New (to me) ZHP Coupe

[Sicily1918]

Hey, all. New to the site, but old to E46s :thumbup

Just picked up this baby:

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=7599&pictureid=38766

2005 ZHP, 64,800 miles (it was slightly less, but whatever), Nav, Premium... everything except the cold weather package and PDC.

FYI, here are both of my E46s: have had the one on the right since 2003, at 28 miles (only because they had to drive it from Hollywood BMW to my dealership).

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/picture.php?albumid=7599&pictureid=38721

[BMWCurves]

Looks good, low mileage! Are you going to keep your other E46 coupe?

Any plans for mods/maintenance?

[Sicily1918]

What a project...

So far:


Installed a Dice Silverline for my iPod.
Upgraded the Navi firmware to v32. (4-1/00).
Found legit 2015 nav DVDs for $90...
Changed oil (it was 2 years old) to LubroMoly 5/30 but did not reset oil counter.
Changing power steering ATF (it was brown/gray... very scary) to RedLine D4 -- this is still ongoing since I'm using the turkey-baster method :biggrin
Properly mounted the battery.
Washed it three times (in one week).
Installed LED license plate lights from Bimmian.
Replaced cabin microfilter.
Replaced engine filter.
Replaced wiper cover.
Replaced wipers with Bosch Icons.
Replaced windshield washer pump.
Installed missing driver's side wheel cover.
Installed missing ambient temp sensor.
Replaced leaking coolant return hose and thermostat.
Replaced leaking expansion tank (shocking on an E46... :rolleyes)
Cleaned MAF.
Changed carpets.
Replaced cup holder and coin tray with extended Euro rolling tray.
Replaced missing ashtrays (not that I smoke, but hey, car's gotta look right!).
Replaced glove flashlight with BMW accessory adapter (no longer made; bought mine many years ago).


On order/to do -- not all of these are necessary right away, but I'm impatient:

60K mile preventive maint:

Replace water pump/belts.
Replace spark plugs (with OEM NGK).

Check front control arms.



Clay the crap out of the car.

Clay it again.
Do the Meguiar's 3-step glaze/wax process.


New brakes all around (Meyle pre-coated rotors, OEM pads) plus fluid flush plus replace caliper bushings w/Bavauto's metal ones.
Replace broken shifter knob -- on order.
Replace sidemarkers -- on order.
Change shocks (to Bilstein HD) -- current Sachs ones are fine, but noisy.
Change control arm bushings (to Powerflex) -- might as well if I'm doing the shocks.

Possibly change front control arms if necessary (I think they're fine, though).


Get an alignment after replacing the above three items.
Change tires (to Michelin Supersports).
Change ATF (at least twice, since it was never done before) to RedLine D6.
Change Diff fluid (to RedLine gear oil).
Change oil filter housing cover (for aesthetics only -- the one on right now is fine, but looks like crap).
Change motor oil in 2000 more miles to RedLine 5/30.
Get tint!

There might be more, but I forget... I'm sure there's more... I'm going to sleep!

[Sicily1918]

Looks good, low mileage! Are you going to keep your other E46 coupe?Oh, yeah; it became my wife's DD last Sat (less than 24 hours after I had registered and insured the ZHP). Lucky I had a spare car!

Any plans for mods/maintenance?Ha! See my post above!

[3ZHP]

Welcome' looks like you'll fit in here just fine. [emoji6]


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[Sicily1918]

Welcome' looks like you'll fit in here just fine. [emoji6]That's what I like to hear!

[PetesZ]

Love the car. 05 coupe is the way to go. Nice list also. Question on tires. Why Michelin? I

[slater]

looks great, and welcome! nice work so far - good to see picky owners. :)

[san]

Welcome


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[Dual]

Welcome! Looks great.

[09mageec]

Welcome, cars looking nice!

[fw_fw]

Congrats and welcome!

[danewilson77]

Beautiful. Welcome

Sent from an S6 Edge

[Sicily1918]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!


Love the car. 05 coupe is the way to go. Nice list also. Question on tires. Why Michelin? II love the tires. Switched to PS2s when my car had 18K mi and never looked back. Now that I've put a few thousand miles on the SSs, I just can't go back.
looks great, and welcome! nice work so far - good to see picky owners. :)Picky? Me? :eeps

[fredo]

Welcome, sir ! Both cars are in good hands, I can tell. Where did you find the $90 DVDs ?

[Vas]

Koni sale is still going on if you want to save some money and get them instead of Bilstein

[Sicily1918]

Welcome, sir ! Both cars are in good hands, I can tell. Where did you find the $90 DVDs ?eBay -- the guy had only the one kit (but it was even shrink-wrapped)... Oh, figures -- this guy has a whole bunch of 2015 nav DVDs for $60!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2015-BMW-Navigation-Disc-East-West-HIGH-GPS-System-Map-Update-Set-/262300312934?fits=Make%3ABMW&hash=item3d12512566:g:pe4AAOSwB4NWyTC4&vxp=mtr


Koni sale is still going on if you want to save some money and get them instead of BilsteinToo late... ordered 'em last night. Thanks, though!

[cakM3]

Welcome! Love your collection :thumbsup

[Sicily1918]

More eye-candy... my E36 (well, my wife's baby until she took the E46 last week).

[Sicily1918]

Continuing maintenance...


Changed ATF and filter (Redline D6, OEM filter) -- will do one more change in 2300 miles (when the oil change counter gets to 0).

Did same on the 325; at 45K I changed the 'lifetime' fluid to D4 (ZF tranny) -- it came out gray-ish brown and you could not see through it, much like the ZHP's today.
Used 6qt of fluid (tranny takes 8.9qt, if I'm not mistaken) -- the rest was in the torque converter, so now the fluids will mix, and in another 2000 miles I'll do another change and effectively have 90% (or so) new D6. Same as with my 325 years ago.
Change ATF every 30K miles after that.


Changed differential fluid.

Every 30K from now on.


New belts.
New pulleys.
New water pump (OEM, since I'm replacing every 60K).


Next week:

New brakes (got the rotors today).
Do a brake fluid flush (w/Ate 200 -- don't ask me why I didn't use RedLine for the brakes, too).
Upgrade brake caliper bushings with brass ones.
Fuel filter.
Shocks (Bilstein -- Bavauto has them 10% off) B6 Heavy Duty, not B4 Sachs replacements.
Control arm bushings (Powerflex).
Rear shock mounts (Powerflex, with reinforcement plates).
Spark plugs.
Replace shifter knob (finally shipped).
Replace sidemarkers.

I can't wait until the suspension stuff's taken care of so I can get my new tires... the ones on now have a slight flat spot and they SUUUUUCK!



Edit: Well, I didn't feel it earlier because I was in traffic, but WOW does the car shift smooth and faster now!

[BMWCurves]

Wow, lots of great stuff. What brand did you buy for the new side markers? Mine are yellowing. Khoalty has some for cheap, but interested to see what route you went.

[Sicily1918]

Wow, lots of great stuff. What brand did you buy for the new side markers? Mine are yellowing. Khoalty has some for cheap, but interested to see what route you went.Mine are becoming cloudy/frosted (if that's the right word?).

I went OEM, since they're LED anyways.

$28.32 apiece from www.getbmwparts.com (http://www.getbmwparts.com/)

63136920731 (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=BD53-USA-07-2005-E46-BMW-330Ci&mg=63&sg=10&diagId=63_0800&q=63136920731) (left clear)
63136920732 (http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/part?id=BD53-USA-07-2005-E46-BMW-330Ci&mg=63&sg=10&diagId=63_0800&q=63136920732) (right clear)

[Sicily1918]

OK, more things done!


New rotors (Meyle Platinum) and brakes (Textar -- non-branded OEM).
Replaced my broken shifter -- upgraded to Titan (black/silver -- BMW part no. 25161423537) Here's a pic (https://c1552172.ssl.cf0.rackcdn.com/310910_x800.jpg). It looks GREAT with the silver cube trim!
Replaced the shifter surround plate (the black piece that holds the alcantara boot and has the gears).
Got all the screws and so forth to properly mount my license plates.
Got BMW license plate frames.
Replaced cracked front reflectors.
Replaced sidemarkers (OEM).
Installed Powerflex control arm bushings.
Installed Powerflex rear shock mounts.
Installed Bilstein HD shocks.

A note about these shocks:

These are B6 shocks (Heavy Duty).

My ride is not noticeably firmer than before -- ZHP shocks are definitely firmer than stock sports. When I upgraded my 325Ci (already had the OEM sports shocks), I felt a biiiig difference.
I would say my ride's firmness is the same as before, although the Bilsteins really dampen more (just as firm a ride, but bumps are not as jarring)... of course, I was running on 11-year old 65K mi shocks.


You can also get B4, which are rather cheap (about $100/per strut as opposed to $215) and more OEM-level. Honestly, I think I would rather get OEM to these.
You can also get B8 (Sports), which are supposed to be used with lowering springs.

People have commented that ZHPs need Sports or they will sit higher than stock... I just measured (and even took pictures to compare) and my car sits the same as OEM on Bilstein B6s, and that includes the fact that there are new bushings.




Cleaned my rims with P21S and a wheel brush :eeps

Tomorrow I get an alignment and Fri I get my new tires!

[BMWCurves]

All good stuff :thumbsup

[Sicily1918]

Well, lookit that... after new bushings and shocks, my alignment was barely off (and I can't even say that it wasn't already like that)!