the "sweet spot" for me is around 1500-1700 rpm's or WOT :)

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks. Had a minor setback with brakes, so another day or so before I can get her on the road again, but very excited to get out and hear the exhaust!


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[Vas]

Oh how I wish it was a full catback though. Either way it does look nice.

[JupiterBMW]

Oh how I wish it was a full catback though. Either way it does look nice.

I do too, but you know, I was looking at the stock exhaust, and aside from the cats in the headers it really looks to be pretty good. I can understand how guys say headers is the only way to really see any gains...



Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[Vas]

Same on the vq35 motors. Throw some headers on that vq and get rid of the pre-cats and nice gains are shown.

[JupiterBMW]

Bump for more updates. The brakes are officially done. :) So nice to have them completed as its a mod and maintenance item, all in one...

[328ioc]

Awesome. Did you have to go up to Pierre or did you get it yourself?

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[cakM3]

Bump for more updates. The brakes are officially done. :) So nice to have them completed as its a mod and maintenance item, all in one...

Congrats Jon! Glad to hear your got that done as well as your DINAN exhaust!!!! Now for pics :foottap

[JupiterBMW]

Devlin- I did it myself. Did a manual bleed of the ABS unit... I still think it needs more, but for now, its pretty good..

Charlie... post #2... :rofl

[cakM3]

got it :)

[328ioc]

Devlin- I did it myself. Did a manual bleed of the ABS unit... I still think it needs more, but for now, its pretty good..

Charlie... post #2... :rofl

Word. I bet he wouldn't mind doing it real fast this weekend of you still plan on coming up and if you think it will help more.

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[JupiterBMW]

Yeah I want to, but have to check the schedule. I have a bachelor party this weekend, so it'd have to be a short meet for me prolly. We'll see.


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[Vas]

Any further back rear end shots with the new muffler installed ?

[JupiterBMW]

No, not yet. I need to wash the car, but I will do that today and then I'll post a few shots... I'm gonna debadge too, so perhaps I'll post some updates afterward...

[JupiterBMW]

Ok just got her washed so here are a couple shots of the back end how she looks now.

ZHP + Dinan - badges =

6386

6387

6388


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[alexandre]

:drool

[JupiterBMW]

LOL, thanks for the reply. I kinda feel the same way. :drool

[328ioc]

Hmmm dont have the money for an AW car.....but.....Gibson does make AW guitars.....:-)

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[JupiterBMW]

Hmmm dont have the money for an AW car.....but.....Gibson does make AW guitars.....:-)

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Wut? :dunno

[Johal E32]

Ok just got her washed so here are a couple shots of the back end how she looks now.

ZHP + Dinan - badges =

6386

6387

6388


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

That looks good Jon! Now I need to go polish up my Dinan exhaust unit!

[JupiterBMW]

Thanks... Yeah, I just make sure to wash it with every car wash to keep anything from settling in and pitting the finish... If anything, I'll break out the Mother's and Power Ball on the drill... Works amazing. :)

[328ioc]

Wut? :dunno

I was complimenting your car in a roundabout way.

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[derbo]

Looking great. still jealous of your alpine white. :)

[JupiterBMW]

Hehe, thanks Derek... :) Down here in South Florida, Alpine White is freaking EVERYWHERE... Of course, not many modded/clean E46s around anymore, so I still feel special, I mean not special... :rofl

[derbo]

Black/Silver is everywhere here :[

How are you liking that Dinan Exhaust? My cousin just got the Dinan setup. Exhaust, Software Intake, Strut bar.

[JupiterBMW]

So far I really like it. It's gotten a little louder which is nice. :) just enough to remind me it's there.


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty

[derbo]

So far I really like it. It's gotten a little louder which is nice. :) just enough to remind me it's there.


Sent from my hybrid iPhone 4/4S... :shifty


Dinan exhaust felt a little quiet but thats great for freeway driving if you need to talk to your passengers. I like the noise it makes at WOT. I wish it was a bit louder..

[JupiterBMW]

Well, as you all know, this car fell short of the project goals I had for her. A spin on a freeway onramp left her crippled, which eventually led to her being determined totalled, and unrepairable. The central structure of the car was bent as the impact force transferred through the left rear suspension into the unibody.

Read here for the full story. http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?8439-Awfulness-inside...

Mods, please close this thread... Next car will bring a new build thread!

[danewilson77]

Closed at user request.....though we don't always close threads.