ZHP decision making!

"ZHP Sparky, the 5th" (e30s2k) 09/18/2018 at 11:15 • Filed to: None

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I’ve found a local E46 ZHP 6MT sedan that I’m considering buying (picture below not actual car).

I’m having the car go through a PPI today as the current owner doesn’t have too many maintenance records, however it does seem like a pretty honest car based on my viewing and test drive this past weekend. Question will come down to what the PPI reveals, and how much I’m willing to pay for a car that needs a little bit of cosmetic clean up (just a good waxing and deep clean for the most part), and some preventative work.

I intend to rebuilt the DISA valve, VANOS (I detected some rattle under the hood but not too loud), and probably overhaul the cooling system (currently no signs of running too hot though). The car of course has a clean title but apparently had a front fender replaced after a parking lot accident…so curious to make sure nothing else looks funky on the underside after that.

I checked recent ZHP sales on BaT and some pretty pristine looking cars recently sold for around $7-8k with good preventative work and/or maintenance records. Not sure how much weight you folks give data points like that against local in-person sales? Current owner is asking a little under $9k for the car, which feels high to me. Given all the unknowns on the car I’m thinking around $7k is a more reasonable price for this thing. Thoughts? Input? Other things to consider? Should I run away? 

Tangential – why the hell are first gen G35s so expensive? I can’t find a single local car with a stick for under $10k that haven’t been completely abused.

Gerry197 > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 11:35

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That’s high for an E46 that isn’t an M3 in my opinion.

I do agree the E46 330I with ZHP package deserves special recognition as a “submodel”, because it does have both mechanical and cosmetic upgrades throughout, it’s one of the purest E46s out there, which makes it one of the best non-M 3-series to ever exist.

But $9,000 is way too much unless the mileage is usually low.

Jack Does Cars > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 11:35

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ZHP’s are getting to be crazy expensive, so $9,000 isn’t really too crazy. Enthusiast Auto in Cincinnati has an Imola Red sedan for $35k, but its practically brand new.

A friend got an Orient Blue/tan Ci ZHP with 98,000 on it for $7,000 but he looked high and low for a good deal and ended up finding and buying the car in Atlanta and driving it back to NC.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 11:36

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Gs and Zs are getting the drift/stance scene tax. they went from the cheap alternative to an S chassis to just as expensive, but more ugly.

PS9 > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 11:36

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If you’re looking for 4 doors with a stick, they’re rare. The 37s are even rarer. Low availability + relatively high demand = inflated prices. 

Quadradeuce > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 11:38

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Because anyone who bought a used G35 was required to sign a contract stating that they would lower it by cutting the springs, smoke the tailights, cut off the muffler with a well-worn sawzall blade, and never do any preventative maintenance .

E90M3 > Quadradeuce 09/18/2018 at 11:49

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That is frighteningly accurate.

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Quadradeuce 09/18/2018 at 11:59

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But bro, I got the “rev-up” motor so this thing is like $5k more. 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Gerry197 09/18/2018 at 12:01

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Agreed. Mileage isn’t particularly low - it’s at 130k miles which feels about average for a regularly used vehicle.

It’s a special car and just a pleasure to drive...but the pricing is off. Hopefully can talk it down to make a deal happen. 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Jack Does Cars 09/18/2018 at 12:26

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That sounds like a screaming deal your friend got, on an amazing color combo too. Know if it had much of the typical failure items dealt with already? 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > PS9 09/18/2018 at 13:02

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Fellow Oppo BlakeMT has a supremely clean G35 manual sedan for sale in Sacramento for $6k. I’ve seen a couple in Seattle and other markets (SFBay) too. But out here in Portland, nothing.

My conclusion, as always - hipsters, man! 

Dru > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 13:42

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I paid 14K for an Imola sedan 6spd with 58,000 miles, despite it needing some cosmetic love.  I probably overpaid, but the low mileage was a selling point for me.  The values of these cars are sort of diet-M car territory.  Not quite M3 money, but frequently far from standard e46 money. 

ZHP Sparky, the 5th > Dru 09/18/2018 at 14:09

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Agreed, appreciate the data point. I definitely don’t expect to buy a ZHP for regular 330i prices. It’s a legitimately more special vehicle than that. I see a couple of other local cars that are much cleaner and have had a lot of preventative work done listed asking $11k and $13k....so the seller isn’t smoking crack here either. With mileage not being anything special, body needing some love, no maintenance history, and pretty much none of the common issues with these cars having being addressed I’m hoping cost of entry will be a little bit lower.

Of course the seller has some wiggle room in his listed price, and it’s been on the market for a few weeks now too so hopefully we can meet in the middle somewhere both parties feel is fair.

Jack Does Cars > ZHP Sparky, the 5th 09/18/2018 at 15:36

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Yep, he’s got a book of records on the two owner car. VANOS was done at around 90k, DISA valve was done at some point too, and he’s not sure about the cooling system but is fine with that because it drives so good. Super pretty car, only Orient example I’ve come across.