Redrider2002
02-06-2013, 09:34 PM
Hi Everyone!
For the better part of 15 years, my clients would occasionally ask what my favorite BMW was. "Given the choice," they asked, "which car would you retire with...what is the best value and all around best BMW you ever delivered?"
That is a great question, but first, some perspective. I was a BMW Client Advisor for 15 years. During my career, I can comfortably say that I drove every model that BMW imported during those years. We're not referring to the cursory run around the block, typical in most car stores. Our management team encouraged us to take the new models home for the night. They felt that the extended drives were necessary to keep our product knowledge sharp. I was always ready to comply. The parade of M cars, roadsters and every cool car BMW built kept the neighbors wondering just what I did for a living.
Then came the ZHP.
I recall the first demonstrator 2003 ZHP we ordered. That Imola Red, manual car was in my driveway the night after it was PDI'd. The odometer showed 20 miles. Although my neighbors were used to seeing new BMWs at my place by now, the ZHP was different. It not only looked cool, it sounded awesome and was priced, what's this, affordably? Three months later I volunteered to deliver a Titanium Silver ZHP, 6MT to a friend in Santa Monica. After nearly 1100 miles, I was seriously hooked. I discovered that triple digits were well within the recommended break-in parameters.
Retirement is a long way down the road and so are any thoughts of a "last BMW". However, now that Center Employee Lease deals are in the rear view mirror, I was forced to ponder my first BMW purchase in a decade and a half. The choice of the ZHP was clear. I needed a car by the end of December and the west coast wasn't yielding many prospects. Autotrader, BMWCCA classified and ZHP Registry became my go-to sites for ZHP leads. After dismissing several potential prospects who's owner's subscribed to the, "if not for the deferred maintenance, there'd be none at all" program, I found one in Maryland. The price was reasonable for a car that had been a CPO, well maintained and owned by a CCA member, who just purchased a E90 M3. Besides, it was Imola Red, my first color choice and a relatively low 64,000 miles. A bit of calling in favors from BMW friends on the right coast, some cross country freight and the car shows up at the local Walmart parking lot. The driver's english was as limited as his patience, so I signed for the car under the parking lot lights and drove it home in the rain.
Thanks to Marcus for allowing me to join ZHP Mafia. The Mafia is responsible for helping me to get the car sorted. Special thanks to Jon (JupiterBMW) for walking me through the ZKW to AL bi-xenon headlight swap. The detailed pics, video and exhaustive editorial made the project relatively easy.
As I wait patiently for Turner Motorsports to fill my order for clear lens and brake lights, I reflect that I now have the BMW I've always wanted. The ZHP may not be the car I take into retirement, but I didn't want to wait that long to finally own one.
Happy to be here, pics to follow.
Scott
For the better part of 15 years, my clients would occasionally ask what my favorite BMW was. "Given the choice," they asked, "which car would you retire with...what is the best value and all around best BMW you ever delivered?"
That is a great question, but first, some perspective. I was a BMW Client Advisor for 15 years. During my career, I can comfortably say that I drove every model that BMW imported during those years. We're not referring to the cursory run around the block, typical in most car stores. Our management team encouraged us to take the new models home for the night. They felt that the extended drives were necessary to keep our product knowledge sharp. I was always ready to comply. The parade of M cars, roadsters and every cool car BMW built kept the neighbors wondering just what I did for a living.
Then came the ZHP.
I recall the first demonstrator 2003 ZHP we ordered. That Imola Red, manual car was in my driveway the night after it was PDI'd. The odometer showed 20 miles. Although my neighbors were used to seeing new BMWs at my place by now, the ZHP was different. It not only looked cool, it sounded awesome and was priced, what's this, affordably? Three months later I volunteered to deliver a Titanium Silver ZHP, 6MT to a friend in Santa Monica. After nearly 1100 miles, I was seriously hooked. I discovered that triple digits were well within the recommended break-in parameters.
Retirement is a long way down the road and so are any thoughts of a "last BMW". However, now that Center Employee Lease deals are in the rear view mirror, I was forced to ponder my first BMW purchase in a decade and a half. The choice of the ZHP was clear. I needed a car by the end of December and the west coast wasn't yielding many prospects. Autotrader, BMWCCA classified and ZHP Registry became my go-to sites for ZHP leads. After dismissing several potential prospects who's owner's subscribed to the, "if not for the deferred maintenance, there'd be none at all" program, I found one in Maryland. The price was reasonable for a car that had been a CPO, well maintained and owned by a CCA member, who just purchased a E90 M3. Besides, it was Imola Red, my first color choice and a relatively low 64,000 miles. A bit of calling in favors from BMW friends on the right coast, some cross country freight and the car shows up at the local Walmart parking lot. The driver's english was as limited as his patience, so I signed for the car under the parking lot lights and drove it home in the rain.
Thanks to Marcus for allowing me to join ZHP Mafia. The Mafia is responsible for helping me to get the car sorted. Special thanks to Jon (JupiterBMW) for walking me through the ZKW to AL bi-xenon headlight swap. The detailed pics, video and exhaustive editorial made the project relatively easy.
As I wait patiently for Turner Motorsports to fill my order for clear lens and brake lights, I reflect that I now have the BMW I've always wanted. The ZHP may not be the car I take into retirement, but I didn't want to wait that long to finally own one.
Happy to be here, pics to follow.
Scott