Want a new daily

[HAULN-SS]

I saw that red NJ one before. It is sold, but I liked it. Cali must've gotten a lot of ZHP cars. I was doing some searching just now on a couple of traditional sites and didnt find a whole lot

[SlimKlim]

They are not the easiest cars to find, that's for sure. They seem to come in waves, sometimes I'll see two or three well priced ones on bimmerforums, then you go a month or so without seeing any.

I'd definitely be willing to travel for one within a day's drive home though, they aren't *that* much different than the standard 330i sport, but when you add up all the little differences and the relatively minor price gap, I think its worth it.

[HAULN-SS]

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found this guy selling one for $12,200 - from his email:

Since I purchased it, I did the whole cooling system overhaul as preventive maintenance. This included: radiator, expansion tank, belts, hoses, pulleys, and all coolant sensors. The water pump was replaced at 87K by the previous owner. I replaced the windshield cowl moulding and windshield wiper assemblies as well. Back in April, the fuel pump died and had to be replaced. Around that time, I also replaced the oil level sensor (another common failure part). That cured the oil level light from coming on intermittently. I changed the oil and flushed the brake fluid. At that time, I also removed the clutch delay valve which made shifting much smoother and more direct (the difference was very noticeable on this car compared to other BMWs I have owned). There are no fluid leaks, smells, or funny noises. The struts/shocks are original and the suspension is still very tight. Front control arms and rear control arm bushings were replaced in 2008 at 60K. Brakes are good for awhile also, as the majority of the miles on the car are highway.

The car was in 2 accidents. The first was when the car was only 3 mos. old and someone tapped the back bumper at a red light. The bumper was scraped but the whole bumper was replaced. There was no sheet metal or other paint damage. The other accident was in 2008. It was a low speed impact that damaged the right/front corner. Damaged was minor (she showed me a photo) but it did damage the bumper, headlight, hood, and fender. These were all replaced. There was no mechanical damage. The bodywork from both incidents was done by Princeton BMW's body shop. The shop is factory-authorized by BMW and no aftermarket parts were used. The bodywork was performed to a high-standard and has held up well.
Currently, the car needs nothing but a new driver and a little cosmetic attention (if you so choose). The car has always been washed regularly and detailed at least a couple times a year. There is no rust. The body does however have several parking lot dings. I believe the drivers and passenger’s door have 3 dings each, and there is one or two more on the R/R door. They are dings, not dents, and do not show up very well in the photos. I talked to my guy at a body shop and he assured me they could all easily be removed by a paintless dent removal tech. The black mesh grill in the front bumper has faded to gray and could use a little sprucing up. All 4 wheels have minor curb rash (not bent). The interior has some minor wear and tear and scratches on the black cube strip on the driver's door and around the center console. The previous owner did have some big diamond rings and long fingernails! The interior was never smoked in or eaten in. The radio and speakers are stock and there is no AUX or ipod input.

[SlimKlim]

Great looking car, great color, reasonable price, sounds like it was well maintained.

The CDV removal is a massive improvement on the E46, most people agree it just makes the car feel "right." I'd ask him to put the cupholders back in instead of the tray if he has it (because 'murica, how are you supposed to drive to work without coffee?), wave $11k at him, and buy a plane ticket.

[HAULN-SS]

Learn me real quick - is this a vanos car, and is that something I should think about, and do you nova people have the ability to help me fix this car if i make a terrible mistake and go get it this week?

[SlimKlim]

Yes - its Double VANOS, so both the intake and exhaust cam are variable. Yes, you probably need to worry about it, assuming it hasn't already been repaired. You will know immediately because it will sound like marbles in a can on startup/shutdown, and the power delivery will be uneven, it usually has a pronouced step up around 4k. I had a double-VANOS 325i that had no signs of issues at 90k so this car might be fine. I didn't rebuild the M3's until 175k+.

Assuming it did need the repair, you would want order the Double Seal and Double Rattle repair kits for a total of $120. I have the vise-grip liners and modified socket lying around somewhere. You also need cam locks and the flywheel lock but someone around here has those, I know because I borrowed them. You also need a timing chain tensioner lock, but I used a small allen key.

http://www.beisansystems.com/products.html

However, in my personal experience, that was one of the few projects I actually really enjoyed doing. It takes a while, I'd budget 5-6 hours, but the Besian DIY is incredibly thorough (under the procedures link) just print it out and follow the directions. When you take it all apart you really understand how that clever little system works to change the valve timing as the RPMs increase. (I mean its not that clever, since they all fail, but still)

[HAULN-SS]

If I got the guy to send me a video of startup/shutdown, + some revs or something..should he do it from the drivers seat, or standing outside the car (to hear the rattles, etc)

[SlimKlim]

Ideally standing outside at the front of the car with the hood open so you can really hear it, pretty good idea to ask for that just to make sure its being advertised honestly.

Here is the rattle while revving:

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Good Before and After:

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Can't find a video of the start up sound on a double vanos 6 cylinder, but mine made a similar clattering sound. What I remember being the most noisy was coming off the throttle at low rpms, or shutting the motor down. I was amazed after the repair with just how drama-free turning the motor off became. Purring 6 cylinder one second, dead silence the next.

Feel free to forward the video to me for BMW-nerd review. jmklimchuk at gmail dot com.

[HAULN-SS]

Told the guy I'd buy it. Waiting to hear back.

[WRXtranceformed]

Or you could get a Hondacura and not have to get special tools or spend 5-6 hours fixing things

[JohnC]

I'm incredibly late to this thread, but an E46 ZHP is a great daily driver. I've owned two, and it will be back on the list the next time I want to own a car. Good luck!

[HAULN-SS]

Fuhhhhh...guy sold it after i got my money together..shit seller

[SlimKlim]

Or you could get a Hondacura and not have to get special tools or spend 5-6 hours fixing things

Maybe he wants something more exciting to drive to work than creamed corn? :dunno:

[HAULN-SS]

Heh..yeah, I would maybe do the TL but the ones Ive seen so far in -S trim have been more than i'd want to pay for one. Definitely dont think I want to derp around in a honda after derping around in a malibu for the last few years

[WRXtranceformed]

Or you could get a Hondacura and not have to get special tools or spend 5-6 hours fixing things

Maybe he wants something more exciting to drive to work than creamed corn? :dunno:

You have clearly never driven a hype S! Super fun car to drive, faster around a track than the is350 and g35

[D_Eclipse9916]

Or you could get a Hondacura and not have to get special tools or spend 5-6 hours fixing things

Maybe he wants something more exciting to drive to work than creamed corn? :dunno:

You have clearly never driven a hype S! Super fun car to drive, faster around a track than the is350 and g35

Faster /= more enjoyable. And comparing a car "faster around a track than an IS350 and G35 is :lol: Ive driven both on track, IS350 is an amazing car, but both are tuuuuuurrrrrriibbbbllle on track.

[WRXtranceformed]

And the fanbois chime in! Immediately after recommending setting aside the time and borrowing or purchase of special tools to fix stuff that's likely going to :lol:

Go ahead and buy an old bimmer as a daily and I'll save my I told you so's for later. Just keep in mind that most of the people recommending those cars are either a) still in school and not commuting to work or b) biking or taking the metro in to the city. You're going to be putting a lot of mileage on a car that already will have high mileage and is not known for its joyful high mileage ownership

[Jake]

And the fanbois chime in! Immediately after recommending setting aside the time and borrowing or purchase of special tools to fix stuff that's likely going to :lol:

Go ahead and buy an old bimmer as a daily and I'll save my I told you so's for later. Just keep in mind that most of the people recommending those cars are either a) still in school and not commuting to work or b) biking or taking the metro in to the city. You're going to be putting a lot of mileage on a car that already will have high mileage and is not known for its joyful high mileage ownership

I put 15k on my E36 325i in a year. What did it require in that year? A set of tires and a thermostat. Sold it at 160k and it's still out there soldiering on as a commuter for a friend of mine.

It's not hard, really. Make sure the cooling system has been done and realize that it'll need a set of lower control arms eventually.

I fail to see how wear items, like rubber bushings, lend themselves to "terrible ownership experience".

[WRXtranceformed]

And the fanbois chime in! Immediately after recommending setting aside the time and borrowing or purchase of special tools to fix stuff that's likely going to :lol:

Go ahead and buy an old bimmer as a daily and I'll save my I told you so's for later. Just keep in mind that most of the people recommending those cars are either a) still in school and not commuting to work or b) biking or taking the metro in to the city. You're going to be putting a lot of mileage on a car that already will have high mileage and is not known for its joyful high mileage ownership

I put 15k on my E36 325i in a year. What did it require in that year? A set of tires and a thermostat. Sold it at 160k and it's still out there soldiering on as a commuter for a friend of mine.

It's not hard, really. Make sure the cooling system has been done and realize that it'll need a set of lower control arms eventually.

I fail to see how wear items, like rubber bushings, lend themselves to "terrible ownership experience".

Drives car for one year, claims reliable long term car :lol:

Fwiw before I finish trolling Deersty's thread my old hype s with a j pipe kept up with my buddys wife's brand new 335I

[SlimKlim]

You can have an expensive, nice European car you don't have to work on and will lose a fuckton of money on. Or you can have a soulless, overpriced, boring but maintenance free Japanese car. Or, you can have an affordable, nice European car that will require a little bit of time and money to keep going, but in the end will be far, far less financially devastating than, oh, say, a newish Jaguar, and far, far more fun to drive than a FWD Acura.

A well maintained 100k mile E46 is also a far cry from the 20 year old, 150k mile, worn out pieces of shit we buy. I've hit plenty of rough spots over the past 4 years with my car, but I've also been on this odyssey to bring back a poorly maintained, more or less left for dead car.

I just don't get the hate for a man with a $12k budget and wants a car that isn't a glorified Accord or CR-V, and is willing to wrench on it as a trade off. It ain't your money, tools or time. :dunno: