Ryan's ZHP Project

Picked up an '04 Imola 6sp ZHP sedan from Alex (Overlord) in Tulsa, OK last weekend. Flew down there Friday evening from Chicago, and drove back all day Saturday.

http://just.razzi.me/photos/411551/19b8856.jpg

First Impressions: The car is surprisingly different from my '03 325xi (auto). There's the obvious stuff like the stiffer suspension, rwd, and manual transmission. Overall though, there's just a different feeling to the car. The doors shut differently, there aren't any creaking noises, and there's just a subtly-different feeling to it.

Stuff I Need to Do: This part is slightly frustrating, because I pretty much just caught up with everything I could possibly need to do on my xi. There isn't a ton of stuff, but I think it's going to add up quickly (especially the painting part...)

• Fix burnt Bowl Issue (wish I would have know about this before driving home in the dark - can barely see at all!)
• Replace Lower Radiator Hose
• Replace Thermostat (stuck open)
• Replace Power Steering Pressure LIne
• Replace Belts
• Fix Passenger Airbag Sensor Mat
• Dr. Colorchip or Respray Hood/Front Bumper (TONS of chips)
• Replace Front Brake Pads and Turn Rotors
• Fix Small Tear in Driver's Side Alcantar Bolster. Any ideas on this? I'm thinking fabric glue...?
• Transfer Clears, AE's and LED Tails from the xi (unless I keep them with the xi when I sell it)
• Paint Grills Black
• Polish Windshield (someone must have loved driving behind gravel trucks :mad)
• Complete Detail and Paint Restoration (after I get the front end cleared up)
• Oil Change and Coolant Flush
• Front window regulator things
• Pulleys
• Fluids

Final item on my list: sell my beloved xi :( This is definitely going to be the toughest part. I barely knew how to change the oil on a car before I owned this - it literally taught me everything I know! I'm definitely going to miss it, but I suppose like Neil Young said, it's better to burn out than fade away. If anyone knows of a good home for this car, let me know!

http://just.razzi.me/photos/320438/b09e104.jpg :wub

Sweet, it's Imola!

I think a fabric glue is going to be your best option for the seat. If the tear is larger than 3mm I would stitch it, and yeah it's probably not going to look great.

Curious to hear more about this "polish the windshield". I didn't realize that was possible.

And can we get clear pics of the front end chips? I'm curious if touch-ups or a complete respray would be your best option.

Again, congrats on the new ride.

Yeah, I'm thinking the repair for the alcantara isn't going to look great. I need to pm Coby and see if he has any suggestions... There's actually two small rips, but no fabric actually missing (meaning they close up). Seeing those kind of bummed me out, but the rest of the alcantara and fabric is in really good shape, so yeah...

As for polishing the windshield, I haven't done it but have heard good things about this product: http://www.autogeek.net/carpro-ceriglass-polish.html Someone did a DIY for it but I can't seem to find it at the moment..

I'll take some pictures of the front damage when I get home tonight... I'm sure a re-spray would be my best option, because the damage is extensive. I already have Dr. Colorchip left though, so as a cost-conscious measure I'll probably try that first. I'm sure it wouldn't be perfect, but I think I'm looking at like $400 for the hood alone. :/ Not really sure that's in the cards for a while...

A red respray is going to be expensive, I think you're looking $400-750 actually. Gotta love the cost of red!

Interested to see how the windshield turns out.

Ouch. That blows.

Fix burnt Bowl Issue (wish I would have know about this before driving home in the dark - can barely see at all!) > Lots of info here on this

Replace Lower Radiator Hose >>>> Might I recommend just doing the overhaul?
Replace Thermostat (stuck open) >>>

Replace Power Steering Pressure LIne

Replace Belts > Add pulleys?

Fix Passenger Airbag Sensor Mat > I have a mat........muhahahaha

Dr. Colorchip or Respray Hood/Front Bumper (TONS of chips)

Replace Front Brake Pads and Turn Rotors > May not be able to turn rotors. Spec is stamped on rotor hat.

Fix Small Tear in Driver's Side Alcantar Bolster. Any ideas on this? I'm thinking fabric glue...? > No idea

Transfer Clears, AE's and LED Tails from the xi (unless I keep them with the xi when I sell it)

Paint Grills Black

Polish Windshield (someone must have loved driving behind gravel trucks )

Complete Detail and Paint Restoration (after I get the front end cleared up)

Oil Change and Coolant Flush

Front window regulator things

Sounds good. When was diff and tranny fluid done last?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryankokesh

[*]Paint Grills Black

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IND or ban

Burnt Bowl --> yeah, I think Charlie did a DIY on that? I read about it on the drive home, but not extensively. Seems like a pita. Also, who named this problem? :D

Replace Belt --> yeah, pulleys too...

Mat --> you haz mat??

Rotors --> should be fine to turn, supposedly they're brand new. Just ordered some ceramic pads from Ray.

Alcantara --> what do you mean no idea!?! :(

Fluids --> adding to list...


Get it? Haz mat? :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by UdubBadger

IND or ban

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IND? I don't get it...?

Also, what's with everyone threatening to ban me?? lol :foottap

Alcantara = try mighty mend it

I will have to pick some of that up...I'll be sure to share the results whenever I do it.


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Oh, and I was told the thermostat was replaced recently and that the cooling system overhaul was done at the same time. Not sure how confident I am in the rest of the overhaul if the thermo is already stuck...


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Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryankokesh

ind? I don't get it...?

Also, what's with everyone threatening to ban me?? Lol :foottap

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IND...
A&L Autobody
:rolleyes

http://parts.ind-distribution.com/

Oh cool, I'll have to check them out. Do you mean to have them paint the grills, or just purchase black ones from them?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryankokesh

IND? I don't get it...?

Also, what's with everyone threatening to ban me?? lol :foottap

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Hehe....I haz mat

http://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/...226_212145.jpg

I'd be curious about turning the rotors... I've always replaced them on a BMW. If you turn them will they be replaced prior to the new set of pads?

I haven't heard of turning rotors on these cars... others yes, but these, I thought that you weren't' supposed to do that. Someone who knows better could chime in.

I haven't heard of anyone turning rotors in many, many years. With labor constantly rising and the cost of rotors made overseas decreasing at some point we crossed the threshold where it simply was no longer economically beneficial.

Just my .02¢

William.


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=33.855593,-118.398161

I wouldn't normally turn them, but they're brand new. The PO put on new rotors, but kept the old pads. (I dunno why...I've always been told that was a big no-no.) That resulted in some warpage and shuddering when braking.

they sell painted ones

Another project! At least you will enjoy the restoration process! :)


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Hopefully I'll start enjoying it more when things get going... I'm frustrated at the moment. Still trying to understand why the thermostat would be stuck open when it was just replaced. Does anyone know of another problem that would cause the car to never come to operating temp? Actually, I shouldn't say that. It did get to 12:00 once when I was sitting in the car as it idled. Then I drove and it cooled itself off again! lol.

Also, the more I think about it the madder I get at the dealership that did the PPI. I guess I know there's nothing major wrong with the car, but I don't understand how they missed so much stuff! I specifically asked about the headlights (they just said the lenses were a little cloudy), the paint condition, the window regulators, and the interior condition. So they missed that the bowls are burnt so badly you can see the brown without opening the assembly, the paint is chipped to hell in the front and completely swirled everywhere else, the front window regulators are shot, and there are two small tears in the drivers seat bolster. Plus, they never mentioned the terrible brake stutter, which I specifically asked them about because the PO told me about it. I asked what specifically was causing it, and they told me it didn't exist! And they didn't see that the car never warms up! What did I pay them to do??

Finally, yesterday I learned that my brake pads where shipped to Virginia instead of Illinois. That's the second time that I've ordered brakes from this specific place that I won't mention and they shipped it to the wrong address. Worst part is they don't even apologize....just blame it on the shipper... Point is though, I won't be able to fix that this weekend like I had planned. Ugh. I guess that'll teach me to order from them again.

:facepalm

I'd call um and ask for 1/2 the money back from the PPI. Sounds like a shop just looking to make a quick buck

Yeah, that's a good idea. I should give them a piece of my mind...

http://birthwithoutfearblog.com/wp-c...y-i-oughta.jpg

Couple Updates:

1) The P2227 barometric sensor code turned itself off. Guess the car doesn't mind residing at this altitude.

2) Mike from Coby Wheel (awesome dude that he is) was kind enough to send me a couple Alcantara scraps to mend my bolster with. I'm going to attempt to kind of glue them underneath the tears to hold it together. I'll update progress on this when the mail man brings them :)

yeah Mike has been uber awesome to work with.

So when we meetin up for me to see this beauty?

Did he do your shift knob?

And pm sent!

he did

and my wheel

I'm thinking I might send him my knob :) Definitely want to get a shifty thingy cover with the motorsport stitching.

he does some exceptional work... YOU'LL SEE IT FIRST HAND WHEN YOU DECIDE TO FINALLY MEET UP WITH ME!

:rofl

hahaha... yeah, can't wait to see your knob. :shift

Pick a place halfway for lunch saturday and I'll be there. Is IND open saturday?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryankokesh

hahaha... yeah, can't wait to see your knob. :shift

Pick a place halfway for lunch saturday and I'll be there. Is IND open saturday?

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:rofl
:rofl
:rofl
:rofl
:rofl
:rofl

They're only open M-F unfortunately

sonofabitch.

presidents' day?

probably

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ryankokesh

Couple Updates:

1) The P2227 barometric sensor code turned itself off. Guess the car doesn't mind residing at this altitude.

2) Mike from Coby Wheel (awesome dude that he is) was kind enough to send me a couple Alcantara scraps to mend my bolster with. I'm going to attempt to kind of glue them underneath the tears to hold it together. I'll update progress on this when the mail man brings them :)

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What is Mikes username?

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

It's coby1

And out of appreciative promotion, this is his sig:
http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/image...ine=1298474025

Everyone should have him wrap your stuff in comfy alcantara!

Thanks.

HTC Thunderbolt+TT

Starting to feel like the repairs are getting under control...ups man isn't going to like me friday!

mines been here every day this week so far

Lol, how much stuff are you getting?? Is there even anything that needs to be fixed, or are these all toys? :)


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