Whats up guys! Just bought my first bmw and got pretty lucky. Some guy was selling it for $400 with zero info on it (or oil in the engine) and 160k. Car is overall in pretty decent shape and well upgraded. Has paddle shifters which I thought was insane. It has a salvage title and has some rust under the oil cap but it was hit on the back drivers side quarter which was replaced. This is the car before the repair https://www.copart.com/lot/44437266/Photos and now just has a few dings and scratches. I had it towed home and checked all the spark plugs for oil in the cylinders and only 1 of them looked to have some type of oil but nothing too apparent.
I have a few questions for everyone.....
1. I need to get the salvage off the title which is easy in CA (I have heard but not 100 percent sure) All it needs is to be structurally sound, brakes work, and all the lights turn on as well as brake lights. Problem is I have to drive the car there which I don't want to do with the bad head gasket but I don't want to replace the head gasket yet without knowing if I can get the salvage off so question, has anyone used those liquid metal sealers? My plan would be to add it just to get it going then replace gasket.
2. Should I just sell the damn car? I mean I can probably do all the work myself on the head just don't know how much a shop will charge to resurface the head. I also don't know if there are any other problems with the car.
Thanks guys
EDIT:::::: I replaced the CVAP system and no more white smoke. I replace the valve cover gasket and dipstick o-ring which took care of oil leaks. I replaced the intake boot and attached the fuel tank hose on the back of the intake and car runs great. I replaced the transmission solenoid and now the car shifts like a dream. I had to replace 1 front rotor and caliper and then changed the pads on the front...... All in Im at about 1200 with registration fees up to 2020....
Last edited by justavila; 12-29-2018 at 03:19 AM. Reason: New updates
I will start with one item that I noticed immediately, this car is probably a 330 based on the wheels. The shadow line is gloss on the ZHP and the front bumper is incorrect as well.
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
Whats up with the paddle shifters, the different floor shifter, and when I went to do a tune up, I noticed the plugs also have the same hook up as the M series like these= https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw...RoCHJEQAvD_BwE
You more than likely have the SMG package, which is very rare in the E46 330. Run the VIN identifier to determine what all that car came with.
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
That's not a ZHP, just a 330i with a sport pack.
I’m not sure, there might be some production numbers somewhere. I will see what I can dig up.
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
About all I was able to find thus far is that it was offered as an option on the 2005 330ci and 330i. Still looking to see if I can find a production number on the transmission.
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
SMG are rare for non M cars(ive only ever seen 2 around here). That being said they arent desirable. The SMG system is old school and expensive to maintain. Id rather have a normal automatic 330 then an SMG.
Current:
- 09 335i MSport, FBO.
- 98 Euro M3, Estoril Blue
- 04 M3, Carbon Black, 6 Speed Coupe
- 06 M5, Black on Black, Full Leather.
- 73 3.0CS, Tagia Green, 5 speed M30b35 converted
Ex's: 1984 325e, 1988 325IX, 1992 525I, 1995 540i/6, 2002 330i, 2005 330xi, 1992 850i, 2003 330i #1, 2003 330i #2, 2002 330ci, 2004 330ci, 2007 328CI, 2007 335i, 2001 M3, 2006 M5 6 speed
Don’t get too attached to that car. It will have at best a Rebuilt Title if you completely rebuild the car and have the DMV certify that it is roadworthy. You will have to have photos and documents to back it up. Also, insurance may be an issue as well as just reselling it. Most people run from Salvage Titles. I would see about parting the car out. You are light years ahead already with a purchase price of $400
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
She's pretty clean besides for a dent on the drivers side door but so far I've done a brake job, new caliper and rotor, valve cover gasket and just have to do a oil pan gasket next and the ccv system since some white smoke is coming out the back. I had the front end on jack stands while doing the brakes and after I set the car down, oil was dripping off the skid plate on the bottom so I'm assuming its the oil pan. Not looking to put too much money into it either so just want to get it running and inspected first before I do anything crazy to it. If this car last me 6 months, i'll be happy for the price.
Some photos
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1nn...Gl0jIkes7JNIVv
painting that black trim will also increase the value, lol!
since you've done the VIN decode, the ZHP package is: S767A Performance Package
If that's not there, you don't have one
White smoke?!?! That could be a bad head gasket as white smoke occurs when the engine “burns” coolant. There’s no such thing as a cheap BMW.
I concur, sounds like the head gasket is leaking coolant. How is everything else?
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
You gø† it for $400 for a reason. Probably cost several thousand to bring it to spec and then you've still got a difficult to insure a <$3000 car. Nationwide search on RUNNING 330 2005 cars is pretty grim and 160K miles is suicide. You'll probably also need new cat(s) and 02 sensors (BMW recommends new sensors at 100K miles...) for Cali emissions. And that SMG is strictly verboten if you don't have service records for it.
So here are some updates... The white smoke is gone. I replaced the whole CVAP system which cleared the white smoke. When I was doing that, I found some tears and rips in the intake boot so I replaced that as well. I took the intake off cause there was a tiny rubber elbow hose that was not connected which is for the fuel tank. All the plugs are clean for the most part so I figured it wasn't the head gasket. I replaced the solenoid for the trans as it wouldn't shift on its own only with tip-tronic. I replaced the valve cover and the oil dipstick o-ring which was non existent so no more oil leaks. I had to replace passenger caliper and rotor and all pads and the car is running pretty damn fine.
I'm in about $1200 with registration fees up to 2020 and parts. Did all the labor myself. I still have to pass smog and I think I'm going to have to clean the cats or get new ones we'll see.
Has the oil been changed? Any signs of water in the oil? Also, since it is running, any mysterious disappearance of coolant and pressure in the system in the morning when removing the overflow reservoir cap? Your car may be fine and you may have a CCV issue only. No CEL or anything are you able to look at the Lamda reading to see if it is running with no vacuum leaks also?
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
Last edited by EdwardStewart; 12-29-2018 at 09:11 AM.
I drained the oil so I could replace the dip stick o-ring and no water or coolant. I used a magnet and checked for any metal which came out negative. The coolant hasn't gone anywhere but I also cant drive it on the road right now as its not registered so I need to take it out on the highway. I erased all the codes and none came back after but I know it takes some time. The codes were simple vac leaks and misfires which I assume are from the leaks. The houses were all cracked and had big rips in them as well as the CCV hoses were all cracked. When I removed the oil cap and valve cover, I realized there were some, I don't want to call it rust, but it was a redish glaze on the cover which I assume is pretty common. I'm not sure what the Lamda reading is.
Lamda is the Fuel Mixture, but it appears that you have some vacuum leaks, which would have shown up in this reading on a scanner. Anyway, make sure you fix all of the vacuum leaks and also replace what should be two vacuum caps at the back of the intake. They split pretty easily. You may be fine, I was dealing with some vacuum leaks on the 6MT ZHP that we had and also had done the CCV with the Cold Weather Package. The oil usage went way down after doing the CCV. The brown stuff on the bottom of the cap is pretty common and indicates that you probably need to drive this car a bit longer at temperature. I would take off the top CCV line that goes to the valve cover and see if it is pretty clogged up, they probably haven’t replaced any of the lines.
2005 330ci ZHP 6MT
2005 330i ZHP AT (Sold)
1989 325i
1990 318is
2014 328d X-drive
2017 VW Alltrack
Bookmarks