New owner of a '04 330i Sedan ZHP - Birmingham, AL

[Ewiwrangler]

Hello all, I am excited to say that I am now the proud owner of a 2004 330i Sedan w/ZHP. It is Imola Red over Black w/98,000. After much research, I feel I got a great price for this car that is like new on the interior, has no leaks, service light, etc. It has full maintenance records and most of the service was performed at BMW dealerships. For these reasons I could not pass it up! First stop will be my local BMW shop for a subframe strengenthing kit, complete fluid replacement service, and VANOS check as I plan on using this car for spirited driving, auto crossing, and the occasional track day. Only issue I discovered was that the seller knocked off the passenger side mirror, but I believe it will only take the outer shell, and glass to fix. Thanks to all as this page has so much great info on it!

Thanks;
ewiwrangler 36881

[3ZHP]

Welcome and congrats!

I’ve got the same in a 2003 up in Huntsville. A few more miles in mine at 160K ish but, I’ve put all but 20 something K on it.


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[fredo]

Welcome, sir ! I also have a similar car: 2005 ZHP sedan IR on black.

[704sw]

Welcome

[Vas]

Welcome

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[Ewiwrangler]

Welcome and congrats!

I’ve got the same in a 2003 up in Huntsville. A few more miles in mine at 160K ish but, I’ve put all but 20 something K on it.


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Interestingly enough, according to the CARFAX service records this care spend the last 2-3 years in Huntsville with service performed at "Century Automotive Group" so maybe you have crossed paths with my new baby! I love the mods you have done and I will be headed the same direction after I get the basic inspection, etc done. Do you have the subframe reinforcement kit done? I've read ALL E46's have this issue and I've read only pre-2001 have this issue so i have no clue who to believe but in my mind it's better to error on the side of safety/dependability since this car will be pushed.

[Ewiwrangler]

Welcome, sir ! I also have a similar car: 2005 ZHP sedan IR on black.

We both seem to have good taste when it comes to colors!

[johnrando]

Welcome and congrats!

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[t.er]

Welcome, what are your plans for RACP (subframe) reinforcement?

[Ewiwrangler]

Welcome, what are your plans for RACP (subframe) reinforcement?

I have seen that the Turner BMW guys sell a chassis reinforcement kit, so I'll likely buy that.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-91-e46-rear-chassissubframe-reinforcement-kit/

[t.er]

I have seen that the Turner BMW guys sell a chassis reinforcement kit, so I'll likely buy that.

https://www.turnermotorsport.com/p-91-e46-rear-chassissubframe-reinforcement-kit/

I was about to say the usual "don't use TMS plates" but it seems they have revised them with more coverage, so it's a lot better than before. But it's still not as much as the Redish Motorsport plates (https://www.redish-motorsport.com/RedishMotorsportE46RearSubframeReinforcementPlateK it.html) which are tried and true, if you can spring for those, you know you're getting something that works.

Just doing plates for a street & light autox/track duty car should be okay, but does not fix the root cause of RACP issues. There's a lot of good info on M3Forum (https://web.archive.org/web/20170731213602/http://www.m3forum.net/m3forum/showthread.php?t=529214) (RIP), but IMO if you plan to do a lot of autox'ing & track, you should think about a topside reinforcement to the chassis rails.

[pedro2u]

welcome from the Northeast! love the color!

[3ZHP]

Interestingly enough, according to the CARFAX service records this care spend the last 2-3 years in Huntsville with service performed at "Century Automotive Group" so maybe you have crossed paths with my new baby! I love the mods you have done and I will be headed the same direction after I get the basic inspection, etc done. Do you have the subframe reinforcement kit done? I've read ALL E46's have this issue and I've read only pre-2001 have this issue so i have no clue who to believe but in my mind it's better to error on the side of safety/dependability since this car will be pushed.

There was one in the area but, I could never even make facial contact with him. As for the subframe, no I have never had anything done with it and it hasn’t given me any handling or tire ware issues. And I just had an issue with Century forgetting to put the oil in the wife’s M235 vert. Still in the testing stage of the new engine at 0 cost.

For the most part mines been a split of dealer services, mechanical jobs done by myself and NTB for Tirerack installation. Also used nothing but BMW OEM except when better was available (Hawk, Stewart, DINAN). Also still current on the mileage book stArted day one of ownership. Currently down and needing a $500 power steering pump.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200713/eb01e7684e2ced3fbd1c8ed36b09b662.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200713/7d503745fe89752e269028f88329d3b1.jpg


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[Don Adolfo]

Congrats and welcome.


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[zhpnsnv]

Welcome to the IR club!

Regarding the subframe reinforcement -- I just went over this with the place where my car is at the moment (eMpower in NJ). The owner is a former BMW service manager and BMW (and E46) enthusiast. He's seen it all.

He has my subframe out and did an inspection. No issues whatsoever. My car is an '05, and I've read that something changed sometime in the E46 run and that the later cars are better. My car has the foam in the floor that BMW recommended as a fix, and he says he's never seen one crack with that foam, and hasn't seen one crack on a later model car. SO long story short, I went without the plates. You may not need them. My car's got 172k miles on it -- if it was going to crack, it would have done so already.

But peace of mind is also a good thing. If you're reinforcing the floor, maybe think about all of the bushings that are easily replaced when the subframe is out.

[Ewiwrangler]

Awesome! Thanks for the advice, now I will ask the shop doing my first service (all fluids replaced, VANOS, etc.) to look and see if my '04 has the foam in the floor. If so I can spend that money I would have used on the plates elsewhere.


Welcome to the IR club!

Regarding the subframe reinforcement -- I just went over this with the place where my car is at the moment (eMpower in NJ). The owner is a former BMW service manager and BMW (and E46) enthusiast. He's seen it all.

He has my subframe out and did an inspection. No issues whatsoever. My car is an '05, and I've read that something changed sometime in the E46 run and that the later cars are better. My car has the foam in the floor that BMW recommended as a fix, and he says he's never seen one crack with that foam, and hasn't seen one crack on a later model car. SO long story short, I went without the plates. You may not need them. My car's got 172k miles on it -- if it was going to crack, it would have done so already.

But peace of mind is also a good thing. If you're reinforcing the floor, maybe think about all of the bushings that are easily replaced when the subframe is out.

[Ewiwrangler]

If you are ever headed to any car shows/cruise ins in N. Alabama, let me know because I would love the opportunity to meet up and chat bit.
There was one in the area but, I could never even make facial contact with him. As for the subframe, no I have never had anything done with it and it hasn’t given me any handling or tire ware issues. And I just had an issue with Century forgetting to put the oil in the wife’s M235 vert. Still in the testing stage of the new engine at 0 cost.

For the most part mines been a split of dealer services, mechanical jobs done by myself and NTB for Tirerack installation. Also used nothing but BMW OEM except when better was available (Hawk, Stewart, DINAN). Also still current on the mileage book stArted day one of ownership. Currently down and needing a $500 power steering pump.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200713/eb01e7684e2ced3fbd1c8ed36b09b662.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20200713/7d503745fe89752e269028f88329d3b1.jpg


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