Just got my first E46...

[Zaks]

Bought a 2003 330i ZHP 3 days ago with 175k on it. Very good mechanically a bit worn cosmetically but still shines and looks good.

I'm on here to learn as much as possible as quickly as possible to do a bunch of preventative maintenance on it and then slowly start restoring the cosmetic stuff here and there.

I've had 3-4 E36, 1 E34, 2 E30s and now this. I'm very familiar with the E36 and from what I hear E46 is fairly similar maintenance wise.

Any advice on what all to change immediately just to make sure it's fresh? I'm thinking oil, oil filter, air filter, spark plugs, maybe belts, cooling system (probably full, at least wp and tstat with coolant flush), trans fluid, pwr steering fluid, diff fluid, etc. Not sure which fluids to use just yet (Amsoil 5-40 for oil I believe) so any recommendations are welcome.

I'll post a few photos when I get some next few days.

Cheers,
Ivan


Ivan

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[BCS_ZHP]

Welcome, and pics when you can.

If you're doing the spark plugs, go ahead and do the valve cover gasket too. On cooling system, the expansion tank is the achilles heel, replace that too. When you're doing the belts, might as well do the tensioners and pulleys too. Plan to clean or rebuild your DISA valve, replace your intake boots, and clean your ICV while you're down that far. Not sure where you live but if its colder climes, plan on refreshing the CCV system too. At that mileage, pay attention to any vibration in the driveline, it may be pointing to your Center Support Bearing (CSB) and Guibo on the driveshaft needing to be replaced.
Bruce

[Vas]

Welcome.

[ELCID86]

Congrats on the car. Good advice (as always from Bruce above). WRT oil, I use Mobil1 0w40 from Walmart. Make sure any oil meets the right specs.


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

[johnrando]

Welcome. What they aaid. Plus, check to see if VANOS was done. And, pics please.

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[Dr Dynamite]

Awesome choice! Welcome

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[danewilson77]

Zaks, welcome.

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[3ZHP]

Welcome!


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[theothersawyer]

Welcome!!!!

[BMWCurves]

Welcome! Post some pics when you get a chance.

Bruce and others covered your maintenance bases pretty well. I'd agree with cooling system (water pump [OEM or Stewart], expansion tank, hoses, thermostat, radiator, radiator cap, coolant temp sensor, coolant level sensor), Inspection II items like filters (intake, cabin air, fuel, motor oil), fluids (motor oil , brake [I just used BMW DOT4 Low Viscosity[LV], some people use Pentosin DOT4 LV], differential oil [Redline 75W90], transmission fluid [Redline MTL], coolant [BMW]), [B]pulleys (AC tensioner, idler, tensioner), belts (serpentine, AC), spark plugs (NGK), and coil packs. I got kits for the cooling system overhaul and inspection items both from Turner Motorsport and haven't had any issues so far.

I haven't done anything with the idle control valve (ICV), VANOS, valve cover gasket (VCG), crankcase ventilation valve/oil separator (CCV), DISA, engine and differential mounts, etc that are higher mileage items, but other people can help you out with that.

I would also look into suspension parts if your car's suspension hasn't been refreshed in a while. OEM Sachs shocks/struts don't last all that long. I refreshed with Koni sports and love it, but there are a lot of options out there. When/if you do a suspension refresh, consider a stronger rear shock mount by someone like Rogue Engineering as well as strut reinforcement plates (BMW part no. 51717036781) in the front struts to help prevent mushrooming in the strut towers. Also consider bushings like front control arm bushings (FCABs), rear trailing arm bushings (RTABs), etc. You're familiar with BMWs so you're probably familiar with these items.

[oldzilla]

Welcome

[D1ESEL]

Can't wait to see some pics!

[Zaks]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and great info right off the bat! I plan to use Amsoil 5-30 or 5-40 as I've been using that with all my BMWs, but if anyone has a good reason not to I'll look into others.

As for the cooling system, yes I do plan to replace EVERYTHING, including the pulleys as there's a whirring noise that one of them may be causing. Belts look very good but I'll probably do them anyway and keep the old ones as spares, we'll see.

My plan is to start with the cooling system and typical maintenance (spark plugs and fluids). I'll check the coils and replace if necessary, otherwise just leave them.

Sometime in the spring/summer hoping to do the full suspension overhaul, but as I said, it drives well so I won't be in a rush to do that. It's more of a daily "beater", but it's such a great car that I can't just let it go to waste and drive it into the ground, so I'll be upgrading and fixing things up slowly as I go.

Thanks again!
Ivan

Unfortunately I didn't get much documentation with it but the car feels very solid and supposedly had the following done within the past couple of years... lower control arms, driveshaft center support, ps pump, alternator, diff seals, guibo, starter, fuel pump, etc. ( as per his ad). Definitely drives really well with no squeaks, etc.

[Zaks]

This is all I have for now, after I detailed it the other day.

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/12/26/2316691826d8a1c223428f42ed6a1b6d.jpg


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[ELCID86]

IR FTW.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

[Vas]

Imola...

[Zaks]

Here's a list of fluids I plan on doing, so advice would be great...

Amsoil 5w40 engine oil
Trans... RP Synchromax or Redline MTL? (I had Synchro in my E36 M3 and liked it)
Diff.. Royal Purple Max Gear 75w140 or 75w90 or Redline 75w90?
PS... Amsoil ATF
Brake... not going to do it for a while, but either Amsoil or ATE blue

[Vas]

Ate blue is no longer available. I run the amber version of it.

As the rest, I have mobile 1 and redline

[johnrando]

Everyone says don't use Royal Purple for trans, not sure about Diff.

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[ELCID86]

^agreed. It is not a favored fluid. Go Redline.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

[Zaks]

75w90 or 75w140?

[danewilson77]

^agreed. It is not a favored fluid. Go Redline.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member
In both...

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[Zaks]

That's odd as I've heard a lot of people liking Synchromax, myself included. Is it a 6-speed thing?

Also,75-90 for diff?


Ivan

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[BMWCurves]

I used the following fluids:
- Differential: Redline 75W90
- Transmission: Redline MTL
- Motor oil: BMW synthetic 5W-30, although I'm switching to Mobil 1 0W-40 next oil change. (BMW part no. 83212365946)
- Power steering: Redline D4 ATF
- Coolant: BMW coolant (BMW part no. 82141467704)
- Brake fluid: BMW DOT4 low viscosity (LV) (BMW part no. 81220142156)

[330i ZHP]

Welcome

[jfh342]

Welcome, let the games begin...

[Zaks]

$1100 order just placed from AutohausAZ. Friend/mechanic will be helping with the full cooling system, fluids, filters and AC compressor + recharge. $5500 car just became a $7k car in a week :)

[NoVAphotog]

$1100 order just placed from AutohausAZ. Friend/mechanic will be helping with the full cooling system, fluids, filters and AC compressor + recharge. $5500 car just became a $7k car in a week :)
Welcome and that's Still a great deal for what these cars are! Should be good for awhile. Just enjoy her after this tune up.

[fredo]

Welcome, sir ! IR FTW.

[Zaks]

$2500 later...
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160130/64d401f059832ba441c0e35d941dad00.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160130/6f977df5b099faa37ab7a2b8e5530fdd.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160130/6a872861942d1b290c8510d84275ec55.jpg
http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160130/abf10faa0e10e6187ffff71a309ae26b.jpg


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[Zaks]

So far I've done:
Full cooling system
AC compressor
All the plastics under the front bumper/engine
New fogs (cheap Depo to replace a missing and a cracked one)
Eagle eyes LED tails smoked
Corners and side markers smoked (corners and sides are a lot darker than I expected and darker than tails which I like, so I may be changing those we'll see)
Matte black kidney grille
All the engine bay seals
Windshield cowling
Painted the wiper blades and cabin filter cover
All new clips for door/fender trim
Interior got a new set of weathertech mats
Oil, trans and diff fluid all changed with Amsoil

Future plans include:
Pulling the hood trim and painting it satin/matte black for some added contrast
Repaint the hood
New bumper (this one has too many cracks for my liking)
Repair and touch up some dings and dents around the car
Rear suspension overhaul and reinforcement (may do an overall suspension upgrade at this time, but $$$$)
Shirt shift kit
Exhaust
Etc


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[Lorenzo]

Your imola ZHP looks awesome. Well done on all the maintenance items. Enjoy!!!

[BMWCurves]

Nice work :thumbsup

Which door clips are you talking about? The ones to hold in the door cards?

[ELCID86]

Wow. Lots-o-work.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[cakM3]

Looks good! Love the Eagle Eye tails :thumbsup

[Zaks]

Nice work :thumbsup

Which door clips are you talking about? The ones to hold in the door cards?

No, the exterior moulding/trim running down the middle of the doors.


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[Zaks]

Wow. Lots-o-work.


No rest for the weary :)

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160201/cbc8d7bd5095244c298bb4dd1c5a5a28.jpg

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160201/b009cd3fa27d104fb48d7d3142ca5d21.jpg


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[Vas]

Curious how that will look in black when the rest of the car is red.

[Zaks]

Curious how that will look in black when the rest of the car is red.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160201/de6038c8fb36b269f6d03a4926107050.jpg

I like it


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[BMWCurves]

Me too, gives a nice accent to the car.

[danewilson77]

Looks like this:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160202/25899286a23078deff2aa9e933ad704e.jpg

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[Zaks]

Looks like this:

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160202/25899286a23078deff2aa9e933ad704e.jpg

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Is that gloss or matte? The stripper screwed up my plastic piece so I'll be getting another one and painting it again.


Ivan

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[danewilson77]

Gloss. I figured since the Imola was gloss it should remain that way.

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[rguti153]

But that's how the regular e46 come with a black vent . Ours is color match

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[Zaks]

Gloss. I figured since the Imola was gloss it should remain that way.

Sent from an S6 Edge

Makes sense. I like it matte to match all the other trim (except around windows/doors) and also it doesn't get swirl marks as easily.

I guess I need to find one for sale from a non-zhp and just install it.


Ivan

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[danewilson77]

Very little is matte, unless you buy matte black kidneys.

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[cakM3]

But that's how the regular e46 come with a black vent . Ours is color match

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+1


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