New member from Vancouver, Canada

[Stewbie]

Hi All,

This summer I fulfilled a long held desire to own a sports car and bought a 2004 330I ZHP in Imola Red (6 speed). I wasn't looking for a ZHP car (just a manual E46), but I sure am glad I found it. After a lifetime of boring cars, its great to own a car that I care about and enjoy looking after.

The day after I brought it home, I took it to the autocross, but I couldn't race that day because registration closed at 9:00pm the night before and I didn't get back from picking the car up until 9:15pm. :-( I did make it to the next 2 events though. :-)

We have a great autocross facility here (http://goo.gl/maps/MxkLx), a 500' by 1,000' paved pad with no curbs or light poles to hit. Mercedes was using the facility for driver training that week, hence the SLS in the background:

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh619/Stewbie2000/039f9f8a.jpg

Since acquiring my car, I've adjusted the handbrake, refinished my headlight lenses and replaced my DISA with German Auto Solution's DISA Gold Valve. I posted DIY's for both on a regional board and will upload them here. VANOS repair and Shark injecting are on my list of things to do in 2013.

Anyway, pleased to make everyone's acquittance and look forward to chatting with you all.

Stewart

[JupiterBMW]

Welcome to the board Stewart, its great to have you here! The car looks very clean. Definitely post more pics!

[Avetiso]

Welcome to the forum! Very beautiful car. Imolaaaaaaaa..:drool

[Torxuvin]

Welcome. Good to have another clean imola around. Congrats. :)

[Vas]

Your picture makes me want to go wash my imola. Screw winter

BTW welcome

[Hermes]

Welcome Stewart. I think you will soon be making friends with Trevor as he lives up your way

[johnrando]

Welcome Stewart. Great looking zhp!

[imola red zhp]

Welcome to the family, nice color choice.....:)

sent from Dennis' Personal Electronic Device

[danewilson77]

Welcome

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Welcome.

[Stewbie]

Thanks everyone.

I've actually met Trevor (rovert) already through a regional board, BCBimmers.

Here's my favourite "newborn" picture of my car.

http://i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh619/Stewbie2000/SDC10401-ZHP-small_zpsd0853210.jpg

The previous owner had a square set-up on the car. Rear rubber is basically done and I was considering reverting back to a staggered set-up when I replace the rears. But then I drove a friends 320i with a staggered set-up and found the tramlining (http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=47) was really bad. I may stick with a square set-up when I put summer rubber back on the car. The car is currently in winter mode with 225/45R17's all around. I'm curious what everyone's experience is with their ZHP on tramlining and square versus staggered set-ups.

[johnrando]

I really think that's more about the tires than square vs. staggered. Someone with more expertise could chime in but that's what I've always read. BTW, if you do end up with an extra 18" 8.5 style 135, OEM wheel, let me know as I'm in the market for a good one.

[alexandre]

Welcome! Is your car an american ZHP or a canadian ZAM ? You just increased canadian member ratio by like 25% lol. We're 3-4 on the forum.

[Stewbie]

Welcome! Is your car an american ZHP or a canadian ZAM ? You just increased canadian member ratio by like 25% lol. We're 3-4 on the forum.

It's an american ZHP. It started life in Maryland, moved to California, then went to a dealer in Minnesota who sold it to the previous owner. The PO imported the car into Canada back in 2010.

[Rovert]

The funny thing I can't remember your face....LOL. Or are you the tall guy who I spoke with at a BC Bimmers meet about wanting to get a ZHP? LOL......oh just bare with me. I'm still working on usernames and names. I'm find with faces though!

On the tramlining issue, I've had it happen on both staggered and squared setups. Sometimes it's a lot less...sometimes more. I don't have it much with my current 19" staggered Conti DW tires. I did make sure the vehicle was aligned after getting those tires installed with new poly-E FCAB's. I prefer bigger rears in unpredictable public streets. I can get on the brakes harder than squared while cornering if I have to. I can stay on the throttle longer in a corner before the rears want to lose traction. I've set my suspension up so I have relatively neutral handling still....but with added protection when extreme evasive action is needed. I prefer square in more predictable environments like the track. :)

[Stewbie]

The funny thing I can't remember your face....LOL. Or are you the tall guy who I spoke with at a BC Bimmers meet about wanting to get a ZHP? LOL......oh just bare with me. I'm still working on usernames and names. I'm find with faces though!

We traded messages on the board. I haven't made it out to a BC Bimmers meet yet. My alarm goes off too early on Friday morning for me to make it from the Tri-cities to whatever distant location has been selected that particular week for the Thursday night meet up. :-)

[Rovert]

Oh that's why...yeah I remember the PM's. :)

[static667]

Welcome to the Mafia!

Sent from my yet to be hacked GS3.