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.
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
)
- 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 xiThis 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!
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