Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 17
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52

    Cool Tatarin's Silver ZHP Project Thread

    Hello and Welcome,

    Sparing you the long introduction which you can read here:
    http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...tle-Washington
    I will be documenting the progress of the restoration and modification of my Silver ZHP.

    Specs of the car are:
    2006 ZHP with 51,000 miles at the time of purchase.

    Issues that need addressing:
    01) Airbag Light
    02) DSC / yellow "Brake" light (ABS Sensors?)
    03) WSP Inspection [PASSED 5/15/2017]
    04) Major Fuel Leak
    05) Rear Half Shafts/Boots/Bearings replacement
    06) Rear Seating Arrangement (or lack there of)

    07) Wheels and Tires [Received and Installed 5/26/2017]
    08) Alignment
    09) Rear-end damage
    10) Rear Bumper
    11) Paint


    I will update this as I install the parts and work on the car. Pictures below for inspiration.
    Name:  File_007.jpeg
Views: 1124
Size:  161.1 KB
    Name:  File_003.jpeg
Views: 915
Size:  162.1 KB
    Last edited by Tatarin; 08-02-2017 at 01:45 PM. Reason: Update 8/2/2017


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52
    First the good:
    1) I was able to pass the WSP regardless of a massive fuel leak which is only apparent after I shut the car off. (Maybe a return line returned it's last?) Taking suggestions on what that could be.
    2) Got rear and front wheels and tires. Indy 500 Firehawks at Firestone look to be a rebranded version of the Bridgestone RE003 tire for far less money.

    The bad:
    1) Massive fuel leak.
    2) Alignment is shot. Looks like the car was in a front end collision before the rear collision totalled it.

    After alignment I got my first batch of bad news. The best alignment I was able to get yielded the following:
    Driver's Front
    Camber: -1.0° (spec 0.0° to -0.7°)
    Caster: 4.6° (spec 5.9° to 4.9°)

    Passenger Rear
    Camber: -1.7° (spec -1.8° to -1.3°)
    Toe: -1.59° (spec 0.18° to 0.08°)

    So I ordered up some cheap adjustable suspension and camber arms to mend that. I just hope it doesn't drive like a banana. My thinking is, if I lower the car in the front I'll get more positive camber (adjustable top plates help). If I tighten up the camber control arms (CCA) in the rear I'll get more positive camber. So I got myself +/- 3° CCAs to help dial in the geometry after I lower the car. The mounting point for the CCAs is at the rear of the wheel hub assembly, by dialing in more camber, I should be able to adjust the toe to spec.
    Name:  2017.05.07 - Alignment.jpg
Views: 905
Size:  318.9 KB


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52

    Dashcam Hard-wire and Paint.

    In a true Russian fashion, I went ahead and hardwired a dashcam.
    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    Name:  IMG_2763.JPG
Views: 876
Size:  84.6 KB
    Please pardon the dirty windshield.
    Name:  IMG_2762.JPG
Views: 920
Size:  52.4 KB
    Clean install though.
    First Step - Shorten the wiring kit.
    Name:  IMG_2752.JPG
Views: 880
Size:  67.8 KB
    Took the Stock wiring kit that came with my dashcam: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1
    This "hardwire-kit" came with what feels like 15 feet of wire. So I shortened it for a factory feel.
    Thankfully there were only two wires
    RED - Hot
    Green - Ground
    What I did next was I located my "Home-Link" wiring harness on the passenger side of the dome light assembly.
    I took the green and blue wire and stripped it.
    Name:  IMG_2753.JPG
Views: 882
Size:  62.3 KB
    Attached my red wire from the hardwire kit to the green and blue wire from "Home-Link" loom.
    Name:  IMG_2755.JPG
Views: 854
Size:  41.1 KB
    Shrink wrapped the exposed wires and grounded the green bolt clip on to the screw with the bracket.
    Name:  IMG_2757.JPG
Views: 924
Size:  85.3 KB
    Re-assembled the whole shebang and there we have it.
    I am ready to capture next time a bear on a unicycle makes me throw my car in a ditch.
    Complimentary picture of my paint skills.
    Name:  IMG_2748.JPG
Views: 951
Size:  153.9 KB
    Name:  IMG_2750.JPG
Views: 828
Size:  145.0 KB


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    3,130
    This is amazing. How is the car driving?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2011
    Location
    VA/DC
    Posts
    14,445

  6. #6
    So did the previous owner cut and weld another back end of another car onto it? Is that easier to do than completely replace the side panels, trunk etc. ? Seems like it'd be a nightmare to get everything to line up. Cool project!

    Sent from my ONEPLUS 3 using Tapatalk

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52
    The car is driving better now that the alignment is getting fixed.


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52
    BMWM3186, he JB Welded the back end from a 325ci... poorly


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    10,243
    Quote Originally Posted by Tatarin View Post
    BMWM3186, he JB Welded the back end from a 325ci... poorly
    Just...no.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Greater Seattle Area
    Posts
    52

    54,000 mile Update

    So here is the skinny on the E46.
    I went with the most economical fully adjustable suspension (read: ebay come-ups) that I could find.
    The key factors were:
    1) Height adjustable
    2) Adjustable camber plates
    Name:  Suspension Work 2.jpg
Views: 822
Size:  144.6 KB
    I got a deal on lower adjustable camber arms which are far more stout than the stock ones.
    1) They are 3/8" steel at the thinnest point
    2) Take more work getting into the car than anticipated.
    Name:  Alignment Shop.jpg
Views: 1068
Size:  60.6 KB
    A little bit about installing the adjustable camber arms on the e46:
    1) Remove the front of the rear subframe support bracket.
    18mm ratcheting wrench (under exhaust), 18mm shallow ratchet, 13mm shallow ratchet, 10mm shallow ratchet.
    2) Undo the differential bolts with a jack and a wood block under the diff.
    18mm ratchet
    3) Jack up the differential 1.5 inches. Block it off to secure in place.
    4) Undo the four rear subframe bolts, drop the subframe 0.5 inches and make sure it rests on the bolts.

    Optional but recommended step:
    5) Lubricate your hubris with copious amounts of your favorite malt beverage.
    Name:  Camber Arms.jpg
Views: 844
Size:  61.2 KBName:  Suspension - front.jpg
Views: 818
Size:  44.4 KBName:  Suspension - rear.jpg
Views: 762
Size:  81.5 KB
    The results:
    As it sits, the car is lifted by about 1.5" from stock.
    Name:  Height.jpg
Views: 895
Size:  107.8 KB
    Name:  Height 2.jpg
Views: 832
Size:  77.5 KB
    Name:  Alignment at 54,000 miles.jpg
Views: 818
Size:  73.1 KB

    I still need to adjust the rear toe somehow. Any ideas and suggestions are welcome.

    P.S.
    Sorry for the bad photo quality. What image file reducer do you all use?
    P.P.S.
    Do not get the cheap orange adjustable ebay coilovers if you like your spine. To say that they are stiff is to say nothing at all.


    2005 330i ZHP - Daily
    111k miles
    2006 330ci ZHP - Project
    54k miles

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. WOLFN8TR'S ///M Project Thread!
    By WOLFN8TR in forum Projects
    Replies: 1420
    Last Post: 08-05-2023, 12:51 PM
  2. Rus_ZHP project thread
    By RUS_ZHP in forum Projects
    Replies: 79
    Last Post: 02-23-2019, 11:38 AM
  3. Replies: 769
    Last Post: 07-28-2017, 08:55 AM
  4. Replies: 12
    Last Post: 08-12-2015, 03:00 PM
  5. My 04 Silver Grey Coupe Project Thread
    By webster in forum Projects
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 11-22-2011, 03:36 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •