The Story of my ZHP (Lots of Pics)

[S85FTW]

I bought my 04 330CI ZHP TIAG July 01, 2008 CPO from a friends bmw dealership with 32k miles on the vehicle. Since then it has been on a long journey and endured 3 years of several trips to and from Michigan (to see my family and my fiance in dental school in Michigan). Now it has 93,000 miles and looks pretty different from the day I bought it. Below you will see pics of my mods through the years.

The day I bought it
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=130
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=132

First Mod (Rac Dyn Air Intake, AEM dryflow installed and rac dyn rear strut brace both not pictured)
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=134
Second Mod (Angel Eyes)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/169162_602914427760_26904378_34563837_3493166_o.jp g
Third Mod (M3 Seats)
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=17661
Fourth (M3 Wheels)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/31815_577595492110_26904378_33826897_3172162_n.jpg
Fifth (Slotted Rotors all around and Pagid Performance brake pads)
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/slottedrotors.jpg
Sixth (Black rear diffuser)
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=18539
Seventh (CSL Rep Wheels)
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=13990
Eighth (CF Hood)
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=44&pictureid=20786
Ninth (Headers)
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/321154_251292728249347_142859005759387_775132_9835 64572_n.jpg



Mods to come in the very very near future are, fully adjustable coilovers (camber, stiffness, ride height), C38 Supercharger and much much more.

[danewilson77]

Very nice. Were those seats plug and play. What all went into that? Sweet whip my man!

[S85FTW]

Yes they were forunately, I took them off an M3 with power and heated seats just like my car, so it literally was 4 bolts, plug and go.

[danewilson77]

^No sheet? Thanks

[johnrando]

Nice history of mods. Keep us posted.

[Newjack]

What kind of headers did you get? How much? Car looks sweet

[S85FTW]

I ended up getting ebay headers from someone on e46fanatics, they were quoted $750 to put them on their car, so I bought them off him for $200 and got them put on for more than half of what he was quoted. Almost everything lined up perfect, however the last bolt hole on the manifold was about 1mm off from where it should be so my mechanic had to drill a bit to get the hole to line up right.

[Rustyh]

Nice looking ride. Two things stick out for me. One, the switching out of the seats. It's been a while since I rode in an E46 M3, but one thing I especially liked about the ZHP were the seats. Are the M3 seats all that much different?

And as far as the black rear diffuser, I didn't even realize certain MY ZHP's came with anything *BUT* a black one. I seem to only recall ever seeing black ones anyway.
Learn something new every day. :)

Rusty

[S85FTW]

The M3 seats are not hugely different, the bolsters stick out slightly more, giving you more of a snug feel in the driver seat on the middle of your torso, the second is a smoother leather. What I was told by the owner of the dealership was that the painted diffuser was a special request of the customer before they purchased the vehicle back in 2004.

[jreyes19]

love your car
love those seats as well, are they comfortable?
thank you for sharing your awesomeness :drool

[S85FTW]

Thank you very much for all the compliments, it is greatly appreciated. The seats are less of a comfortable feel but more of a sporty feel if that makes sense. When I take turns hard I feel like I am held in the seat much better. Also attached is a little video clip taken with my blackberry of the sound of the headers, it is a crappy video so you have to turn the volume all the way up to hear it. I will take one with my tablet soon to get better sound/video quality.

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/th_VID-20110925-00005.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/?action=view&current=VID-20110925-00005.mp4)

[jjcools]

Very nice! I like the seats.

[05ZIPPYZHP]

Very clean setup!
Can you hear your intake over the headers?

[az3579]

Hmm, I find it interesting that you think the M3 seats are less comfortable. On long journeys, my back aches with my ZHP seats and it's the inverse with the M3 seats. I feel that the M3 seats have better lumbar support than the ZHP seats do. Actually, I feel the ZHP seats don't have any lumbar support at all... :(
You're pretty close. Perhaps I'll get to check it out one day.

[S85FTW]

Yeah, I am usually in Milford or Shelton when not visiting clients during the week. My client base is from MA to PA so I can be occasionally spotted in those other states as well.

[Hermes]

And as far as the black rear diffuser, I didn't even realize certain MY ZHP's came with anything *BUT* a black one.

Jorge (the white one in the banner at the top of the page) has a body colored diffuser

[S85FTW]

Very clean setup!
Can you hear your intake over the headers?
The great thing about the sound is that in a certain rpm range, its only headers, then only intake, then both together.

[S85FTW]

***UPDATE*** Wednesday the car is going into the shop for some upgraded trailer arm bushings and coilovers... will post pictures when it comes out of surgery ;)

[S85FTW]

Coming Later today.....
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/coilovers.jpg

[danewilson77]

Which are those? STR's?

[S85FTW]

BC Coilovers, great mod for the price, was kind of weary of going with a name I didnt know, but Brian @ JG Technik has them on his M5 and loves them. I love the features on them already. They look pretty good (even though I just put my crappy snows on)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/330ci/coilsinstalled.jpg

[danewilson77]

What features are on them?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

[S85FTW]

- 30 levels of damping force adjustment (knobs on top to adjust stiffness)
- Pillowball mounts and adjustable camber plates included
- Adjustable rear camber plates available
- Separate Full length height adjustable

http://www.bcracing-na.com/index.php

[cakM3]

Yep, I have these on my ///M and they have been awesome. Great coilovers for the money :thumbsup Looks like I will be replacing shocks/springs on the ZHP sometime next year....when I do Kaizen Tuning will be getting a call from me...:biggrin

OP, car is lookin' good
:like

[mjroesler]

How did you do the angel eyes on your headlights? My '06 330CiC has the same headlights, but all the DIY's I've seen so far deal with the two-piece headlight. Yours look awesome.

[S85FTW]

I am going to be 100% honest here, the Angel eyes were the biggest PITA mod I have done on this car. The DIY guides are mostly for headlights that are two piece, and the one that I did find for a face lift coupe, did not have the headlight washers like my car. So I really learned as I went (and lost a lot of windshield washer fluid in the process).

Link to DIY for facelift coupes.
http://www.diymybmw.com/e46/facelift-coupe-angel-eyes/

If you click on the link, the headlight removal should look like this (if you have headlight washers)
Begin with taking off the headlight.
• Remove the windshield washer port on the trim, (make sure your windshield washer fluid is low or almost gone or else you will dump a ton of fluid here) it pops out from the tubing as one whole piece under the headlight, then remove the headlight trim.
• Remove 4 screws, 2 on top, and 2 on the bottom, can be seen between the headlight and the bumper. (I used an 8mm driver). Also remove the two 8mm screws on the bottom, holding the headlight washers to the headlight.
• Unplug all of the headlight connectors, should be 5.
• Take out the headlight, have to wiggle it around some and get the right angle for it. (My left came out a lot easier than the right, not sure why.)
• You can also use “Sillieidiot’s” instructions on removing the headlight. http://www.socale46.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=1541#1541

[S85FTW]

Christmas came early, a ups international next day air box came late last night that was guaranteed for arrival on the 27th!

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[cakM3]

Kris,

the new lip looks good!

:like

[Hermes]

Gotta agree, that does look great. :thumbup

[S85FTW]

Thanks guys!

[cakM3]

Kris,

It was great catching up with you yesterday :) I have to add that the Arqray lip spoiler you got for us is of excellent quality. Man is it a tight fit :biggrin

Pictures don't do it justice when you see this in person! That Arqray looks awesome :thumbsup

Now....all I need to complete the look is get myself a carbon fiber diffuser :biggrin

[S85FTW]

I just posted this on the headers thread but I figured I would throw it up on my build thread as well. Here is a longer much better video of what my zhp sounds like from the inside with headers and intake.

Had passenger window down. Rolled it up at 3:08 of the vid and tapped the gas with the window up at 3:13 so you can hear what it sounds like @6th gear on the highway. When cruising after that you cant tell its even there. Should be a good video for those of you on the fence about getting headers.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/th_c388589a.jpg (http://s9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/?action=view&current=c388589a.mp4)

[S85FTW]

I figured I would update this thread because the zhp has had some pretty big changes completed in celebration of it reaching 100,000 miles.

First, I completed installing the CSL Center Console (Including the filler trim ordered from BMW for the two rear screws)
3449

I also installed a leather wheel and got rid of my beat up Alcantara wheel.(Excuse the dirty interior from recent snow)
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Today, I finally installed my CSL Trunk! (Upon taking apart my oem trunk, I finally found out why my interior trunk lights didnt work anymore)
3451
Wires were frayed underneath the trunk lining by rubbing up against the frame of the trunk, really BMW?!?!

3452
Finally!!! Hood and Trunk will be painted during my honeymoon in April, however I am liking the look of the car right now with the CF hood and trunk!

Bigger things coming after my wedding this summer...stay tuned.

[cakM3]

Kris,

Can't wait to see those changes....lookin' good so far :thumbsup

[S85FTW]

Finished the trunk today, got the lining, trim and license plates all properly bolted down. Also got the grommet for the rear lock to fit. The total amount of dremelling and modifications to fit the facelift trunk trim is as follows:

Rear lock hole dremelled larger to properly fit the rubber grommet surrounding the lock.

Outside of the inner trunk lights were dremmelled thinner to allow the inner taillights to slide on properly.

Purchased 6 10mm screws and nuts at home depot with washers to properly bolt down facelifted trim and license plate brackets.

3455345634573458

[johnrando]

Nice!

[cakM3]

Looks great Kris!!! Can't wait till the next time we meet up....I'll bring my ///M so we can do a comparison :)

[S85FTW]

Thanks JR and Charlie! Yeah we need to get together again, maybe a Zhp mafia shooting range day in wallingford ct!

[cakM3]

Now that would be lots of fun :biggrin

[nike001]

Do you plan on painting the trunk?

From the looks of your unpainted CF lip, and half painted hood, I'm going to think that you aren't going to.

[S85FTW]

It will all be painted in April while I am on my honeymoon. I will come back to a new Zhp!

[328ioc]

Love that lip spoiler on the front bumper!

[cakM3]

Arqray :thumbsup

[S85FTW]

Okay so now that I am fully back in the swing of things I figured I would give an update. I left my car at my cousins body shop to get painted and he came across another car for me (a 2010 BMW M5). Combined with this discovery and some troubles with my hood we both talked and decided to hold off on the painting of the hood. Upon further examination of my hood we both found out that the PO neglected to clear coat crucial parts of the hood properly and the CF is actually starting to separate. In order to get this to look normal again we would have to sand it down and fill in the cracks with epoxy. This wont guaranteed that the CF wont splinter and bubble up again. That being said, it looks like I will be going back to the OEM hood after all. :(


Since myself and my wife are contemplating on buying a new home in July we are holding off on the M5 until later this summer. Since we have come to this conclusion I have continued purchasing items for the ZHP to turn the not so special car into more of my liking.

I finally got new tail lights because my oem driver side had now 8 burnt LEDs. I went with tinted DEPO tail lights. Some dont like the look but I think on a silver vehicle it looks nice.

Also I ordered 2 OEM M3 mirrors off of Ebay, as well as new blue tinted heated euro concave glass for the mirrors.

I also put 6k xenon bulbs in the car.

Next up a set of rims. This is the difficult part for me, I am getting pulled in so many different directions I can not decide between TE37s, BBS LMs, Style 5s or OEM.

If I go Style 5s, CF hood is definitely coming off, CF trunk is getting painted and arqray is getting painted 100% TIAG. Same if I go LMS.

If I go TE37s I will leave the CF exposed and go with a sparkling gray finish on the wheels. Same with the ZHP wheels, powdercoated another color.

For now here is a pic of what the rear looks like. I will be in upstate new york until Monday so I wont get to install the mirrors until next weekend most likely.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/rear.jpg

[S85FTW]

A little update, I purchased 18" BBS Style 5's (aka RC's) for the zhp. It is a staggered setup 9.5 rear 8.5 front. I will be posting pics up once they come in the mail. I also sourced 2 OEM M3 mirrors, 1 is a 6 pin unfortunately and the other is a 12 so I will undergo the motor swap for one side as the other may not need it?

Since the mirrors are not TIAG, I have decided to take the opportunity to learn how to paint a vehicle. I have been pretty artistic my whole life and feel that this isnt outside of my skillset. I have sourced a spray gun, electric sander, OEM TIAG paint, base coat diluter, clear coat, and clear coat retarder. I have already sanded and primed the mirrors and I am really happy with the results. I have found that the trick with painting is not in the painting itself, but within the sanding and making sure everything is as smooth as a baby's behind. I am snapping progress pics and will maybe create a DIY thread for all of us! Stay tuned!

[S85FTW]

Took a break from painting the mirrors today, I have 3 of the 4 pieces painted TIAG. So far so good. After the 4th piece is sanded I will throw three coats of TIAG on her and it will be all set for clear coating.

Today I received some presents in the mail and installed 2 of 4 wheels before the sun completely set.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/style5s.jpg

[nike001]

Style 5's look out of place on the e46 IMO. Especially ones that are modded to look more aggressive.

[S85FTW]

I may have a buyer for the CF hood tomorrow....going to a classier sleeker look. I was getting pulled in so many different directions with different visions in my mind.

[Ryans323i]

A little update, I purchased 18" BBS Style 5's (aka RC's) for the zhp. It is a staggered setup 9.5 rear 8.5 front. I will be posting pics up once they come in the mail. I also sourced 2 OEM M3 mirrors, 1 is a 6 pin unfortunately and the other is a 12 so I will undergo the motor swap for one side as the other may not need it?

Since the mirrors are not TIAG, I have decided to take the opportunity to learn how to paint a vehicle. I have been pretty artistic my whole life and feel that this isnt outside of my skillset. I have sourced a spray gun, electric sander, OEM TIAG paint, base coat diluter, clear coat, and clear coat retarder. I have already sanded and primed the mirrors and I am really happy with the results. I have found that the trick with painting is not in the painting itself, but within the sanding and making sure everything is as smooth as a baby's behind. I am snapping progress pics and will maybe create a DIY thread for all of us! Stay tuned!

So you can disregard my questions about your new wheels in the other thread. They look a lot bigger than 18", but a nice looking wheel overall. Can't say I would have chose them, but they're growing on me.

And I couldn't agree with you more, painting isn't about the paint, it's all about the prep!

[S85FTW]

A little update on the mirrors. It has taken me a while to do these because I am doing them between work, traveling and other projects being done to the zhp. I have completed the sanding and priming and moved onto the painting. So far so good! There are little dips and unevenness in the mirrors but after sanding each coat I hope to get most of it off. I am really happy with the results to far being my first time ever painting a car part. It is not pro quality but looks good! See for yourself.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/mirrorprogress.jpg

[328ioc]

Looking sharp. Keep up the good work.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

[S85FTW]

Looking sharp. Keep up the good work.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using Tapatalk 2

Thanks! I have a pending sale for my CF hood, so I went back to my oem hood. I must say, I do like the look of the oem hood with my current setup.
http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/krisgt30/93322593.jpg

[Johnmadd]

Sooo... how good of condition is that lower lip :biggrin

[S85FTW]

Sooo... how good of condition is that lower lip :biggrin

its made for a coupe though John...just realized you have a sedan.

[Johnmadd]

its made for a coupe though John...just realized you have a sedan.

I didn't realize it was different at the bottom of the bumper where the lip would go. Its cool though... I am now on the hunt for one.

[nike001]

Is the bottom portion different than that of a sedan? I thought that the only difference was the absence of trim

[S85FTW]

Yes they are different widths, The coupe bumper is wider.

[nike001]

Ahh

http://www.portlandmercury.com/binary/f075/1297207367-the_more_you_know2.jpg