Re-Introduction...3rd ZHPs a Charm!

[dlucas589]

Hi my name is Dave Lucas and I'm from Milwaukee, WI.

I figured a re-introduction was necessary as I've been away from the Mafia for a solid year and it feels good to be back. I've been told I have car ADD. I say I just haven't found the perfect one...until now.

In order to understand the full extent of the ADD - I'll try to paint a brief history of my car ownership over the past 5 years...

2012 - Entered the world of the ZHP. 2006 330ci Imola 6MT. Bought from a used car dealer in Carol Stream, IL. 75K Miles. Impulse purchase. At the time I was 22, recently graduated from UW Madison, moved to downtown Milwaukee with a brand new job. Traded in my hand-me-down 2004 Honda Accord Coupe and drove away same day. Likely overpaid for it and of course got eye rolls from the parents but I didn't care. I was hooked.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4238/34874055004_a555202362_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/V8GDyq)

Due to a job change, I needed 4 doors, so I was forced to sell my first BMW after 2 short years. I bought a new Chevy Equinox and I was immediately disappointed. Merging on the highway with its underpowered 4 banger... :facepalm just...awful. I ended up selling that and started my quest for a 4 door 330i ZHP.

2014 - Found an enthusiast in Montreal with a Mystic Blue 330i w/Alcantara thru Craigslist. New Member Intro 2014 (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?13555-New-Member-in-Wisconsin-05-Mystic-Alcantara) Flew to Montreal and made the 15 hour journey home. Learned a ton about importing a car from Canada and being forced to pay taxes twice :facepalm. Again, I didn't care. I was back in a ZHP, albeit one that had been HEAVILY modded/tracked. I spent 2 years getting it back to stock condition.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4240/35328185560_cea699e9f9_c.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VPQbKA)

Summer 2016- Of course, life and circumstance got in the way. At the time, I didn't have a garage for the ZHP and was forced to park it on the streets of Milwaukee for over a year. :eyetwitch Of course, corrosion started to intensify, I got scared, and I ran for the hills. Other things related to the heavy modifications also bugged me. I found a great deal on a 2013 328i AUTO :facepalm in Colorado that I quickly snatched up and drove that one home. The ZHP sold within the same week I posted it.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4031/34874054214_a090c74d25_z.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/V8GDjN)

I was now able to find garage parking so no more worrying about that. I drove the 328i for about 6 months and sold it. Something about the 4 banger and AUTO trans really bugged me. At the time, I found a ridiculous lease deal on a 2016 340i 6MT MSport and picked that up which I have right now.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4135/35328184050_e2915b4b18_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VPQbiy)


And here we are, July 4th, 2017.

After a stint with 2 newer BMWs, I came to the realization that I missed the old school feel...and my original Imola red. I found a friend who was interested in taking over my lease and found this very clean, one-owner beauty in a small town in New York. 117K Miles.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4238/34905843233_46dd4fb9f8_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vbvz6k)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4036/35584445721_f356f45c87_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WdtzYe)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4256/34874059734_c44131203e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/V8GEXY)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4210/34905844753_c2a355bdf0_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/Vbvzxx)
https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4119/35584447151_a68e6816f4_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/WdtAoT)



Photo picking it up yesterday. Drove it home straight through yesterday 12 hours. Ran like a champ, no issues.

https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4265/35329866060_fa7ff9ff8d_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/VPYNiJ)

Paint is in good shape, no body rust, but something to be extra careful about since it is a NY car. Leather, carpet, and dash are pristine. Rubber moldings need some rejuvenation and the mirrors need replacement (thinking about sourcing some M3 side mirrors). I'll be starting a maintenance thread to document the projects on this beaut.

Excited to be back on this forum. After following bimmerfest and bimmerpost for my newer BMW, ZHPmafia is truly the best. I've learned a ton from everyone on here and for that I am thankful. Looking forward to being a resource here in any way I can!

[zhpnsnv]

Awesome story and a beautiful pickup! Would love to hear more about the 340i msport 6 speed. Of all the offerings BMW has at the moment, that is the only one I would look at with any seriousness. I'm not going to look at it, but I'm intrigued to hear your perspectives on it compared to the ZHP. You've boomeranged back to E46 like many of us have!

[fredo]

Welcome back, and congrats ! Your IR sedan looks really good. In for project thread. :thumbUp

Edit : I was told last week the 340i replaced the 335i. And the 330i replaced the 328i. That was news to me.

[zhpnsnv]

Edit : I was told last week the 340i replaced the 335i. And the 330i replaced the 328i. That was news to me.

That is correct. They have the newer versions of the engines. 340 has the b58 which makes something like 330hp out of the box.


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[thinkpad240]

Congratulations on your way back. I like that red color. I'm all for car additions,

[Oli77]

Great story with bunch of BMWs. Glad to hear again and again that true love stops at the e46.

[ELCID86]

Welcome back.


---
"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

[ZHPizza]

That was a fun read. Glad you made it back to imola. Seems to attract the crazies...

[BMWCurves]

That was a fun read. Glad you made it back to imola. Seems to attract the crazies...

+1

[Dual]

Congratulations, and welcome back! As a Maine winter driver, I'm very interested to know where on teh body you noticed rust forming when you were parking on the street.

[dlucas589]

Awesome story and a beautiful pickup! Would love to hear more about the 340i msport 6 speed. Of all the offerings BMW has at the moment, that is the only one I would look at with any seriousness. I'm not going to look at it, but I'm intrigued to hear your perspectives on it compared to the ZHP. You've boomeranged back to E46 like many of us have!

For the past couple days I've had the chance to drive both within the same day. The first thing I notice is size. The 340i and the F30 in general feels like a boat compared to the nimble maneuvering of the ZHP. The 340i also has almost 100 hp more than the ZHP so when you step on it in Sport mode, the thing hauls. However, there is noticeable turbo lag in a lot of situations where the ZHP has the advantage with great throttle response. I also prefer the ZHP's hydraulic steering over the electronic steering in the 340i. The 340i is an incredible car with a TON of power, luxury and creature comforts. Its a great car that, in this case, MSRP's for 57K. I couldn't imagine ever paying full price for a brand new one, only to lose half its value in ~3-4 years. :p At the end of the day, the ZHP is easier on the wallet, more fun and more unique than the 340i. :guns2

[dlucas589]

Congratulations, and welcome back! As a Maine winter driver, I'm very interested to know where on teh body you noticed rust forming when you were parking on the street.

Thanks! I mainly noticed bubbling on the lower metal trim behind the front wheel wells, on the bottom of the front door edges, and the metal trim between the rear bumper and trunk lid.

[Dual]

Thanks! I mainly noticed bubbling on the lower metal trim behind the front wheel wells, on the bottom of the front door edges, and the metal trim between the rear bumper and trunk lid.

Thank you. I saw an e46 up here this winter with serious rust. This is helpful.

[RBW]

Welcome. Nice car. I live in Il but I'm in Milwaukee quite often. Interested in a Milw get together?

[704sw]

Great story. I've had the chance to experience a 2017 330i and 340i as loaners the past 2 months (had the X3 in for final "please fix everything you can before the warranty runs out"). I agree with your assessments: great power, albeit with pretty noticeable turbo lag, and nice amenities. I can't get down with the twitchy electronic steering, though. It was okay around town, but at 50mph+ felt borderline dangerous. I was very happy to get back in the E46 and E83 after driving them. IMO the cars feel more cheaply put together than what you'd expect for the price (and the combining of piano black dashes with other whatever trim you actually choose (woodgrain in the 330i) was outright embarrassing), but I guess we've reached an age where cars are designed to be a little more disposable than in years past.

Sorry for digressing. Welcome back.

[webster]

Welcome back, Good story

[dlucas589]

Welcome. Nice car. I live in Il but I'm in Milwaukee quite often. Interested in a Milw get together?

Absolutely. Seems like there are a couple members local to the MKE/Chi area. Would be fun to get some ZHPs together.

[danewilson77]

Good having you back! Congrats!

Sent from my S8+

[Wisco]

Absolutely. Seems like there are a couple members local to the MKE/Chi area. Would be fun to get some ZHPs together.

I'm game for a MKE/Chicago GTG. Madison is only 1.5 hours away from the MKE airport if we organized something in Kenosha to Gurnee.

[RBW]

I live right at the Il/Wi state line, 10 min east of the I. Let see how many are interested and we can pick a place. 6 or less, we could meet at my place.

[RedAtom]

Congrats on the new ride.

Sweet find

[johnrando]

Welcome back!

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