Snuffalufigus's Build/Maintanence Thread :)

[WOLFN8TR]

Well this is a long time coming! I apologize that it took me this long to post this seeing as how I purchased my ZHP over a year ago lol! I am still somewhat new to the whole forum thing (I'm not on here a lot) so bear with me as I post pictures and document my mods/maintenance. Keep in mind that I live in an apartment and don't have the tools or knowledge to do most of this stuff myself. Oil changes and certain mods I have done myself but for everything else I have gone to an Indy Mechanic that specializes on BMWs. Everything they replace they warranty for 3 years, 36,000 miles. The cost of this stuff (mostly preventative mx) has started to really add up and has gotten a little discouraging. However, whenever I go drive my car that feeling gets replaced with complete exhilaration. I love this car and I don't think I could ever sell it.



Purchased on 15 January 2015 from WOLFN8TR
Mileage at time of purchase: 134,500

A little background:
I just want to say that Gary (previous owner) has a great taste and love for this car. I had just gotten back from a deployment and flew to Vegas to pick this baby up. He picked me up from the airport and took me to his house where the car sat. I immediately fell in love! Gary is such a great guy and I felt a little bad taking the ZHP away from him. But then again he had a new M3 so I guess it's okay lol At no point in my ownership with the mechanical issues I faced did I ever regret buying the car. Well here goes my journey thus far...

My Maintenance/Mods:
2/5/15 - 134,825
Serpentine Belt shredded - was told by indy mechanic that it was due to alternator failure (90 Amp instead of 120). Replaced belts and alternator with genuine BMW Bosch w/lifetime warranty.

4/29/15 - 138,820
Replaced Eonon GM5150 NAV unit because literally everything stopped working one thing after the other lol
Had a custom installation of a DDIN Pioneer AVH4100NEX by Audio Xperts in Vacaville, CA. This thing is sweet, comes with Apple Carplay and Android Auto

11/10/15 - 145,033
Felt a vibration/shudder in 2nd at 2000 RPM. Took car into indy mechanic and they discovered that the CSB (center support bearing) had failed and had took the entire driveshaft with it. Had to replace entire driveshaft and assembly. At this point the cost of this repair almost made me sell the ZHP but I realized at least I will have a new OEM driveshaft that should last the rest of the life of the car. (hopefully)

11/18/15 - 146,129
Front bumper was not the original OEM bumper when I had purchased the car. Originally there were a few rock chips (not a big deal) but over time the paint started chipping and peeling off like crazy. I had a local BMW dealership look up the VIN and they told me the vehicle was in an accident. I'm assuming the front bumper was replaced and had a cheap paint job done on it. I took the car into a specialty shop here called Rick's Body and Paint and had them repaint and refinish the front bumper. They blended it in and the car looks better than it did when I bought it!

12/1/2015 - 146,143
I got rear ended by a crazy dude in a Civic. I pulled over and he took off. I chased him down and got his license plate number for the police. Rear bumper needed minor repairs/repaint. This was performed by Cook's Collision in Vacaville, CA.

Hi Adam, great to see you're ZHP thread, it looks great! It was so hard to watch my ZHP drive away, but Adam is a great guy and from what I see here it's in great hands! Now it's back on the Mafia, nice! Love the mods you've done to it! I loved every minute of the 3 years of ownership.

Sorry to see you had a few big ticket repairs, especially the CSB taking out the driveshaft, ouch! So the car was involved in an accident, interesting. I had noticed a few differences in the paint under the hood. I can't imagine how mad you were after getting rear ended by the Honda Civic! That sucks, glad to hear you got his license plate info for the police. Hopefully she runs great for years to come with NO issues. Stay away from Honda Civic's!

Hey I have a bunch of photos of maintenance, mods etc if you want them. Take care...

How to you like the automatic transmission? I have a manual coupe and may be getting 2nd ZHP in automatic sedan for daily.

I really enjoyed driving the Step ZHP especially adding the Sprint Booster to it!

[Whammy]

Well done! Love it!!

[johnrando]

nice werk!

[Snuffalufigus]

Very nice looking ZHP! Welcome to the forum. How to you like the automatic transmission? I have a manual coupe and may be getting 2nd ZHP in automatic sedan for daily.

Thanks! I love and prefer automatics due to living near San Francisco and stop and go traffic. If I lived out in the boonies or tracked my car I would have to have a manual for the full control. But for everyday driving, it's second to none. Especially with all of the mods done! I think my ZHP is one of the only ones with the mods it has and driving it everyday is such a blast.

[Snuffalufigus]

Welcome, sir ! Glad to hear the ZHP went to a good home. Looks SHARP ! I met Gary back in November and I agree. He's a great guy.

Thanks Fredo!

[Snuffalufigus]

Nice to see you here Adam! Gary took great care of this ZHP during his ownership and I see it is still in good hands with you! Looking forward to seeing what else you have in store

Hopefully within the next year I will have my hands on a ESSTuning Stage 1 supercharger!

There were some site database issues. Should be resolved now. If not, let Dane know.


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

Yes Sir it is all fixed now! Thank you!

Hi Adam, great to see you're ZHP thread, it looks great! It was so hard to watch my ZHP drive away, but Adam is a great guy and from what I see here it's in great hands! Now it's back on the Mafia, nice! Love the mods you've done to it! I loved every minute of the 3 years of ownership.

Sorry to see you had a few big ticket repairs, especially the CSB taking out the driveshaft, ouch! So the car was involved in an accident, interesting. I had noticed a few differences in the paint under the hood. I can't imagine how mad you were after getting rear ended by the Honda Civic! That sucks, glad to hear you got his license plate info for the police. Hopefully she runs great for years to come with NO issues. Stay away from Honda Civic's!

Hey I have a bunch of photos of maintenance, mods etc if you want them. Take care...




I really enjoyed driving the Step ZHP especially adding the Sprint Booster to it!

Dude I was more pissed when he tried to drive off. I chased him through neighborhoods while on the phone with the police for a good 10 minutes. It was dark out and he shut his lights off thinking I wouldn't see him lol.

And I think that's part of having a high mileage vehicle. If I had a garage and/or some tools I could have saved a ton of money on some of the repair costs. And I would love the pics! I also need to post a link to your ZHP maintenance thread so people can see your pictures.

Well done! Love it!!

Thanks!

nice werk!

Thank you Sir! I have always idolized your ZHP

[johnrando]

Thanks back at you.

[Snuffalufigus]

* Update! Going to be selling my ZHP soon *

I will be getting retired from the Air Force within the next few months and will be moving near my family to go to school. Unfortunately they live where it snows quite a bit and I don't want to put the ZHP through fierce winters and salted roads in Reno. So I am in the market for a 335xi (all wheel drive). I will be posting a for sale thread soon with pictures. I would like to keep the ZHP in the Mafia as I know it will be taken care of! Whoever buys it will be getting a great deal and a highly maintained vehicle!

2/16/16 - 147,893
Replaced oil pan gasket and oil dipstick tube seals followed by an oil change (5W40).
Replaced oil separator/CCV.
Replaced power steering hoses
These were all replaced and warrantied for 36,000 miles or three years by Motoring Specialists in Vacaville, CA.

[WOLFN8TR]

Bummer Adam! Retired you aren't that old yet...

Someone will get a very well maintained ZHP! I still have a bunch of photos I took when I owned it if you want them.

[Snuffalufigus]

Bummer Adam! Retired you aren't that old yet...

Someone will get a very well maintained ZHP! I still have a bunch of photos I took when I owned it if you want them.

Haha it's medical retirement! I would love the pictures. I think I have some of the ones you emailed me a while ago. Part of me doesn't want to sell it because of all of the love and money I put into it. But I am going to hold off on posting a thread because I might end up going to school out here in California. If I do, then I will hold on to it for a few more years. I just don't want to put the ZHP through snow and salted roads ya know?

Anyways, how's the M3? A friend of mine just bought a white E92 M3 with the competition package. That thing is a monster!