Car Purchase Update - Long overdue!

"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k)
12/04/2018 at 17:21 • Filed to: None

Oppo, it is I. The poster formerly known as e30s2k. It’s been a while since I replaced my beloved E30, so it’s about time I updated you fine folks on developments.

As some of you may know, I ended up buying a 2005 E46 ZHP with a stick – !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . Ended up being a coupe, and in silver color – neither were my first choices, but it was a deal I couldn’t pass up.

I don’t like talking numbers, so let’s just say I paid about $3k less for this car than I would have for !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . I also paid $2k less for this car than I did for my ’89 E30 on its 3 rd engine with 300k miles. It came with maintenance records for the last few years, a car cover, roof rack, a fresh set of Pilot Super Sports mounted on 17” Style 73 wheels, and some barely used Michelin X-Ice winter tires.

I do think the 73s really work with the color of this car, for some reason reminds me of the old Mercedes CLK-GTR race car.

Also check out how small the E46 feels compared to the most compact car BMW currently makes -

So all in all I’d say it was a pretty spectacular deal. The car also has a full leather interior, so as much as I love the alcantara that came standard on ZHPs, we all know that most of them are worn to shreds at this point.

Just today the new to me ride hit 111,111 miles (gauge shot fail)–

Issues with the car thus far –

- As noted came with Style 73 wheels, not the sweet staggered style 135s that came standard on ZHPs. Benefit of that is that I have a square set up and can rotate my tires front to back. I can’t justify the price of 135s (or loss of utility), so I’m going to keep the winter tires on the 73s and find some appropriate 17x7.5 wheels to mount the PSS set on for summer use. I’m not seeing too many OEM BMW options I like, so will most likely go aftermarket while trying to retain a clean stock-ish look. Any recommendations appreciated, priority is to keep price and weight down.

- Cigarette lighter charger doesn’t work – neither does the power for the flashlight in the glovebox, seems like this might be a simple fuse fix. Hoping that’s the case so I can juice up my phone when needed.

- Orange oil level light comes on every now and then randomly – oil level is fine, no leaks. Oil level sensor is a common fault on these cars and a cheap easy fix, will be doing that next time I change my oil.

- Shocks will need replacing sometime soon. They work fine, but are looking rusty. This car unfortunately spent the first few years of its life on the East Coast.

- PPI revealed that power steering fluid was pretty dirty, will be flushing that out and putting a new reservoir in sometime soon.

- Preventatively do intend to rebuild the VANOS and look in to cooling system sometime soon down the road, because this is an E46 after all. Currently not a problem – and DISA valve has been done, along with certain cooling components and other miscellaneous weak areas by previous owner.

The car really was a bargain. My wife’s mind has been boggled since the day I bought it – simply doesn’t understand how I can buy this car that is so much “nicer” than my E30 and put $2K in our bank account in the process. I love the M54 engine, it’s wonderfully smooth and makes a very nice noise. Weak points I’d say are that the car is heavier & less nimble than the E30 (no shit) and the gear shifter feel is crap. Even with the short throw on the ZHP it’s just too rubbery. I don’t expect Miata/S2000 level feel from a BMW – and this is probably better than the E30 by a mile – but on that car the rubbery vagueness was part of its old-school lazy charm. On this thing it just leaves something to be desired. Also, how the hell did BMW not offer a LSD option on a performance package 3 series? I’m glad to see that they do offer one as an option on their newer cars again at least.

I miss my E30 terribly but I’m glad to have a car that I drive more often, and that my wife actually enjoys going places in. My S2000 is long, long gone too now…so it’s time I updated my username to my current fleet and own up to it, I suppose.

From now on, I formerly e30s2k, shall be known as ZHP Sparky, the 5th .

DISCUSSION (19)

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 17:38

Niiice.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 17:44

Nice looks like a sweet car. I need to delve into the world of RWD

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
12/04/2018 at 17:48

Thanks! And got it for way less than every other car I was looking at – G35s, IS300s, WRXs etc included. I’ve been waiting for the shoe to drop with some catastrophic issue I’ve overlooked, but so far so good.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/04/2018 at 17:51

You appear to already have an E90 ?

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 17:52

Xdrive. Altho for one sweet month the stability control system broke itself so it had no ABS, no traction control, and no AWD. That was fun

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/04/2018 at 17:58

Sacrilege! You’ve skipped one of the essential components of BMW ownership (although you’ve succeeded at one of the other key essentials being random system malfunctions).

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/04/2018 at 18:04

My Accent came with no ABS , stability control and no AWD! :P

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 18:07

Yeah it fixed it self but there’s a stored code for “wheels speed sensor air gap to large” I would love it if I could turn those theee systems off at will. The Xdrive is fun in the snow tho.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/04/2018 at 18:07

You’re ahead of the game!

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
12/04/2018 at 18:13

It's pretty much an F1

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/04/2018 at 18:15

It's pretty great if you don't have real winters.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/04/2018 at 18:18

Or better or worse I do.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
12/04/2018 at 18:24

This winter for once I actually have proper snow tires on both the E46 and the Subaru. They’re both the exact same tire too – I’m quite curious to test them out.

The Subaru is just a Crosstrek, so not like it has a particularly advanced diff system or anything like that – but the E46 doesn’t have an LSD either. I’m curious to learn just how much of a difference having power going to all 4 wheels, as opposed to 2, with some basic electronic nannying in each, will make – while having proper rubber in both instances.

But hey we live in Portland, and so far this winter has been a dud…we’ve barely even had much rain. Hoping for that to change so our summers don’t turn in to California too.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
12/04/2018 at 18:26

Damn straight! Supercar companies charge to take things away for lightness, mine didn’t come with it in the first place! :P

CompactLuxuryFan > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 18:50

You’re right about not having an LSD, although I don’t think it was really an issue until the much more powerful turbocharged engines came along. To my knowledge, there is no mechanical LSD option on any non-M BMW to this day. The new M340 supposedly is getting... something. It should have been an option from the moment the N54 came along. Really on anything with more than 300 hp.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > CompactLuxuryFan
12/04/2018 at 19:10

You know, that’s what I tought as well - that the new G20 (or whatever its called) is the first that they’re bringing an LSD as an option for after a while. But someone had replied to a comment I had made stating that the current generation actually offers it as a dealer installed option. No clue about the legitimacy of that claim.

For street use I agree that most cars don’t really need an LSD unless they’re putting down stupid amounts of power , but on track or autocross it can certainly come in handy. Not that I’m doing much of either these days.

CompactLuxuryFan > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 19:28

Hmm looks like it is an M Performance part https://www.parts.bmwgroup.com/infodok/1473/en_EN/subpages/documents/manuals/SZ_042_03_14.pdf

$2 ,6 00 installed seems like way too much these days , though. It’s also clutch-based, although I wouldn’t really expect any maintenance or reliability issues.

Matt Nichelson > ZHP Sparky, the 5th
12/04/2018 at 19:52

If you lived any closer I would happily sell you my old style 197's. I think they look pretty good on an e46.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Matt Nichelson
12/05/2018 at 00:29

Thank you, sir! Those truly are nice looking wheels. Hoping to stick to 17s though too, so I can hang on to this perfectly good rubber the car came with.