Webster's 2004 BMW 330i ZHP Project Thread

[ZHPizza]

I was just reading about people doing a piston soak to address leaking rings. Might want to give it a shot before a rebuild!

[webster]

I was just reading about people doing a piston soak to address leaking rings. Might want to give it a shot before a rebuild!

Deetz? Not familiar with that process.

[webster]

Update

Mileage: 171,975


DIY Oil Change for the first time since owning the car. Used Shell Rotella T6 5W-40 as recommended on the board, to try to address the oil consumption. hopefully this helps!

also replaced the tires that came on the car (General rears, some no-name cheapo fronts) with Firestone Indy 500s in OEM staggered size. initial impressions are very positive! they feel lighter and obviously are much grippier and more responsive compared to the cheapo tires that i had been driving on since buying the car. i had considered the Conti ExtremeContact Sports but they were $250 more and the reviews for the Indy 500s were stellar, so i decided to take the savings and give the Firestones a shot. they were $478 shipped from TireRack and it cost $130 for mount and roadforce balance at Discount Tire. not too bad of a bottom line for new shoes.

next update will be after installing the Coby alcantara wheel i purchased earlier this week, as well as trying to swap the shift knob to a Coby alcantara version as well.

[az3579]

they were $478 shipped from TireRack and it cost $130 for mount and roadforce balance at Discount Tire. not too bad of a bottom line for new shoes.

That price is one reason I bought a set right before switching over to winter tires for the season. I didn't even get to put a couple hundred miles on them before having to switch, so I'm also curious to see what they're really like. I really hope these darned Nor'Easters cut it out; we've had 3 so far this month already. Hoping to switch back on April 1st if the weather cooperates.

Curious to hear what you think of them for daily duties (noise, comfort, tramlining Y/N, wet grip).

[webster]

^ will report back after a few thousand miles

today i installed the Coby shift knob. the old one was either glued or was just stubborn AF. i had to use a hair dryer to loosen it enough to pop off.

i did manage to mess up the shift linkage movement a bit as i had to smack the new knob with a rubber mallet to get it to seat securely. there is more play in the neutral position as well as in each gear. BAH. oh well. it sure looks/feels good though!

my Coby wheel shipped today and should be here Thursday!

[webster]

Coby wheel installed:

[ZHPizza]

Coby wheel installed:

And shifter! Did you also install a hand washing station?

[webster]

haha, i keep a microfiber in the car and wipe down the wheel and shifter after every drive. i think it helps keep oils from setting in.

[webster]

ARC-8s installed. Somehow Apex shipped me a set of 9.5s to go with the 9s. Tried the 9.5s first (love the concave look), but They were too much wheel so i stuck with the 9s. Need to switch out to BMW center caps but I'm liking the new look.

[BMWCurves]

Looks good!