Materials to Maintain Your ZHP IIIII Hand Protection IIIII Tools to Maintain Your ZHP
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    24

    New Member, New ZHP - long time E46 owner

    Hello All,

    Well, I have owned an E46 nearly constantly since 2001. Currently I have 5 of them at home, 4 of them are road worthy and will be kept. One is a parts donor that I had fixed up, but was then totaled and the body is unsalvageable.

    But this is my first ZHP. I have been looking for one since last spring, but only very seriously since this spring. I think that the prices for a decent one seem to have jumped over this summer as I was getting very frustrated. I missed several very good deals by hours or minutes, but I finally settled on this one. It has higher mileage than I was hoping at 168k, but it seems in pretty decent shape and my son really liked the color combo, so that was worth a bit extra to me.

    It is a 2005 Sapphire Black 6 speed sedan with Natural Brown leather and black cube trim. Interior condition is quite good for mileage. The paint needs quite a bit of work, but it is good enough. Mechanically it is better than the last 3 E46s I have bought, but of course needs some attention. Most importantly is that it is totally stock - never been modified in any way as far as I can tell so far.

    All in all, a good candidate to bring back to rude health. Here it is...
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    '05 ZHP 6MT Sedan, '05 M3 6MT Coupe, '03 325i ZSP 5MT Touring and a few other BMWs

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    24
    Name:  IMG_20201006_171532_01.jpg
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    Last edited by malapane; 10-15-2020 at 06:59 AM.
    '05 ZHP 6MT Sedan, '05 M3 6MT Coupe, '03 325i ZSP 5MT Touring and a few other BMWs

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    22841
    Posts
    9,921
    Welcome

    Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk

    His - 2004 Imola Red / Alcantara 330i | 6MT | ZHP |

    Her's - 2005 Black Sapphire Metallic / Black Leather 330i | 6MT | ZHP |

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Austin TX
    Posts
    7,606
    Welcome, sir. Car looks nice. What service or repairs do you plan to do ?
    2005 IR / black / 6MT
    157,000 miles

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    24
    Quote Originally Posted by fredo View Post
    Welcome, sir. Car looks nice. What service or repairs do you plan to do ?
    Thank you both.

    Right now I am going to test the compression and just drive it for awhile to see what it needs. He said the valve cover gasket and CCV system were changed recently, so I will just watch for any oil leaks or coolant issues for now. Seems to need control arm bushings - just slightly, but I will start a list so I can mechanically refresh it efficiently. I have refreshed 3 E46s in the last 20 months, so I have some spare parts and can prepare an easy plan of attack. Honestly it drives great. I drove it 4.5 hours home without raising a single eyebrow. More than I can say for the last 3.

    Cosmetically it needs a few things that I can tinker with in the mean time. New grilles, new/painted impact trips front and rear. Needs a new armrest cover. new shift knob. Fabric paint the rear package tray... etc. What's the best cleaner /treatment for the black impact strips on the doors? I have never seen a set so covered with wax residue.

    Oh, one thing I don't understand that I need to fix. The xenon headlights both work but low beams are very dim. Is that a known issue?
    '05 ZHP 6MT Sedan, '05 M3 6MT Coupe, '03 325i ZSP 5MT Touring and a few other BMWs

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Austin TX
    Posts
    7,606
    Very likely, your ZKW headlamp bowls are burnt. Some people replace them. Please notice AL headlamps don't have this issue.

    http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...nt-bowls-today
    2005 IR / black / 6MT
    157,000 miles

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2014
    Location
    Portland, OR
    Posts
    10,243
    First:



    Second:

    Quote Originally Posted by malapane View Post
    Oh, one thing I don't understand that I need to fix. The xenon headlights both work but low beams are very dim. Is that a known issue?
    There is a well known burnt bulb reflector issue in sedans. Sedan owners can weigh in on the best solutions

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    24
    Thanks! All the years I have had E46s and not a xenon spec car until last year. The xenon headlights on my 03 touring are spectacular, so I figured there was something going on here.

    I guess now I will have a new project to research on my list.
    '05 ZHP 6MT Sedan, '05 M3 6MT Coupe, '03 325i ZSP 5MT Touring and a few other BMWs

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    Independence KY
    Posts
    2,832
    Did you buy this car in Kentucky?
    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



  10. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2020
    Location
    Chicagoland
    Posts
    24
    Quote Originally Posted by BADCLOWN View Post
    Did you buy this car in Kentucky?
    Yes, Taylor Mill. Right near you it looks like. Did you know this car?
    '05 ZHP 6MT Sedan, '05 M3 6MT Coupe, '03 325i ZSP 5MT Touring and a few other BMWs

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