Is the ZHP frail?

[Smolck]

So I know better than to do it, but I was trolling the board on E46fanatics and a thread about the oil pump nut issue came up. One guy said he had seen one ZHP loose the OPN on the track, killing it and another blow rod #5 out of the side of the block.

They then went on to say the m54b30 in general was weak and not meant for tracking.

I am just curious of everyone's take on that statement. The 3 people I know that track/auto-X their ZHP's have never had an issue. My car has 161k miles, and while I have never tracked it, it gets a pretty decent workout everytime I drive it. Am I just a redline or two away from tragedy?

[danewilson77]

We've not seen any here. Additionally there is an improved ZHP / E46 opn.

That's not to say one of our track rats here haven't heard of it though. I'll let these fine gentlemen chime in as well.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Hornung418]

If you're holding at 6k+ be worried.

Horney...via TT.

[Sockethead]

If you're holding at 6k+ be worried.

Horney...via TT.

+1
I've been told by several people that race on a regular basis that sustained high RPMs is what kills it...they said don't take it above 6500 or so. The car doesn't really make any power up there anyway. The tunes that increase the rev limiter are a good way to grenade the motor... not the tune itself... the fact that now you can rev the motor higher than it was designed for....

Problem is that when your racing, your not always looking at the Tach... bouncing off the rev limiter lets you know that your at the upper limit only now with the tune, your well in the danger zone by the time it's bouncing the rev limiter. I would asume that most people that track their cars also have some kind of tune on them too.

BTW I have 120K on my car and have beaten the crap out of it since I bought it at 44K... so far, it's been one of the most reliable cars I've owned

[Stu]

The ZHP oil nut is microencapsulated with a strong thread locking compound. I don't think it can back off as a result. I'm personally not worried one bit. If you do have to take off the oil pan for whatever reason, it wouldn't hurt to install a safety wire or weld it down while you're in there.

http://store.bimmerworld.com/m50-dri...-nut-p640.aspx

If you want absolute piece of mind, I'd buy that, put Loctite Red on there, and you'll never have it happen.

Also, I swear I've seen you a lot on other sites when browsing how to fix my E46 problems. That picture of your dog makes me laugh every time.

[JKO_ZHP]

The ZHP oil nut is microencapsulated with a strong thread locking compound. I don't think it can back off as a result. I'm personally not worried one bit. If you do have to take off the oil pan for whatever reason, it wouldn't hurt to install a safety wire or weld it down while you're in there.

http://store.bimmerworld.com/m50-dri...-nut-p640.aspx

If you want absolute piece of mind, I'd buy that, put Loctite Red on there, and you'll never have it happen.

Also, I swear I've seen you a lot on other sites when browsing how to fix my E46 problems. That picture of your dog makes me laugh every time.

+1 hahahaha
I know you're on E46Fanatics for sure.

[Hornung418]

Well the issue with that, Stu, is that if it wants to come off, it will. Either shearing or backing off. The ZHP is no different than a regular 330 in that regard. They used the thread locker, but that doesn't mean it wont fail under the right conditions, especially under load at high rpms.

Horney...via TT.

[nike001]

Drive it.


If shit hits the fan, it hits the fan.

[Smolck]

Drive it.


If shit hits the fan, it hits the fan.

This is what I am leaning towards.

[Stu]

With all this skepticism I have about my own oil pump nut sheering off, I can almost bet you I'll be a case of it. If I ever drop my oil pan, I'm going to get the improved one from VAC motorsports, if it's not too hard of a DIY to do. If it is well...I'll just at least do the safety wire and be okay with it.