New Ride: e46 330i ZHP
-
Picked up a set of used AL bixenons yesterday. Everything works, came with bulbs, trim, turn signals, etc.
Light on the left is how they came out of the parts car, light on the right is cleaned up a bit.
Did a test of the new lights again. By comparison the old ZKW is on the passenger side. The ZKW Bixenon projector bowls were burnt on both sides.
Also found some interesting DIY mounting on the driver's side, mounting bracket was broken and creatively propped up with a rubber piece and a few sheet metal screws. Also no upper headlight gaskets on either side which may explain some of the condensation issues.
-
I've always liked the ZHP. If these prices get more reasonable some day i'd love one as a track car. Nice buy!
-
Found a little surprise when working on the headlights, not only was the driver's headlight assembly and mounting bracket busted but the small front end accident in February had pushed it or the lower snorkel into the airbox cracking the whole front. Engine had been sucking air directly from the bay bypassing the air filter since the hit and the issue wasn't addressed in the repairs.
Top and dirty filter in the pic below are from the replacement box. Top and filter on the car were fine but the bottom of the box was pretty trashed.
Replaced the lower box, finally got the upper headlight gaskets to finish the AL headlight swap replacing the ZKWs, picked up the correct front plate bracket for the zhp bumper and good to go. Light is good!!
-
Started in on cooling system refresh yesterday. Car needed a little love. Hoses, thermostat, and radiator were original from 2003 build date; expansion tank was 2011; not sure on age of waterpump (INA brand) looks like it has the newer composite impeller but loose shaft and plastic WP pulley was fused on to the rusted face; idler/tensioner pulleys all had bearing noise. Hope to get back to it tonight to finish up.
Pulling the plastic belly pan reveals assorted other things to deal with in the future like OFH and leaking PS pressure hose assembly.
-
nice! no heat seems like no big deal until you need to defrost your windshield.
Dan
-
Suspension recommendations for an e46 zhp? This won't see track use just daily. Shocks look to be originals, no leaks or bounce while driving but push down on the fender is easy and it springs back without any sense of a shock doing its job.
Plan to stay with stock springs and ride height.
Also getting some front end clunks over bumps so need to take a closer look at FCABS, sway bar end links, maybe control arms, etc.
Suggestions welcomed.
-
Always keep coilovers in the back of your head.
@patsbimmer1 could get you a smoking deal on a set depending what brand you want to go with.
-
Suspension recommendations for an e46 zhp?
Plan to stay with stock springs and ride height.
you can't divide by zero.
Dan
-
So e30 race car prep for the season start up is pretty much done with things back together, and the weather is kind of getting warmer so the ZHP will start to get more use. This brings me back to the e46 suspension refresh questions. I can see a lot of play in the FCABs which explains the clunks over bumps and maybe part of the wallowing/body roll on freeway ramps. I'll be replacing CABS, control arms etc. As mentioned the struts/shocks look to be the originals which at 155k are long past done and part of the issue.
Back to recommendations for an e46. Car will be unlikely to see track use so comfortable daily and trip cruiser but also not a body rolling pig is key. Folks with e46s, what have you tried in suspension setups and what do you like / not like?
-
I think the lollipop bushing setup is similar to e30 and e36. For those I always use the stock Lemforder e36 M3 bushing which is still rubber but has more solid area than the non M bushing and very cheap. Loose control arm bushings allow toe change when braking and looseness in general.
-
New suspension installed on the car, Koni yellows with the stock sport springs, new Lemforder control arms, fcabs, sway bar end links, strut tower reinforcement plates, heavy duty rear shock mounts, rear shock tower reinforcement plates. Much better ride now. Everything I removed was original with 155k and bushings, shocks and struts we're all trashed.
Conti extreme sports need to replaced since they're worn and howl like 4x4 mudders.
Did a back and forth run from MKE to Hudson, Wi this weekend. 600 miles rt. Cruise in 6th gear at 70-75, roughly 34 mpg. I could get used to this.
Next up: tie rods, new tires, and passenger front window regulator is making bad crunching noises. Need new lenses for the AL headlights. PS line(s) has a weap and also the OFH.
-
New suspension installed on the car, Koni yellows with the stock sport springs, new Lemforder control arms, fcabs, sway bar end links, strut tower reinforcement plates, heavy duty rear shock mounts, rear shock tower reinforcement plates. Much better ride now. Everything I removed was original with 155k and bushings, shocks and struts we're all trashed.
Conti extreme sports need to replaced since they're worn and howl like 4x4 mudders.
Did a back and forth run from MKE to Hudson, Wi this weekend. 600 miles rt. Cruise in 6th gear at 70-75, roughly 34 mpg. I could get used to this.
Next up: tie rods, new tires, and passenger front window regulator is making bad crunching noises. Need new lenses for the AL headlights. PS line(s) has a weap and also the OFH.
You went through my neckofthewoods!
-
Been a while since I'd done that trip. It's a haul from MKE! Pretty part of the state, especially views of the Mississippi.
Thats why yall haven't seen much of me. Ill make a trip down for an MKE soon.
-
So I've got a side mirrors and reverse question. My passenger side mirror tilts down to the point of being useless when I shift into reverse. Doesn't matter where I have the mirror selector switch set, over to driver side or passenger side. Take the car out of reverse and shift into 1st and the passenger mirror makes noise and might slightly adjust about a 1/4" up but still pointed down. I have to use the switch controls to get it back to the regular position I want for driving. A bit annoying so I'd like to figure this out or ideally just like to turn the "lower in reverse" option off. But as I said it happens in every position of the mirror adjustor switch so there is no "off" I've found.
I'm probably missing something simple here. Insights welcomed!
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login