New Member From Canada

[DublDee]

Hi,
My name is Darren, and my wife Trina and I have purchased a very nice 2004 330CI with the M Performance package. It has the SMG 6 speed, and we absolutely love this car. It is the first BMW either one of us has ever owned, and after driving it and researching it, I think our first BMW experience will be a good one. I browsed many BMW sites, and found more answers and learned more about my car, from simply browsing the threads on this community, which is why I wanted to join it. Anyway, I hope to learn whatever I can from you all, and join in on as many conversations as I can. Thanks for having me. :biggrin

[johnrando]

Welcome. Great looking car. Jet Black? I see it has a few mods already - M pedals, M door sills, Sport wheel, c/f roundels. Nice touches. Any more mod plans? BTW, is this a ZAM or a ZHP? A ZAM is (more or less) a Canadian version of the ZHP.

[DublDee]

It's actually a real dark blue, from what I've researched, I believe it is Orient Blue Metallic. Again from what I have researched I am led to believe it is a ZAM. The previous owner bought this car brand new, and said that the Canadian models with the M Performance package came from the factory with the M pedals, door sills, Wheel and Carbon Fibre accents. Not sure if this in fact true, but any help on that answer would be greatly appreciated. He also said the SMG transmission was a very rare option on these cars...Is that also true? Thanks for compliments on the car, I really love it.

[Avetiso]

Welcome.

[johnrando]

SMG is very rare. In fact, ZHPs did not have that option, so I'm guessing there aren't many ZAMs either. Not a lot of SMGs in the US either for that matter. So, those mods I mentioned are not standard on ZHPs, but maybe ZAMs as you said, so that's interesting. There is a FAQ section on here about the ZHP that talks about the ZAM, so that may answer some of your questions. Also, I think Meric on our site has a ZAM too, so he might be able to add something.

[cakM3]

Welcome Darren! Very nice to see a non-M SMG :thumbsup So rare, for sure....

[JupiterBMW]

Great looking car, welcome to the forum... Glad to see a beautiful Orient Blue car... and SMG, VERY very rare....

[wsmeyer]

Welcome!

That is a nice looking ride. There are a few places online that will give you your "build sheet" from your vin. It will give you more insight into the packages and options that came on your car from the factory. That tranny is what people call the "SSG" Hermes knows more about it but one of the features is the paddles that can each do up and down

[Hermes]

Welcome Darren, your car does in fact appear to be a M-Performance (ZAM) car. If its ok with you could you please post the last 7 digits of your VIN? That will allow us to give you some better info.

Just to go over a few things:

SSG2 (generally referred to as SMG in non-M's despite being two completely different gearboxes) is an extremely rare option.

The pedals are not a factory option or a factory part at all, but the door sills may very well be (not sure what exactly came on ZAM cars). The factory aluminum pedals look different.

All the CF badging was put on by the previous owner, they are readily available aftermarket parts. The only 'BMW' to ever have a factory provided non-blue and white roundel were the post-war EMW's (Soviet cars built at the occupied Eisenach plant). Eisenacher Motoren Werke had red replacing the blue in the roundel.

and one last thing since John mentioned it... AFAIK Meric has a Canadian M-Sport, not M-Performance model. I don't think we actually have any members with a real ZAM yet, you might be the first.

Anyways, beautiful car and hope you enjoy it on this forum.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Welcome.

There is at least one member on the board who has a ZAM. Can't remember who, though. Not an active member.

[M0nk3y]

Welcome!

Car looks gorgeous.

[GMATT]

Welcome! Beautiful car, enjoy the "ride"

Gary

[danewilson77]

Welcome.

Sent from the HTC DNA, Williamsburg, VA and USA

[Dave_B]

Welcome Darren. Awesome car you have there.

Welcome to the family!!!

[Torxuvin]

Welcome

[DublDee]

Thanks Everyone for the warm welcome, and the information. I guess being new to the BMW world, I'm going to be learning a lot, and I really do appreciate the information. I will post vin# after work today.

[fredo]

Welcome to the Mafia !

[Mtnman]

Welcome! I love Orient. What a great color!

[Ryans323i]

Welcome aboard!

[Rovert]

A Maple Leaf welcome. :megaphone

Someone from my side of the 49th....:biggrin

The SSG was only optioned in a 330i sport package (ZSP), but I'm assuming that the exterior M Performance appearance package (ZAM) was added to that. Every model has a history with certain parts and the E46 is no exception. Treat the car right while doing preventative maintenance and it'll be a joy to drive and own.

Make sure you do a lot of research on SSG maintenance. I have heard a lot of negative reports online with that transmission but it could be very well be focused on a limited quantity of SSG equipped vehicles. Most people who post on forums are posting about a problem that needs addressing rather than a praise. That's why we have so many Do-It-Yourself (DIY) topics for the E46 which many of us are so thankful for.

Happy driving and enjoy all the memories that this BMW will help create! :wave

[DublDee]

Ok, well now I'm learning even more, Thanks. So what you are saying is that my car has the M sport package, and not the M Performance package right? Can this be verified through the VIN?

[Rovert]

It's different because in the USA, with the M Performance package the vehicle came with interior modifications too. I see you have the silver cube trim which is part of the package but what yours is missing is the thicker M steering wheel, standard in alcantera (quasi-suede) but sometimes replaced with the plain leather one that I have in my car without the tri-colour ///M stictching. American ZHP's dash needles are all red too with a higher redline to accomodate a more aggressively ratio'ed final drive ratio...but not by much.

[wsmeyer]

It's different because in the USA, with the M Performance package the vehicle came with interior modifications too. I see you have the silver cube trim which is part of the package but what yours is missing is the thicker M steering wheel, standard in alcantera (quasi-suede) but sometimes replaced with the plain leather one that I have in my car without the tri-colour ///M stictching. American ZHP's dash needles are all red too with a higher redline to accomodate a more aggressively ratio'ed final drive ratio...but not by much.

The M steering wheel might have been over ridden by the transmission as that wheel is unique to the SSG.

Another thing worth mentioning is that when you buy a BMW brand new you can choose anything you want out of the M Performance catalog and add in to the price of the car and financing. Essentially they become dealer installed options. This could explain why the original owner stated that it all came with the car.

[Hermes]

The M steering wheel might have been over ridden by the transmission as that wheel is unique to the SSG.

Another thing worth mentioning is that when you buy a BMW brand new you can choose anything you want out of the M Performance catalog and add in to the price of the car and financing. Essentially they become dealer installed options. This could explain why the original owner stated that it all came with the car.

+1

that transmission only was available with that steering wheel, he could not have ordered SSG with the wheel the rest of us have

Im beginning to lean towards the idea that this is a M-Sport car like Meric's. It's definitely a Canadian spec car due to the KMH speedo and non-orange needles, but I'm guessing M-Sport and not M-Performance due to the redline I see in the tach.

[alexandre]

Welcome :) not many of us canucks on the board have canadian ZAM's... So rare this side of the border. I imported mine from the US last year.

AFAIK, BiTurbo has a ZAM Imola sedan.

Congrats on the sweet car! :thumbsup

PS: JP, canadian M-Perf cars show a 6,500rpm redline but effectively rev to 6,800. Only way to know whether it's a sport or perf is to look through the build sheet. Not sure if the ZHP exhaust was on M-Sports, so that could be a differentiator (unless PO installed it himself).

[DublDee]

Ok, well I'm more confused now than I was before I think???? Anyway I will have to get a build sheet on the car and find out what I really have I guess. Thanks for all the input everybody.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

That's correct regarding the white needles of the ZAM. The needles are white. It shows 6500. And it revs to the equivalent of 6800.


Sent from my ZHPMafia.com iPhone

[DublDee]

Welcome Darren, your car does in fact appear to be a M-Performance (ZAM) car. If its ok with you could you please post the last 7 digits of your VIN? That will allow us to give you some better info.

Just to go over a few things:

SSG2 (generally referred to as SMG in non-M's despite being two completely different gearboxes) is an extremely rare option.

The pedals are not a factory option or a factory part at all, but the door sills may very well be (not sure what exactly came on ZAM cars). The factory aluminum pedals look different.

All the CF badging was put on by the previous owner, they are readily available aftermarket parts. The only 'BMW' to ever have a factory provided non-blue and white roundel were the post-war EMW's (Soviet cars built at the occupied Eisenach plant). Eisenacher Motoren Werke had red replacing the blue in the roundel.

and one last thing since John mentioned it... AFAIK Meric has a Canadian M-Sport, not M-Performance model. I don't think we actually have any members with a real ZAM yet, you might be the first.

Anyways, beautiful car and hope you enjoy it on this forum.

Ok, well here's the last 7 digits of my VIN PD98521. Let me what you think, is my car an M-Sport package or M-performance package?

[Crickett]

Per BMWVin.com (bmwvin.com/?vin=PD98521), your E46 (PD98521 (bmwvin.com/?vin=PD98521)) came from the factory on 2004-08-17 as a Canadian 330Ci with M-Sport II package (S338A) in Orient Blue Metallic over gray leather, with aluminum silver cube trim, anthracite headliner, high-gloss Shadowline window trim, M135 wheels, M-Tech II aero package (S716A), & SMG transmission.

Looks like no ZAM.

But welcome nonetheless! :hi

[DublDee]

Awesome Thanks for your help. So besides a few HP, what are the differences between the Performance package and the Sport package? Regardless of what package mine is, I really love the car. Thanks again!

[Hermes]

So besides a few HP, what are the differences between the Performance package and the Sport package?

different control arms

[johnrando]

Glad we finally got that all straightened out. Phew! :)

[wsmeyer]

Regardless of what package mine is, I really love the car. Thanks again!

That's all that counts!

[Rovert]

The differences aren't that special. LOL

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

[danewilson77]

Good read.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1789-Frequently-Asked-Questions-(FAQ)-About-the-BMW-E46-330-ZHP-Performance-Package-Option

[Crickett]

Good read.

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?1789-Frequently-Asked-Questions-(FAQ)-About-the-BMW-E46-330-ZHP-Performance-Package-Option

Looks like a good way to verify would be to check your actual redline (see if it goes over the 6500 mark) and/or check your exhaust for the normal-330 flap.


iPhone 5. Tapatalk 2. Aww yeeeah.

[DublDee]

Wow, Thanks again....I've been saying that a lot. You folks are really helpful, and I appreciate it.

[DublDee]

Ok, so I took it out for a drive to see about the redline, and it appears that the tach shows a redline of 6500, but it actually revs a bit higher, around 6750-6800. Now I'm not sure whats what, but I think I will try to get a build sheet on this car, so I know for sure.