Austin, TX ZHP by way of Green Bay

[brewer90]

Hello everyone,

I'm a soon to be 06 330CI ZHP owner as of tomorrow. I'm catching a flight from Austin to Green Bay, WI at 0630 and hope to have the title signed over by 1300 so I can start the drive south.

This will be my first BMW auto. I've owned BMW motorcycles for the past 9 years but never got around to purchasing a car. I've always loved the E46 and was lusting after an Imola ZHP about 6 years ago but couldn't swing it at the time. I got the bug again and a google search led me to the classifeds on this forum which pointed me to the perfect car. Unfortunately it is 1400 miles away but we'll definitely have time to get acquainted in the first few days of ownership. I caught a huge break on the weather and look to have smooth sailing all the way back. I'll update this thread with some photographic evidence of the journey home. Here she is patiently waiting for me.

http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Misc/i-rT6vcQx/0/M/ZHP1-M.jpg

A little bit more about me. I'm a native Texan but grew up in Oklahoma. I spent 11 years in the Air Force (that's why the blue car is perfect) before moving back to Texas. Now I live in the heart of Longhorn country and can't stand the team and root for the Sooners. I've been married for 22 years and we have two daughters. I love to mountain bike (car comes with a factory bike rack - even more perfect), tolerate road biking since it makes me faster on the mtb and do some adventure races and endurance mtb races. I like guitars, guns and beer but don't combine the last two at the same time. You already know I like motorcycles. I do as much wrenching as possible on my motorcycles to avoid the outrageous BMW shop rates and plan to do the same on the car with all the great info on this site and the interwebs. Anyway I can't wait for tomorrow and am sure I'll sleep like crap tonight in anticipation of the 0400 wake up. Hopefully you'll hear from me on the road tomorrow.

[kayger12]

Great stuff. Safe travels. Looking forward to the read.

[static667]

Welcome to the Mafia. That car is beautiful!

[328ioc]

Great looking car. You will love the drive home.

I am also into guitars as are a few other people here.

Can't wait to see your travel pics and let me know how you like the OEM roof rack. I have been thinking of picking one up.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk 2

[Crickett]

Welcome! Great to see more airmen around. You're going to love your Zebra Horse Power (http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?2070-Funny-thing-my-gf-said)-ed Bimmer!

[danewilson77]

Welcome.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Welcome. Looking forward to your dispatches from the road.

[nike001]

dis gun be good

[JupiterBMW]

Welcome to the forum and safe travels! Keep us updated and looking forward to seeing more of you around these parts!

[Torxuvin]

Welcome. Looks sweet. That's a great color. Take lots of pics on the way back. I am really disappointed that I didn't document the trip to get mine more. I rushed the whole thing and tried to drive through the night...

[johnrando]

Welcome. Great looking car. Hope all turns out well for the journey.

[Ryans323i]

Welcome. Beautiful car you're picking up. Wishing you safe travels. Great intro btw!

[Oli77]

Howdy partner.

[Avetiso]

Welcome! Is that the ZHP we saw on E46F recently?

[brewer90]

This is the one from e46. I got it and love it. Hit the road at 2:30 and got 450 miles before calling it a night. I'm posting from my phone and just lost the long and witty write up when I tried to post some pics so looks like you'll have to wait a few more days. Today was mainly driving and no pics after I left GB. Hope to get more tomorrow.

I'm very happy to be part of the family.

[danewilson77]

This is the one from e46. I got it and love it. Hit the road at 2:30 and got 450 miles before calling it a night. I'm posting from my phone and just lost the long and witty write up when I tried to post some pics so looks like you'll have to wait a few more days. Today was mainly driving and no pics after I left GB. Hope to get more tomorrow.

I'm very happy to be part of the family.

Stay safe bro. Thanks for the update.

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[BCS_ZHP]

Glad it all came together for you and a bit envious, I was too slow to respond and #2 in line behind you. Tyler seemed like a great previous owner,believe you've found a great one and will truly enjoy it.

[Go Horns!]

Now I live in the heart of Longhorn country and can't stand the team and root for the Sooners.

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

[Mike V]

I love the blue, maybe because I was in the Air Force too. :) Welcome!

[brewer90]

I guess we will have to agree to disagree.

Well based on your username I don't think I have a chance of convincing you otherwise. :-) Hey I did root for the Horns when they beat USC in the championship game.


I love the blue, maybe because I was in the Air Force too. :) Welcome!

Thanks. I was in your neck of the woods yesterday headed to Whiteman AFB. Instead of going through Sedalia I ended up some very wet, narrow and rutted backroads that had letter names instead of numbers that led me to Knob Noster. I should have followed the signs off the interstate and gone through Sedalia.

[Mtnman]

Welcome. That car is beautiful. Hope the rest of the ride is going well. In for pics asap upon arrival home

[brewer90]

1400 miles later I'm back home safe and sound. The ZHP did great and the only issue seems to be with the rear tires. I'm not sure if they are out of balance or have just worn weird but they are very, very noisy and have a slight vibration (Michelin Pilot Sports). It a got bit annoying above 80 mph but was nothing that cranked heavy metal couldn't overcome. I think new rubber is in the forecast but I'm going to have it aligned and check out the bushings and such. Anyway on to the report!

4:00 am Friday comes very early. I shower and suck down some coffee and then my angel of a wife drives me to the airport at 4:45 and we arrive at 5:15. My flight doesn't leave until 6:28 but I'm carrying a shitload of $100 bills and figure the TSA agents will think I'm a drug runner and give me some extra attention. Tyler needed to keep the plates from the car to put on his new one so I grab the rear plate from my Outback XT and stick it in my backpack along with the cash. I breeze right through security without a second look. I can't carry a pocket knife but I can carry a 6"x12" piece of metal with sharp edges on a plane. Go figure.

The plane landed in Chicago ahead of schedule so at least I didn't have to run between terminals like I would have. I get off the plane and it is a frigid 12 degrees. Texas has spoiled me.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-dkhhfQc/0/L/CA_01061316132994-L.jpg

The flight to Green Bay boarded late and it was only a 40 min flight. I noticed that the ground changed from brown to white on this leg of the flight which had me a bit worried.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-WtdMP8b/0/L/CA_01061315041131-L.jpg

I call Tyler when we are taxiing to the terminal and he says he is on the way in a green Trailblazer. I was hoping for a blue ZHP. Green Bay is a small airport and I beat him to the pick up area. It is a balmy 14 degrees now but the wind is howling and I'm soon a popsicle and decide to go wait inside. He shows up and says the car is still under the cover at his parent's house which is 15 mins away so off we go. He's a young guy of 22 but I immediately get a good vibe off him.

We get to the house and he unveils the car and I do a walkaround. It looks just like he described it which is good. Pictures can lie and it is a leap of faith flying 1400 miles on a one way ticket so I'm very happy there are no surprises.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-BjCQHVR/0/L/CA_01061315040192-L.jpg

Now it is time for the test drive. I fire her up and immediately fall in love with that exhaust note. I put it in reverse and slowly let out the clutch --- and go forward. :facepalm Thankfully I wasn't giving it any gas so only inched forward and didn't drive into their kitchen. Tyler says reverse is wwaaayyy to the left. Got it. I back it out and he gets in. His neighborhood streets are still snow and ice covered in large spots. I'm driving like a granny but still see the traction control flashing when I give it gas. I get very worried about these tires and snow on the way home but according to the weatherman I have a clear shot. We get on some main roads that are clear and I get a chance to open her up. The tires seem to be flat spotted from sitting in the cold but other than that the car is awesome. I love everything about it. It felt perfect from the minute I sat in it. I tell him I'm ready to go to the bank, pay off his loan and sign the title over which we do in the next hour.

Now that the car is officially mine I put my plate on it to mark my territory and hit the road at 1:00. Total time from landing to driving away is two hours.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-MZ5McCF/0/L/CA_01041322061091-L.jpg

I played for the Green Bay Packers back in the 70s and won two superbowls so I had to make a detour to Lambeau Field (it was little league football but made me a Packer fan). It was about a ten minute drive away. The field is right across the street from a neighborhood. Tyler said the Packers are the only NFL team owned by the city instead of some mega-millionaire like Jerry Jones who ruined the Cowboys. They had a playoff game Saturday night against the Vikings so there was some activity going on at the stadium. I snapped a pic and then went in the pro shop and bought a shirt.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-z8Bkb8V/0/L/CA_01061315033458-L.jpg
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-VZvVgSQ/0/L/CA_01041322053607-L.jpg

I finally pointed the noise towards Texas at 2:30. The drive out of Wisconsin sucked. The roads are concrete squares and all the freezing made them very rough. Plus there were concrete barriers along the median that seemed to stretch all the way down to Madison and they had about three feet of snow plowed up against them. I end up on a a 50 mile stretch of two lane running through farmland which was very pretty. I hoped to stop and take a pic in front of a red barn but saw several cars that were freshly stuck in the ditch from sliding off due to the crown. Based on past performance of the car on snow/ice I decide to stay on the pavement. I catch the interstate outside of Madison but it is full of left lane campers clogging the flow as the sun sets. This constipation continues for another hour until Rockford, IL when I90 branches off to Chicago. I settle into a comfortable cruise headed to St Louis. I call it a day about 9:00 pm about 50 miles east of St Louis so I can catch the end of the Sooner A&M game. It was 14-13 when I checked the score and decided to stop. When I found a hotel and turned on the tv it was 30 something to 13. I should have kept on driving.

[Torxuvin]

Loving the story. I have been to Chicago a few times, but never up to GB. Yeah, I can totally understand where you are coming from about flying up there based on pics. And then once you get there, you don't want to just turn around and buy plane tickets home. Glad she worked out for you. :cheers

[danewilson77]

:drool

[kayger12]

Good stuff.

[GMATT]

:drool
X2

[brewer90]

So it's Friday night and I've stopped in Litchfield and right as I'm getting ready to hit the sack I get a text from my Dad saying to be careful on Saturday because there is a chance of snow on my route. I fire up the weather channel and they say 30% chance of rain/snow showers so I'm not too worried.

When I was planning my route back I noticed that the fastest way took me within 100 miles of Whiteman AFB in Missouri. My best friend from the Academy/Best Man is a B-2 pilot and just took over as Group Commander of the flying squadrons last summer. The sad thing is that we haven't actually seen each other in 21 years. The AF sent us in totally different directions early in our careers and once I punched and settled down in Texas he went all over the world. I wasn't going to pass up a chance to see him so gave him a call and agreed to meet at 1030 at the main gate of the base. My early stop to catch the end of the game added an extra hour of driving this morning so I woke up at 0530 and was rolling at 0630.

I crossed the Mississippi river into Missouri shortly after sunrise and saw a sign for a welcome center and took the exit. It wasn't very welcoming since there was gate chained across the entrance to the parking lot but I swung a u-turn and grabbed a pic.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-624zCRG/0/L/CA_01061315011124-L.jpg

This is facing east towards the Mississippi river.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-mxx8kNz/0/L/CA_01061315011931-L.jpg

I made it around the north side of St Louis and grabbed I-70 west. Around 8:30 the temp was hovering just above freezing and it started a light rain with the occasional snow flake. This soon turned to light snow and then it started pouring sneet. I don't know what the official term is but it is a cross between snow and sleet. Basically snow pellets. These are covering the road so I slow way down and start to get nervous. I am a Texan and most of us can't drive worth a damn on the slick stuff. I did get to spend 4 yrs in CO and 3 yrs in MT so while rusty, I'm not a noob on the snow. However I was having bad visions of spinning off into the ditch. Luckily we punched through that cell pretty quickly and looked good although the roads were wet and a bit slushy. Right as the roads were looking good it started to snow again. I crested a hill and then I thought I was back in a Colorado blizzard. Huge flakes just coming downs in a neverending wave. I could barely see it was snowing so hard. I was also almost out of gas which is not good in a snowstorm. I took the next exit just east of Columbia to fill up when my buddy Ed called. I told him I was running a bit late due to the snow and he said what snow, it's sunny here. That was a good sign. I gassed up and hit the road again and the salt trucks and plows were out. Once I got through Columbia the snow ended and the roads were just wet. I made it to the front gate about 15 mins late. It was the first time I've kept a Colonel waiting and didn't expect an ass chewing.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-zdGDQq5/0/L/CA_01061315020789-L.jpg

I spent a couple of hours on base having brunch with his wife and four(!) daughters. I was always better in stats class than he was, so I saw the trend early and stopped at two daughters. He was a bit slower on the uptake. There are only 20 B-2s in the entire Air Force and they are all based at Whiteman. They are hangared and since I'm a civilian now I couldn't get past security to see one. He did take me to his office and showed me a large mockup. They only have two seats and a small shitter behind the seats. No beds, no relief crew, no galley. His longest mission was during the Iraq war when they took off from Whiteman, bombed the shit out of Sadam's palace and the Republican Guard and flew home - 38 hours nonstop. I wish I could have stayed longer - it's hard to cram 21 years of catch up into a 2.5 hour visit but I needed to get to southern Oklahoma to see my parent's by 9:00 so off I went. It was still misty and there was a lot of salt residue on the roads from the previous snow last week so the car was starting to look pretty bad.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-BDqHnPS/0/L/CA_01061315023181-L.jpg

I made it into Oklahoma and finally saw the sun. And I also saw a McDonald's that was built across I-44.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-V3TZ63J/0/L/CA_01061315030029-L.jpg

The shortest way to Durant had me get off the interstate and take a state highway which meant I'd be going through the middle of towns. I entered one small town and saw a car wash on my right and swung in to wash all the salt and grime off.
http://jmabry90.smugmug.com/Other/Camera-Awesome-Photos/i-CznG3Vt/0/L/CA_01061315000454-L.jpg

And that was the last picture of my trip. It got dark and I avoided the speed traps and pulled into my parent's house at 2030. My Dad isn't a car nut but he came out and immediately sat in the driver's seat and was hooked and couldn't stop talking about how nice it was. He's 72 so I doubt he'll buy one but I was glad he approved.

I watched part of the Packer's game and it seemed a bit surreal that I had just been there the day before. I got up early this morning and hit the road at 0745 and pulled into my driveway at 1130. My daughters immediately disappeared outside and when I went looking for them they were buckled in the backseat ready for a ride so off we went. They love it and are arguing over who I get to take to school first in it.

So that is my journey. I wish there were more pics but darkness comes early and it is hard to make time when you are stopping for pics every hour. The purchase worked out perfectly and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. If you made it this far, thanks for following along.

[johnrando]

Great update. Good news on safe travels so far.

[elric]

Beautiful car .... Welcome to the family!!

[danewilson77]

Great update. Good news on safe travels so far.

+1

Sent from Williamsburg, VA USA

[Ryans323i]

Great story home. You've already associated so many good memories with the car, that's a good sign! She is a beautiful ride, congrats!

[pfr]

Great car, great story! Good luck!

[webster]

loving the narrative and pics. that McDonald's is blowing my mind right now.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Great car. Cool McDonald's.

[dotslashapex]

My god that color combo is beautiful man. Congrats on the pickup! :)

[JDDsZHP]

Welcome! Great story. I road tripped mine home to Atlanta down the Blue Ridge Parkway from DC. Nothing like some seat time to get to know a new ride.

Awesome color combo too. I was watching the for sale thread on this one. Congrats on a great pick up.

[Mike V]

Thanks. I was in your neck of the woods yesterday headed to Whiteman AFB. Instead of going through Sedalia I ended up some very wet, narrow and rutted backroads that had letter names instead of numbers that led me to Knob Noster. I should have followed the signs off the interstate and gone through Sedalia.

Well damn, I feel like a bastard for not offering you to stay here. I was stationed at Whiteman nearly 10 years and retired out of there a couple years ago.

Sounds like you went NN and FF from Hwy 127. I made the mistake of going to hwy 23 when I first moved here. That wasn't fun with a moving truck and my old 88 325is in tow.

Good to hear you made it home ok!