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View Full Version : New Mafia member, Honduras Central America



Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 07:46 AM
Hey guys, Im writing from Honduras in Central America, I recently acquired a 2005 330i ZHP Imola Red, it has currently 103k miles on it. This is my 2nd BMW I had a 1996 e36 328is a couple of years ago and I simply fell in love with BMW I sold it with 167k miles on it and it ran so smooth but I had to let it go.

Ever since I always knew I wanted to get another one, but then I moved from Guatemala to Honduras and BMW has very little presence here, the dealers focus mainly on the X series. A couple of months ago I was going through a couple of forums in Guatemala and I saw an ad for a 2005 330ZHP and I couldnt believe they were selling it, started doing a lot of research on the car, read a lot from this forum and I fell in love with it.

I tried contacting a couple of my buddies from the BMW Club in Guatemala https://www.facebook.com/bmwclubguatemala?fref=ts and sure enough someone knew the owner I contacted him and then the mechanic who I had met previously and he gave me pretty good news. I spoke with the owner and sent him some money to reserve it and flew to Guatemala and I bought it. Drove it down here (450 miles away)

The car came from the US on 2012 the previous owner did a couple of things to it, he exchanged the wheels on it with an e46 M3 got the style 68 wheels :( and removed the HID module and switched it to the standard halogen lights, unfortunately. Other than that, the car runs great its well maintained, and I love it. I have done a couple of things to it like fixing the A pillars, putting in some new stealth black grills, drop in k&n filter, 70% tint. Theres not a lot of things here for my car, I order everything through amazon or TMS.

I live very close by to my work and I dont use it every day, a full tank of gas lasted 4 weeks, almost the complete month. I try to enjoy it on the weekends.
I have to do a couple of things to it, need to find a mechanic I can trust to change the valve cover gasket (already have the new one), wanna change the wheels to alufelgen cs7, and other minor things.

Anyways, I wanted to say hi and tell you a little about my new baby´s story. I know that I will learn a lot from you guys.

Im attaching a couple of pics of my old e36 and of course the ZHP. These are some old pics of how I bought the car, havent been able to take new, weather down here has not been the best lately. I will post some new ones when I can.

Cheers

johnrando
07-01-2013, 08:00 AM
Congrats on the great pickup and welcome to the family! The valve cover gasket is a straightforward DIY if you are interested. GL.

ELCID86
07-01-2013, 08:04 AM
Very nice. Welcome. BTW, how much is gas down there?

WRT the k&N, are you running dry or oiled filter? Most here recommend dry so as not to foul the MAF.

Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 08:17 AM
Very nice. Welcome. BTW, how much is gas down there?

WRT the k&N, are you running dry or oiled filter? Most here recommend dry so as not to foul the MAF.

Thanks! Gas price is approx. US$4.50 x gallon.

Didnt know about the K&N filter, mine is oiled. Now you got me thinking....

fredo
07-01-2013, 08:26 AM
Welcome ! Your ZHP looks very sharp. Looks like you found a good one. :biggrin

Avetiso
07-01-2013, 09:06 AM
Nice find! You must be lucky to grab a car like that down there. Shame about the HIDs, but some cars did come with halogen, so it may have been like that from the factory.

Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 09:19 AM
Nice find! You must be lucky to grab a car like that down there. Shame about the HIDs, but some cars did come with halogen, so it may have been like that from the factory.

Thanks! Yeah, they´re not common at all.
Interesting fact on the HIDs, thought they came with the car considering its got all the other extras.

ELCID86
07-01-2013, 09:26 AM
Thanks! Gas price is approx. US$4.50 x gallon.

Didnt know about the K&N filter, mine is oiled. Now you got me thinking....
Some discussion here: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10228-Which-intake-to-get&highlight=filter I'm sure there are more. I went with aFe drop in dry filter.
Not too bad on the gas, especially for you not having to drive much.

BavarianZHP
07-01-2013, 09:37 AM
Thanks! Yeah, they´re not common at all.
Interesting fact on the HIDs, thought they came with the car considering its got all the other extras.

You can use VIN decoders such as the one here to see all of your original options from the factory:

http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

Usually they just need the LAST 7 digits of the vin. Give it a shot, if you don't see Xenons, then it didn't come with them.

Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 09:45 AM
Some discussion here: http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?10228-Which-intake-to-get&highlight=filter I'm sure there are more. I went with aFe drop in dry filter.
Not too bad on the gas, especially for you not having to drive much.

Thanks! Will read through it! Yeah gas isnt that bad and specially under my conditions.

Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 09:56 AM
You can use VIN decoders such as the one here to see all of your original options from the factory:

http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

Usually they just need the LAST 7 digits of the vin. Give it a shot, if you don't see Xenons, then it didn't come with them.

That´s awesome, went through it and Xenons werent there! Im happy to know that no one has manipulated the electrical system.9309

BavarianZHP
07-01-2013, 09:58 AM
Ah, I see you have the cold weather package and rain sensing wipers! :)

danewilson77
07-01-2013, 09:59 AM
Welcome.

Oli77
07-01-2013, 02:13 PM
Welcome to the best bimmer forum on the web.

Don't guess you'll need heated seats in Honduras!

ryankokesh
07-01-2013, 02:22 PM
Welcome!

I'd be excited to not have xenons... the burnt bowl issue they have is a PITA! So consider yourself lucky! :thumbsup

kayger12
07-01-2013, 02:41 PM
Welcome to the Family.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Yass_ZHP
07-01-2013, 02:42 PM
Welcome to the best bimmer forum on the web.

Don't guess you'll need heated seats in Honduras!

U got that right, too bad they didnt have ventilated seats back then.


Ah, I see you have the cold weather package and rain sensing wipers! :)

Yep! Thanks


Welcome!

I'd be excited to not have xenons... the burnt bowl issue they have is a PITA! So consider yourself lucky! :thumbsup

Very true, still they do look awesome!

webster
07-02-2013, 09:44 AM
bienvenido a la familia, felicitaciones en su nueva ZHP!

SoarinZHP
07-02-2013, 09:45 AM
It looks brand new. That's awesome!

Yass_ZHP
07-02-2013, 12:36 PM
bienvenido a la familia, felicitaciones en su nueva ZHP!
Gracias! :)
I love the wheels on yours!

It looks brand new. That's awesome!
Thanks! I just need to do some minor fixes, but it is in pretty good shape. :D

Johnmadd
07-02-2013, 12:41 PM
Hola

Marcus-SanDiego
01-11-2014, 09:13 AM
Welcome.