If you can find a mildly clean 3rd gen Toyota 4Runner I'd recommend that
2005 BMW 330i ZHP - BMWP brakes/intake/strut bar/shifter, Coby wraps interior, BBS CHs, Eagle Eye LED tails, LED fog lights, GC coilovers, Sprint Booster/sport button mod, 4.5 LCM w/ programming, Xtrons 9inch HU, BSW stg1, dynamat, M3 sedan dead pedal, oCarbon CF interior trim, CF seat backs, 2x2 CF MTECH2 diffuser, CF cabin filter cover
2004 BMW 330i TiAg ZHP/// 6MT(purchased from forum 6/06/16);
KONI Yellows | Akebono Brake Pads | ECIS cold air intake system;
Hotchkis Sport sway bar | ECS Tuning Carbon Fiber front strut brace
Vibrant Performance Muffler | Coby Wheel Tri-Stitch steering wheel & shift boot
Michelin PSS | Blizzak WS-80
How much of the roads aren't paved? I would think most of them are. What if you just drive slowly on the non-paved roads?
Are your lights ZKWs? If not, you can order a PA Soft module and enable all of your headlights to turn on with the high beam. I find this lighting setup more than sufficient for even the darkest roads.
I'm thinking buying a beater car defeats the purpose of having a summer job, but that's just me. Unless, of course, this job isn't because you need the money, but instead because you love doing it, in which case, have at a beater!
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/sale-vehicles/
+1 Obviously to that suggestion. Toyota Premium is a thing though so may not be in the true "beater" category. Plus they have a tendency to exhibit the same effects on your wallet as our other cars if you care about it enough.
Current:
1988 BMW 325is
1996 Toyota Land Cruiser FZJ80 x3 Locked - Restoration/Project Thread on ih8mud.com
Sold:
"Scarlett" the 2005 BMW 330i ZHP 6MT - Project/Maintenance Thread
2011 BMW M3 E92 6MT - Info/Maintenance Thread
interesting. Der Rally ZHP. awesome!
i went camping with my family and the ZHP on a missions trip the summer before last, at a native reserve. this was in remote semi-northern ontario, and on the reserve, 90% of the roads are not paved. we mostly drove on the paved roads but one day we had to go way out to the other end of the reserve, and that meant crazy gravel/dirt roads. i had stock springs and dampers at the time, but even so, it was nerve-wracking. i drove SLOW, but never had any ground clearance issues, despite the huge rocks everywhere (it, of course, had just been grated...).
with that experience behind me, if i was going to do that again, i would either outfit the ZHP for that type of use, like you're thinking already - or buying a cheap SUV like others have mentioned. personally, i think outfitting the ZHP would be more fun and some of the mods will be useful later on:
- 16" wheels that clear 330i brakes, and tall tires - potentially winter tires as they won't wear that much in the summer on dirt - you could probably find these cheap used on craigslist.
- upgrade your headlights with a TRS kit (if you've got ZKWs) or the ZKW-R lenses from TRS if you've got ALs (i have the former and have zero issues seeing at night - and i live in the sticks, where it's DARK at night). this will be awesome long-term for the ZHP.
- get a clearbra or laminex kit for your car. this will be awesome long-term for the ZHP.
- get a set of Ground Control coilover sleeves with long, stock-rate springs (8-9", if they fit), so you can raise the car up an inch. you can keep your konis, and when you're done, swap the springs out for something more road-worthy and then you have some height adjustability with the suspension.
- mudflaps - heck yeah!
and, of course - we need pics of all of this. BMWs (thinking E30s here) can make awesome rally cars. why not?
peter
2004 330i ZHP
2005 330iT ZHP
2010 328iT M Sport
Here is a good example of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HUKTi1vnzA
OP, do it!!
anandoc
2004 330i auto | ZPP, ZCW | Schwarz 2 (668) | schwarz (N6SW)
aFe Stage-1 Pro DRY S intake | Morimoto FX-R 3.0 retrofit | ///M3 Seats (power, heat, bolster adj.) | ///M3 Strut Brace | ///M3 SMG Steering Wheel retrofit | OEM Alarm retrofit | GROM USB | Khoalty angel eyes
This is my first time hearing of this module and it sounds awesome, any idea on how expensive/ how the install process is? And I agree with the fact that buying a beater would practically cancel out any money id be making. I am doing it because I love the job but I also need the pay to keep me afloat(though it isn't a lot)
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2004 BMW 330i TiAg ZHP/// 6MT(purchased from forum 6/06/16);
KONI Yellows | Akebono Brake Pads | ECIS cold air intake system;
Hotchkis Sport sway bar | ECS Tuning Carbon Fiber front strut brace
Vibrant Performance Muffler | Coby Wheel Tri-Stitch steering wheel & shift boot
Michelin PSS | Blizzak WS-80
It is a coding tool which you can use to code your LCM module such that when you pull the high beam stalk, you would have the inner halogens on along with the bi-xenons on high beam (shutter pulled down) and you can have the fog lamps on as well. Also known as the 'trifecta' lights. Pretty bright in my opinion.
Tony sells the PA Soft tool here. Just look up the ZHP parts classifieds sub-forum.
anandoc
2004 330i auto | ZPP, ZCW | Schwarz 2 (668) | schwarz (N6SW)
aFe Stage-1 Pro DRY S intake | Morimoto FX-R 3.0 retrofit | ///M3 Seats (power, heat, bolster adj.) | ///M3 Strut Brace | ///M3 SMG Steering Wheel retrofit | OEM Alarm retrofit | GROM USB | Khoalty angel eyes