Jon's '04 Alpine White Sedan Project

[JupiterBMW]

Ok everyone, this thread is to document the ownership, maintenance, restoration, and modifications of my ZHP. I want to keep somewhat of a 'log' of everything I do to the car, with photos, and I figured this is better than a list on my computer. Plus, I get to share with all of you. The newest round of updates will be in bold.

Anyway, I bought the car on May 31st with about 93,500 miles on it. The car was located in NY, about an hour outside of the city. I paid handsomely for it, $15000, as it was the exact car I wanted, and finding this color combination in a sedan with a manual transmission was pretty tough. Luckily, it has been a great purchase so far and the car seems to be in really great shape. I will first set out to correct a few small issues, and then I'll start customizing the car to my liking.

I have added a bunch of reserved replies to this post so that I can add pics in as I go, as well as more info. But, after that, I'd love to hear your input, ideas, and recommendations.

Thanks for looking!

5/31/12- 93,507- Initial purchase
6/27/12- 95,428- Installed some new tires out back to replace some severely bubbled garbage 'Nexen' tires. Waiting to do the fronts until I get a set of square rims...
7/9/12- Finally got my headlights sorted. I retrofitted the severely burnt ZKWs with E90 parts, but then sold those in favor of OEM AL produced lights. Also installed some amazing Osram Xenarc SVS bulbs.
7/12/12- Installed the OEM homelink module in the headliner, one small feature I could NOT live without!
7/25/12- Picked up a set of new OEM carpeted floormats. Gives the interior a very finished look!
7/25/12- Removed the CDV and also installed a heightened clutch stop pad. A much better feel with both mods!
7/29/12- Navigation finally all fixed. Repaired the antenna, updated software, and picked up a 2012 maps disc. Finally working correctly!
7/30/12- Ordered the full Euro light package from Turner Motorsports, including stealth bulbs
8/19/12- Painted the matte black grills gloss black.
8/31/12- Installed the OEM ///M dead pedal to replace my cracked dead pedal.
11/19/12- 97,846- Installed the Dinan exhaust.
11/24/12- 97,846- Full brake package. StopTech/Centric Cross drilled rotors, StopTech SS braided lines, Axxis MetalMaster pads, and a full flush with ATE Super Blue brake fluid. Also replaced the sensors as well, and the left front caliper due to a snapped off bleeder screw.
11/26/12- 97,988- Shaved '330i' emblem from trunklid. Pics located in post #46.

[JupiterBMW]

The day I first saw the car. Took this pic right before I drove her off.



Home in Florida... The first real shots of the car, inside and out.







Finally got my AL lights and new bulbs in... Amazing output!



New floormats!



Navigation all sorted out and working beautifully!



Out for an evening cruise... Can't beat Florida weather!



Gloss black kidney grills... Now I need to do the lower grill!



Clear taillights to finish off the full Euro clear light package...

[JupiterBMW]

My new OEM ///M dead pedal. Definitely better than the cracked plastic one I had! Interior is almost done!



The first part of my Dinan build, the exhaust. I wish it was a full cat-back system as the quality is beautiful, but I am still extremely thrilled with it. It is very stock sounding most of the time, but has a nice little drone at 1500-2000 RPM and it sounds great when you really get on it! Just enough noise to be more than stock, yet not enough to bother my wife and baby when in the car.





It was a long process, but the brakes are done... It took a while to sort out the ordeal of why I received two LEFT rear rotors, but details on that can be found in a separate thread, HERE. Once that was sorted out, I installed everything else and I am extremely happy with the results so far. The biggest improvement, the pad wear sensor light is gone from my dashboard! I am still in the process of bedding the pads in, but so far they're nice and quiet, low dust, and the black coating on the rotor hats and vents looks GREAT alongside the black paint I did on the calipers.

[JupiterBMW]

#3 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#4 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#5 Space Reserved...

[JupiterBMW]

#6 Space Reserved...

[danewilson77]

First of all...let me say...the "space reserved" posts don't bother me at all. Just a recommendation: The initial post can always be updated, with a date, and then what mods were added. After then installing said mod, you can bump the thread to let peeps know you added some stuff to the initial post. Again....its just another way of accomplishing the same thing. It's just the second time I've seen it done this way, recently, so I thought I would mention.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[derbo]

alpine white. Definitely keeping up with this thread Jon!

[JupiterBMW]

Dane- Yeah man, I plan to do that. Hopefully the "space reserved" posts don't offend, I just planted them there so I could add all my pictures in the front as well. I'm pretty sure there is a 10 pic/post limit, right? If I'm wrong, lemme know and we can get rid of those posts... But, I do plan to update the initial thread with info, and then pics in the following posts.

Derek... Thanks homie! Updates coming real soon, just busy getting all set to head out to work (at the airport now).