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View Full Version : Made it 2 years before crawling back to BMW



ZHPizza
12-14-2016, 08:57 AM
I guess it's about time that I do this introduction thread thing...

I seem to have [accidentally] found my way back into a ZHP after spending the past two years claiming that I would never ever own another BMW. Something something strong will...whatever. I do have a long history of BMW ownership (really more like an abusive relationship at this point), so I'll just give a quick run through:


1991 Alpine White 525i AT - First car. Man, what a sweet riding automobile and the perfect tank for a 16 year old to sling around town. Ran great for a few years until I went way, way overboard and jumped into a...

1995 Avus Blue M3 MT - Dear god. Absolutely loved this car but was far too young/stupid for something that could carry speed like that. Did not end well(link). (http://imgur.com/a/ONCGx#0)

1993 Granite Silver 325is MT - After walking away from the M3 with the worst injury being my pride, I knew that I wanted another e36 to for the safety factor alone. Enter the 189hp 2.5L. I was a much, much safer driver at this point and dogged this thing all through college and into adulthood. I ended up selling it to a coworker at 265k miles (on the original clutch!) and it still runs fine.

2003 Silver Grey 330i ZHP MT - This was a stupid purchase. The 325is was running fine, but I had started learning about the e46, browsing the mafia, and I just kind of happened upon what looked to be the perfect car. Went and bought it despite a horde of red flags. It was just too pretty. Seller was a mafia member (link to his build thread (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?6292-Just-another-ZHP-Build)) that didn't do anything wrong with the car, but it had a very rough history before him. The spare donut was worn bare, differential leaking heavily, several small things never got repaired, etc. I knew I was in for a world of hurt the first time that I took it through a car wash and got soaked because THE SUNROOF DRAINS WERE ALL CLOGGED WITH SHATTERED GLASS. Jesus. That was a two year fight to keep the car on the road until I finally gave up, sold it, and bought a brand new Japanese car.

*2015 Liquid Silver Mazda 6 MT - Great car. Built in Japan. Smooth riding. Sporty handling. Excellent gas mileage. Decent power after a tune. Modified with Android headunit, Koni FSD's, sway bars, etc. Still drives like a FWD economy car. Still not a ZHP.

2005 Imola Red 330Ci ZHP MT - I blame my friend for this one. He emailed me a craigslist ad for a dealer about an hour away with this car listed way too low. I wasn't even remotely looking for another ZHP. He was halfway shopping for one and it seemed great in the pictures, so we drove up there to check it out. It was indeed in excellent shape. Shit. We couldn't leave. One of us had to buy this car and it fell to me.

http://i.imgur.com/x6ahFJt.jpg

So here I am. Imola coupe in the garage, splitting time with the Mazda. I'll eventually start a build thread for the Imola coupe because it doesn't look like it's going anywhere -- I really, really like driving it. Here's to moneypits! :cheers

*not a BMW

san
12-14-2016, 09:24 AM
Welcome! Wow that e36 M3 [emoji15]


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ZHPizza
12-14-2016, 09:32 AM
Welcome! Wow that e36 M3 [emoji15]


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Thx, san.

Re: e36 M3 - I had just installed the full Conforti intake/software and wanted to see if it would hit 150. It hit 150, then a ditch around 120. Tumbled end over end ~100 yards and burnt to the ground while I stood there wondering when I was going to wake up from this craaazy dream. I wouldn't trade the learning experience for anything -- just wish I hadn't destroyed such a rare color!

holyc0w
12-14-2016, 09:51 AM
That's quite the crash.

Vas
12-14-2016, 12:42 PM
Welcome back. Hopefully you stick around this time :P

Johnmadd
12-14-2016, 03:25 PM
Very nice introduction. Welcome.

johnrando
12-14-2016, 03:50 PM
Welcome back


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ELCID86
12-14-2016, 04:21 PM
Welcome back


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Ditto.


---
"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." - anonymous E46 fanatic

slater
12-14-2016, 07:10 PM
2005 Imola Red 330Ci ZHP MT - I blame my friend for this one. He emailed me a craigslist ad for a dealer about an hour away with this car listed way too low. I wasn't even remotely looking for another ZHP. He was halfway shopping for one and it seemed great in the pictures, so we drove up there to check it out. It was indeed in excellent shape. Shit. We couldn't leave. One of us had to buy this car and it fell to me.
[/LIST]

So here I am. Imola coupe in the garage, splitting time with the Mazda. I'll eventually start a build thread for the Imola coupe because it doesn't look like it's going anywhere -- I really, really like driving it. Here's to moneypits! :cheers

this is a great story - and i can appreciate the bold bit above! i was car shopping a year ago for one of my friends and i brought him to see a 2003 330i M Sport, steptronic. it was a 1-owner car and really clean inside, but needed a little mechanical love - and the price was right. he didn't buy it, so i had to... consequently i sorted the mechanicals and sold it to another friend of mine, who is driving it to this day and loves it.

they don't have to be moneypits... you just have to buy the right one with the right history and maintenance. :)

:cheers

fredo
12-14-2016, 09:17 PM
Welcome, sir ! Sorry about the M3. How many miles on the IR ?

BMWCurves
12-14-2016, 10:45 PM
Welcome (again)!

az3579
12-15-2016, 04:37 AM
they don't have to be moneypits... you just have to buy the right one with the right history and maintenance. :)



These cars are always money pits. lol
I can't tell you much money I've dumped into my car just to keep it going (so it needs nothing), even now that everything is (or is supposed to be) sorted. Here I am, all caught up, and new crap to fix keeps popping up every other week!

Even someone who spends almost nothing to maintain their E46 still spends much more than a Japanese equivalent.

slater
12-15-2016, 06:13 AM
These cars are always money pits. lol
I can't tell you much money I've dumped into my car just to keep it going (so it needs nothing), even now that everything is (or is supposed to be) sorted. Here I am, all caught up, and new crap to fix keeps popping up every other week!

Even someone who spends almost nothing to maintain their E46 still spends much more than a Japanese equivalent.

dude, i am gonna disagree with you 100% on this one. ;)

you have one of the highest-mileage cars on here. you also upgrade stuff. both of those factors cost money. if i decided to keep my Touring stock, i would take The Pepsi Challenge with you on annual maintenance costs - why? because i bought a 1-owner car that had been well-maintained. i am confident in the way this car runs and has been kept that i could keep maintenance costs super low on this thing, while maintaining 100% functionality.

about the japanese thing - one of those of similar age and mileage will indeed require upkeep. my 2003 montero has roughly 116K miles on it, and i've put about $2000 into it in the last year - no upgrades - just maintenance and repair. conversely, since december of last year with the imola sedan, i've basically done nothing but oil changes as far as maintenance is concerned.

ZHPizza
12-15-2016, 06:57 AM
Welcome, sir ! Sorry about the M3. How many miles on the IR ?

150k, but it looks like <100k on the replacement engine....this car is...interesting...


To the money pit discussion: I learned from owning the Mazda that anything that I drive is going to be a money pit. I'm talking $5k+ in two years of ownership spent on a brand new Japanese car just trying to do some little things here and there to personalize/upgrade/etc.

A car doesn't have to be a money pit. An enthusiast's car will inevitably become one.

NoVAphotog
12-15-2016, 06:59 AM
dude, i am gonna disagree with you 100% on this one. ;)

you have one of the highest-mileage cars on here. you also upgrade stuff. both of those factors cost money. if i decided to keep my Touring stock, i would take The Pepsi Challenge with you on annual maintenance costs - why? because i bought a 1-owner car that had been well-maintained. i am confident in the way this car runs and has been kept that i could keep maintenance costs super low on this thing, while maintaining 100% functionality.


+1

NoVAphotog
12-15-2016, 07:01 AM
A car doesn't have to be a money pit. An enthusiast's car will inevitably become one.

Amen to that...why can't I just drive my Toyota into the ground like everyone else without applying the Old School maintenance program to it too!!

:facepalm

az3579
12-15-2016, 08:11 AM
dude, i am gonna disagree with you 100% on this one. ;)

At the end of the day, you're still spending considerable amounts to maintain the car. Buy a beater econobox and see how much you spend maintaining that versus a BMW.

slater
12-15-2016, 09:26 AM
At the end of the day, you're still spending considerable amounts to maintain the car. Buy a beater econobox and see how much you spend maintaining that versus a BMW.

well, with that scenario you're implying level of CARE for the vehicle too. with a beater econobox you likely won't care that the exhaust system is dragging on the ground, that you have bald tires, no brakes, and are leaking fluids everywhere.

cars cost money. if you ain't got it or don't want to spend it... get a bicycle. :) (but even THOSE need maintenance - ha!!)

John in VA
12-15-2016, 07:20 PM
To the money pit discussion: I learned from owning the Mazda that anything that I drive is going to be a money pit. I'm talking $5k+ in two years of ownership spent on a brand new Japanese car just trying to do some little things here and there to personalize/upgrade/etc.
I must be doing something wrong. I have 8 BMWs & haven't spent $5K on them in 10 years (outside of purchase price). You have to buy the right car right.