peterbg16
11-13-2010, 07:59 AM
So this summer I had made up my mind that I will sell my car and buy a ZHP. I had a '97 528i that I loved, but the autotragic gearbox just made me mad every time I stepped in the car. I went through about a month of looking for a ZHP in my area and landed on an amazingly clean '03 Silver Sedan located in Philly. Lucky me I managed to find a quicker buyer for my car has days after I found the ZHP so I was able to let the buyer know I will be up to see it the following week.
When I drove up there at first I didn't know what to think. The place the guy worked at was right by the Eagles' stadium and the surrounding area was full of construction. I figured the car would be super dirty and probably have quite a few rock chips from all the dust and debris in the area. Luckily I was wrong. It was absolutely flawless inside and out, albeit for a small chip on the bottom right of the bumper and a worn out shift knob. I immediately snapped some pictures of it, even before the owner came by to introduce himself. Needless to say after seeing the perfect maintenance records and the car itself, I bought it that afternoon.
This is what it looked like at the time of my purchase:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4949734229_19b52f78a1_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4949734643_08d780e2a8_b.jpg
Unfortunately after we made the deal and signed a "contract" we wrote up, he told me I can't actually drive it home that day because he needed to still get the title from the PA DMV, as he had JUST payed off the loan. I recorded the mileage, gave a down payment and we agreed that he would drive his other car and just keep the ZHP in the garage until the title arrived. It took 3 weeks! Must have been the longest 3 weeks of my life!! Anyway, I got to drive it home and immediately got onto basic maintenance and replacing some obviously worn items.
Since I bought it I have done the following:
New Front Rotors/Pads (didn't pass inspection)
245/40/18 Continental ExtremeContact DWS Rears - AMAZING tires for anyone that is not aware, they are probably the best Ultra High Performance All Season tire available for under $300 - they are just $150/tire and have better ratings that all the Michelins and Bridgestones in the same category!
Headlight Lens Covers
New ZHP Shift Knob
Xenon Interior Lighting
Oil Change with BMW recommended Castrol Synthetic 10w-40
New Spark Plugs
New Black/White BMW emblems all around - the old ones were super worn out.
aFe Pro Dry S Air Filter
In the Very Near Future:
225/40/18 Continental Extreme Contact DWS Fronts
Black Kidney Grills - Still not sure whether I want these or not. Probably will end up getting them tho!
Anyway, this is what I sits like now. Only got one pic for the moment as I haven't had a chance to clean it. This I took at the BMWCCA Chapterfest in Bowie, MD.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5171463881_ed5c0bb052_b.jpg
And this is the car I moved on from. It was heavily, but tastefully modded. Mostly OEM+ parts along with a few Aftermarket ones. Loved my AW but The ZHP has been one of my all time favorite BMWs, so I had to have it.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5172159274_a6600b4c4b_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5171556069_9dc8b85e59_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4449977016_fe78ce365f_b.jpg
When I drove up there at first I didn't know what to think. The place the guy worked at was right by the Eagles' stadium and the surrounding area was full of construction. I figured the car would be super dirty and probably have quite a few rock chips from all the dust and debris in the area. Luckily I was wrong. It was absolutely flawless inside and out, albeit for a small chip on the bottom right of the bumper and a worn out shift knob. I immediately snapped some pictures of it, even before the owner came by to introduce himself. Needless to say after seeing the perfect maintenance records and the car itself, I bought it that afternoon.
This is what it looked like at the time of my purchase:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/4949734229_19b52f78a1_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4108/4949734643_08d780e2a8_b.jpg
Unfortunately after we made the deal and signed a "contract" we wrote up, he told me I can't actually drive it home that day because he needed to still get the title from the PA DMV, as he had JUST payed off the loan. I recorded the mileage, gave a down payment and we agreed that he would drive his other car and just keep the ZHP in the garage until the title arrived. It took 3 weeks! Must have been the longest 3 weeks of my life!! Anyway, I got to drive it home and immediately got onto basic maintenance and replacing some obviously worn items.
Since I bought it I have done the following:
New Front Rotors/Pads (didn't pass inspection)
245/40/18 Continental ExtremeContact DWS Rears - AMAZING tires for anyone that is not aware, they are probably the best Ultra High Performance All Season tire available for under $300 - they are just $150/tire and have better ratings that all the Michelins and Bridgestones in the same category!
Headlight Lens Covers
New ZHP Shift Knob
Xenon Interior Lighting
Oil Change with BMW recommended Castrol Synthetic 10w-40
New Spark Plugs
New Black/White BMW emblems all around - the old ones were super worn out.
aFe Pro Dry S Air Filter
In the Very Near Future:
225/40/18 Continental Extreme Contact DWS Fronts
Black Kidney Grills - Still not sure whether I want these or not. Probably will end up getting them tho!
Anyway, this is what I sits like now. Only got one pic for the moment as I haven't had a chance to clean it. This I took at the BMWCCA Chapterfest in Bowie, MD.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5171463881_ed5c0bb052_b.jpg
And this is the car I moved on from. It was heavily, but tastefully modded. Mostly OEM+ parts along with a few Aftermarket ones. Loved my AW but The ZHP has been one of my all time favorite BMWs, so I had to have it.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4088/5172159274_a6600b4c4b_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4112/5171556069_9dc8b85e59_b.jpg
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4005/4449977016_fe78ce365f_b.jpg