This was my first car! I found a 330Ci ZHP with 41k miles for dirt cheap at a dealer who didn't know what they had! I really miss it. It really was a true BMW. I always got a dumb smile on my face when I would floor it and would stare at it when I would walk away. Such a great car.
Just to give you an idea how good this car is: my weekend/track toy is a Porsche GT4, and I have one of these (6MT with cloth/alcantara) as a daily driver...and for its purposes, I find the ZHP no less appealing to drive. Could use a bit more power, but otherwise it's a damn near perfect daily driver (for the enthusiast, at least). Pretty cheap to run, too. I've had it for over 11 years and will not sell it.
@@maddeningmonk9585 I didn't say it NEEDS more power, but that it could USE it. That car--while my daily driver--is not just an appliance, but also something that pulls occasional double duty as a fun (autocross and country road cruises, etc) car too. In that context, the chassis still has more than the engine can give it. 60 bhp in anything much larger or heavier than a motorbike wouldn't cut it here even as a daily driver (unless I were to avoid highways entirely which, for reasons of serious convenience, I would rather not).
@@mattlavoie1150 its been running very well. Im currently at 241,000 haha. All in all, no complaints! Congrats, you will throughly enjoy it! What year and color are you picking up?
I love the sound of the M54. The first time I drove an E46 was after I drove an F30, and it was ridiculous how much smaller and more tossable the E46 felt. Awesome car and video!!!
@@boonamai8926I owned a 320 coupe too as a first car. What a car, it was worn down by the time i bought it but still accompanied me for 5 years. It truly was a friend of mine even if that sounds ridiculous. What i love about the 320ci is that you actually can rev the engine higher without always being to fast. 2nd gear ends around 70kmh? I loved it and it still got 170hp! Thats still a lot.
170k on mine. I've had it for 12 years and I'll never sell it. In fact, I sold it once and bought it back a week later at a considerable loss. To me, it's the best and last of BMW's mechanical era without any of the M headaches. I have H&R race springs/sport struts on mine and it really tightened things up. In the 130k miles I've put on it it has only failed to start once (fuel pump). As part of the ZHP cult, this was a fun video to watch. Thanks for shooting it!
@@TedwardDrives just posted this to ZHP Mafia forums. I'm at 342k km and it still drives like a dream. Beat the crap out of it every other weekend at autox/track and it doesn't break a sweat. Original clutch too, and I've dumped it 50+ times at autox and it still grabs very strong
The forums are full of non-ZHP owners, feel free to join. You do have to make a small mandatory donation but it's well worth it for the community that we have there. E46Fanatics is great but I get tired of seeing the same posts, over and over again of people asking "when should I change my water pump" and "do you guys like my plastidipped rims"
@@sperlongatours Not necessarily, if you're not so much into tracking and want just a nice daily then a ZHP is the closest you can get without taking on the additional maintenance and fuel expenses associated with an M3. Also I'm not sure why you commented about a locked diff as I never said anything about that. You want to go drifting, a welded diff is the cheapest way to go about it. Personally I'd prefer a LSD which is one of the shortcomings of having a ZHP... it still has an open diff
@@SixSpeedSeven It didn't have that noise I can't explain it but the parellel I can do to understand it is listen to Lamborghini's Bizzarrini V12 til the Murcielago and listen to the Aventador's L539 V12 you'll get what I mean
Idk, the e90 n52 will always stand as the best na bmw inline 6 for me, it was the last, and definitely the most reliable. I daily one, and it never let's me down
Redge Diakite; noted mate, but I have to say the N52 was the business and the thing does not die on you😳😳😳 I have one and God-damn, what a car, I had the E46 330i and my, my, what a car, the only time I would buy the E46 330i again would be because of its interior, I think they were better quality and more beautiful than the E90 sibling, find a well speced one with contrasting colors and you will get what I mean, no squeaks and rattles, there... Otherwise the N52 was the last and equally matched the noise and quality of the M54
This is my favorite BMW of all time. The E46 has, in my opinion, aged extremely well and the ZHP was a happy medium between the M3 and a normal 330i. Great video Tom! I'll check out your sponsor too, because, coffee.
One of the cars that got me into cars. My friend gave me a ride in his ZHP years ago. The first "fast" car I had been in. And I knew I wanted a fast car for myself 😂
Hello from Boston Tom, and specifically a ZHP owner. Had it since new, now close to 300k miles on it. Has had every bolt on other than forced induction but absolutely LOVE mine. Have had a 2nd car for the last 10 yrs... modded WRXs, a tuned B8.5 S4, etc. Currently 2nd car is an m235i, also tuned. Other cars were and are all faster, but you hit it... none of them give you the driving feel of the e46 chassis, especially a properly modded one. Not the fastest by any means, but quick enough. Even with Ohlins coilovers, etc on my S4 and currently KW V3s on my m235i, no comparison. The E46 always puts a smile on my face (except for the CELs haha but it's a 16 y/o car). If you're ever in the Boston area or near Needham/Dedham, feel free to reach out. Mine's got more suspension/steering/drivetrain mods that Jake's mechanic's car.
everything you said about the ZHP is why I love my '13 E82 N51 6 speed m-sport, no iDrive. The last of the normally aspirated BMW straight 6 experiences.
My first car was a 2004 330ci zhp, got it when first released. I still have it today sitting in my Toronto home garage at 70000km never ever considered selling it. I now reside in Asia and have since moved on to own many super cars and for old time sake both e46 n 92 m3 as well. But none of my lambos ferraris or lotus hold as an important special place in my heart as my zhp. Salute to owners still taking care of them\
Tom: you are doing solid test drives. It’s so much fun to be able to fellthe nuance. In my Ski testing days and bike testing. The nuances are fun to discern
I am psyched you are driving some cool cars again. My delicate sensibilities have been wounded by your reviews of and drives in those automobile McMansion SUVs. Carry on, car lover. Carry on.... --Michael
Haha I get a hold of just about everything. So bear with me when I have the SUVs and ordinary stuff. Especially because I’m going to flog the ever living shit out of them :)
Tedward Fair enuff! I would be driving whatever I could get my hands on, too. This is just another comment from the peanut gallery located in Chicago, IL! --Michael
I absolutely love this BMW e46. My first car was an 316i facelift sedan. Now i drive an inline 6 convertible and I absolutely love it. No matter how many times I drive a modern car - I LOVE my 46 convertible with his 6er, sound and 'smoothness'.
Truly amazing cars, they're really bulletproof once you get past the plastic thermostat housing and expansion tank and other little what nots. I had an 01 330ci with the m sport package, lowering springs and bilstein struts all around and it handled just perfect, i wish I could go back and save it but things happen and had to sell it. Thanks for the nostalgia!
I just picked one of these up this past Sunday and I am absolutely ENAMORED with it. I didn’t think a car could command so much love like my ZHP does. I had to sell my M2 Comp because I’m saving for a house and purchase a 135i N54, had it for a month and HATED it. I spent so much in regular maintenance hoping it would fill the void of the F87 and it didn’t. It had 430rwhp and none of that mattered because I hated the idea of being nervous while driving it. All hope was lost and then my savior appeared and I have no regrets. I don’t even drive it super hard either (yet) because it’s such a chill vibe. I will be keeping this car forever.
My zhp was my first car (convertible), I always wanted one after being a little kid and riding in my moms (black coupe). What you said about romantic memories was spot on. That car had such an impression on me at 4 years old that I had to have one 12 years later. I always remembered the smell of the interior and when I got mine the smell brought it all back as well as the low rumble of the idle. :) My mom always wants to drive it because she misses hers
Just got my 60k miles 05 330ci zhp. Coming from an FRS, it’s a lot different, but I’m loving it. Non car People can’t tell it’s an older car. Gets a lot of looks with the top down too
A 330i is a pretty smart buy IMO, you'll always get the 'it's not an m3 (yawn)' but you're getting a lot of car for your money and a great noise as well 👍
Zhp are so nice I have the e46 330i and it handles amazing I can only imagine what this beauty would feel like BMWs are some of the best chassis and this e46 in particular is classy
I had a 2001 330i and just looking at the POV reminds me so much of how great that car was. Despite a whole bunch of DIY's, like the expansion tank, thermostat getting stuck open, a plastic impeller water pump, rebuilding the DISA and others, it was a great car. Such a forgiving clutch and the direct 5th gear was just an amazing experience. It was so weird to pull up a massive hill on 5th like I was in 3rd gear lol. I left it outside in -43C for almost 20 days and when it started, there was no crank hiccup like most cars. It just started. An E46 is definitely a DYI car but when it works, it works great. It was so satisfying to smoke that new Miata that would think it has a chance against your 220+ hp. Ah good times :D!
ZHP owner here as well. I got my 04 titanium silver steptronic about three years ago. I have about 155,000 miles on the odometer and also never plan to sell mine. I Just did a suspension refresh with Bilstein B8s and H&R sport Springs in addition to all new bushings and steering components. It drives wonderfully on the north Georgia mountain roads. Outside of regular maintenance and refreshing Exterior/interior bits, I really want to convert it to a six speed manual, the proper is the ZHP transmission
I loved my 04' ZHP coupe, had alcantara interior which I loved.. Took that baby to a few track events, fantastic car!.. One of the best BMW's ever built..simple, fun, best example of the Ultimate Driving Machine!
It surprised me to learn an e90/e92 328 was a 3L engine, and just how much horse power those 3L N engines had from factory. The E46 328 was like a redheaded stepchild in comparison, the 330 replaced it almost immediately in the lineup with a different engine and very difficult to interchange parts (different handbrake preventing brake swap, different throttle preventing throttle body swap etc. etc.)
@@idokwatcher2062 I personally prefer the M52TU in the E46 328 to the M54 in the 330. Cable throttle and no oil consumption issues are worth the difference in horsepower.
@@Stephen-re4oy I actually do to for those same reasons (but I never say it because 330 owners would call BS on forums). Mine also has full boltons+330 camshaft so it has same power. But I am envious of what a 330i tuned can achieve and I never will (and installing supercharger is illegal where I live).
I totally agree with you when you said that people who had them regret selling them and will try to get another one. I regret selling mine every time I see one. Now I am looking for one. 👌
My E46 325Ci 5-speed vert is probably the car I most regret selling. It wasn’t fast, but all the controls were just the right weight. I drive a Z4M now so nothing to complain about, stayed old school..
I would love one of these as a daily driver. I had an E46 M3 not too long ago, and while in 4K miles it never gave me an issue, I’d trust the M54 a lot more over time
This is why so many of us ZHP owners love this car. Arguably the best BMW car, meaning not a M car. I love my F83 but I’m not giving up my ZHP. Besides the cam, there is also the flywheel not mentioned that helps with the performance a small bit. I also wish I bought the performance intake back when they offered it… just to have.
bad roads at your city also at 3:10 and like the med curve roads in your county. ZHP has the best m package on e46. It's a solid smooth high speed cruiser and DD for sure. I've refreshed my suspension and it drives like a dream everyday.
@@TedwardDrives Agreed. I let my city and state street maintenance dept know of exact pot holes locations and ask when they will repair certain roads that I use daily. They won't do anything unless I annoy them enough...
Great vid and review he summed this car up well i have an e46 328 5speed manual it just feels analogue needle dials cluncky mechanical gear change it feels like a grown up e30 and theres a car i love.
5:49 in this generation I never trusted the actual coolant temperature gauge because that little lcd monitor below the tachometer and speedometer has a whole bunch of functions. I believe it was on function 7 or 9 that it shows you the coolant temperature of the engine in digital form. It was great to track especially when my expansion tank failed lol. I had to drive 200 meters and then shut the car down because the temperature would get to a 100+ Celsius and it could blow the head gasket. Drove almost without any coolant for a kilometre like that lol.
man i just got mines couple of days ago and wow wow wow i had own 2000 bmw 530, 2008 BMW 330I 2009 BMW 530 and now this gem 2005 BMW 330I ZHP and since i have driven the m3 i can say i rather drive ZHP all day everyday
Thanks for this video! You described me with the ZHP boomerang -- I stupidly sold it and thought a 135is would fill the void. No chance. Bought the same ZHP back. 173k and it's not being sold again.
@@moiv8 honestly depends on what you prefer. If you like turbo go for the 335. NA go for the 330i. Both has their faults minor things mostly have a 335i with some bolt on and it’s a blast to drive.
@@mattlavoie1150 I currently have 222k and I’ve loved it! I replaced the thermostat and I’ve been having a wheel speed sensor problem but other than that it’s been so much fun to drive!
2003 (and a half) 330i ZHP 4-door, in Imola Red, 72K miles, fully loaded (nav, sunroof, leather, heated seats, xenons, parking sensors, Bluetooth, I even added the euro-only factory TV tuner). I’ve owned her since 2007, and the only problem I’ve had was a failed thermostat (it was due for the obligatory cooling system overhaul anyway), and an extremely small oil leak (not worth fixing at this point). I have no desire to sell, but start the bidding, everyone including me has their price!
I have a 2005 330ci zhp convertible with 84k miles on it, and I’m never selling. I saw one on BAT that sold for $24k. Mind you it had only 44k miles. Shows you how much these cars are loved.
The E46 platform, everyday I appreciate it more. I don't have a ZHP, I have a last month production 2000 E46 323CI as daily driver. Almost 300K in the body and 200K in the engine and transmission. I drive hard! I had a 2001 330CI and a 2003 Z4 both manuals, I regret I sold them.
I owned a CPO ‘04 330i ZHP 6sp. Good driver’s car with that silky inline 6 but really underpowered by modern standards. And I don’t miss paying used BMW repair and maintenance costs. I spent $4k maintaining it over 3 1/2 years and it still had a CPO warranty and pre-paid maintenance plan. I was happy to trade it in at 100k miles.
These ZHP’s are awesome. Seems like a great daily driver and the rarity aspect definitely makes them appealing compared to an M3 of this gen. I’ve been looking around for some of these on used car sites and many of them are still worth decent money. Can’t decide whether I’d rather have this or a manual E46 wagon...it’d be a tough choice! Great drive and video! Oh and that coffee ad was some quality ASMR.
great video!! thank you. def subbed and felt like i was right there with ya. buying my first bmw this week.. been researching them heavily for months every day multiple hours a day now so i think im ready to pull the trigger. fingers crossed. God is good. look forward to more bmw videos!!
@@TedwardDrives oh yeah I've turned down one already. 2000 323Ci coupe that was severely abused... Lied about upgrades and so much more. It would've been such a headache lol what's your favorite trim with least problems? I've read 325i is best regarding least subframe etc issues ?
You're about to make me buy another E46 3 Series. For my first car, I had a terribly-maintained 325i from 2003; it was a brilliantly fun car when it worked. But, it was the automatic 325i, so the transmission grenaded and the rest of the car wasn't in good enough condition for a manual swap plus all the work that needed doing to begin with. That said, I now daily a Honda Fit, which is a fantastic little car, but I want to buy another E46 3 Series (either a 325i or a 330i) with a manual as a fun weekend warrior.
One of the best BMWs they've made.. and one of the last great ones. Its a shame MB and BMW basically ruined their brands by trying to increase sales.. It worked but the true enthusiasts are left wanting more
Love the E46! I borrowed a 2001 325ci ragtop with the 5 speed manual. Have been hooked on these cars ever since. Sadly the car I was borrowing from my dad pissed anti freeze. Typical E46 issies from what I hear, thankfully I think I saved her by shutting down the engine immediately. But the car has been sitting for 2 years now. I should see if he wants to sell it lol. It would be a total project, but the spec is amazing. It has the jet black and caramel leather (I think that is the color code lol). I also couldn't agree with you more on how these cars sound. They where a good balance of throaty with out pissing off you neighboors. Roal the top down and you can hear some nice mechanical noise from that M54. Man I really should see if my dad is selling that car. I had a blast in the two months I borrowed it.
Sold my ZHP yesterday after 4 years, I swapped in M3 seats as well. Excellent sporty daily drivers. Mine had a hair under 206k miles and felt just as tight as my newer much lower mileage ISF.
They are awesome cars. Had mine for 5 yrs now and had many offers to sell. I won't. Another good thing about them is the values have been creeping up last couple yrs
For me my E36 is the more raw drivers car but I could never daily it through winter, it would disintegrate. My E46 is a little less connected but I actually trust it to survive through winter. I love my E46 as a drivers car, with coilovers, tires, short shifter, exhaust, and intake it really is a great drivers car that feels special every time I drive it
I'm lucky enough to have 2 of these.. I have an imola red 4 door and a sapphire black convertible... I can't fault them.. Plenty of mods can be done with these cars. My 4 door has all sorts done to it, carbon bonnet and carbon boot are just 2 of them.. I'd have more of these cars if i had room :)
Yeah good video of the e46 330i he summed up this car well he inderstands this bmw well i have an e46 328i 5speed saloon feel very similar this car gets the job done well. Thease cars cruise at 130 mph plus.if you have a 330 or a328i keep it they are a modern classic and need to be preserbed.in 5 years time you want one of thease in your garage.enthusiast allways go back to this modern classic.they have a cult following.and have an analoge feel.its driver. machine.and the last bmw that has sole..
I had an Imola Red ZHP back in the mid-late 2000s. Great car. Classic for sure. A couple of notes. These cars (and the E46 in general I believe), have some pretty big issues with subframe damage that can be expensive to fix. It’s why I ultimately got rid of mine. Also, that shifter is hideous! The ZHP was known for it’s short shift knob that even the M3 didn’t get. Guys were always swapping out the ZHP knobs on their M3s. Don’t swap and go longer! It’s not a 1992 Toyota pickup.
Tedward I totally get it! Same thing happens to me! I hear something decent coming down the road and it’s a beater with multiple holes in the exhaust 😬😬
I knew it was near eastern Mass when you had to take onramps and offramps to get a good corner lol, there's so few good country roads outside of Boston. I'm surprised you weren't slowed down by someone going 40 on the ramps! Happens to me every time. Currently building a 330ci as a track car, not the ZHP though since it's not allowed in most racing classes.
Thanks to Klip Coffee for Supporting this content: klipcoffee.com/ and of course to Zach for inviting me down to Wile Motorsport to Drive his ZHP
This was my first car! I found a 330Ci ZHP with 41k miles for dirt cheap at a dealer who didn't know what they had! I really miss it. It really was a true BMW. I always got a dumb smile on my face when I would floor it and would stare at it when I would walk away. Such a great car.
Nice! How cheap is dirt cheap?
Old days when engine sound used to came from the engine and not From the SPEAKERS
And the exhaust pipes
i believe you can delete the speaker noise, just annoying that it doesnt come stock like that
@@flush_entity Yes you can thank god. First thing I did when I got the car
“What type of Exhaust is that?” “Bose”
I could live 200 years i'll never put my ass in an electric car
Just to give you an idea how good this car is: my weekend/track toy is a Porsche GT4, and I have one of these (6MT with cloth/alcantara) as a daily driver...and for its purposes, I find the ZHP no less appealing to drive. Could use a bit more power, but otherwise it's a damn near perfect daily driver (for the enthusiast, at least). Pretty cheap to run, too. I've had it for over 11 years and will not sell it.
Thats the perfect two car solution
More power? I drive a 60 BHP car and i think its more than sufficient for most everydah task. What you are asking for is insane power for what
@@maddeningmonk9585 I didn't say it NEEDS more power, but that it could USE it. That car--while my daily driver--is not just an appliance, but also something that pulls occasional double duty as a fun (autocross and country road cruises, etc) car too. In that context, the chassis still has more than the engine can give it. 60 bhp in anything much larger or heavier than a motorbike wouldn't cut it here even as a daily driver (unless I were to avoid highways entirely which, for reasons of serious convenience, I would rather not).
@@akh822 i think you need to drive my car to get your head back in the right place.
Maddening Monk i think you need to realize everyone has their own preferences
My ZHP has 227,000 on it and it’s such a blast to drive everyday. I’m never getting rid of it. Thanks for posting a great video! ZHP mafia!
How’s it holding up?! I’m picking up a 203k mile one this week
@@mattlavoie1150 its been running very well. Im currently at 241,000 haha. All in all, no complaints! Congrats, you will throughly enjoy it! What year and color are you picking up?
@@westcoastboogy wow, that’s incredible I’m praying mine holds up long too! 2006 6 speed black , everything stock
@@mattlavoie1150 Nice choice of ride! 👍
I just picked one up with 197,000 miles, in mint condition. Blew my mind when I saw it in person how well kept it is.
I love the sound of the M54. The first time I drove an E46 was after I drove an F30, and it was ridiculous how much smaller and more tossable the E46 felt. Awesome car and video!!!
Yeah, the first car I ever bought (and still own) is an E46 320ci, It doesn't have that much power but you can toss it around corners sooo fast
I'm an F30 owner and I have to say, compared to the E46, my car is boring as shit!
@@boonamai8926I owned a 320 coupe too as a first car.
What a car, it was worn down by the time i bought it but still accompanied me for 5 years. It truly was a friend of mine even if that sounds ridiculous.
What i love about the 320ci is that you actually can rev the engine higher without always being to fast. 2nd gear ends around 70kmh? I loved it and it still got 170hp! Thats still a lot.
170k on mine. I've had it for 12 years and I'll never sell it. In fact, I sold it once and bought it back a week later at a considerable loss. To me, it's the best and last of BMW's mechanical era without any of the M headaches. I have H&R race springs/sport struts on mine and it really tightened things up. In the 130k miles I've put on it it has only failed to start once (fuel pump). As part of the ZHP cult, this was a fun video to watch. Thanks for shooting it!
If I can get love from the actual zhp community then I feel like I’ve done the car justice haha. Love the story. They really are an obsession
@@TedwardDrives just posted this to ZHP Mafia forums. I'm at 342k km and it still drives like a dream. Beat the crap out of it every other weekend at autox/track and it doesn't break a sweat. Original clutch too, and I've dumped it 50+ times at autox and it still grabs very strong
Man I want to be apart of the ZHP mafia. My 328 is not cult status :(
The forums are full of non-ZHP owners, feel free to join. You do have to make a small mandatory donation but it's well worth it for the community that we have there. E46Fanatics is great but I get tired of seeing the same posts, over and over again of people asking "when should I change my water pump" and "do you guys like my plastidipped rims"
@@sperlongatours Not necessarily, if you're not so much into tracking and want just a nice daily then a ZHP is the closest you can get without taking on the additional maintenance and fuel expenses associated with an M3.
Also I'm not sure why you commented about a locked diff as I never said anything about that. You want to go drifting, a welded diff is the cheapest way to go about it. Personally I'd prefer a LSD which is one of the shortcomings of having a ZHP... it still has an open diff
Yep that was for me the last true "regular" BMW with that old inline 6 BMW noise
E90 328 and 330 weren’t?
@@SixSpeedSeven It didn't have that noise I can't explain it but the parellel I can do to understand it is listen to Lamborghini's Bizzarrini V12 til the Murcielago and listen to the Aventador's L539 V12 you'll get what I mean
Redge Diakité ahhh gotcha gotcha. That makes plenty of sense then
Idk, the e90 n52 will always stand as the best na bmw inline 6 for me, it was the last, and definitely the most reliable. I daily one, and it never let's me down
Redge Diakite; noted mate, but I have to say the N52 was the business and the thing does not die on you😳😳😳 I have one and God-damn, what a car, I had the E46 330i and my, my, what a car, the only time I would buy the E46 330i again would be because of its interior, I think they were better quality and more beautiful than the E90 sibling, find a well speced one with contrasting colors and you will get what I mean, no squeaks and rattles, there... Otherwise the N52 was the last and equally matched the noise and quality of the M54
This is my favorite BMW of all time. The E46 has, in my opinion, aged extremely well and the ZHP was a happy medium between the M3 and a normal 330i. Great video Tom! I'll check out your sponsor too, because, coffee.
What not to love. It sounds pretty good too. 👍
The maintenance costs and reliability
@@johnnyamerican1519 there pretty reliable as long as yu take car of the maintenance
Yes such a beauty of a ride
Obsessed with my 330ci. Gotten multiple offers for it but I just can’t let it go. Puts a smile on my face every time I drive it
I bought one of these new back in '04, the steering and suspension tuning was one of the best I've ever encountered.
Took delivery of my 3rd ZHP today after selling my last one and regretting it, so true to form per your video commentary. Outstanding cars.
I also own one and i have to say this car is still better than like 80% of todays cars.
90 percent. Just don't make em like that anymore
One of the cars that got me into cars. My friend gave me a ride in his ZHP years ago. The first "fast" car I had been in. And I knew I wanted a fast car for myself 😂
You thought a 330i was fast? Oh man.... a E46 M3 isn’t even fast tbh.
I’ve owned both.
@@chrispewkreme oh I agree. Thus the quotation marks. Ended up getting a B8S4 eventually. I like forced induction 😅
Hello from Boston Tom, and specifically a ZHP owner. Had it since new, now close to 300k miles on it. Has had every bolt on other than forced induction but absolutely LOVE mine. Have had a 2nd car for the last 10 yrs... modded WRXs, a tuned B8.5 S4, etc. Currently 2nd car is an m235i, also tuned. Other cars were and are all faster, but you hit it... none of them give you the driving feel of the e46 chassis, especially a properly modded one. Not the fastest by any means, but quick enough.
Even with Ohlins coilovers, etc on my S4 and currently KW V3s on my m235i, no comparison. The E46 always puts a smile on my face (except for the CELs haha but it's a 16 y/o car). If you're ever in the Boston area or near Needham/Dedham, feel free to reach out. Mine's got more suspension/steering/drivetrain mods that Jake's mechanic's car.
Just when I thinking about buying one of these.
Do it. I love mine. e46_330i_zhp on Instagram :)
Without a doubt one of the top 3 cars I have ever driven/owned.
everything you said about the ZHP is why I love my '13 E82 N51 6 speed m-sport, no iDrive. The last of the normally aspirated BMW straight 6 experiences.
My first car was a 2004 330ci zhp, got it when first released. I still have it today sitting in my Toronto home garage at 70000km never ever considered selling it. I now reside in Asia and have since moved on to own many super cars and for old time sake both e46 n 92 m3 as well. But none of my lambos ferraris or lotus hold as an important special place in my heart as my zhp. Salute to owners still taking care of them\
Love my 2004 ZHP 6M, 139K daily driver. Great Video. Always enjoy watching.
Tom: you are doing solid test drives. It’s so much fun to be able to fellthe nuance. In my Ski testing days and bike testing. The nuances are fun to discern
I am psyched you are driving some cool cars again. My delicate sensibilities have been wounded by your reviews of and drives in those automobile McMansion SUVs. Carry on, car lover. Carry on....
--Michael
Haha I get a hold of just about everything. So bear with me when I have the SUVs and ordinary stuff. Especially because I’m going to flog the ever living shit out of them :)
Tedward Fair enuff! I would be driving whatever I could get my hands on, too. This is just another comment from the peanut gallery located in Chicago, IL!
--Michael
I just bought an 06 330Ci ZHP black/black. IT IS AMAZING
That classic inline-6 grunt was perrrfect, and back then, it was all the power you really needed in my opinion. Sweet video though 😁😁😁
I absolutely love this BMW e46.
My first car was an 316i facelift sedan.
Now i drive an inline 6 convertible and I absolutely love it.
No matter how many times I drive a modern car - I LOVE my 46 convertible with his 6er, sound and 'smoothness'.
I have a 316i facelift sedan as my first car too!!
Truly amazing cars, they're really bulletproof once you get past the plastic thermostat housing and expansion tank and other little what nots. I had an 01 330ci with the m sport package, lowering springs and bilstein struts all around and it handled just perfect, i wish I could go back and save it but things happen and had to sell it. Thanks for the nostalgia!
I just picked one of these up this past Sunday and I am absolutely ENAMORED with it. I didn’t think a car could command so much love like my ZHP does.
I had to sell my M2 Comp because I’m saving for a house and purchase a 135i N54, had it for a month and HATED it. I spent so much in regular maintenance hoping it would fill the void of the F87 and it didn’t. It had 430rwhp and none of that mattered because I hated the idea of being nervous while driving it. All hope was lost and then my savior appeared and I have no regrets. I don’t even drive it super hard either (yet) because it’s such a chill vibe. I will be keeping this car forever.
Had mine for 2 years and it is by FAR the best car I’ve ever owned.
I’m not sure I know of any other bmw that owners love as much as a zhp
My zhp was my first car (convertible), I always wanted one after being a little kid and riding in my moms (black coupe). What you said about romantic memories was spot on. That car had such an impression on me at 4 years old that I had to have one 12 years later. I always remembered the smell of the interior and when I got mine the smell brought it all back as well as the low rumble of the idle. :) My mom always wants to drive it because she misses hers
Just got my 60k miles 05 330ci zhp. Coming from an FRS, it’s a lot different, but I’m loving it. Non car People can’t tell it’s an older car. Gets a lot of looks with the top down too
A 330i is a pretty smart buy IMO, you'll always get the 'it's not an m3 (yawn)' but you're getting a lot of car for your money and a great noise as well 👍
for an old car, its so quiet inside. considering its only the 3 series, its even more amazing
I had this same car back in the day. I still regret selling it!! Thanks for this video
Zhp are so nice I have the e46 330i and it handles amazing I can only imagine what this beauty would feel like BMWs are some of the best chassis and this e46 in particular is classy
I had a 2001 330i and just looking at the POV reminds me so much of how great that car was. Despite a whole bunch of DIY's, like the expansion tank, thermostat getting stuck open, a plastic impeller water pump, rebuilding the DISA and others, it was a great car. Such a forgiving clutch and the direct 5th gear was just an amazing experience. It was so weird to pull up a massive hill on 5th like I was in 3rd gear lol. I left it outside in -43C for almost 20 days and when it started, there was no crank hiccup like most cars. It just started. An E46 is definitely a DYI car but when it works, it works great. It was so satisfying to smoke that new Miata that would think it has a chance against your 220+ hp. Ah good times :D!
My 2003 325i is an absolute blast to drive. ZHP is a dream to have
ZHP owner here as well. I got my 04 titanium silver steptronic about three years ago. I have about 155,000 miles on the odometer and also never plan to sell mine. I Just did a suspension refresh with Bilstein B8s and H&R sport Springs in addition to all new bushings and steering components. It drives wonderfully on the north Georgia mountain roads. Outside of regular maintenance and refreshing Exterior/interior bits, I really want to convert it to a six speed manual, the proper is the ZHP transmission
I got it last week, its a screaming beast, i love it. it's my second car :)
I won many autox trophies in my zhp (manual, sedan, sunroof delete) and I always felt one with that car. Miss it.
E46 is love. E46 is life.
I loved my 04' ZHP coupe, had alcantara interior which I loved.. Took that baby to a few track events, fantastic car!.. One of the best BMW's ever built..simple, fun, best example of the Ultimate Driving Machine!
sport package e90 328i's and 330i's are great too
Facts
I’m trying to figure out what I have. 99 328i with m3 rims and suspension. Guessing the M package? God I love the car.
It surprised me to learn an e90/e92 328 was a 3L engine, and just how much horse power those 3L N engines had from factory. The E46 328 was like a redheaded stepchild in comparison, the 330 replaced it almost immediately in the lineup with a different engine and very difficult to interchange parts (different handbrake preventing brake swap, different throttle preventing throttle body swap etc. etc.)
@@idokwatcher2062 I personally prefer the M52TU in the E46 328 to the M54 in the 330. Cable throttle and no oil consumption issues are worth the difference in horsepower.
@@Stephen-re4oy I actually do to for those same reasons (but I never say it because 330 owners would call BS on forums). Mine also has full boltons+330 camshaft so it has same power. But I am envious of what a 330i tuned can achieve and I never will (and installing supercharger is illegal where I live).
I totally agree with you when you said that people who had them regret selling them and will try to get another one. I regret selling mine every time I see one. Now I am looking for one. 👌
My E46 325Ci 5-speed vert is probably the car I most regret selling. It wasn’t fast, but all the controls were just the right weight. I drive a Z4M now so nothing to complain about, stayed old school..
I have a regular 330i that I boosted. I love the car. I can smoke an m3 and still cruise in 6th gear at 75.
Thanks for bringing us chill vibes and drives like thisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
Any time...specifically 2-3 times per week lol
@@TedwardDrives I am the weirdest 23 year old ever! The cars I want are big ass boats!
I would love one of these as a daily driver. I had an E46 M3 not too long ago, and while in 4K miles it never gave me an issue, I’d trust the M54 a lot more over time
The only bmw driver that has mastered the skill of using turn signals. He even uses it for no reason.
What an iconic BMW. Keep up the good work Tedward!
This is why so many of us ZHP owners love this car. Arguably the best BMW car, meaning not a M car. I love my F83 but I’m not giving up my ZHP. Besides the cam, there is also the flywheel not mentioned that helps with the performance a small bit. I also wish I bought the performance intake back when they offered it… just to have.
I love my manual ZHP coupe so much!!! Its 158k mi and hopefully it'll be as good as new some day...
Great video! Love to see you drive one of the I6 E39s especially the 530i
E46 best bmw engine forsure!! My camshaft barely gave out an now she’s rolling like a Beast🐺
bad roads at your city also at 3:10 and like the med curve roads in your county. ZHP has the best m package on e46. It's a solid smooth high speed cruiser and DD for sure. I've refreshed my suspension and it drives like a dream everyday.
Like most towns in mass, sometimes you cross a town line with money and BOOM...perfect roads lol
@@TedwardDrives Agreed. I let my city and state street maintenance dept know of exact pot holes locations and ask when they will repair certain roads that I use daily. They won't do anything unless I annoy them enough...
Great vid and review he summed this car up well i have an e46 328 5speed manual it just feels analogue needle dials cluncky mechanical gear change it feels like a grown up e30 and theres a car i love.
Oh mannnn you dont know how jealous I am of those on-ramps, they look like so much funnnn!!! Nice vid btw!
5:49 in this generation I never trusted the actual coolant temperature gauge because that little lcd monitor below the tachometer and speedometer has a whole bunch of functions. I believe it was on function 7 or 9 that it shows you the coolant temperature of the engine in digital form. It was great to track especially when my expansion tank failed lol. I had to drive 200 meters and then shut the car down because the temperature would get to a 100+ Celsius and it could blow the head gasket. Drove almost without any coolant for a kilometre like that lol.
That white facelift estate at the start...man that is just gorgeous!!!
man i just got mines couple of days ago and wow wow wow i had own 2000 bmw 530, 2008 BMW 330I 2009 BMW 530 and now this gem 2005 BMW 330I ZHP and since i have driven the m3 i can say i rather drive ZHP all day everyday
This just makes me to grab my keys and jump in my E46 at 4am. The only car that I'm never in rush when driving it and don't want to go back home lol
i love my 04 zhp coupe just took her camping and she ran like a champ she’s pretty quick too
I love late 90's early 2000's bmw's
Thanks for this video! You described me with the ZHP boomerang -- I stupidly sold it and thought a 135is would fill the void. No chance. Bought the same ZHP back. 173k and it's not being sold again.
Wow!! I think this answers wether I should plan to get an E90 N54 335i or a E46ZHP
@@moiv8 honestly depends on what you prefer. If you like turbo go for the 335. NA go for the 330i. Both has their faults minor things mostly have a 335i with some bolt on and it’s a blast to drive.
cant wait to get my 200,000 mile zhp next week. such an upgrade from my little honda civic.
I’m picking up a 203k mile one this week, how’s it holding up?!
@@mattlavoie1150 I currently have 222k and I’ve loved it! I replaced the thermostat and I’ve been having a wheel speed sensor problem but other than that it’s been so much fun to drive!
2003 (and a half) 330i ZHP 4-door, in Imola Red, 72K miles, fully loaded (nav, sunroof, leather, heated seats, xenons, parking sensors, Bluetooth, I even added the euro-only factory TV tuner). I’ve owned her since 2007, and the only problem I’ve had was a failed thermostat (it was due for the obligatory cooling system overhaul anyway), and an extremely small oil leak (not worth fixing at this point). I have no desire to sell, but start the bidding, everyone including me has their price!
That e46 Zhp is rad!! Looked like you were on rails on those curves!
I have a 2005 330ci zhp convertible with 84k miles on it, and I’m never selling. I saw one on BAT that sold for $24k. Mind you it had only 44k miles. Shows you how much these cars are loved.
84 is nothing! Very impressive
The E46 platform, everyday I appreciate it more. I don't have a ZHP, I have a last month production 2000 E46 323CI as daily driver. Almost 300K in the body and 200K in the engine and transmission. I drive hard! I had a 2001 330CI and a 2003 Z4 both manuals, I regret I sold them.
I owned a CPO ‘04 330i ZHP 6sp. Good driver’s car with that silky inline 6 but really underpowered by modern standards. And I don’t miss paying used BMW repair and maintenance costs. I spent $4k maintaining it over 3 1/2 years and it still had a CPO warranty and pre-paid maintenance plan. I was happy to trade it in at 100k miles.
These ZHP’s are awesome. Seems like a great daily driver and the rarity aspect definitely makes them appealing compared to an M3 of this gen. I’ve been looking around for some of these on used car sites and many of them are still worth decent money. Can’t decide whether I’d rather have this or a manual E46 wagon...it’d be a tough choice! Great drive and video! Oh and that coffee ad was some quality ASMR.
Your solution is a 6-speed ZHP-swapped wagon!
great video!! thank you. def subbed and felt like i was right there with ya. buying my first bmw this week.. been researching them heavily for months every day multiple hours a day now so i think im ready to pull the trigger. fingers crossed. God is good. look forward to more bmw videos!!
Thanks! And good luck with the new car when you find the right one. Don’t be afraid to turn down cars if it doesn’t feel right.
@@TedwardDrives oh yeah I've turned down one already. 2000 323Ci coupe that was severely abused... Lied about upgrades and so much more. It would've been such a headache lol what's your favorite trim with least problems? I've read 325i is best regarding least subframe etc issues ?
You're about to make me buy another E46 3 Series. For my first car, I had a terribly-maintained 325i from 2003; it was a brilliantly fun car when it worked. But, it was the automatic 325i, so the transmission grenaded and the rest of the car wasn't in good enough condition for a manual swap plus all the work that needed doing to begin with. That said, I now daily a Honda Fit, which is a fantastic little car, but I want to buy another E46 3 Series (either a 325i or a 330i) with a manual as a fun weekend warrior.
One of the best BMWs they've made.. and one of the last great ones. Its a shame MB and BMW basically ruined their brands by trying to increase sales.. It worked but the true enthusiasts are left wanting more
Love the E46! I borrowed a 2001 325ci ragtop with the 5 speed manual. Have been hooked on these cars ever since. Sadly the car I was borrowing from my dad pissed anti freeze. Typical E46 issies from what I hear, thankfully I think I saved her by shutting down the engine immediately. But the car has been sitting for 2 years now. I should see if he wants to sell it lol. It would be a total project, but the spec is amazing. It has the jet black and caramel leather (I think that is the color code lol). I also couldn't agree with you more on how these cars sound. They where a good balance of throaty with out pissing off you neighboors. Roal the top down and you can hear some nice mechanical noise from that M54. Man I really should see if my dad is selling that car. I had a blast in the two months I borrowed it.
I love how notchy this shifter is
Sold my ZHP yesterday after 4 years, I swapped in M3 seats as well. Excellent sporty daily drivers. Mine had a hair under 206k miles and felt just as tight as my newer much lower mileage ISF.
Hello, how $$$ it cost in that time?
Love the zhp, it’s just a shame there were less produced than the e46 m3. Nice slick top on that zhp though!
Its those little details that everyone goes nuts for lol. Such a cool car.
Way less produced which is why its a cult. Thy only made 3500 total from 03 to 06 whereas the m3 is in the 35k range...
@@Steve.x.Williams 50000 Coupes and 20000 convertible M3’s. ZHP’s are significantly rarer.
That e46 wagon is so cool.
They are awesome cars. Had mine for 5 yrs now and had many offers to sell. I won't. Another good thing about them is the values have been creeping up last couple yrs
I have the ZHP convertible and it is the sleekest convertible in top down mode. Nothing compares to the look and the drive.
For me my E36 is the more raw drivers car but I could never daily it through winter, it would disintegrate. My E46 is a little less connected but I actually trust it to survive through winter. I love my E46 as a drivers car, with coilovers, tires, short shifter, exhaust, and intake it really is a great drivers car that feels special every time I drive it
You gotta rev her out to atleast 6.5! Great video, sums up all the reasons I love my zhp.
Best handling BMW ever they say
I.love my ZHP drove it from California to Texas not a single issue!! Great cae
330Ci ZHP or M Sports apreciating in the near future for sure
I'm lucky enough to have 2 of these.. I have an imola red 4 door and a sapphire black convertible... I can't fault them.. Plenty of mods can be done with these cars. My 4 door has all sorts done to it, carbon bonnet and carbon boot are just 2 of them.. I'd have more of these cars if i had room :)
Yeah good video of the e46 330i he summed up this car well he inderstands this bmw well i have an e46 328i 5speed saloon feel very similar this car gets the job done well. Thease cars cruise at 130 mph plus.if you have a 330 or a328i keep it they are a modern classic and need to be preserbed.in 5 years time you want one of thease in your garage.enthusiast allways go back to this modern classic.they have a cult following.and have an analoge feel.its driver. machine.and the last bmw that has sole..
My dad has one of these. They are excellent.
Just picked one of these up 2 months ago! Amazing car.
Nice bro. Mine hits 7,000 rpms. I got the 2001 330ci manual 5 speed. With the M54B30 3.0 inline 6 engine. E46 LOL I could've just said that.
313k on my 02 CI looking at a new 1 now 😅 she's ready to retire. Hope there's still some clean 1z once I'm ready to buy 🙏🏾
The E46 platform does not age ...
great video! love the pov
M54 is a great engine 👍
I had an Imola Red ZHP back in the mid-late 2000s. Great car. Classic for sure. A couple of notes. These cars (and the E46 in general I believe), have some pretty big issues with subframe damage that can be expensive to fix. It’s why I ultimately got rid of mine. Also, that shifter is hideous! The ZHP was known for it’s short shift knob that even the M3 didn’t get. Guys were always swapping out the ZHP knobs on their M3s. Don’t swap and go longer! It’s not a 1992 Toyota pickup.
Damn! what exhaust was that uhaul truck running?! 🤣
You’re right...that actually sounded pretty decent (most likely a hole in the exhaust system).
No joke I was kind of embarrassed when I saw what it was. Sounded like a hot rod 😂
Tedward I totally get it! Same thing happens to me! I hear something decent coming down the road and it’s a beater with multiple holes in the exhaust 😬😬
I knew it was near eastern Mass when you had to take onramps and offramps to get a good corner lol, there's so few good country roads outside of Boston. I'm surprised you weren't slowed down by someone going 40 on the ramps! Happens to me every time. Currently building a 330ci as a track car, not the ZHP though since it's not allowed in most racing classes.
Great to see this! I was just telling a friend the other day how badly I still want a clean ZHP!
I love your channel and the bmw is one of my dream cars.
Thank you!