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E46 ZHP 330's

B

ballmode

Lifer
Anybody have experience with these? Internets claims an extra 10hp bump to 235, has 225/245 wide rubber and is supposed to have a shorter final drive and interior tidbits.

Interesting, but worth it over a similar generation G35?
 
I love those cars. They are great out-of-the-box trackday cars, while still being comfortable and practical daily drivers. They are very popular among BMW club members for this reason. Personally I find them a much more compelling package than similar-era G35s, but they will be more expensive and somewhat more maintenance-intensive, so buy one only if you are prepared to deal with that.
 
ballmode said:
I always feel if I got one if I ever decided to do anything to it I was pissing away E46 M3 money
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This.

Plus the car weights ~3300lbs. 235hp is just not enough to really scoot around and have fun. The first time you drive an m3 after a 330 you'll regret not getting one unless you plan on really dumping miles on it.
 
You can find a 1st-gen CTS-V or 2007-2008ish 335i around 15-18k. If I were to get a 3 series, it'd be a 335i..

37020600.jpg
 
ballmode said:
I always feel if I got one if I ever decided to do anything to it I was pissing away E46 M3 money
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I don't see it that way, particularly since they never made an E46 M3 sedan. The first time I did a track day with my local BMW club, my instructor was in a ZHP with full TC Kline suspension and some brake upgrades, and that thing was a beast, passing many more powerful cars. The E46 M3 is a little high-strung for daily-driver use IMO, and it doesn't have the utility advantages of a sedan.

Another alternative is the E90 330i, which has sharper-handling chassis than the E46, and 255 BHP, without the HPFP problems of the 335i. I daily drive one of these, and in general I think it handles better than my E46 M3. My indie repair guy (formerly a service manager at one of the BMW dealers here) covets my 330i, which he calls the "Holy Grail."
 
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Don Vito Corleone said:
Another alternative is the E90 330i, which has sharper-handling chassis than the E46, and 255 BHP, without the HPFP problems of the 335i. I daily drive one of these, and in general I think it handles better than my E46 M3. My indie repair guy (formerly a service manager at one of the BMW dealers here) covets my 330i, which he calls the "Holy Grail."
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The best thing you've said that I couldn't get a proper response on a BMW forum is the comparison of a E46 330i to a E90 330i.

I got a buddy who's had one with a fuel pump issue and some other small things. He's got a 2006 automatic, I think that was the only year it was made because in 07 didn't the 335i start?

The E90 330i didn't seem to hold its value as well as a 335i but time will tell.
 
ballmode said:
The best thing you've said that I couldn't get a proper response on a BMW forum is the comparison of a E46 330i to a E90 330i.

I got a buddy who's had one with a fuel pump issue and some other small things. He's got a 2006 automatic, I think that was the only year it was made because in 07 didn't the 335i start?

The E90 330i didn't seem to hold its value as well as a 335i but time will tell.
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I have not heard of any fuel pump problems with the 330i - just the 335i. I have had my 330i for 5 years (I bought it as a 2 year old CPO car with only 13K miles on the clock), and have not really been tracking the market for them, but I think they have held their own in terms of value at least among enthusiasts who are wary of the reliability issues with 335i. They are relatively unusual cars since, as you observe, they only made them for 1 year before releasing the 335i. (I don't know why BMW does this - they did the same thing with the E46.) Overall I do think the E90 chassis is a step up from the E46 in terms of handling, though admittedly the overwhelming majority of my experience driving an E46 has been with my M3.
 
Don Vito Corleone said:
I don't see it that way, particularly since they never made an E46 M3 sedan. The first time I did a track day with my local BMW club, my instructor was in a ZHP with full TC Kline suspension and some brake upgrades, and that thing was a beast, passing many more powerful cars
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bolded the most important part.

better driver almost always wins 😛
 
I saw a coupe version ZHP for sale 2004, but I would only get the sedan as a coupe would be a poser M3 imo.

As for the 2006 330i I keep my eye on those and the G8 GT from time to time.

I really should get the CTS-V and call it a day
 
ballmode said:
I saw a coupe version ZHP for sale 2004, but I would only get the sedan as a coupe would be a poser M3 imo.

As for the 2006 330i I keep my eye on those and the G8 GT from time to time.

I really should get the CTS-V and call it a day
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You still have time to shop around - the last of the MR2's engine parts went to the machine shop today, so there's a fair amount of time before it'll be running again. 😉
 
ballmode said:
Anybody have experience with these? Internets claims an extra 10hp bump to 235, has 225/245 wide rubber and is supposed to have a shorter final drive and interior tidbits.

Interesting, but worth it over a similar generation G35?
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I have one 😉 It's a honey to drive. Convertible too, love hitting those country roads. I just put the M3 spoiler lip on today, so I'll have to post some pics.

SpatiallyAware said:
This.

Plus the car weights ~3300lbs. 235hp is just not enough to really scoot around and have fun. The first time you drive an m3 after a 330 you'll regret not getting one unless you plan on really dumping miles on it.
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It'll do 0-60 in 6s, maybe less. It's plenty fast. It also sticks to the road like the tires are made of velcro. The only other car I've driven that handles better is a Porsche Boxster.

Don Vito Corleone said:
I have not heard of any fuel pump problems with the 330i - just the 335i. I have had my 330i for 5 years (I bought it as a 2 year old CPO car with only 13K miles on the clock), and have not really been tracking the market for them, but I think they have held their own in terms of value at least among enthusiasts who are wary of the reliability issues with 335i. They are relatively unusual cars since, as you observe, they only made them for 1 year before releasing the 335i. (I don't know why BMW does this - they did the same thing with the E46.) Overall I do think the E90 chassis is a step up from the E46 in terms of handling, though admittedly the overwhelming majority of my experience driving an E46 has been with my M3.
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Issues with the 330i, and e46's in general are you'll need to change the waterpump around 100K miles- they tend to self destruct around that point. Also the VANOS can be problematic, but it's fairly simple to repair if you know your way around a wrench. The relay for the AC fan tends to crap out, but again, an easy fix. Get a 2002 or higher to avoid sub-frame issues from people hooning the car.

The e46 was the last of the BMW "Everything is fixable in the driveway" cars, which is why it's so popular today. They'll last forever if you take care of them, and they're dirty cheap right now.
 
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This car is probably my favorite BMW of past 13+ years.....BY FAR.

Never been a big fan of E46 M3, sounds like a whale.....

I also like the appeal of 4 doors.
 
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