Getting ready to by a ZHP

[ArmyMan1984]

I'm getting ready to purchase this 2004 330i ZHP. Just wondering what you recommend when I look at it later this evening to make sure everything is good to go. It's going to the bmw shop here as well for them to do a check up paid for by the person selling it. This should be a nice car

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

[akhbhaat]

I don't see anything off about it. Even the price is within reason (for an asking price). If it checks out, go for it.

[bmwdave37]

First off, i will be very jealous if you get this car. Nice find and hope you get it.

Secondly, I'm proud of you for getting it checked out before you buy it. So many people don't do this. Make sure it's a bmw specialist that checks it for you.

[mbcoops]

The only thing I notice is some misinformation in the blurb, but that's to be expected. Is it Orient blue?

I'm sure the inspection will cover the BMW basics for a 60k mi car - cooling system, make sure inspection II was done, check suspension bushings, brakes, etc...

ZHP issues I've read about are the 4k rpm stumble and a loud VANOS rattle. I thought my car was stumbling but it's gone away. The fix is to send the ECU to north jersey for a full reprogram. This offer is on the table by my dealership, but I'm waiting to see if it comes back. Haven't heard any VANOS rattle yet, but there are a few fixes if the car is noisy around 2k rpm - Dr. VANOS or the Beisan seals.

I'm sure I missed some stuff. Good luck!

mb

[sockethead]

I noticed that someone took the 330i off the trunk lid and put on an M3 badge.
If a BMW dealer is performing the pre-purchase inspection, have them pull up any service records on the car.

[ArmyMan1984]

Thanks for the imput everyone. I am going to look at it now at a dealership. Hopefully everything checks outbfine and I'll post afterwards!

[threethirtyxi]

Seems like a good deal - nice find! It's hard to tell from the picture, but it looks like this ZHP doesn't have the OEM performance package shift knob. Kind of ironic since the ZHP shift knob is highly regarded and a common upgrade for those with non performance package E46's. And the M3 badge doesn't sit well with me, as sockethead noted. That might tell you something about the previous owner. Just nitpicks, but overall looks great.

[mimalmo]

remove the m3 badge, replace the shift knob with the proper ZHP knob, drive and enjoy the car, rinse & repeat last two steps.

[viperocco]

Originally Posted by ArmyMan1984

I'm getting ready to purchase this 2004 330i ZHP. Just wondering what you recommend when I look at it later this evening to make sure everything is good to go. It's going to the bmw shop here as well for them to do a check up paid for by the person selling it. This should be a nice car

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...e&rdpage=thumb

Thats pretty nice. I am going to see this one on Saturday...

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...ype=b&make=BMW

[peterv]

Price is a little bit high. Paid $15,600 for mine last June. '04 330i zhp auto with 45k miles. I like the car but wish it's manual like yours. Good luck!

[pimpin325ci]

Dang man yous gettin an M! They make those in fo doors now?!

[USAFDent11]

Originally Posted by peterv

Price is a little bit high. Paid $15,600 for mine last June. '04 330i zhp auto with 45k miles. I like the car but wish it's manual like yours. Good luck!

When I was looking for mine, it always seemed like the manuals went for $1500-$2000 more than the autos...

[fermunky]

Um, the ad says both Sport Pkg and ZHP Pkg, but these were not sold as packages "together"

Obviously, the Performance Package is a level above the Sport Package, so they're not available together.

But it does have the alcantra wheel, which I thought was a ZHP-only item... So who knows.

[USAFDent11]

Originally Posted by fermunky

Um, the ad says both Sport Pkg and ZHP Pkg, but these were not sold as packages "together"



But it does have the alcantra wheel, which I thought was a ZHP-only item... So who knows.

Yeah, it has the red needles, cube trim, etc. I think people who don't know just assume it must have a sport package although the performance package actually replaces it. I didn't think there was a premium package available - just a no sunroof option, a leather option, navigation, and a cold weather package which it says it has, but it doesn't. No headlight cleaners or heated seats. Seems like a couple of things are misrepresented. Be careful...

[fermunky]

Yeah I forgot about the red needles, which I think are the easiest give away

[Soon2bM3]

Yeah, I'd be wary about the seller's description. The car is definitely a ZHP, unless he went through a great deal of re-fitting to get the ZHP-specific parts (M-sport exterior, cube trim, red needles, ZHP wheels, etc...). However, he explains that it also has the premium and cold weather packages. I couldn't see the heated seat switches in his photos so he may be blowing a little bit of smoke. The M3 re-badge on the trunk was the first big "I'm full of sh*t" indicator.

[sonspot]

Originally Posted by USAFDent11

When I was looking for mine, it always seemed like the manuals went for $1500-$2000 more than the autos...

thats why you remind them that manuals are cheaper to buy ( $1500-$2000)..

[peterv]

+1

[akhbhaat]

Originally Posted by sonspot

thats why you remind them that manuals are cheaper to buy ( $1500-$2000)..

In contrast to the wider market (where automatics are more popular), manual ZHPs are in much higher demand. Most enthusiast buyers don't want an automatic.

When I was shopping back in April, I was finding all sorts of auto ZHPs in the low teens; they were selling for about the same price as a regular auto ZSP (maybe a little bit more). The manuals were more expensive and sold faster.

[USAFDent11]

Originally Posted by sonspot

thats why you remind them that manuals are cheaper to buy ( $1500-$2000)..

Search autotrader for both manuals and autos. You'll see some pretty big differences in price. And the autos will actually still be available when you call on them...

[mbcoops]

Originally Posted by akhbhaat

In contrast to the wider market (where automatics are more popular), manual ZHPs are in much higher demand. Most enthusiast buyers don't want an automatic.

When I was shopping back in April, I was finding all sorts of auto ZHPs in the low teens; they were selling for about the same price as a regular auto ZSP (maybe a little bit more). The manuals were more expensive and sold faster.

I can second this - did my shopping this summer and found a ton of automatic ZHPs for less money than similarly equipped manuals. It got to the point where all I could find on the major sites (in imola) were autos. Talk about disappointment: see an ad for a nice car, get your hopes up for a second, then they crash down as you see the auto.

ZHPs are being sought out by enthusiasts, so the autos aren't selling for as much.

mb

[willamD]

looks good. hope that badge means it has S54

[maxell0405]

An S54 e46 sedan would be my ultimate dream car. OK, that's an overstatement, but it would be a killer good daily driver. There must be a few nutjobs out there that did this conversion, but unfortunately I'm not one of them.

[peterv]

I checked kbb for the price of an '04 330i and the values for a manual and auto are the same.

[USAFDent11]

Originally Posted by peterv

I checked kbb for the price of an '04 330i and the values for a manual and auto are the same.

Well, those of us who have spent months looking for a manual ZHP know better. I would have loved to have found a clean manual ZHP for private party book value, but I realized after a couple of months it wasn't going to happen.

Again, check Autotrader if you don't believe it. KBB is a good guide, but in this case, it doesn't complete reflect market conditions.