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

[JupiterBMW]

jon, what does your wife think of the X5M?

Hey Peter...

Well, to her, its just an SUV... We were initially in the market for an X5, M sport... I ended up selling the ZHP right around the time we were looking, and I got a lot of money for it... I also ran across our X5///M right around that time. The deal seemed to good to pass up, so I jumped on it. We decided to try out having 1 car, and it was the perfect blend of utility and performance... Lots of both! However, it was a bit of an impulse buy, and I didn't research it enough... It ended up costing us a lot of money in maintenance the first year we owned it... But, we finally got the thing ironed out and all is good now. I really love how it drives like a performance vehicle when I want it to, yet its plenty big enough for the whole family...

General things on the E70... The steering is very heavy... If your wife is a dainty little thing, she might hate that. Ours has the optional 21" wheels with the 285/35-21" tires, so its a lot of meat to turn, but still its very noticeable. Also, the E70 in general suffers from pretty crappy interior quality. Lots of creaks from the interior panels and stuff... A lot more than even my ZHP had (my ZHP was unrealistically tight and quiet though...)

If you go with the V8, plan to make sure of a few maintenance things, there have been a few recalls and other issues that BMW has worked on, so you'll just want to check into that... The X5///M has never gotten any love in terms of recalls or the recent N63 Customer Care Package (google it if you need), until just recently when they decided to release the "service bulletin" for the injectors (basically a recall...).

So, assuming you get one with all of the maintenance done, go for it. The performance is unreal, yet it drives just fine with the wife at the wheel. It is an absolute pig on gas, but the fun is worth it. Its actually quite comical to completely annihilate unsuspecting guys in some cars...

[Karl Lazlo]

Dr CakM3 came to CT, he enjoyed some wings with BP, watched a crazy father (me) interact with his 7yr old daughter and passed over some parts. An unused pair of SGT adj sway bar end links for my M3 and a ULF so I can get hands free in my ZHP. Thanks, again, Charlie!

My daughter closely examined the two Imola 4 door ZHPs and tried to notice differences. She does have an eye for BMWs. Then, she got tossed into the snow.

[ELCID86]

Also, X5 is at the dealer... yes I know, right!? T

Not again!

What's the status of your interior?


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"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46fanatic

[Whammy]

Got the ZHP back today from the body shop. Ran errands to with girlfriend and stretched the girl's legs (the ZHP....LOL). Felt good to go fast!

[Rovert]

You went there. Not us.

[Whammy]

You went there. Not us.

LOL!

[az3579]

You went there. Not us.

While we're on the subject...

Felt good to go fast!

That's what she said.

[Fenrir]

I had a nice chat with the folks at UUC yesterday about replacing my clutch and even got a chance to talk to the owner. Really nice folks and extremely helpful. I'll be purchasing the street organic performance clutch kit and a friction surface replacement kit from the within the next couple of weeks. The plan is to have the ZHP back on the road full time by March.

I plan to do a video review for the clutch kit and light weight flywheel with both pre/ post break in inputs. It'll be nice to start contributing again and be back in the seat of the ZHP.

[cakM3]

Dr CakM3 came to CT, he enjoyed some wings with BP, watched a crazy father (me) interact with his 7yr old daughter and passed over some parts. An unused pair of SGT adj sway bar end links for my M3 and a ULF so I can get hands free in my ZHP. Thanks, again, Charlie!

My daughter closely examined the two Imola 4 door ZHPs and tried to notice differences. She does have an eye for BMWs. Then, she got tossed into the snow.

Just glad I can help contribute to your projects Ray! It was nice meeting both you and "C" today! She's a trip in a very good way! I enjoyed watching both of you interact with each other

[Karl Lazlo]

Just glad I can help contribute to your projects Ray!

Thanks, dude!

It was nice meeting both you and "C" today!

Likewise!

She's a trip in a very good way! I enjoyed watching both of you interact with each other

I am very proud of her. Wicked smart, funny, cute, sarcastic, happy and a wee bit sensitive. She is a fun kid, makes dad being easy. For now...