Hey guys! Some of you may have seen me in the ZHP wanted/for sale section looking for a car. Well one came up in the Charlotte area, looked decent, and had a good history, so I jumped on it. Flew up last Friday to carry out the transaction in person, after originally trying to get a family friend to help out, which just complicated things. I happened to have that Friday off by random chance!

This is a 2004 330i ZHP 6MT in mystic blue over alcantara
Acquired at 108,600 miles
I am the fourth owner: first owner = 7.5 years @ 8200mi/yr; 2nd owner = 6 years @ 5000mi/yr; 3rd owner = 9 months @ 6000 miles
No carfax issues, no accidents reported, no damage reported

I got a stack of maintenance papers from the PO, which dated back to when the car was new.


Quick maintenance history from POs:
- Regular BMW maintenance performed at BMW dealer through 2012 up to 62k miles, including a few oil changes that were only 1-2k miles apart because it had been a year since the previous change
Drive belts @ 60k
Driver's window regulator @ 61k
2nd owner changed oil and filter every 5k miles
Car tinted @ 62k
A/C charged @ 77k
OFHG, valve cover gaskets, spark plugs, coolant expansion tank, lower radiator hose, rear rotors, pads, and sensors, oil change, and coolant flush @ 87k
A/C charged again @ 91k
Passenger window regulator @ 94k
Oxygen sensors, brake fluid flush #3, fuel system cleaned, fuel adaptations reset (?) @ 101k
Driver and passenger airbag recall @ 102k
OEM white turn signals, engine and cabin air filters, spark plugs, headlight covers and gaskets, ZHP shift knob, washer fluid pump, windshield cowl cover, black grills, thermostat, and coolant @ 104-108k
Headliner replaced within the last 9 months

Here it is outside the DMV, right before I got my temporary tag to drive home (more pics in following post):




The car is not without it's issues. Here's my list to start, roughly prioritized. Need some help working these issues out as I learn these cars more. I know my E38 inside and out, but don't know the common issues / quirks of these E46s.

First two huge issues that drive me crazy:
1. Headlight reflector bowls burned. Can barely see at night. Need headlights pronto.
2. There are multiple misfires/stumbling through 2500-3000 rpm over more than 50% throttle (this is what threw my SES light halfway home on my trip down from NC, when I was in top gear and goosing it to feel the misfire. My OBD code reader read P2240: O2 sensor positive current control circuit / open bank 2 sensor 1.) I clearned the code and it hasn't come back, but the misfire is still there and very obvious. There's definitely loss of power through that band. Is this a common issue? Coils maybe going bad? Don't want to do any long term damage driving it like this.

- Exterior mirrors don't work. In fact, if the switch is in the driver's position, the mirror will move on its own in various directions. Very annoying
- Both passenger door vapor barriers are leaking, because water is getting on the door sills and seals. I hope it is not leaking inside...
- Rain sensor does not work. I noticed the windshield has been replaced because the glass is made my Fayuo, which I'm nearly certain isn't OEM. My E38 is Sekurit and the rest of the glass on this car is Pilkington. Not sure if that is the reason. I pulled the fuse for the drive so I could at least get the interval wipers working.
- Alarm does not make noise when locked and alarm light on mirror does not blink, but doors all lock
- Need to get Lamin-x for front lights (already got a rock into the passenger side new lens on the trip down that caused a small crack!!)
- The driver's front door tweeter is dead. Not sure if this is linked to the mirror issue. In the E38, the plugs can get swapped between the speakers and door memory buttons and can cause weird issues.
- The right rear midrange speaker in the back deck is not working (both subs in the trunk work)
- Need new rear ash tray roller
- Need new arm rest tray
- Arm rest is worn
- Steering wheel shows wear
- Front seat outside bolsters show wear
- Radio knob only turns up the radio no matter which way you turn it ???
- Headliner not quite hooked up right in the rear, so the CHMSL cover is hanging down on one side
- Moonroof sliding cover has high resistance (probably related to headliner install?)
- PO said oil pan gasket was damp. I know it's a common problem on these cars, so I'm not going to worry about it much right now, since it isn't a significant leak.
- Rear lights on trunk lid are cracking - want to replace all rear amber lights with white (ideally the LED ones I see on 06+ cars. can this be done?)
- Full paint correction with Griot's Polywax to finish
- Should probably replace transmission and diff fluids and an oil change
- Need new power steering cap o-ring