What did you do for your ZHP/ BMW / MINI today? #2

[fredo]

Got a free carwash today. This place opened recently. They mailed me a coupon to check them out.

40730

[Aeternalis]

Cleaned up the donor 3.46 ring and pinion from the recent teardown. Just waiting on the Koyo pinion bearings and races to send everything to WPC.

40731

40732


It seems whoever builds the differential at BMW also signs the pinion.. maybe?

40733

[JohnnyGraphic]

Found something else to add to the list of To Do?s. I had a feeling the steering felt a little sloppy/loose.
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[Vas]

Found something else to add to the list of To Do?s. I had a feeling the steering felt a little sloppy/loose.
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250331/a68630165a0299d7c9933ef9e5fc6aba.jpg


Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkTime for a suspension refresh especially with those original shocks from 2004.

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[JohnnyGraphic]

Time for a suspension refresh especially with those original shocks from 2004.

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Yup...Definitely overdue! Can't tell if the shocks are leaking or just showing a little wet?

And I?ll be back heee looking for suggestions if I should go OEM or a slight upgrade? My goal is to keep things as close to bone stock as possible?maybe.

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[John in VA]

Yup...Definitely overdue! Can't tell if the shocks are leaking or just showing a little wet?
And I'll be back here looking for suggestions if I should go OEM or a slight upgrade? My goal is to keep things as close to bone stock as possible?maybe.

Take a look at this thread - https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?23374-BUDGET-PERFORMANCE-SUSPENSION-GUIDE-(Ultimate-E46-OEM-SACHS-Setup)

[JohnnyGraphic]

Take a look at this thread - https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?23374-BUDGET-PERFORMANCE-SUSPENSION-GUIDE-(Ultimate-E46-OEM-SACHS-Setup)

Thank You!!! I remember this thread from eons ago! I sent it to myself so I can reference it when I get to working on the suspension.

I love this crowd!


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[fredo]

I went with Sachs struts/shocks:

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?15710-Fredo-s-ZHP-Project&p=593000#post593000

[GeorgeH]

Definitely leaking.

Lots of good options, I am a fan of the Koni Yellows with stock ZHP springs.

*I think all Konis are 20% off right now.

[JohnnyGraphic]

I went with Sachs struts/shocks:

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?15710-Fredo-s-ZHP-Project&p=593000#post593000

I?m at 155k so similar mileage to you when you refreshed . How do you like that setup 4+ years later?


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[fredo]

I?m at 155k so similar mileage to you when you refreshed . How do you like that setup 4+ years later?

I'm very happy with Sachs. The car drives really well. :thumbsup

[Vas]

+1 for koni yellow or koni fsd

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[GeorgeH]

I went with Sachs struts/shocks:

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?15710-Fredo-s-ZHP-Project&p=593000#post593000

Hard to believe that was 5yrs ago already!

[Aeternalis]

Koni Special Active (formerly FSD) shocks with ZHP springs has been really smooth and responsive for me over the years, first with the stock stabilizers and now with bigger ones. I wish I could put them on all my older cars.

[JohnnyGraphic]

Definitely leaking.

Lots of good options, I am a fan of the Koni Yellows with stock ZHP springs.

*I think all Konis are 20% off right now.

Just to clarify, you kept the original springs or replaced with OEM ZHP springs? I imagine springs do wear out or get tired?


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[san]

Just to clarify, you kept the original springs or replaced with OEM ZHP springs? I imagine springs do wear out or get tired?


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No need to replace springs unless they?re corroded. They don?t really wear out.


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[John in VA]

No need to replace springs unless they?re corroded. They don?t really wear out.

Although rear springs are known to rust/crack.

[JohnnyGraphic]

No need to replace springs unless they?re corroded. They don?t really wear out.


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Although rear springs are known to rust/crack.

Thanks! Will keep an eye out for that.


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[GeorgeH]

Just to clarify, you kept the original springs or replaced with OEM ZHP springs? I imagine springs do wear out or get tired?

I'm sure they do get tired over time, but I don't know if its actually quantifiable. I would prefer to use original ZHP springs IF they are in good condition with no corrosion.

[cakM3]

Added LED side markers to my Mini today
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[ZHPizza]

Added LED side markers to my Mini today
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https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250404/0e445d16ac412e3c40d3c1172df619b2.jpgWow that thing is sick!

I obviously haven't kept up with the family over here as I saw this post and was like "oh cool Charlie got a new car....and a new house!" Congrats on both!

[cakM3]

Wow that thing is sick!

I obviously haven't kept up with the family over here as I saw this post and was like "oh cool Charlie got a new car....and a new house!" Congrats on both!

Thanks!!! It has been an adventure for sure! I am enjoying the changes in my life and having this JCW has been a blast so far! :) More to follow for sure! Hope all is well for you at your end!!!

[cakM3]

I completed my Alcantara dash trim project on my Mini Cooper yesterday and took the following pictures of my completed project. The new look, in my opinion, provides a much more polished interior look to my Mini and I love the new look.

I also took this opportunity to mount my new iPhone holder to my digital gauge cluster since I had to remove it in order to access the dash trim behind it for my Alcantara wrap.

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the plastic trim around my infotainment display had to be trimmed in order to fit perfectly in my JCW so I wrapped that part of the display in Alcantara to clean that display up as well. Doing this tied in the dash trim so it turned out to be a good addition to my Alcantara dash project.
https://live.staticflickr.com/6553554434014593_b54cf6cfb8_c.jpg

Here's another view of the dash trim behind the digital gauge cluster after I had wrapped it in Alcantara. You also see the new iPhone mount in this picture. The dash trim looks perfect!
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My interior will be pretty much completed once I reroute my dash cam power line which I plan to do today. Once this is done my dash will be clean.

I am having lots of fun getting my JCW set up the way I what it. :)

[cakM3]

Finished my hardwire for my Garmin dash cam this evening. No more dangling cables from my windshield.
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I did a quick check to make sure my dash cam was aimed right
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[cakM3]

I installed my Valentine One hardwiring in my Mini Cooper today. Car is now road trip ready for the upcoming car season[emoji57]
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I just need to do one more thing to complete cleaning up my cockpit. That is to replace these ugly red aluminum press on paddle shifters for much cleaner looking titanium paddle shifters.
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Once I figure out how to remove my steering wheel airbag, this will get done quickly. Lots of progress getting my Mini Cooper set up[emoji57]

[JohnnyGraphic]

I thought I posted this last week, but my 2004 ZHP got a foam bath.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250410/ea96a27bea8a085caddf9c7e08d4e40f.jpg


And, I got some parts from FCP Euro yesterday.

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Going to be doing some work next week. I also have the valve cover gaskets, ignition coils and spark plugs waiting to go in.


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[fredo]

Good call on the hood struts. I like to replace the hood and trunk struts on "new-to-me" cars. :thumbsup

[slater]

I completed my Alcantara dash trim project on my Mini Cooper yesterday and took the following pictures of my completed project. The new look, in my opinion, provides a much more polished interior look to my Mini and I love the new look.

charlie! hey man. i love the alcantara wrap on the dash - i have been wanting to do that on a car for a while now - it looks great, and is now giving me further confidence to forge ahead on it. :)

do you mind sharing where you got the material?

congrats on the new house!

[Vas]

Continuation of reupholstery project. The faded rear parcel shelf will be wrapped in alcantara to match the headliner and pillars.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250410/1351f69fe3da74646f21c00719e8c865.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250410/0487bff0099a1b987506d3052954ad73.jpg

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[JohnnyGraphic]

Good call on the hood struts. I like to replace the hood and trunk struts on "new-to-me" cars. :thumbsup

Yeah, one forehead bonk is enough. Lesson learned and cash spent.


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[slater]

Continuation of reupholstery project. The faded rear parcel shelf will be wrapped in alcantara to match the headliner and pillars.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250410/0487bff0099a1b987506d3052954ad73.jpg

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vas, that looks awesome - mind sharing a link to what you got and where you got it? i've got 3 cars i need to do, LOL.

[cakM3]

Peter, I sent you a message with the info you seek :thumbsup

I have been curious about what boost pressure my JCW runs at WOT so I found out my BimmerLink app can be very useful in providing me this information
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250411/bf9cec0f1eb8d2ea9fed6f8208c4e6ba.jpg

as well as other useful information about my JCW that is otherwise unavailable while driving so it looks like I will be using my new iPhone mount much more while driving my fun little go-cart, especially when taking it out on planned long distance road trips this year [emoji57]
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250411/adcdc558d8ac849eb6943773c5be6abc.jpg


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[cakM3]

I spent the afternoon changing out front grills on my JCW which required me to take off the front bumper so that I would have easier access to the parts that I had to unclip and then clean out the front bumper before reinstalling it to the car then adding the new GP3 parts which, in my opinion, really improved the looks of the car.
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I also replaced my Garmin Dash Cam Mini2 dash cam for an updated Dash Cam Mini3 dash cam on my Mini Cooper. The Dash Cam Mini2 will be repurposed to my Porsche as a rear facing dash cam in that car. I am enjoying getting my JCW set up so that I can take it on my annual long distance road trip north to the Baltimore area later this year... I am looking forward to taking this car out for a long drive. :cool

[JohnnyGraphic]

Digging into the valve cover gasket, ignition coils and spark plugs. Wish me luck boys!

I know, should be easy peasy?(Famous last words). Gonna be cleaning and taking pics along the way.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/1304391964fdf576937f1204209997cf.jpg


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[John in VA]

Digging into the valve cover gasket, ignition coils and spark plugs. Wish me luck boys!

I know, should be easy peasy?(Famous last words). Gonna be cleaning and taking pics along the way.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/1304391964fdf576937f1204209997cf.jpg
Did you get the 15 rubber valve cover grommets/seals? 11121437395

[JohnnyGraphic]

Did you get the 15 rubber valve cover grommets/seals? 11121437395

Yup! Came in the kit I ordered. I sorta wish I ordered replacement bolts/nuts and washers. They get varnished pretty easily. It was a pain to clean them. I know I don?t need to, but I felt a little better knowing they?re somewhat clean.

Here they are about as clean as I?m gonna get them. Below with the new grommets. Used a wire brush and engine degreaser on the hardware.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/698d1b2ca43d1d977ca3b6a04fe240df.jpg


FCP Euro has stainless steel replacements. Kinda cool but?. Seems a little out of place and too shiny for this engine bay.

ETA: This is cylinder #4. Not sure what this indicates. I have new coils, so no biggie there. But I wonder what causes that burnt end. Spark plugs haven?t come out yet, that?s next. We?ll see what that shows if anything. And all of the coils were slightly oily around the gasket seal and there was some oil around the front corner and on the metal things below the VCG on the exhaust side. Definitely time for this job.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/3e37af7b71c3999f3565643b35988e25.jpg


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[slater]

Digging into the valve cover gasket, ignition coils and spark plugs. Wish me luck boys!

I know, should be easy peasy?(Famous last words). Gonna be cleaning and taking pics along the way.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/1304391964fdf576937f1204209997cf.jpg


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damn, i just did mine on sunday - imola sedan, too. :)

VCG, new plugs, coil packs, VANOS rebuild, water pump, t-stat, expansion tank, upper and lower hoses, tensioner, pulleys, PS fluid flush.... and a sh*t ton of cleaning.

[JohnnyGraphic]

damn, i just did mine on sunday - imola sedan, too. :)

VCG, new plugs, coil packs, VANOS rebuild, water pump, t-stat, expansion tank, upper and lower hoses, tensioner, pulleys, PS fluid flush.... and a sh*t ton of cleaning.

Dang dude! You had a long list of things to do. I usually take a few days to tackle projects. Take things slowly and stress out over every thing! LOL!


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[slater]

Dang dude! You had a long list of things to do. I usually take a few days to tackle projects. Take things slowly and stress out over every thing! LOL!


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oh, it took me a few days. ;) i work slowly, i make sure everything is done correctly. rushing only leads to failure.

that is only about 1/3 of the work the car is getting over the next couple of weeks. full refresh.


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[JohnnyGraphic]

oh, it took me a few days. ;) i work slowly, i make sure everything is done correctly. rushing only leads to failure.

that is only about 1/3 of the work the car is getting over the next couple of weeks. full refresh.


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Nice and fully agreed!

With all this work planned, does that mean there will be a thread on you refresh? Does this include suspension etc? Inquiring minds want to know!!


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[slater]

Nice and fully agreed!

With all this work planned, does that mean there will be a thread on you refresh? Does this include suspension etc? Inquiring minds want to know!!


LOL. i don't have a build thread for this car, but i guess i should start one, as the car has history on this forum already.

the refresh includes suspension, interior, etc. i've had the car for a year already and have done some work already... this stuff happening now is long overdue.

[fredo]

LOL. i don't have a build thread for this car, but i guess i should start one, as the car has history on this forum already.

Who is the PO? :scratchinghead

[slater]

Who is the PO? :scratchinghead

it's this car...

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21633-FS-2004-330i-ZHP-Sedan-6SPD-Imola-Black-Leather

[JohnnyGraphic]

it's this car...

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21633-FS-2004-330i-ZHP-Sedan-6SPD-Imola-Black-Leather

Wowzers!!! You found a beautiful example! Congrats and all the best on your upcoming refresh and build thread! [emoji6]


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[fredo]

it's this car...

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21633-FS-2004-330i-ZHP-Sedan-6SPD-Imola-Black-Leather

:like

[Aeternalis]

it's this car...

https://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?21633-FS-2004-330i-ZHP-Sedan-6SPD-Imola-Black-Leather

Utterly immaculate exterior. Definitely jealous - can't wait to make mine look like that again.

[slater]

Utterly immaculate exterior. Definitely jealous - can't wait to make mine look like that again.

thanks. 8 years on from those pics, it is slightly less immaculate (there are some scratches from the PO), but it's still really nice, considering.

[GeorgeH]

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250414/3e37af7b71c3999f3565643b35988e25.jpg

Are you sure its burned? Sometimes water gets into the spark plug tube and looks like that.

[JohnnyGraphic]

Are you sure its burned? Sometimes water gets into the spark plug tube and looks like that.

I thought it was burned by the looks of it, but I could be wrong. How would water get into one spark plug hole like that? Or just moisture somehow?


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[JohnnyGraphic]

Put new fog lights to replace the replacement fog lights. They were so badly cracked that the lights crumbled onto the garage floor when I took them out.


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The car is all buttoned up and put back together with new bits and pieces. Hope nothing starts to leak. [emoji2357]


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[GeorgeH]

I thought it was burned by the looks of it, but I could be wrong. How would water get into one spark plug hole like that? Or just moisture somehow?

If the engine cover is left off water can get in during rains and what not. Not super common of course, but I've seen it.

[JohnnyGraphic]

If the engine cover is left off water can get in during rains and what not. Not super common of course, but I've seen it.

Interesting. Not sure how it could happen. It has always had the engine cover on. Oh well. No big worries. New ignition coils and spark plugs are in as are new valve cover gaskets.

Hope I didn?t screw things up too badly.


https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250419/60517e8c6d0da18a2e922d81bbcc4b99.jpg


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[cakM3]

I changed out my driver's airbag because the airbag cover was damaged and upgraded to my titanium paddle shifters today. The car's interior looks much cleaner now.

Here is the before and after view:
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54469681496_023359d543_o.png
The new look (bottom pic) looks much cleaner as compared to the old look above. There is more in store for my JCW Mini . . .

[jorbon]

I had gotten lazy, was thinking the car was just getting tired, No codes or anything, just a bit sluggish, particularly noticeable when cold...

THis afternoon I replaced coils/plugs, cleaned the MAF and did the cabin filter while I had things apart up there.

Damn, I should never have doubted the ZHP... Back to buttery smooth, like new power delivery (at 176,000 miles.) I'm in love again.

[san]

I had gotten lazy, was thinking the car was just getting tired, No codes or anything, just a bit sluggish, particularly noticeable when cold...

THis afternoon I replaced coils/plugs, cleaned the MAF and did the cabin filter while I had things apart up there.

Damn, I should never have doubted the ZHP... Back to buttery smooth, like new power delivery (at 176,000 miles.) I'm in love again.

New coils made a significant difference to how the car revs and definitely increased the torque output as well, on mine..


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