peter's canadian imola ZHP project

OK folks. just got home with this today.

it's a 1-of-21, canadian 2004 imolarot ZHP sedan. 177K km's (108K miles), very clean, all original except for the wheels and the matte black grilles (one of them has a broken tab, so it's a bit floppy). and at least one of the wheels is bent.

the 360km trip home was smooth - albeit the rumbling - and very pleasant. i am really liking this car!

here's The Road Trip Home pics. you can see the sorry state of the headlight lenses - they will be replaced first. my headlight performance is downright dangerous - some investigation beyond the lenses will need to take place ASAP.

peter

Nice car! My headlight lenses are crap too. I am glad to hear you got home safe and enjoyed the drive.


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thanks garry!

these lights are scary. i won't let my wife drive it at night until i do something about them - they appear to be aimed way to low, the output is terrible (just the lenses?) and the driver's side bi-xenon function doesn't work.

i have two ZHPs at home now. yep, i'm in the doghouse.

peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slater

thanks garry!

these lights are scary. i won't let my wife drive it at night until i do something about them - they appear to be aimed way to low, the output is terrible (just the lenses?) and the driver's side bi-xenon function doesn't work.

i have two ZHPs at home now. yep, i'm in the doghouse.

peter

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The headlights on these cars generally aren't the best. The lenses do contribute a lot to the actual output because if they are sandblasted then you loose a lot of light. Are they ZKW?


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Excellent color choice if I may say.

Sent from in the bushes

Good color choice.

If the headlights are zkw then you have burnt bowls.

Btw nothing wrong with having two zhp cars in a household.

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Originally Posted by Vas

Good color choice.

If the headlights are zkw then you have burnt bowls.

Btw nothing wrong with having two zhp cars in a household.

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haha, well, YOU might say so! :)

the lights are indeed ZKW's. new lenses + TRS kit = $265USD. i guess that beats new replacement units...

peter

Nice!

Congrats!

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thanks guys!

it sure is purdy. looking forward to making this one the DD. trying to decide now on staying with 17" wheels or going to OE 18's. not having the OE 18's is making the choice tough, because if i have to buy wheels anyway... might as well get some lightweight 17's and run a square setup (either 235/45/17 or 255/40/17 - and i like the option to rotate).

hmmmm.

peter

Nice pickup! I'm running the FX-R TRS kit. Was installed in January 2011, and light output is stellar. Couldn't be happier.

Crappy pics:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...608#post307608
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...288#post308288

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Originally Posted by alexandre

Nice pickup! I'm running the FX-R TRS kit. Was installed in January 2011, and light output is stellar. Couldn't be happier.

Crappy pics:

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...608#post307608
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showt...288#post308288

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thanks alex!

i think i fixed the aiming issue - i found that the front headlight leveler arm was disconnected. fixed - will test tonight. regardless though, the lenses are bad!

peter

new lenses, and bulbs (for backup) ordered today.

peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by slater

new lenses, and bulbs (for backup) ordered today.

peter

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What lenses did you get.


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gmurphy

What lenses did you get.


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i ordered replacement lenses from khoalty. the price was good and the reviews bolstered my confidence level in the price. :)

i'll post up how they are when they are installed!

peter

Glad you got her home safe and sound. Congrats! Good call on new lenses.

THought about changing those orange lights?

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Originally Posted by slater

i ordered replacement lenses from khoalty. the price was good and the reviews bolstered my confidence level in the price. :)

i'll post up how they are when they are installed!

peter

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For future reference, the Magnetti Marelli's may be a bit more, but the quality is better and they'll last longer.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

Glad you got her home safe and sound. Congrats! Good call on new lenses.

THought about changing those orange lights?

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haha, not really - i am a fan of the amber lights. i kind of like how the swear against the red... weird, i know.

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

For future reference, the Magnetti Marelli's may be a bit more, but the quality is better and they'll last longer.

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good to know, thanks. i will likely put some 3M protectant film on these to stave off the pitting... light output is precious. it's a safety feature!

I like ambers too!


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I go both ways ;-)


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

For future reference, the Magnetti Marelli's may be a bit more, but the quality is better and they'll last longer.

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I'm a little late on the ZKW bandwagon but these lenses will fit them just fine correct? (Al vs ZKW lenses)


Sent from a Secret Location (Lincoln,NE exit 395 on I-80)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

For future reference, the Magnetti Marelli's may be a bit more, but the quality is better and they'll last longer.

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Aren't those only for the AL headlights? Since that company makes the AL replacement assemblies?

You guys may be right, but I thought lenses would fit either ZKW or AL.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by danewilson77

You guys may be right, but I thought lenses would fit either ZKW or AL.

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That's what I am thinking too. Aren't the Khoalty lenses universal too?


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by gmurphy

That's what I am thinking too. Aren't the Khoalty lenses universal too?


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they are indeed... $80 for the pair, too. i realize you get what you pay for most times, but i am hoping these are OK.

they are $152CAD from bimmian, not in stock.

peter

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ELCID86

I go both ways ;-)


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yeah, me too. :) mostly amber though.

btw, shawn - your PM box is full!

peter

Thanks. Just noticed that. Raise my limit boss!! :-)


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Congrats. Nice car. Other plans?

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Originally Posted by johnrando

Congrats. Nice car. Other plans?

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thanks, john.

plans are to sort out the issues - which really is just the headlights, VC gasket, misc paint issues and a set of summer wheels. then drive and enjoy! it will get minimal upgrades along the way, mostly in the form of suspension bushings, shocks (upgrading when doing maintenance), etc. nothing major as i really like this car in stock form - which really says something!

ordered the EvoX-R kit from TRS tonight. the lights are BAD.

gotta get the ZHP coupe cleaned up and on the block, too! i'm not my wife's favorite person at the moment.

peter

:like. And, we've all been there, lol.

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headlights rebuilt last night with TRS EvoX-R bi-xenon kit, new D2S 4300k bulbs and new headlight lenses. i bought some of TRS' '2nd shrouds' but found the OE shrouds not only looked better, but fit better as well - so i elected to use those. if anyone needs a set of shrouds, i've got a set of TRS ones available.

i installed the lights at lunch today, and replaced some missing hardware for the kidney grille air snorkel thing with some random-but-perfectly-fitting audi hardware from my parts bin. ;) i need to aim the headlights tonight.

my amber corners are now so old and weathered-looking, i feel like i need to replace them - i wonder if they'll polish up nicely.

also installed an aFe Stage 1 Pro Dry S intake. haven't gone for a drive yet, looking forward to it. :)

peter

In for pictures

Nice, I opted to use my stock shrouds w/ the same kit as well. How's your cutoff line?

sorry, lousy BB pic. you can see how old and weathered the corners look. but the lights look good. :)

haven't been able to check the cutoff yet, gotta wait til tonight, and i need to aim them. it's supposed to rain buckets here, and my garage is full of ZHP coupe so i might not get to aim them tonight.

i took this at the grocery store. couldn't wait any longer to test drive with the aFe intake, had to get out of the office and 'run an errand'..... what an intoxicating sound! it's perfect - not too loud, not too quiet - and 6000-6800rpm is so biting and mechanical sounding - i'm really liking it. the car definitely feels a bit more powerful, and the delivery is smoother. :thumbsup

peter

i aimed the headlights last night per rovert's guide and then went for my first nighttime drive - man, these lights ROCK.

the cutoff on the driver's side light is perfect, the cutoff on the passenger side light is not so perfect, and has some weird cutoff 'blotches' far off to the right (in the bushes when driving), but overall it is absolutely stellar and 2x as good as the factory xenons in my A4.

i installed the generic D2S 4300k bulbs from khoalty and they seem great.

i'll try to get pics of the cutoff tonight.

peter

Nice, glad to hear. Any chance you could link me to rovert's guide?

it was a jpg, here it is!

thank you sir!

wow, forgot i had started this thread!

we sold our 2001 A4 Avant on saturday - i knew it would go quickly, but i listed it on wednesday night had a deposit on friday night - DANG! we were sad to see it go, but it's going to a good home and will be taken care of. kinda weird to see it not parked outside, we've had it for almost two years. only BMWs in the stable now - this is also kinda weird! i am getting the black '05 ZHP coupe ready for sale, then the imola sedan will be our lone car in the stable. i am kinda wanting to buy an old toyota truck to have around as a second vehicle. they are just so cool.

belated updates...

- installed 10mm front / 12.5mm rear spacers i got from connor here on the forum, for my stock wheels. love the look and increased stability - seem to have lost some on-center crispness, though
- replaced intake boots


looking ahead - since the ZHP is going to be the primary family hauler, and we are taking the ZHP to PEI in september (it's a big trip - 3000km), i am going to take care of some major maintenance:

- cooling system overhaul
- replace drive belts
- VANOS rebuild
- OFHG (it's weeping anyway)
- OEM M3 engine mounts
- UUC trans mounts
- replace DS center-support bearing
- rear subframe mounts (AKG 90A)
- RTABs (powerflex 95A)
- rear diff carrier bushings (ECS poly - soft)
- replace ebrake shoes
- replace rear rotors
- replace rear diff and trans fluild
- PS fluid flush
- replace fuel filter
- replace spark plugs
- replace CCV with catch can
- rear seat cupholders and 12v outlet for my kids!

i also have been eyeing a set of E46 M3 seats, as i find the stock seats VERY good but could use a lot more kidney bolstering....they're just too wide; i'm 6'1", 190lbs, athletic frame....the adjustable option on some M3 seats would be perfect. i'm just concerned that the M3 seats won't be as comfy as the ZHP seats. as some might recall, the ZHP seats (and ergonomics) are the reason i am driving one in the first place - and subsequently sold our A4 - because of neck and back issues that are making themselves known after i was rear-ended at a stop light about 7 years ago.

can anyone chime in about ZHP vs M3 seats? (charlie? :) )

peter

Nice list!
Bruce (BCS_ZHP) installed M3 seats in one of his son's coupes.