
my 2004 330i ZHP 6-Speed
QUICK LINKS
SPECIFICATIONS
HISTORY
PROS & CONS
SPECIFICATIONS (Numbers in yellow are after my modifications)
TYPE: | Front engine, rear wheel drive
| CHASSIS: | Unibody, fully independant suspension
ENGINE: | 24 valve DOHC Inline 6
Supercharged to 8.5psi
| Weight Dist (f/r) | 50.1/49.9 50.0/50.0
Displacement | 182 ci, 2979cc
| Curb Weight | 3285 lbs 3430 lbs Actual
Bore/Stroke | 3.31/3.53 in
| Wheelbase | 107.3 in
Power | 235 hp @ 5900rpm
360 hp @ 6500rpm
| Length | 176.0 in
Torque | 222 lb-ft @ 3500rpm
320 lb-ft @ 3200rpm
| Width | 68.5 in
Compression | 10.2:1
| Height | 53.4 in 51.7 in
| TRANSMISSION: | 6-Speed Manual
| PERFORMANCE: | (rated)
1st Gear | 4.35
| 0-60 mph | 5.9 sec 4.9 sec
2nd Gear | 2.50
| Drag | .31 Cd
3rd Gear | 1.66
| Top Speed | 155 mph 176 mph (gear)
4th Gear | 1.23
|
| 5th Gear | 1.00
6th Gear | 0.85
Reverse | 3.93
Final Drive | 3.07 3.38 LSD
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
HISTORY
DELIVERY
The story behind getting my hands on this new Project Car is a good one. I originally ordered a 2004 330i ZHP with Silver Gray exterior,
black leather interior, aluminum cube trim, and a lip spoiler delete. I followed the order through production and was very excited. You can
actually check how the entire BMW order process goes on the ORDER TRACKING page. As time went on, I realized that this car was not
going to arrive in time for Bimmerfest 2004. I already had over $13,000 in parts waiting in the garage to get installed and it wasn't going to make
it! I began frantically searching for a similiar car in stock at dealerships around the country. No luck. Then I saw pictures of the natural
brown interior...
Everything became clear. I switched to Black Sapphire paint and a natural brown interior. The way the browns and blacks work together is very
classy and really shows a unique touch. It turns out my dealer, CHAPMAN BMW,
had one coming in with two weeks to spare before Bimmerfest. I put my
name on it and arranged the financing. When it showed up, it was perfect except for the black cube trim and the lip spoiler. No problem, as I knew
I could change those both out to aluminum and the full spoiler respectively.
I drove the car home, and with only 50 miles on it, started taking it apart. The wheels, tires, brakes, suspension, spoiler, trim, short shift kit,
knob, e-brake, clears, bulbs, sways, tint, XM radio, CD Changer, Aux input, strut brace, and harnesses all went in over the next few days in order to
have it "mostly" ready for the Santa Barbara show.
The only problem was the 18" BBS RS-GT wheels I planned on using did not fit over the Brembo BBK and I had to
exchange them for a set of BBS CHs. Big thanks go out to Chapman BMW for helping me with that. I would have liked to keep the shadow chrome RS-GTs, but the CHs are growing on me. We broke it in over the next week and took it to
Bimmerfest and had quite a show. We even got to park right next to the original my330i.com Project Car and it's new owner.
Now the big show has passed, it is time for the remainder of the modifications such as the LSD, upgraded clutch, exhaust, and gauges to name a few. The engine mods are a suprise
and will blow everyone away. We are talking way over 400hp... keep an eye out here!
PROS & CONS
PROS: I am really impressed with the way the ZHP drives even in stock form. It is tighter, more nimble, and quicker than my original 330i Sport. I love the
alacantra steering wheel and two-tone interior. The new 3.07 rear axle ratio definitely makes more difference than the extra 10hp/8lb-ft torque. The
factory 135M wheels were clean, the shifter was shorter and crisp, and the front spoiler is really aggressive. Overall, I think everyone is going to go
with the ZHP option if they can. It is everything the 330i should be.
CONS: WHERE IS THE FACTORY LSD?! Come on BMW... This is the ZHP Performance Package, where is the limited slip differential? For the extra $4,000 for
the ZHP package, we should get an LSD. You can get them on direct competitors such as the IS300 and even a Sentra, why not the ZHP? As you can see,
this oversight really bugs me. We all know they could put one in without some engineering miracle (look at the non-M Z3). They missed the mark on
this point. Other than that, I have no complaints. The engine purrs, the transmission is fantastic, and all the yummy BMW handling is there. As of
yet, I have no mechanical, electrical, or operation problems. If anything changes, you will see it here.
|